Giving up

[Kingpuck]

Well after considerable effort, time, gas, and expense I think archery hunting is just not for me. Find it next to impossible to find animals, or even get in range. Shudder to think of the thousands of miles I have driven and the money invested in gear without result. It was fun while it lasted but the benefits don't seem to outweigh the rewards. Could have had an entire rack of grass fed beef in the freezer by now.

It inspires me to see all you guys getting nice animals but the public land game is just not working out. Will continue to read the stories and enjoy the cool people that visit the forums. Unfortunately the hills just don't hold any animals for me. Carry on guys, carry on.

Thanks for all the encouragement over the past couple of months. You all have been awesome.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Well if you hunt and think you are getting your expanses back in the meat you harvest you are misinformed. It's a hobby, passion, sport and family tradition. Don't give up, if I remember right this is your first year hunting, if so I didn't get a deer until year 4. Then I got one, then again the next year then went blank the next two years. 10% skill, 90% luck right time right place. Keep at it, you'll have success come your way, and when you do it will feel like a million bucks!  pardon my pun. 

[runamuk]

I hate to say it....you will be back, maybe with a muzzy or a rifle but this is an illness.... I am 0 for 5  I havent killed anything no grouse, rockchucks nuthin but I keep getting sucked back in.......its a sickness...

[kglacken]

If you are in it just for the kill, then i suggest you do give it up. it can be extremely frustrating and time consuming and it does cost a ton of money and time! If all you want is a successful hunt then it isnt worth it. However, I love archery hunting for multiple reasons. Longer seasons, better timing of seasons, less people, and a challenge! There is nothing like a perfect arrow flying to your intended target, but for me, its more about the hunt. its tougher and it challenges you mentally. I didnt kill an animal until my third or fourth year bow hunting, but when it happened, I was estatic. all the time and effort was worth it. Just something to keep in mind! 

[PlateauNDN]

What 300 said and run.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Benefits?  There are benefits?    

[snowpack]

What kind of deer are you hunting for?  Blacktail make me want to give up all the time and I've been doing this for 3 decades.
I find that as far as season timing goes, modern is generally better timed for deer.  Unless you did a lot of scouting early in the season and want to get a buck you've been watching right away...then archery is good.  But it almost sounds like you covered too much territory and didn't tear up their turf. 

[Sandberm]

I can see where it would be frustrating. As with any hobby,hunting by archery can be expensive and it seems like, with any hobby, you really have to spend a lot of time at it to be good. Time most of us as adults just dont really have.

 Starting tomorow I will be in my third year of trying to get a deer with my bow. I suppose Ive made it even more dificult on myself by going with a recurve bow, but thats how I got introduced to the sport and I really enjoy shooting my recurve.

I must say though that over the past two years I have had an absolute blast hunting deer despite not being able to tag one. I enjoy the scouting, the planing and I even find it humorous the amount of failure I have in trying to get within 30 yds of  a deer....any deer.  I spot, I stalk, I circle around, I circle again, I hunker down and wait, and after hours of this I grow impatient and the deer spot me and run. At the end of the day I am spent, completely worn out. I go home and whine to my wife and then I get up early the next day and do it all over again.

[Harborhunter]

You still have till the end of the year!  Keep hunting!

[bobcat]

Have you only been hunting for blacktail deer? If so, before you give up on hunting entirely, give whitetails or mule deer a try. Blacktails are really tough to hunt and it can be tough to stay motivated when you hunt for many days without seeing a deer.

Mule deer and whitetails certainly don't always come easy, but you're much more likely to at least see deer, even if they're not legal animals.

I would also recommend that you buy the multi season deer tag. Yes it's another $180 you'll have to spend, but for a new hunter, I think the extra time it will allow you to hunt will be invaluable.

I'm considering giving up on blacktails myself. They seem like they're almost to the point of being an endangered species in many areas. This year my group felt fortunate to see just one doe per day. That's how bad it's become.

[coachcw]

leave the weapon in the truck and you will see plenty of game 

[gonehuntin68]

If it was easy it would not be fun.   

[MLBowhunting]

Pm me I have a few spots I can take you too

[pope]

Four years here and no deer. But I had a shot at a superb buck last year and this year, my only opportunity came when a tall spike walked under my tree stand. I was at a mandatory meeting at work, at 8 a.m. on a Saturday. I checked my trail cam and learned of my misfortune. I also had a primer blow up in my face at the range, and Remington turned my rifle around in 2-1/2 weeks with a new bolt, trigger, the works!

My advice....don't give up on archery. Where I hunt there are plenty deer and in September, they reliably visit open areas where you'd find them in the summer. By October they are in the shadows, but they're still there. Also, don't drive. There are deer within 45 minutes of where most of us live. More homework, less driving.

The only reason I'm still interested in blacktails is because of how challenging they are. I started hunting because I was looking for something to replace the thrill and challenge of rock climbing. I was prepared to be disappointed but instead, I'm finding the excitement is in trying to figure out and plan how to approach next season.

[patton1]

I'm 31 years old and have been hunting with a bow since I was 12. I've given up bow hunting probably 15-20 times for one reason or another. It's a real Love/Hate relationship but I love it way more than I could ever hate it. Hopefully this is NOT a real "Giving up" moment. If nothing else at least try with a rifle or muzzy. Maybe you'll come back to archery after you have some success with another weapon.