When to quit?

[HairyScandinavian]

I've hunted this ground almost exclusively for 4 years now.

This year I ran into the first other archery hunters I've seen in the field.

I know they're there but I'm not seeing them, not bumping into them. Small game hunters are another thing entirely. Stocked pheasant and packs of beagles are errywhere. I am TRYING to figure ways to use the small game hunters to nudge deer. It worked Saturday.

IMO it's not about how many people you run into out there. It's about the years and years of everyone shooting what they can reducing the overall population there. There's a good possibility you're not running into other hunters because there's no animals out there and the hunters have gone elsewhere.

 

[Jason Snyder]

It works. I dont TRUST it. For me, that's important.

Quit looking for excuses. You’re blaming the gear when it’s the nut behind the bowstring.

 

[Goatpacker]

Keep hunting, I’m 55 years old and I hunt anywhere and everywhere, where the good Lord allows me too…
Do more scouting, it’s all about putting time in the field it’s hunting… It’s peaceful and well worth it either way; if your successful or not… it’s a win, win…

This is what I do, God willing…

Jan. - Mountain Lion Hunting, NM
Feb. - Mountain Lion Hubting, NM Coyote Hunting.
Mar. - Taxidermy Work on Harvested game; going to gym recovering from Hunting.
April - Elk sheds and Turkey Hunting.
May - Training for hunting season
June - Scouting for Elk, Deer getting in shape fishing in Alpine lakes packing in with my goats.
July - Same as June packing with my goats.
Aug. - Same as June; packing with my goats getting in shape.
Sept. - Take an entire month off for archery Deer and Elk.
Oct. - Rifle Bear Hunt in New Mexico with Hounds and my pack goats.
Nov. - Chukar Hunting; upland Bird and waterfowl hunting.
Dec. - Duck and Goose Hunting.
Eat and enjoy my Harvest…repeat all over again

 

[Yoder]

From reading this thread, you actually see way more deer than I do. I only saw 4 this year in maybe five or six sits. I got super lucky on my buck this year. Do you ever use calls? Last two bucks I killed came in to a grunt call and I killed probably 4-5 does and a couple bucks that came in to the bleat can. One time I called in a 4pt twice with the can when my wife was with me. She was so pissed she couldn't shoot. He wasn't legal. I'll attach the pic, it's pretty funny. The can is good if they are smaller bucks. They don't think they are going to get their ass kicked.

 

[tchance21]

I saw on one of these forums Roughneck had a quiver for sale for an older mathews anyone seen this forum or how to get in touch with him?

 

[Jpsmith1]

Quit looking for excuses. You’re blaming the gear when it’s the nut behind the bowstring.

Oh, I'm very well aware that my brain is broken.

I was looking to change the rest before this happened. Yes, I know, excuses, excuses, but that's not a lie. I'm looking to improve my bow tuning skills along the way building a tuning station in the garage this winter most likely.

 

[Jpsmith1]

From reading this thread, you actually see way more deer than I do. I only saw 4 this year in maybe five or six sits. I got super lucky on my buck this year. Do you ever use calls? Last two bucks I killed came in to a grunt call and I killed probably 4-5 does and a couple bucks that came in to the bleat can. One time I called in a 4pt twice with the can when my wife was with me. She was so pissed she couldn't shoot. He wasn't legal. I'll attach the pic, it's pretty funny. The can is good if they are smaller bucks. They don't think they are going to get their ass kicked.
View attachment 792864

This thread has changed my thinking, particularly around my ability as a hunter. I'm still not a killer, but I'm definitely getting more opportunities than I was giving myself credit for, and I credit you and Pharmseller for really bringing that home to me.

Thank you for that.

I've played with calling and rattling a little. I've had a little response, usually from very small bucks. Spikes and forkies. They wander in, hang around for half an hour or so and meander off.

I've done 'blind calling' and I've grunted at deer out of range and I've never seen any response more than a tail flicker.

 

[timekiller13]

You have been hunting for 30+ years and only killed 10 deer??

I’m sorry, but either you are the worst hunter ever or the pickiest hunter ever.

I’ve killed 10 deer in one season.

They aren’t that hard to kill.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Oh, I'm very well aware that my brain is broken.

Then maybe you should focus on fixing that instead of piddling with all of the external things? Not trying to be a jerk but I’m just calling like I see it. Good hunters don’t come from gear. They understand animals, understand woodsmanship, and can make the shot when it counts. .

 

[Jpsmith1]

You have been hunting for 30+ years and only killed 10 deer??

I’m sorry, but either you are the worst hunter ever or the pickiest hunter ever.

I’ve killed 10 deer in one season.

