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Post by joeyb on Nov 28, 2012 15:59:38 GMT -5
Not to be too negative, but this season may end up being one of the worst on the books for me. I've yet to pull the trigger. I've seen quit a few, but not a big enough buck to give me a shot opportunity. I started off the year deciding not to shoot a doe. My wife and I both harvested bucks last year, and our meat supply is pretty decent. Now that I'm down to the wire, I decided to harvest a doe, but now I can't find one!
The dates were pushed back a bit too this year, which gave me more time to bow hunt, but they started Central Zone duck season early (Nov. 3 and it's usually around Nov. 25). Geesh, I'm ready to put some time in a duck blind, but I've got to at least put one deer on the ground. If I don't I'll need to buy a side of beef. I've given up on a nice buck, but am now just hoping for any whitetail within 100 yards. The full moon this week sure isn't helping either. I guess all I can do is stay after it, and hopefully something will give me an opportunity.
Anyone else experiencing a year like this? What are you doing to keep yourself motivated? All in all I can be thankful that I'm able to go hunting at all.
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Post by boonechaser on Nov 28, 2012 16:06:08 GMT -5
I've had a great season. Nice 3.5 yr old mid 120's buck and 3 doe's with bow. Have seen more deer this season than the last 5 season's. Seem's some area's are seeing fewer number's?? Maybe EHD?? (Uncertain.) Saw a post on here from a guy that live's less than 30 mile's away and he's seeing alot fewer deer?? Not sure what to think??
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Post by hunthard4 on Nov 28, 2012 16:07:56 GMT -5
I have had an awful year also. Seen two racks: a four pointer and little six. Every time i get discouraged i just think about the second rut. Some does still havent been bred and will come back into heat. One hot doe comes by and you might see "The Man". Might try to take a day off and make yourself miss the woods. Thatll get you back out the next morning. Goodluck.
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Post by joeyb on Nov 28, 2012 16:36:43 GMT -5
I have had an awful year also. Seen two racks: a four pointer and little six. Every time i get discouraged i just think about the second rut. Some does still havent been bred and will come back into heat. One hot doe comes by and you might see "The Man". Might try to take a day off and make yourself miss the woods. Thatll get you back out the next morning. Goodluck. -That's what I'm doing tonight. Taking the wife out for dinner, going to watch some TV, basically just sit back and enjoy a night off. |
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Post by hunthard4 on Nov 28, 2012 16:39:48 GMT -5
Sounds like a plan. Goodluck.
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Post by charmerbaits on Nov 28, 2012 17:26:24 GMT -5
Mine has sucked. Very few deer seen at all, only seen a couple of small bucks that I won't even think about harvesting. Hopefully can at least get a doe this weekend but it's not looking good.
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Post by HuntMeister on Nov 28, 2012 17:30:05 GMT -5
My Indiana hunting is lousy but that is a product of the location and the kind of pressure it gets. I am sooo thankful for my IL ground, without it my hunting would be very dismal!
For me, not killing a buck is what kept me motivated and going to the woods every chance I got in years past. Killing two good bucks this year in IL has kinda taken some of the wind out of my hunting sails here in IN it seems. If I had a really good place here in IN to hunt my motivation level may be different I suppose.
I personally have never experienced much action from the 2nd rut so if it were me I would be trying to concentrate on food sources now.
Taking some time off is always good too as it gives one time to reflect on what you have been doing and maybe change things up or fine tune it just a bit...hang in there and good luck!
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Post by Woody Williams on Nov 28, 2012 17:47:18 GMT -5
I pretty well hunt alone in Indiana and have not seen a shooter buck yet. Best I have seen is two 2 1/2 year olds..saw them only once. Saw a ton of yearling bucks. I hunted the first Illinois gun season at Timex's place (opted out of an archery tag this year) and really enjoyed, not only the hunt, but the fellowship with 7 other hunters. Passed deer that I would probably have shot in Indiana and missed a Booner+ buck at 115 yards. Range time afterward showed my scope off big trime. It has been remounted and resighted and I am good to go for the second gun season.. I helped a couple hunters that I was hunting with get a couple 140 and 150 ten pointers out of the Illinois Wabash bottoms.One after dark and those bottoms all look alike..  Looking forward to hunting with most of the original group again this weekend.. All are real dedicated deer hunters and flat fun to be around.. A deer on the ground is not EVERYTHING that hunting is all about.... |
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Post by scrub-buster on Nov 28, 2012 18:51:04 GMT -5
I have had a good season. Shot a 2.5 year old 8 pointer in bow season. It wasn't as big as I thought when I shot it, but I'm glad I killed it. Took 2 doe opening morning of gun season and filled my freezer. I have enjoyed spending more time with the family since then.
Last year was a rough one for me.
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Post by 25fthigh on Nov 28, 2012 18:57:58 GMT -5
The only awful part was not getting to hunt as much as normal.
