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Post by deadeer on Nov 3, 2013 9:07:40 GMT -5
There are way too many "little or no deer" sightings going on lately. LaPorte, St. Joe, and Marshall counties are where my friends and I live, hunt, work, and travel thru. Even went to Potato Creek State Park to scout for the 1st reduction hunt Sat and it is sloooooow there too. What is going on? I know some on here are reporting good movement, but that is definitely not the norm. We have some sign, but the rub/scrape outlook so far has been bleak. Was really hoping for movement to pick up with corn coming down, leaves falling, and colder air lately, but it is not helping much so far. We usually see the most action from Halloween thru 1st week of gun, but it is not looking promising yet. I think too much computer time and worrying about what's going on with everybody else is taking it's toll on me. My wife even said I have gotten way too lazy and addicted to the computer lately. Unfortunately, I know she is right, and hope to remedy it soon!
Jay
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Post by steve46511 on Nov 3, 2013 12:27:25 GMT -5
Also in Marshall County and about the same situation so far here too.
Lack of rubs so common in my hunting area was my first real "oh crap" sign (or lack thereof). Buddies report similar except for a few pockets.
It cannot change THAT much in one year (IMO) but I've no explanation either. The next two weeks will tell the tale if they are there......or not.
Hit it hard when you can, I will do the same. Heading out soon myself for the afternoon.
Hang in there it's got to cut loose very soon if it's going to at all.
God Bless
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Post by hunthard4 on Nov 3, 2013 13:42:18 GMT -5
Was thinking the same thing in Morgan County. This morning though, saw a big 8 make 2 scrapes and was an 1 and a half behind a doe on the same trail. Wouldn't respond to calls, had a scent to investigate I think. Should let loose this week. Hang tough.
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Post by schall53 on Nov 3, 2013 14:16:52 GMT -5
Deadeer, I am in St. Joe co. over by the Elkhart co. line. The deer herd in this area has been down really bad for the last 3 years. Last year I got on the coyotes hard and trapped 5 off of my 160 acres, four of which were females. This year I have only got 1 picture of a coyote on my 5 trail cams and the deer herd seems to be coming back. My opinion is between the yotes and the liberal doe harvest is putting way to much pressure on the herd. If your area is down LEAVE THE DOES ALONE.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Nov 3, 2013 14:42:16 GMT -5
Hey DD,
I sense a tone of someone who just dropped their favorite dessert on the floor. I can't tell you anything about hunting, but I know what makes me happy. I learned to juggle and not because I wanted to, but because a friend wanted me to so we could juggle together. Sometimes life, circumstances, people or whatever can add a ball or two too many to keep in the air. Yep, I still drop a few, but I hang on to the important ones now.
Being singed by the close encounter of death has made me think about the life around me, but not really my own. More about the lives I impact. I don't want to think that I "should have, could have or would have" another day of my life. For me, it's specifically about my wife and daughter. I didn't realize how valuable I was to them.
I want to show them what they mean to me. I want to think about what makes them happy. I want to consciously be what I can be for them each day and one day at a time.
I like ice cream sundays, but what is a sunday without the ice cream? ...just toppings. Sure I like the toppings a lot! My family is the ice cream in my life. As long as I have the ice cream, I'm still happy if a few nuts fall off.
Hunting is just another nut for me. I got lucky this year and got a cherry on top.
Life is good.
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Post by deadeer on Nov 3, 2013 14:59:45 GMT -5
Hey DD, I sense a tone of someone who just dropped their favorite dessert on the floor. I can't tell you anything about hunting, but I know what makes me happy. I learned to juggle and not because I wanted to, but because a friend wanted me to so we could juggle together. Sometimes life, circumstances, people or whatever can add a ball or two too many to keep in the air. Yep, I still drop a few, but I hang on to the important ones now. Being singed by the close encounter of death has made me think about the life around me, but not really my own. More about the lives I impact. I don't want to think that I "should have, could have or would have" another day of my life. For me, it's specifically about my wife and daughter. I didn't realize how valuable I was to them. I want to show them what they mean to me. I want to think about what makes them happy. I want to consciously be what I can be for them each day and one day at a time. I like ice cream sundays, but what is a sunday without the ice cream? ...just toppings. Sure I like the toppings a lot! My family is the ice cream in my life. As long as I have the ice cream, I'm still happy if a few nuts fall off. Hunting is just another nut for me. I got lucky this year and got a cherry on top. Life is good. What the heck does that have to do with not seeing many deer?  I know the deer are just part of the hunt, but we pretty much live on venison all year and are kind of counting on it. Plus I lost my spot across the road this year so every hunt is now 24mi each way. Venison will be pricey this year! Not complaining just "nervous". Dennis, I do appreciate your thoughts though and am happy for your recovery and success this year so far! Jay |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Nov 3, 2013 15:10:57 GMT -5
LOL, or the price of tea in China???
Well, maybe having a near death experience helps to understand it ...or old age.
WOW, you have hunting 24 miles from where you live!!! Awesome!!! You are one lucky dude.
Thanks.
