Early Archery - Who Else Didn't Connect?

[Fishstiq]

October 1st is here, and I ain't gots no deer!

I hunted whenever I was able to get out for the early archery season (which was most weekends and several weekdays), but to no avail.  The biggest animal I saw all season was a chipmunk.  Shoot, nothing even happened that was worth posting about!

Last season I blanked also, but I hadn't really put in the time scouting and such so no surprise.  This year, I had a new-to-me area to hunt (thanks to H2OHunter ), I set out 2 cameras and had my eye on 2 nice bucks, and I had a spot all marked out.  Apparently no one notified the dang deer that I was there though, because they never came by to say hello.     So now, I'm setting my sights on the late season and looking to get a copy of the Blacktail Tactics book everyone on here talks about.  Of course, any advice or help from more experienced folks is always welcome too!!

So who's with me in the "No Early Archery Deer" club?  Come on, fess up, it will make me feel better and let the healing begin for all of us!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Never bought a tag ...1st time in 34 years  I will when late season opens 

[h20hunter]

Sorry you didn't get a chance to stick one.....maybe they were too busy flirting with my pink flamingo decoys?

[Kowsrule30]

I didn't get one for early archery deer either.... But I got a mdern tag so probably a good thing!!!      

[sirfunkeybut]

I didn't  . I could have shot at a buck, would've been my biggest mule deer yet. He was a monster 2x2 with eye gaurds, I had a few pics on the cam of him. I didn't get to hunt as much this year due to work, but he did come in one night at 30 yards but right on the other side of a tree, for a half hour he should there and then walked straight away from me.  I could've shot but didn't feel comfortable, I did shoot to where he was the next morning and probably could've conected but I just couldn't risk wounding a deer like that. But my sister has a rifle tag so I'm taking her and maybe she'll get him   

[pianoman9701]

No elk, didn't really hunt deer by themselves. Late season.

[buglebuster]

Drew a late whitetail rifle tag so didnt hunt... Filled my muzzy second deer tag this morning with my bow tho

[ELKBURGER]

I've seen better early seasons.

[Eburg fisher]

I had both deer and elk in close but just no good shots. Nice little 4x4 at 35 yards stairing at me for about 5 minutes. Then he did a quick 180 and walked directly away. Tried setting up at a different spot broadside to the trail but he never came back.  Already antsy for late season.

[et1702]

Didn't hunt deer during early archery, as I have late-season archery tag for Entiat.

But, i did shoot my cow elk opening day, plus went down to New Mex and filled my Valles Caldera elk tag too!!!  So, early season has been very successful for me.

ET

[Wildsau]

You can feel a wee bit better, Fishstiq, I went out as often as I could, and every day the last week and all I got was sore feet.  Not only did I not shoot anything, I didn't see anything bigger than a porcupine.  At first I thought he was a small blond bruin, as big as he was; but I don't know how to fix porcupines and heard they taste real nasty, so he still lives.

Tried for Elk with the same results.

Like I said, on an ealier thread, there is always late season; and, with luck, it will rain a wee bit and make walking in the woods not sound like a stampede of Bison.

[270Flat]

  I also did not connect. My first season for deer, archery at that. I have late season to look forward to. I also have a modern elk tag, that I hopefully can fill.

[Swannytheswan]

I took 2 weeks off work one for elk one for deer never saw a legal elk during legal light and then I had one shot at a muley buck and misjudged distance and shot over its back ....rough early season for me...

[sixty4nhalf]

Well it wasn't that I didn't try nor that I didn't see anything either. I would see an average of 2 deer/day, My issue was that I couldn't get close enough to even draw back. SO hopefully modern season hunters won't pan out so well so I can get another shot at some after the rut?

[earlmarne]

i connected,first year archery.i kinda wish i would have waited.i just couldnt pass it up.now i have been chasing bear n i am having no luck.cant wait for late elk