They aren’t that hard to kill.

#worldsworsthunter here.

Nice to meet you.

 

[timekiller13]

#worldsworsthunter here.

Nice to meet you.

Dude. I wasn’t trying to be a jerk.

But I’m just saying, deer aren’t that hard to kill. I’m a mediocre hunter at best. And even so I can kill 2-3 deer on public every year. Put me on private and I can limit out.

You have to hunting the wrong spots. That’s all there is to it.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Then maybe you should focus on fixing that instead of piddling with all of the external things? Not trying to be a jerk but I’m just calling like I see it. Good hunters don’t come from gear. They understand animals, understand woodsmanship, and can make the shot when it counts. .

I have been trying in various ways to fix that for the last decade, my friend.

Many of them have worked. Some have been gear related. Better, warmer gear keeps me out longer longer sits = more time = more deer.

Understand I'm not arguing with you.

I wouldn't have Turner's book if I didn't think I was broken. The book apparently isn't enough. I'm either:

A. Purchasing his online class.

B. Driving across the state and attending a seminar @ Lancaster if I can get a slot and get the time off work to go.

C. Both.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Dude. I wasn’t trying to be a jerk.

But I’m just saying, deer aren’t that hard to kill. I’m a mediocre hunter at best. And even so I can kill 2-3 deer on public every year. Put me on private and I can limit out.

You have to hunting the wrong spots. That’s all there is to it.

Yeah. I hear the same thing all the time. You definitely came off that way and I responded in kind.

Fortunately, I'm a journeyman mechanic and don't have any feelings left for you to hurt. Lol

 

[Pharmseller]

You have been hunting for 30+ years and only killed 10 deer??

I’m sorry, but either you are the worst hunter ever or the pickiest hunter ever.

I’ve killed 10 deer in one season.

They aren’t that hard to kill.

Tell us more about how great you are.




P

 

[Pharmseller]

Understood, but it's harder to get good at killing bucks when you can only kill one per year.

We only get one a year here in Oregon. It took me awhile to get started.

I’m fortunate to have grown up in a deer/elk killing family.




P

 

[WCB]

IMO...forget all the "scouting" " research" and anything else. Get out and literally just still hunt/sneak hunt through the woods. Read all the books you want and administer someone else's tactics aren't always going to work for another individual. #1 I would find better areas to hunt #2 I know A LOT of guys here in MN that over analyze, strategize, plan, and get stuck in their ways even though they are not successful. They have all the gear and gizmos...super scent free gum and all and somehow can't find or kill deer.

I find it completely baffling...also I thought I saw you say you sat in 10 different spots in 12 sits? why? There is no way those 10 spots are equal in quality/opportunity. I would rather hunt 2-3 good stands and rotate based on sign than have countless random spots to go.

Also, not sure of your location and how many antlerless deer you can kill but I would kill every deer I legally could until it gets absolutely automatic.

 

[Pharmseller]

I would kill every deer I legally could until it gets absolutely automatic.

This

In spades



P

 

[Rich M]

Ive got 45 yrs of deer hunting. Maybe shot 6-8 bucks. Took 7 yrs to get first deer, 5 more for first buck and a dry spell from 1996-2009. Im deaf and that 13 yr dry spell was from a noisy stand i couldnt hear, but a hunting buddy did. Fixed it…

If yer like me you’re issue is just confidence. Figure out a way to get it back and start dropping critters.

You evidently like hunting cause you keep going. Go enjoy yourself and relax. Some areas have more deer others have less.

I enjoy hunting to a point. When it become monotonous or like work i do something else. Keep it fun, be patient and take your time shooting. Once you learn to control the buck fever things will get better.

Just shoot sone deer. If legal, bust a spike or two. Gotta start sonewhere and making meat isnt a bad way to learn.

 

[limpet]

If I had the chance I’d start smoking as many does as I could to get meat in the freezer and my reps in. One thing I’ve started doing is letting down on bucks before I shoot if they’re unaware to help calm my nerves. If you’re holding a buck on such a high pedestal it’s going to mess you up mentally. If you want to run a marathon you should probably start out running shorter distances before you run the marathon otherwise you’ll $hit the bed before it’s done. Same thing with killing a buck, little victories before big wins.

 

[jtevanMT]

If you don’t enjoy hunting then quit. If you enjoy hunting and the pursuit then keep doing it and learn different areas and tactics that lead to better success or enjoyment. Personally, I hate hunting from a stand. I much prefer still hunting or spot and stalk (whitetail, mule deer, elk or bear). Of course, I am also a Western hunter with lots of public land to chase animals. Might not be as easy to spot and stalk or still hunt in other states.