Past 9 days

[stikbrandon]

Well, discouragement is the word that comes to mind when I think back on the past 9 days.....

Since Iv been on vacation
Iv hunted 7 mornings and 8 nights of the past 9, I have literally put close to 25 miles in my boots, I know my hunting skills get better every time I get out, and I know I won't kill anything if I don't get off the couch.

Today was the first time in four years that Iv asked my self if I was wasting my time... My body feels defeated, my mind in a way is defeated, but the relentless hunter in me refuses to give up, so much so I don't want to go on my hunting trip to Michagain . I want to spend that vacation time to finish what I have started.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, if I'm missing deer ? Or the population of deer in my area just isn't large enough to be chasing.... I go up the mountain and come down and the next morning dam deer tracks are in my boot prints. Clearly they move and are in my area but I keep missing them

I don't know guys its frustrating

 

[Captaintb]

It's all gonna make that Buck, that much better when you get him!!!!

 

[TaftHunter]

Not getting a buck will make you quit or go back stronger. Always go stronger!

 

[Mocha a]

I know how you feel. I also took a 10day vacation in D11 and didnt see a single buck. Plenty of doe and tracks but never saw a buck. I did meet a few people there and they say they are out there just have to work for them. After seeing all the buck that people are harvesting in D11 make me want to go at it even more. My season has ended for this yr but that just mean my new season starts today with planning. Start by marking the areas you've tried in your gps and try new spots. Read what others who were lucky to harvest a buck and see what they did. Do get discouraged if you don't get lucky stick with it and you'll be rewarded some day.

 

[Lungpopper]

I have had times that I didn't kill a deer 3-4 seasons in a row. Stick with it but you may want to change up what your doing.
Go kill something in Michigan. Come back and start scouting new areas for next year.

 

[stikbrandon]

I have had times that I didn't kill a deer 3-4 seasons in a row. Stick with it but you may want to change up what your doing.
Go kill something in Michigan. Come back and start scouting new areas for next year.

Got a good nights sleep . At work now, ready to hit the mountain when I'm off ! Amazing what a little sleep will do.

 

[TaftHunter]

I have had times that I didn't kill a deer 3-4 seasons in a row. Stick with it but you may want to change up what your doing.
Go kill something in Michigan. Come back and start scouting new areas for next year.

Got a good nights sleep . At work now, ready to hit the mountain when I'm off ! Amazing what a little sleep will do.

Goodluck this evening!

 

[ilovesprig]

Hang in there Brandon..........It can just come down to right place at the right time........Getting a buck on public land in SoCal just isn't that easy.

 

[pendletonhunter]

Keep up it man. Goodluck! I've been in your shoes or should I say your boots a few seasons in my life. Almost have called it quits early on a few seasons but glad I stuck it out!

 

[Bowman]

I tried very hard last year. and it was very disappointing . so don't feel alone. yet I was trying with bow. which is even harder. and a longbow at that. I saw deer but could not make it happen. part of the issue, there was a lot of hunters in my little area. pushing the deer hard. consequently the deer where more spooky than normal. and where very nocturnal. it seems to me the harder we try the more nervous the deer get. I agree with LP go to Michigan. then try when you get back. I am more relaxed this year and have had more opportunities. I missed my shot this year. so I am trying to recover. But our season is not over yet. relax and it will happen. seems to me the harder we try the more we push the deer to much. just my way of encouragement. use plan B if the usual spot does not work change it up. I try to analyze what I am doing then think about it and try to get back to basics. & think like a deer Lessons learned. My two cents.

Ghost

 

[D16hunter]

I'm going to honest if you want to kill a buck here you have to work for it. Out here nothing is going to be handed to you. You have to put in the time to find the deer. My dad started hunting not for deer but just in general 10 years ago. He hunted for 2 years and didn't see a single deer. The next he missed 4 bucks. Then the next he drew a doe tag and killed one. Since then he's killed a deer every year for the last 6. As he put it to me one the last day of my first deer season it's a steep learning curve your gonna have to get over your failures and move on to and put it all behind you to be successful once you get one it'll be all the more sweeter with those past failures. Saying that don't give up or be discouraged just keep trying and you'll get one. Good luck


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[Sdbirds]

I counted two deer in the third picture did you see them?

 

[Muledeerhunter]

I used to think the same thing -- Am I missing the deer? But, you have to remember this is Southern California and there aren't a lot of deer. Good luck.

 

[Muledeerhunter]

I counted two deer in the third picture did you see them?

That's just wrong, lol.

 

[Cali Ridge Runner]

Stick with it brother. If the tracks are there the deer are there. It can br discouraging at times. This year for my area definetly has been different. Where I seen deer last year I have not seen this year on the same ridges or same times. It took a little of changing times and the rain we just got has helped to get them moving around. As hard as it can be sometimes I tend to stick to my area if you know what the area can produce stick with it. Glass the same hills every morning and evening. Right time right place it will happen. The first 2 weeks of November are usually the better times for me with the colder weather... You can hike your ass off in cold weather if thats what it takes. Good luck bro!!

 

[stikbrandon]

I counted two deer in the third picture did you see them?

So funny Johnny ! Dic*

 

[Fallguy]

good looking country.

 

[NBK]

Continue the quest my friend. Like you said - "can't kill a buck from the couch"!

 

[baboltin]

I felt the same way about this season, but my season is over and so that's a wrap on that but at least I gave it my all and hunted everyday I could and in tell the very end of the season !