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Post by dbd870 on Nov 3, 2013 18:51:59 GMT -5
Yeah, that thought has crossed my mind; only problem is both the spots I bow hunt in IN are small parcels (12 & 25 acres) bordered on one side by 200-300 acre spots that get absolutely hammered during gun season, lots of hunters that will shot anything and don't care. There is a 25 ace spot that JW & I hunt come gun season that isn't quite so bad. At least the KY spots I hunt aren't that way and are much bigger.
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Post by piercings4u on Nov 3, 2013 19:55:18 GMT -5
I usually put dowm 2 deer before Halloween ...this year I haven't even got a shot at a deer...hang in there..its the calm before the storm...
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Post by practicalsportsman on Nov 4, 2013 2:37:03 GMT -5
It's slow here in Miami county I only have two rubs period, one is on a 10 in. tree which tells me the bucks a monster and both rubs are 5 yards from the stand. I only take does when they are mature and that's all you see. But last fall said something a lot a button bucks got taken out, heck i even shot one not trying to but it feed me through the winter.
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Post by drs on Nov 4, 2013 5:22:08 GMT -5
Deadeer, I am in St. Joe co. over by the Elkhart co. line. The deer herd in this area has been down really bad for the last 3 years. Last year I got on the coyotes hard and trapped 5 off of my 160 acres, four of which were females. This year I have only got 1 picture of a coyote on my 5 trail cams and the deer herd seems to be coming back. My opinion is between the yotes and the liberal doe harvest is putting way to much pressure on the herd. If your area is down LEAVE THE DOES ALONE.I believe you just discovered the reason for lack of Deer sightings. While it is prudent to harvest a certain percentage of Doe, in an area with an excessive population issue, in order to balance out the ratio of Bucks to Doe numbers. However, this should be highly controlled so the harvest of Doe is not excessive, as you need Doe to produce future populations of Whitetail Deer. We have several counties (zones) here in Kentucky where Hunters are reporting fewer sights of Deer & Deer activity this year. |
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Post by featherduster on Nov 4, 2013 6:31:18 GMT -5
When deer hunting in a certain area becomes terrible hunters will either leave that area or take up a different form of activity, in their absence the herd will rebound, it just may take a couple of years.
If I remember the area around Rolling Prairie was hit hard with CWD a few years ago.
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Post by steve46511 on Nov 4, 2013 8:28:30 GMT -5
Contrary to popular belief, I think it's just starting in our area (If areas differ? who knows)
Full afternoon yesterday. Noticed two new scrapes (4 footers) that weren't there last weekend.
At 2:20 an (est) 2.5 year old 8 came in from across a picked cornfield (where I did NOT what deer to come from) and quartered past me at 35 yards. 5 yards short of my shooting lane in that directions he froze up with only his rear showing on the left of the tree and the wind was swirling pretty good so.....he knew something was up. After about 3 minutes he dropped his head and trotted NE not giving me a shot.
At around 5:50 ish a 1.5 6pt came in upwind but circled too far out to the South but came in behind my stand at about 30 yards. Getting DARK and that turned into the humbling mess on my broadhead review. Simply had two options following a bad shot and I (naturally) took the wrong one.....but, on topic, the two bucks were moving at fairly steady speeds....looking, not feeding.
It's starting.
Now if my truck could get repaired SOON and CHEAP.....arghh.
God Bless
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Post by Woody Williams on Nov 4, 2013 8:40:53 GMT -5
When deer hunting in a certain area becomes terrible hunters will either leave that area or take up a different form of activity, in their absence the herd will rebound, it just may take a couple of years. If I remember the area around Rolling Prairie was hit hard with CWD a few years ago. Do you mean EHD? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 9:17:01 GMT -5
reports i have been hearing are that the good bucks are moving between 10 and 2 during the midday. most of them being after 1130. sounds as if long sits are in order for activity to be seen.
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Post by featherduster on Nov 4, 2013 10:52:17 GMT -5
When deer hunting in a certain area becomes terrible hunters will either leave that area or take up a different form of activity, in their absence the herd will rebound, it just may take a couple of years. If I remember the area around Rolling Prairie was hit hard with CWD a few years ago. Do you mean EHD? I knew it something that had a word with a "D" in it. |
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Post by boonechaser on Nov 4, 2013 11:32:09 GMT -5
Been seeing tons of does and i have seen 9 different bucks in last 3 days. Looking good down here in Switzerland County.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Nov 4, 2013 11:49:58 GMT -5
Deer didn't move into our field until 11:30am.
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Post by boonechaser on Nov 4, 2013 13:53:41 GMT -5
Feeding pattern is midday currently and switch's to morning and evening later this week. Since the chase phase has started I'm hunting as much as I can regardless of feeding pattern's. But I expect this weekend to see more activity as does should be up more during daylight hour's.
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I know the deer are just part of the hunt, but we pretty much live on venison all year and are kind of counting on it. Plus I lost my spot across the road this year so every hunt is now 24mi each way. Venison will be pricey this year! Not complaining just "nervous". Dennis, I do appreciate your thoughts though and am happy for your recovery and success this year so far!