Deer sightings have been about average.
Lots of small bucks and small doe. Have only seen a couple big mature doe. Odd compared to past seasons.
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Post by antiwheeze on Nov 28, 2012 20:18:07 GMT -5
Anyone Else Having an Awful Deer Season?
Yes!
Last year was awesome and the year before better. Guess I was just spoiled.
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Post by joekelly on Nov 28, 2012 20:30:03 GMT -5
I know your pain...Ive had a not so great season, since Oct 1, Ive only seen 15 deer!!! Not sure whats going on in my area? But I haven't been able to put the time in the woods as usuall with my son being 4 months now.
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Post by colts1888 on Nov 28, 2012 20:36:32 GMT -5
Worst season ever for me so far. I have had 2 deer in range during bow and gun season combined. It's a successful trip now days for me to see 1 deer. Never seen it this bad. I know the 2 counties i hunt got hit with EHD. I have hunted the last 4 days and tonight i seen 1 doe 100 yards off and thats been it. I have never seen so few deer.
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Post by windingwinds on Nov 28, 2012 22:08:58 GMT -5
Been rough here. Seen one buck the first week of gun. Total of about 7-10 does (all the does one at a time so may have been same doe on some occasions). I mostly blame location. The properties around us continue to sell and change from farmland to small plots........and then those landowners hunt. Not that I think they are "my" deer, but adding hunters without adding or maintaining habitat isn't going to improve anyone's chances. We are considering relocating eventually.
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Post by GS1 on Nov 28, 2012 22:20:16 GMT -5
I've had a pretty decent year for no more than I have gotten to get out. Have seen a couple shooters just haven't been able to connect. There seems to be more does hanging around than last year, so there is still hope that one of them is going to drag a buck by.
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Post by cyclehunter on Nov 28, 2012 22:23:13 GMT -5
I took a decent 8 pointer in late oct and a nice doe in early nov with my bow,but start of gun season I have not seen a single deer. I have hunted every day but three. I haven't seen anything where did they go
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Post by tjmurf on Nov 28, 2012 23:51:59 GMT -5
I thought last year was my worst. No park draws for me. I got out to hunt finally in late Oct bow due to pressing work that need done around home. My first night I thought was to start out great year I had seven deer getting ready to walk 20 yards in front of my ready to draw bow, everything was perfect. For this property seven deer is a gift. All of a sudden they flag their tails as they look past and behind me then run back from where they came. I looked behind me and I see one of the neighbors of the property driving his truck through his father in-laws field along the fence line 75 yards behind me. I asked him what was up; he said he was out just looking around. From there the season went on the same as my first day. From coyotes running deer off and two more instances where I had different trucks driving in the field where I was hunting. I batted ZERO last year. Yes I did take my frustration out one of those coyotes.
This year I didn't get a chance to bow hunt much and really wasn't impressed with what I was seeing and the lack of deer. Gun season comes along and the main plan was to get the freezer stocked back up. A doe on the first Monday of the season and with getting drawn for the park hunt I was thrilled to take a second doe this Monday at sun up. Things were looking good. This year was to be my 10 year old son’s first year hunting. He went with me a couple times the first week and I planned to spend the rest of the week with him after school in the same stand my oldest son took his first deer, a buck 11 years ago. That was one of the best days I’ve ever hunted. The property was showing some real promise with multiple deer and a real hog of a buck that might surpass my best running like clockwork. It was looking good for him to be able to take his first deer. Today I got a call that my next door neighbor had been talking to the out of state owners of this property to see if we had permission to hunt there, which we’ve had for the past 15 years. I’m not sure what he said but he ticked them off so bad they said nobody was allowed to hunt any of their properties from this day forward. I not so mad at loosing this place as much as losing a great place I could take my son hunting this late in the season. I’ve decided this guy is not my neighbor; he’s just the --- next door.
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Post by daneowner on Nov 29, 2012 0:08:52 GMT -5
Have had a good year at my location, 3 antlerless with a bow and took a nice buck Nov. 23 around 5 PM. ( mid 140's) He was the only shooter I had seen all season while hunting. I have talked to alot of hunters that aren't having much luck, also I heard very few shot's around me on opening week-end. Seem like the deer just weren't moving much then.
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Post by jajwrigh on Nov 29, 2012 0:34:14 GMT -5
I have seen two deer, one doe I shot I couldn't find and I passed a young 6 pt at 30 yards opening day of gun. I found a doe floating in our pond during bow so I suspect EHD could be a problem. I am not discouraged at all. I don't need to shoot something, I enjoy showing my son the ropes and learning more woodsmanship each time I go afield. Still plenty of season left, so I still feel good about getting a deer or two.
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Post by nimrodder on Nov 29, 2012 1:54:53 GMT -5
At least you are hunting I'm in Kuwait until next July.
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