Advice for skunked hunter

[GWP]

I will throw in here that your hunt may not be over just because dimwits pop in. If they are moving they may push the deer out ahead of them and not even know they did it.
If you can, watch ahead for movement, then wait until the cabbage heads have passed and watch behind as many time critters will circle around and come back right to where they were before they were disturbed.
If there are two of you it is a good tactic to go up hills staggered so you push them to each other. Another time to go slow. Just watch the direction you are shooting!
If you are a ‘meat hunter’ keep in mind salvage deer. You have to have gear close to hand, but it can pay off.
Many places have WAY too many deer, say from Montesano West for instance, but finding public land, or private, that hunting is allowed is an issue.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

Hunt units with good seasons.  Many wet side units have late buck hunts.  I'd focus on one of those units primarily.  Saves money, home every night, get to know the unit, two seasons.  I used to drive past deer to hunt deer, then I got lazy/efficient.  Now I hunt deer and elk near home because that's where they live.  My family life is better and so's my freezer.  Find a good deer trail a few miles in past a gate, set out some food or salt and post up down wind of that spot on opening morning.  When you're ready, maybe get a bow and/or black powder and get a multiseason tag.  Still cheaper than out of state hunts and really elongates your season.  Once the little one is playing sports etc, you might need a few more options.  Hunt units where you can shoot a doe.  Doe meat is some of the best there is.  Try to make sure she is without a youngin.  I'm no expert been hunting deer and elk for only 8 years or so, but I've managed to kill quite a few in that time period.  Private land access has been key. Try to get on private that butts up to some heavier hunted areas.  Deer will find a refuge on that private.  Best of all, if you have to eat tag soup, you'll have spent some quality time in the woods learning more for next season.  I think many of the seasoned hunters on here can attest that sometimes the anticipation of a hunt or of what's over the next ridge is just as valuable as the meat in the freezer.  Good Luck out there!

[GWP]

Forgot to mention, the last deer I took was in Ft Lewis. While there are a few hoops to jump through to be able to hunt there, deer are plentiful.
I did archery. As has been stated, you don’t need to be able to hunt to learn how to shoot a bow. It is great fun, and pretty addictive.

[savagehunter]

Lots of good advice. I like to get up above where I have a vantage. Hunt and glass edges. Treelines gully edges anything that gives the animal a way to move and blend in or be hard to see. Shade is another good place to really look into. I see way more animals staying in one place and really picking apart the terrain then moving which I feel pushes alot of animals. Get there early and leave late hunt the worst weather if going after blacktails. Set up or hunt into the wind. If they smell you its all over. If you are moving move slower than a feeding deer. They can pick up on human cadence let alone talking on your phone. Look behind you they are sneaky.

[Will]

Tons of great advice, it's really nice to see all the shared experiences here. "Learning in progress' each time I visit this site, thank you all. Hopefully one day I'll also contribute 

[huntnfmly]

Lots of great advice
In my opinion you’ve already been successful anytime out in the woods hunting is successful
It can be frustrating for sure but keep at it

[fishnfur]

A few years back I saw that the average tag fill rate for deer during rifle seasons was 25% give or take.  That means that the average hunter fills a tag every 4 years.  (obviously some never hunt, some hunt and never fill a tag, and some fill every year, some fill a tag but do not report - but to set a broad expectation, Wa rifle hunters on average fill a tag every 4 years).

Early in my days I found that modifying my glassing technique helped me see more animals.

I sit in an area where I can see pretty well.  I set up my spotting scope (just a Leupold compact 15-30 set on 15X) and starting at the closest range (because that is what will spook first), I scan from far left to far right.  Then I move the scope up one sight picture, and move back right to left.  Then up one sight picture and go left to right again.  Repeat until all viewable locations have been looked at. In this way I can cover an entire large hillside in a grid like pattern.  Then I do rescan the entire hillside a second or even third time.  Any time I see something suspicious, I zoom in and watch for a while.  If a deer does not materialize, I make a mental note and re-check that spot every 1-2 cycles of my scan.

Once I started this disciplined scanning method my sightings increased 10x. After a few years of scanning you start to get an eye for it.  Odd shape here that turns out to be an ear.  An area that looks a little too tan, a fleck of white.  I am far from good, but I get better every year.

Deer hide in plain sight - its like their lives depend on it.

I think Rob's and 7mm ideas about learning to glass effectively might just solve your problems.  East side or West side - you have to be meticulous in glassing every potential spot a deer could bed, stand, or travel.  Sometimes you get lucky and they are just standing there for you.  Most times - not so much so. 

