Tough Year!

[DaKooos]

I've seen the few success stories on here so far with people punchin their local tags. Congrats to them! The hard work paid off! As for me, man, this season has been a lot harder than the last few years. Anyone else notice the lack of deer activity during shooting hours or is it just me?

I've got a few spots where I consistently see fresh sign but when it comes down to shooting hours, it's a ghost town. Maybe it's the heat? Maybe it's bad luck? Any of you guys with more knowledge and expertise have an opinion or advice?

 

[TRICER]

Glass glass glass. And spend as much time in the field as you can. Middle of the day and I laying under a tree right now looking for deer locally.

Hardest hunt in the west I am convinced of it.

 

[180ls1]

If the horse is dead, don't keep beating it. Use it as an opportunity to try new techniques and/or areas.

 

[Bobevans]

I've seen the few success stories on here so far with people punchin their local tags. Congrats to them! The hard work paid off! As for me, man, this season has been a lot harder than the last few years. Anyone else notice the lack of deer activity during shooting hours or is it just me?

I've got a few spots where I consistently see fresh sign but when it comes down to shooting hours, it's a ghost town. Maybe it's the heat? Maybe it's bad luck? Any of you guys with more knowledge and expertise have an opinion or advice?

I had similar experience in D17, lots of sign but no movement during shooting hours. Obviously still enjoyable but disappointing to not see any at all. Heat no doubt has an impact both on deer and my hiking longevity.

 

[HATCHET1]

Longtails....

 

[DaKooos]

Solid advice gentlemen. I’ll be out there as much as I can until the season ends. Who needs vacation time anyways? Ha. Hunting sounds like the best way to burn some hours.

Good luck today Drew!

 

[DaKooos]

Well, got out here early and right off the bat glassed up two deer. At least one doe. The other never completely showed itself just the body. They disappeared into the brush. Looked to my right and glassed up another 3 doe. Waited, waited and waited some more hoping a dude would come out. Nope. I’ll keep watching and waiting.

Took 180ls1’s advice and went to a different spot. Thanks man! This gives me hope.

 

[HATCHET1]

Just keep up the blogging..it's all that really matters...and sometimes works!! Post him when you dump him

 

[180ls1]

Well, got out here early and right off the bat glassed up two deer. At least one doe. The other never completely showed itself just the body. They disappeared into the brush. Looked to my right and glassed up another 3 doe. Waited, waited and waited some more hoping a dude would come out. Nope. I’ll keep watching and waiting.

Took 180ls1’s advice and went to a different spot. Thanks man! This gives me hope.

Boom!

I learned that lesson the hard way in a spot that *always* held deer. I kept going back thinking I just wasn't seeing them. Looking back, it was too dry and there was no water so they left.

 

[DaKooos]

Just keep up the blogging..it's all that really matters...and sometimes works!! Post him when you dump him

Haha! It gets lonely out here. One can only talk to themselves so much before they go crazy.

 

[HATCHET1]

Dude...I'm serious..stay the course...it will happen..

 

[Lenny]

I have noticed that the mornings have consistently been a ghost town since early October but the evenings been pretty lively

 

[josecasillas]

If there's fresh sign, keep hunting it, theyre still there, like mentioned above, sit all day.
If you only hunt one area.... LEARN IT... scout it, early bow season, even during rifle season I'm scouting while hunting. Then ill be out again in the late season of archery, and after the seasons are over. Learn the bedding areas each time of year, escape routes, and learn to adapt under all the hunting pressure. Glass and glass,.. if you learn that in your area, you'll see how many tags you punch.
Oh.. and fyi.... even if you think you found a secret spot... it aint no secret... and dont be scared to put miles on them boots, most guys are only 1/4 to half mile from their vehicles.
Just saying

 

[josecasillas]

Remember its public land, and there's hundreds of us hunters trying to fill our tags. Don't expect people not to go in the spot you're hunting just cuz you were there first. LOL... its been done to me many times and I do it myself, but... ill wave and keep hiking, and many times, those guys just sit in the same spot, while ill be a couple miles in,.... punching my tag.
Keep at it and dont get discouraged, cuz that's when you'll eat tag soup