about to give up hunting all together

[Jonathan_S]

I expect this is getting past the reasonable read time.  Perhaps later I will share my approaches to the rut during wet and cold and post rut archery hunts when frosty and stable...if you would like me to.[/i]

I am not alone in saying...share on!

[RadSav]

Took me forever to write that bits at a time while tax audit reports were printing.  Good to take my mind off of work.  But I'm thinking some shut eye is in order.  Will try to make some sense and wrap up after my power nap

[GBoyd]

Thanks for all the tips in this thread, guys. I've learned a lot reading through this.

Did you catch that he mentioned not finding much deer sign? He said that he'd only rarely see poop and no tracks. It sounds like he needs to look in to different areas altogether. Personally, I don't bother to spend time glassing if I'm not at least seeing some evidence that I'm in a good spot for deer.

[RadSav]

Did you catch that he mentioned not finding much deer sign? He said that he'd only rarely see poop and no tracks. It sounds like he needs to look in to different areas altogether. Personally, I don't bother to spend time glassing if I'm not at least seeing some evidence that I'm in a good spot for deer.

Western Washington home of the monster clearcut!  Can be zero sign at the top of a cut and ripped to pieces at the bottom.  I always glass.  If I'm there...might as well make the best of it!

My last big buck was taken during rifle season.  I don't think I had seen a single track in the two hours prior.  Was really just taking a mid day break looking for some Toutle elk to take a picture of.  Elk spooked and jumped into some thick brush and out pops a grand daddy timber racker!  He didn't know what was going on!  About the time he shook loose the confusion there was an Accubond in his heart    "Preparation meets opportunity" name of the game in blacktail country!!

[sirmissalot]

I saw 23 deer last night in a couple hours. I still can't imagine just seeing 2 does in four years. It would sure help if he would tell us some more info, I'd say where ever he lives and hunts is his problem but vail is loaded with deer and he said he's hunted there...

[Tbob]

Hell man, I'm on a 10 year WA drout! Thats deer and elk! I usually hunt the early annnnnd late archery here on the west side. It gets frustrating as all hell, but I love being out there . Especially just creeping along slowly by myself through the woods. I get a lot of thinking done, see some beautiful country and see a critter every now and again. All my brothers make fun of me and tell me to just buy a side of beef as it would be cheaper and taste better. I just shrug it off as they are the ones really missing out! One of these days I know I'll connect, hopefully sooner than later as I think this will be my last hunting season here in WA and I'd love to get one before I have to move for work (March). I'd love to get one, but if I don't, it's all good and I'll never give up. I get to see things that most people never get to experience just being out there in all seasons.. Good enough for me! This sight always keeps me motivated too, hearing everybody else's stories of success, lack of success and all the crazy info I have gotten on here by either asking or reading posts like this keep me going strong! Heading back out to sit in the windy rain on saturday myself! One of these days I know I'll be successful, but for now I just feel lucky I get to at least get out there and give it a go! Good luck to you man! As I am learning the older I get, the success is great, but I really enjoy the hunt!

[snowshoes22]

Scout as hard or harder than you hunt. Deer behavior changes when everyone else hits the woods. Scout for sign before season. Find where the deer hang out and you will find the deer. Look at harvest records like others have said. Put yourself in high percentage spots.  Don't give up. Find a mentor.

[billythekidrock]

Troll.

[sirmissalot]

Troll.

That's what I've been starting to think too. None of this makes sense.

[Procomplex]

Ha. That is exactly my situation.  I even burn a bunch of vacation time toget out there during the week. So im not bumping into people.  Im in Auburn, if ever want to go out and come home with nothing hit me up.  I told my wife this could be my last year. I even bought a jeep 2 weeks before to help me out. I was using my car last year. So it was alot of walking

[brew]

I'm gonna have to throw the B.S. flag on this one....there is absolutely no way anyone can reasonably hunt even a few years in this state without tagging a deer.  Yes i have the Vail permit this year but due to Eastern Washington archery elk hunting commitments have  not been able to get out into the area until yesterday for modern rifle.  I had the permit last year and hunted modern firearm as well.  Went out to Vail yesterday morning and by 9:30 (without scouting this year) only relying on last years trips saw 20 deer---3 of which were spikes.  hunted yesterday afternoon and saw a 2 pt and a 3 pt in the same clear cut 30 yards apart (budy"s young son couldn't get either of them in his scope).  went out this morning and was blanked...dam weather broke to partly sunny and sucked for hunting...went back out around 3 this afternoon and saw deer as soon as the rain started around 4....95% of them were in what I refer to as "nuclear" clearcuts....you know the ones with no green or trees in them---just bleached wood..have absolutely no idea what they are doing in these clearcuts but that is where i've been seeing them...saw 2 more spikes just before dark

[tgomez]

Quitting should be a sin. Never give up, that's why we call it hunting and not killing. Come to the east side, I'd be willing to show you some good productive areas to harvest some nice bucks. Hold your head up. And by the way my dad smokes cigarettes while hunting and gets a buck every year. You can boil pine needles, pine cones, dirt, and twigs in water to make your own scent killer. If your shooting a rifle scent elimination isn't real important, pops bow hunts with a stick bow smoking nails and gets err done! Can't get one sitting at home that is for sure. Keep at it and it will pay off. GOOD LUCK, AND GOOD HUNTING!!!!!

[lokidog]

Troll.

That's what I've been starting to think too. None of this makes sense.

Starting to think that as well, PMed an offer for late season and haven't heard a word back....   

[sirmissalot]

When you spend more time complaining about hunting on the Internet than actually hunting... Maybe you should give up.

Pick a couple hobbies and do them right, not 100 hobbies and do them all half ass.

Hunting around here is tough but that's what makes it fun. I hunt out of state nearly every year, in a lot more game rich areas and wouldn't give up hunting blacktails for any of it. The challenge and he reward of finally killing one is well worth it to me, and what I look forward to every year. Seeing two does in four years is either a lie or you just need to get off the internet complaining and get out in the woods and figure it out.

[runamuk]

This was me this year at the end of the season in fact I had a complete breakdown.  Note to middle aged female hunters PMS with new improved premenopause symptoms at the end of a hunting season was not a good mix.   

   This is my 6th season me 0.... deer are jerks.  Now that said only 2 of the 8 days of the season I did not see deer and that was in an area I discovered and the day I discovered it I walked into the middle of about 20 does and a spike.  I felt good about the spot so went back the next day saw 0 deer and 0 deer on the drive in, ok I know there are deer give it one more day still a fat zero so, I returned to the area I usually hunt.  I saw deer just nothing I can shoot   In fact I got angry told the universe that I quit and started stomping off the ridge not halfway down bazinga herd of deer with a forked horn and a spike 
Next year I am quitting sooner

but seriously if there is sign there are deer it took me the first couple years on the wetside to figure out even how to see those blacktails, once I did I saw lots of deer just never the ones I could shoot.

due to some unforseen issues I have an elk tag and if I can wing it I will hunt 1 day, and I have not seen elk in any of the usual spots so I am really gambling.  but I wont have an attack of mood swings to fight off.

and yes it is really hard when a bunch of people who have killed animals keep saying its not about the killing uh huh ok, and actually its not, but it stings. 

And I hunt almost entirely alone even if I go with someone we rarely stay together once I am out there alone I usually feel good, the sea of pumpkins has bothered me some I get sick of getting scoped.  But otherwise I am slowly seeing the animals they shove around and never saw.  I had to hunt around work as well so morning hunts after working evening/nights.  One of these years I am gonna actually go to the woods and stay there for even 3-4 days would be awesome.