You have to glass slow and spend time in each field of view picking apart every little thing that might be just a small part of a bigger deer.  White face/butt, leg patches, horizontal back and belly lines, twitching ears, anlter tine tips, round butts,  black forehead & black nose/eyes (Blacktail).  Once you've covered the area, repeat several times.  I'm always amazed to watch how Muley hunters pick out bucks bedded in grass or in the shade of distant trees on TV hunting shows.  If you're confident that there are a lot of deer in your area, sit tight and keep glassing.  Deer appear out of nowhere - over and over again, I've glassed a spot many times with no results, then the next time through, "poof" there's a deer standing in the exact spot you were glassing 3 minutes ago.  When new to it, finding a deer while glassing improves your confidence with each success that you can acutally do it well, which will ultimately keep you in the glass longer and improve your ability to find deer.

Good luck.  Enjoy the process and your time outdoors. 

[hughjorgan]

Hey all,
I'm really just looking for some advice, here's a little backstory. I've been hunting for 3 years now, I've spent one year pursuing blacktail, one year pursuing muleys and this year I'll be trying for a mule deer again. Here's my issues, I just cannot for the life of me find a deer. I've spent quite some time glassing, the only time I've seen a deer on public land while scouting/hunting was two does. I'm not going to say that I'm feeling discouraged, but I'm really wondering how much longer it'll take me to finally find a buck, any buck let alone a legal one.
On the west side, I found plenty of fresh sign and I'll chalk it up to fact that they were nocturnal. But on the east side, I find a lot of old sign and for the life of me I cannot find anything fresh and I feel like with the ability to cover so much ground out east by glassing that I should at least be able to find something.
On the east side, I've spent most of my time in GMU 336, 340 and 346. What should I be looking for to find these bucks? I've hiked all over different terrain and it almost seems devoid of life.
Any advice would be really appreciated for someone trying feed his family fresh meat.
Thank you guys.

Your problem is where you are hunting. You can’t find what isn’t there. Central wa has the worst mule deer hunting in the state; look at the hunting statistics for success.

Head to North CEntral or NE Wa and you’ll do better.

[Buzzsaw461]

Hey all,
I'm really just looking for some advice, here's a little backstory. I've been hunting for 3 years now, I've spent one year pursuing blacktail, one year pursuing muleys and this year I'll be trying for a mule deer again. Here's my issues, I just cannot for the life of me find a deer. I've spent quite some time glassing, the only time I've seen a deer on public land while scouting/hunting was two does. I'm not going to say that I'm feeling discouraged, but I'm really wondering how much longer it'll take me to finally find a buck, any buck let alone a legal one.
On the west side, I found plenty of fresh sign and I'll chalk it up to fact that they were nocturnal. But on the east side, I find a lot of old sign and for the life of me I cannot find anything fresh and I feel like with the ability to cover so much ground out east by glassing that I should at least be able to find something.
On the east side, I've spent most of my time in GMU 336, 340 and 346. What should I be looking for to find these bucks? I've hiked all over different terrain and it almost seems devoid of life.
Any advice would be really appreciated for someone trying feed his family fresh meat.
Thank you guys.

Have you hunted the 4 day late hunt in November? That’s when I have not only seen the most deer but have taken the majority of my Blacktail Bucks. Key is to stay out in the woods from dawn to dusk.

[Mudman]

Go local.  Find an area low in hunters with varied cuts and timber.  Get away from roads.  Take a step every 3-5 seconds.  I find walking too fast is problem for many.  Move slow all the time.  Sneak up to bottom timber line of cuts.  I find bucks like to be down there bedding?

[h2ofowlr]

It would be interesting to learn more about your scouting techniques.  If your not seeing anything, it could be the time of day, locations your scouting or the method.  I am always scouting when I drive and I can see areas that just look to good, to not have a deer in them.  I am sure others do the same.  When I am scouting I am looking for sign, tracks, trails, eaten down fresh growth, smell, droppings, etc.  If all the sign is their, your timing is off.  They may be coming through early morning, mid day, evening or night.  You just need to get a pattern, many rely on trail cameras and bait to get animals.  I am old school and successful at it.  Not a trophy hunter and would be more than happy hanging my tag on a nice fat doe every season.  More about the table fare in our house hold as we eat venison or elk 2-3 times a week as available.  If you do finally harvest one, don't post it up saying it is "small", if you harvest one and willing to pull the trigger, it's a trophy.  A great animal and no need to compare it to someone elses.  Every animal I harvest is my trophy through the work I have put in and I am excited about it. 

[huntnfmly]

 “If you do finally harvest one, don't post it up saying it is "small", if you harvest one and willing to pull the trigger, it's a trophy.  A great animal and no need to compare it to someone elses.  Every animal I harvest is my trophy through the work I have put in and I am excited about it.” 

This is spot on and we’ll said