You would think after 8 yrs.......

[hntrspud]

That I would be able to see a buck during hunting season. I have hunted and hunted, doing all types of hunting. I have sat for days, not moved at all. I have hunted clear cuts, anything you can imagine. I hunted everyday after work and all of my days off, including 3 extra I took off for deer. I have seen does, but not even a spike during season. Been in places with rubs galore, etc. I am looking for the correct word, because frustrated doesnt cut it. I have hunted all my life, taken suggestions from those who know what they are doing. Time is always the answer, well how much time do I have to spend to shoot a deer for some meat on the table? I dont want big horns. I walk REALLY SLOW, look everywhere. Nothing. It is beginning to make me wonder if all my time spent looking for a deer is futile. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE being in the woods, learn something new everytime. Then I see posts that say, "This buck just stepped right out in front of me on the road". Just sat in a clearcut and there were 4 bucks feeding and decided to take the largest,etc. What is it going to take?       

[hntrspud]

Oh yea, its very tough to stay positive!

[tbrady]

Believe me, for every "success" post you see on this site there are probably 100 guys eating their tag...

[TheFewTheProud]

Man. Well I dont know what to tell you except to just stay at it. I switched to muzzleloader a few years back. Less hunters so there is less pressure... Maybe try that??

[hntrspud]

I have a bow now, but they would not let me switch tags. I have archery elk. I will probably change to archery next year. I am just tired of saying "next year", it will be next year I do better. Its not happening.

[janttihunter]

I grew up on the East Coast hunting Whitetail. This is my first year in WA hunting Blacktail...They are tough..So far what ive learned is get away from people..go farther than anyone else will. And read Boyd Iversons Blacktail Trophy Tactics if you havnt..Other than that all I can say is that some of it is knowing or being allowed to hunt spots that others dont ..And some of it is being in the right place at the right time.(luck)

Another option is switch to Muzzy? You can shoot a doe in allot of spots during muzzy!

Good luck

[Wildsau]

I feel your pain hntrspud, I seem to be out in the woods for the clean air and exercise.    I though, with going Archery, I would have a better chance, but, unless Late season is successful I will be joining so many others in having "Tag Soup".

I guess one has to look at it as it is called "Hunting" and not "Getting".  If you keep at it (I know, you have heard it many, many times before), sooner or later, something will get stupid and follow you home.

I see it as I spent too much money getting ready to just give up without a fight.  At the "end of the day", if I have to eat "Tag Soup", it won't be because I didn't try; and that, in itself, doesn't mean you are a failure, only that the animals are still very lucky.  I am looking for their luck to run out anytime.

If I don't convince anything on Ft. Lewis, I will go spend some time in Moseyrock/Winston.

Sumpins gotta give.

[deleted BGS]

You need to buy out of state tags. Stop wasting your time in WA, I will am tired of it here and wont be hunting it much anymore

[Wildsau]

Outta state hunting is good, IF you have the monies to do it.  Not all of us that kind of money handy. 

[crane]

Karma dude, Karma!

No not really.  Sorry about your luck though.  If it has been that many years and you have put that much effort into it I am not sure how to explain it!! 

Maybe eat less beans.

[Fl0und3rz]

Oh great! So now I have at least another four more years of waiting hunting?

[Derailed]

I am in the same boat here. hunt and hunt listen to what people are saying. I trying to be good at hunting but more and more I hope I just get lucky, . I think next year I am going to where it will be more getting than hunting.

[Kowsrule30]

I ran into a guy that missed a buck 5 or 6 times..... It ran by me and I dropped it... When he got there he was almost in tears.... Told me it was the first buck he'd seen in 20 years and he blew it....      I didn't know what to tell him... Just hope you aren't that guy!!!!

[hntrspud]

I havent done anything to deserve bad Karma. I dont have the money to hunt out of state, if I did, I wouldnt have this issue. I grew up in Idaho, have family and land there. I havent had beans in a while either.  I dont give up either, if I can make it 8 years. I fight every year, hunt till the last minute of every day I am out, go out before light, dont leave the woods, sit, scent, rattle etc...

[Russ McDonald]

I just started hunting here too.  Second year.  I am archery hunting this year for deer and muzzy for elk.  Yes the amount of people out there is between gerneral and the other two is stagering.  If you switch to archery next year let me know maybe we can get together since we live in the same area.  Plus you get an early and late season with arcery and muzzy too.