in need of motivation.

dukeofwails · #1 (**permalink**) 11-25-2010, 09:50 PM

Hey all,
This is my first season bowhunting. I'm in TN, and now shooting a 2009 Diamond "The Rock". Besides working my butt off to try and stay scent free and scout out the land i'm hunting. I've read everything i can get my hands on... I've been out about 10 times now and have had zero luck. one close call. Anybody go a season without at least one kill or am I just kidding myself here? I need some serious motivation.
Any tips, or good advice is always appreciated!!!!
Wish me luck!

WisconsinDeer · #2 (**permalink**) 11-25-2010, 09:58 PM

You're not alone. The last two gun seasons I haven't shot a deer, and this might be the 3rd year. Season ends this coming Sunday..honestly my spirits are pretty low. Just keep trying.

hunt NH · #3 (**permalink**) 11-25-2010, 10:26 PM

iv gone several seasons without shooting a deer. iv even gone a full season without even seeing one. keep at it you will get one.

on_the_fly · #4 (**permalink**) 11-25-2010, 10:31 PM

dont give up bow hunting is much harder than gun thats why most do not bow hunt. would still hunt out of a stand but sent is most important in bow hunting because of the close distance you need for a clean good shot. ( in my opinion 40 yards max but set up to exspect about a 20 yard shot) if you hunt a stand , if your 16 foot and above your above the sent zone and your sent is fine, if your on the ground a ground blind will help greatly but is best if you have a few spots ready for the area you hunt so you can set up to the wind in your favor any time you hunt there.

and for the guy in wisconsin 3 years deerless with a gun. that to me sounds like you realy need to scout your area better. being able to reach out 100 to 150 yards with easy for a biginner shooter means only thing that person needs is for the most part a farmers field but even then you need to scout for were their coming in an out at. i dont know your hunting area nor experance but would asume if there were deer anywere in the area you should have no problem harvesting a deer within the modern gun season unless your area is full of deer but they are nocturnal in that area then your just screwed for the most part but they will come out as the weather starts to become colder

WisconsinDeer · #5 (**permalink**) 11-26-2010, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by on_the_fly

and for the guy in wisconsin 3 years deerless with a gun. that to me sounds like you realy need to scout your area better.

The spot that I hunt is 20 acres of woods and 100 acres of field. I know where the deer travel, bed and feed. It's just that when people start shooting and it sounds WW3, the deer run and hide in the thickest places they can find. I saw 6 deer opening weekend, some I couldn't get a shot at and some I just passed because they were to small. I see quite a few deer during bow hunting though. 2 1/2 weeks ago I saw 13 bucks in one day...a few were shooters.

okla_bowhunter · #6 (**permalink**) 11-26-2010, 06:53 PM

i have this buck on trail camera 4 nights a week, plus two nice 10 points EVERYNIGHT. so far they have been ghosts of the woods all through archery and first week of gun. it tests my motivation but remember, going to the woods is a place for peace and quiet, and being one with our maker, it can get agitating, but boy its better than wrenchin at work!

dukeofwails · #7 (**permalink**) 11-26-2010, 08:18 PM

That's true guys. I really appreciate the input. My friend did most of the scouting and put up the one stand we do have. (we have a blind in one area too) I'm hunting about 70 acres of mostly wooded land. I just don't know these deer's patterns. I"m not sure where exactly they are bedding or feeding for that matter it's at the junction of a few trails. I havnt seen a single rub or scrape, but i know they are there. . and I've seen a total of about 8 deer there. A lot of the area is really thick. It just tries my patience when I wake up at 4AM to get in a stand by 5 with 22 degree weather and I don't see a single animal all day. Even the annoying squirrel that usually hangs out there wasnt really moving. sheesh.

Hunting Man · #8 (**permalink**) 11-27-2010, 06:54 AM

I sat for 8 straight days in PA bow season before seeing my first deer. Left empty handed this year. It happens.

the new guy · #9 (**permalink**) 11-27-2010, 07:57 PM

Hunted Archery for the first time this year. Got one on opening day, and since then haven't seen anything closer than about 100 yards which is a long shot for me even during rifle season I'm still using open sights on my old 30-30.

Noah Racette · #10 (**permalink**) 11-28-2010, 08:06 AM

First time hunting with a bow and haven't seen a deer within shooting distance. I went out the other day with my Marlin and saw three about 50 yards away. They were on the other side of the fence. Haven't seem any more since then. Don't give up and good luck!