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Tough Bow Season

Mines been rough so far. Work has been crazy and when i have been able to get out, my normally good spots simply aren't producing.

It'll get better. I didn't even see a shooter buck until Dec 31st last year. He was chasing a doe and I killed him at 40 yards with my bow so there is still hope.
 
Nope been pretty good so far seeing deer every trip sometimes to far or in a thicket or just plain old bust them out but im seeing them
 
Been rough his year....with all of the acorns on the ground the deer often don't have to move far, if at all. Season is still early though, so all is not lost.
 
I'm pretty excited about getting out the smokepole and rifle.

I still have a couple archery only spots and I still shoot my bow 3-4 days a week so the bow will still be in play.

There is definitely plenty of season left, excited about the rut!!
 
My bow season has been identical. I stuck one on opening day and had broadhead failure. Haven't had an opportunity for redemption. My spot that normally produces 10+ deer (sightings) per hunt has been producing about 1/2 deer per hunt this year. As in one deer every other hunt... not half of 10 per hunt :(
 
I havent seen near the deer I normally do. Ive had a normal success rate, I generally kill 2 does with a bow, and I have killed 2 does so far. Its just that sightings have been way down. Also have way less decent bucks using both properties so far. Im really hoping that changes.
 
Haven't seen the numbers as I usually do . Think so much food and warm nights hurt my early season . Camera started getting mainly pics at midnight right as season started until here lately
 
Been rough for me too. As of today I've bow hunted 7 times and only seen deer twice. Today was as good a day as I've had in a long time. Saw 15-16 deer, got drawn on a group of does but they were on a mission and I couldn't get any of them to stop. Had a nice 7 pt. stand 10 yards behind me in a thicket for 5 minutes but he didn't come into any of my shooting lanes.
 
Didnt get to hunt to often but very limited sightings. Toughest season I can remember in recent years for me.
 
Been pretty tough here at home as well. Lots and lots of acorns this year so deer don't have to go far to feed. Finally killed a doe last Thursday evening. Passed on a couple early season thinking they might of been buttons.
Not seen the first antlers yet, but starting to see a few rubs here and there so I at least know theres at least one around. Looking forward to getting the ole smoke pole out this weekend, first set of horns I see will get a big ole chunk of lead headed his way.
Now if this dang wind would just settle down...............
 
I have passed up a lot of young bucks and does with fawns in hopes of getting a mature buck . I saw a145" buck that I had trail cam pics of on opening day , but I haven't seen him since then . I got drawn for a special archery hunt next week here in KC and I'm going to take some does there if given the opportunity . The area is covered up with deer .
I passed up this little guy this morning . Called him in with a doe bleat from my grunt call .
20121030_084339.jpg
 
Bowhunting has its highs and lows , and be rewarding and humbling at times . There are times when I have thought about giving it up because I was drained and having a tough season , but I hung in there and had patience , because you never know when the shot opportunity on a buck of a lifetime will happen .
It can happen in seconds and completely change your season . Never give up ! Success is when preparation meets opportunity .
Hang in there , the best bowhunting of the season is the month of November .
I'll be toting a bow during the firearms seasons .
 
I was having a difficult season until I finally connected tonight. You know the deer are there. You just have to keep going and keep your confidence high.
 
I notice a transition that takes place as the season progresses every year. The fellas I work with that hunt, are experiencing the same thing you guys are...a lot of hunting and not a lot of deer seeing. Yet I on the other hand, have only been three times so far and NOT seen deer. I have saw more deer in the woods this year than I have squirrels. Yet each year I notice that its like a switch gets flipped and THEY suddenly start seeing deer on the properties they hunt and my spots grow cold. I have been fortunate to gain access to a couple parcels of land that are exactly that way. You wont see hardly a thing from Sept - Early November. Then about mid November - January, those places just explode with deer activity. So the last couple yrs I've been benefiting from the best of both worlds. Over towards my parent's place...it's a good early - mid season spot. I seldom kill deer there anymore though.

I have been very very selective as to what I wanted to put an arrow in. I could have been done by mid October, several times over. Been passing a lot of young does and fawns. I haven't been seeing bucks, other than button bucks. But as of this week, I have been seeing a lot of fresh rubs, and scrapes are popping up and being worked fairly regular. Also getting a lot of cruising young bucks on camera BUT all are at night thus far.
 
I have been blessed this year with the birth of our baby girl so haven't had the opportunity to get out like I have in years past.

With the being said I was able to kill a spike buck this past Friday before the youth weekend opened up.

It was only my third time out and the only time I had seen a deer within shooting distance.

I hope to get out during gun season but if I don't I have meat in the freezer.

Good luck to all.

Jp
 
I have had a rough one mainly becasue I just don't get to go very much. Been probably 7 or 8 times. Saw some does on opening day to shoot but passed becasue it was hot, they had fawns, and I thought I would get plenty more oppurtunities. Seems like that happens that way every year and by Christmas I am panicing just to shoot one doe.
 

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