Heart breaking end to a disappointing season...

[longstevo]

What a terrible season.  Nothing worked for us.  First week, conditions were too dry, and this weekend, the deer were still kegged up in preperation of the storm.   

Saw a small buck on Monday the first, and that was all for antlered critters.  Until today.  I saw a nice heavy horned guy right off the bat, but he was above me across the draw about 100+ yards.  I didn't even try a shot.  Couldn't pick up his tracks in the dry, powdery snow.  Hunted all morning long without seeing a deer until I was hunting back low and saw the biggest deer I'd ever seen in this area.  Easily a heavy four point.  But he was packing the bags and leaving quick.

I got on his trail (making a long story short here) and caught up with him three times after tracking him for nearly two miles uphill, downhill, sidehill and everywhere else.  I could have tried a shot about about 70+ yards, but he was heading away from me, so I passed.  Had no chance the second time he showed himself, and the third time, all I had were his head and neck.  I tried the shot but missed cleanly.  Then I lost his tracks in the snow.   

And then I had to hike back to the truck 2 miles in knee deep snow! 

[boneaddict]

So goes hunting, but it sounds like a heck of a hunt at the end.  Cna't ask for much more than that other than notching a tag.  Just think if you would have hit him, then the hike back in knee deep snow with another hundred pounds or more on your back.

[CP]

Sounds like a great hunt.  Beats staying home watching the Seahawks.  You’ll get him next time.

[rasbo]

well bad one for me too..Maybe we could all make some tag sammies and go cat hunting?

[deaddog]

Sounds like a great hunt.  Beats staying home watching the Seahawks.  You’ll get him next time.

sad but true 

[Amsdad]

Longstevo,
I feel for you. Seems to have been that kind of season. I didn't get the chance to get out in the early season due to work and the late season was a total bust for me. All my favorite haunts and hardly a deer to be found. Bad weather for hunting.
So I dedicated the last 3 days of the season, weather be damned, to putting meat in the freezer and except for a few does I pass in the dark of night, no deer about. So the last day I am out before the sun, clear as a bell and cold as hell. But the deer are at least moving by the tracks I am seeing. But thats all I'm seeing is tracks. So its 11am, walking down a gated road in Lincoln Creek trying to find a way onto this bench that parallels the road. The crisp snow is making my progress known to every critter for a mile. I look up and there is a nice fat doe standing on that bench staring at me from about 80 yds. I'm in the open so I take the offhand shot and miss cleanly. The doe stands there looking at me while I furiously reload, but then gets bored as I am taking too long and with a short little walk and a hop is over the bench and gone.
Man, I love hunting. Can't wait for next season.

[robb92]

U did better than me, haven't even gottne out to do any smoke pole hunting.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I wonder what could be so disapointing about a hunting season, aside from wounding and losing an animal...

[longstevo]

So goes hunting, but it sounds like a heck of a hunt at the end.  Cna't ask for much more than that other than notching a tag.  Just think if you would have hit him, then the hike back in knee deep snow with another hundred pounds or more on your back.

Yeah, I had thought about that.     Sure saved a lot of work by not hitting him!

[huntnphool]

Thats how it goes sometime, better luck next year.

[1bowhunter1]

Your not alone on the worst season ever...LMAO!! 

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

So i would like to know... Did you have a shot, did you get excited, do you want it to happen again? I would actually qualify that as a successful hunt. Remember it is not always about puting your tag on an animal. When people realise that they will become a whole lot more successful, and ethical.

People do unethical things mostly because of pressure to perform. When you remove that pressure you will perform much better.

And i must say, i am not saying anything you did was unethical, just making a point.

[longstevo]

Hmm...

I may have come off wrong.  I was raised and taught by my father to hunt by the slogan "All you can ask for is opportunity."  And I live that fully. 

Yes, I did see a buck.  Yes, I did get excited.  Yes, I did shoot.  And yes, I did enjoy myself. 

Did I get disappointed?  Hell yeah!  But as I sit here five days later, I am proud that I actually hunted him as hard as I did and am proud to have seen him.  But my own personal definition of a 'successful' hunt is meat in the freezer. 

So, in that light, our hunt was unsuccessful, but enjoyable nonetheless.  And I would do it again, much as I have in the last three (now four) unsuccessful muzzleloader seasons.   

[mossback91]

I wonder what could be so disapointing about a hunting season, aside from wounding and losing an animal...

Ive never had a bad hunting season...........as long as I get to get out in the woods and chase animals around......

[Hacksaw]

So, in that light, our hunt was unsuccessful, but enjoyable nonetheless.  

Enjoyable, yet unsuccessful. That seems to sum up most of my muzzleloader adventures. Just keep in mind, though, that you were successful at gaining some good experience that might help you the next time you chase that big boy around.