The I'm discouraged thread

[Sundance]

Nothing taints a season worse for me then discouragement, there have been a few where through circumstances have literally ruined my fall. This year I’m actively hunting with my two sons (9 and 7-years-old) as much as possible. They are going to do hunters Ed this winter, so for now they are just watching. I bought them all the good gear (to look like dad), make the hot cocoa and snacks, pack the comfy chairs, and get them to the easiest access spots for deer. We have yet to see a deer while they’ve been out with me, and when I’ve gone solo it’s been more of the same. Trying to keep them positive is a constant battle, the areas I hunt aren’t open and we don’t see 20 animals a day. I keeping reeling them stories, showing them the antlers in the house and stressing perseverance to them.
Washington is a difficult state, there are so many other states with higher deer populations and better quality animals/hunts. There is something to be said for a person that can consistently harvest animals here, especially on public land. I only know how to grind, it’s been the strategy that worked best for me. Last night I was taking to the boys about my 2020 buck which was my largest deer, taken on the last day of the season after six days of not seeing a deer. We’ll be out there tomorrow, it just takes one.

[vandeman17]

We spent 5 days in Idaho last week, put on a lot of miles, glassed a ton of good country and I saw 8 total deer, 3 does and 5 yearlings while the other guy didn't see a single deer. Sure gets hard to wake up early, lace the boots up and head into the hills when its like that. 

[Pacific Ghost]

This weekend will be slow as well, but it will pick up later next week with more favorable weather and moving closer to the rut. Strictly speaking to the west side with this comment.

[pd]

This weekend will be slow as well, but it will pick up later next week with more favorable weather and moving closer to the rut. Strictly speaking to the west side with this comment.

 

This.  Exactly that.

I buy the rifle tag every year, but hunt with a bow.  I don't even bother to try until the last 3 or 4 days of October.  In the meantime, I live on the stories from my hunting buddy above.

Humptulips, you have hunted for far longer than almost any old fart on the forum.  You will connect, for sure.  Have another cup of coffee, then git out there!

[timberfaller]

Not discouraged, just smart!   First time since 1972, I've didn't purchase a hunting license or tags.

All my former hunting grounds have gone sour, by way of wolves and at times fires.  Fire areas used to rebound after a year or two and some areas during active fires going on(controlled burns).

Have heard from friends who have been successful this season, 95% of them were taken on private property.  I have hunted public lands most of my life, the areas have plenty of water and food and wolf tracks but no deer.

Money I've saved on gas and tags will go to buying beef this year!!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

You guys have the wrong attitude. I am never discouraged when I am in the woods. Just happy to be there. And the older I get, the happier I am.  Not being able to go hunting, now that would be discouraging.  My hunting pard came down with lung cancer this year and will soon be starting chemo. Hes not going to be able to hunt much this year, but we are going out tomorrow. Most of the rest of the year will be on my own, and that is a little discouraging too. Nice to have company. But I will enjoy myself regardless. 

Priorities!

[Rugsnfeathers]

Discouraged - No.  The reason being, is that, I consider being in the woods as an annual reboot of myself from life's hustle and bustle living in the I-5 corridor to make a decent living.  When I go hunting, I don't expect to bring home anything, just my refreshed mind, but tired body from the miles of walking.  If the mind doesn't quit, the body keeps going.  Case in point, I've been going to an area to hunt for deer, bear, and by luck cougar for the last 9 years (been hunting close to 50 years) and this place was only kind enough to give me a bear, and two whitetail deer.  This year, I shot the biggest whitetail deer in my life, a 6 x 5 on the same mountain.  Again, I wasn't expecting anything, but I got rewarded.  I've got a collection of caribou, elk, bear, antelope, deer hanging on my wall, all public land, and all from my effort.  The camaraderie at camp, plus this year, I'm mentoring three new hunters, plus my own annual brain reboot is why I keep on going to the woods.  I've also hunted solo countless times, as well as lost numerous buddies from natural death or by way of disease.  I miss them a lot.  Yes, I feel the pain at the gas pump.  I'm looking forward in two weeks hunting for elk with the same group of young hunters, plus old hunting buddies.  I don't want to show or tell the young hunters any hint of discouragement, or they will fall off the hunting ladder as quick as they started.  Instead, I ask them, what was the reason they wanted to start hunting - all three said, just the excitement of being in the woods.  Well then, I tell them, make that your focus, and if you get an animal, that's just the bonus. 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Rugsnfeathers, you get it.

[OutHouse]

I've hunted a lot his year primarily in GMU 231 and its very different this year IMO. All numbers are down. There was the fire in summer 2021 and I didn't notice any difference in numbers until this year. The whitetail and mules (obviously) in my area are hurting I think. Opening morning, heard one shot and another in the afternoon. Normally, would hear 20 shot throughout the day or more. I live in Yakima County and am thinking to give it a shot around here for crying out loud! However, I don't  get discouraged like I used to. Its just the way of nature and heck I get to spend more time in the woods. In fact, I am thinking about hitting a trail in Rimrock unit (of all places to hunt deer) where I have seen deer in the past just to mix it up. Best of luck everyone!

[hunter399]

With deer population so low for some areas.
General season tags are mega millions ticket.
Pay to play , odds of winning very low.
Can't win if you don't play.

I think that sums it up for me.

[Special T]

For those of you that are frustrated I get it, but if ungulates numbers are low that means plenty of predators. Try shifting focus to bears and ccats that are plentiful. Rumors are elk will go draw only and they will reduce opportunities for predators so start sharpening your predator skills before the rush.

Everyone wants to bring some meat home but usually it's the views, friends, and clean air.

[JakeLand]

For blacktail im excited the last couple days of October everything before that us just bonus scouting time

[BigCutty3]

My guess is Humptulips is hunting the same ground he has for many years….familiar ground, areas with lots of memories made and animals harvested.  And likely is watching his home ground in a a state of decline.  He knows what the ground was capable of producing, what its potential is, and it just isn’t what it used to be.  It is discouraging.  I can identify as over the years I have watched this same pattern in several of my hunting areas, both east side for mulies and west side for blacktail.  I still get out and spend time in the woods, but it is with lower expectations of a harvest.  It’s still enjoyable, but it is different.  Areas where you used to see 20 deer in a morning, you are happy to see a handful. And I know I’m not the only one, many of my friends who used to hunt the timberlands have given that up and now shoot their deer over feeders or salt in their backyard.  That’s just not my gig, but I don’t look down on it.

[Alchase]

For those of you that are frustrated I get it, but if ungulates numbers are low that means plenty of predators. Try shifting focus to bears and ccats that are plentiful. Rumors are elk will go draw only and they will reduce opportunities for predators so start sharpening your predator skills before the rush.

Everyone wants to bring some meat home but usually it's the views, friends, and clean air.

 

Great advise, and it keeps you in the field!
I have not hunted black tail since moving south, but after a dry spell in the early 2000s.  If I remember correctly, I believe it was one of the Benoit Brothers books on Trophy Black tail hunting, that explained how most Black tail bucks, actually have very small core areas. And finding the core areas, and bedding areas was the key to their Trophy Black tails. I started hunting up fingers instead of clear cuts. I would find a finger in the timber and just hunt up it slowly, glassing constantly.
I immediately saw way more deer then I had in the past.

I never got discouraged by hunting, though I did get thoroughly disgusted by what I saw in some hunters. And I did get very tired of hunting in constant rain at times.

Keep at it, remember being in the woods anytime, is better then working or doing Honey Dos while other are out hunting.

 

[Humptulips]

My guess is Humptulips is hunting the same ground he has for many years….familiar ground, areas with lots of memories made and animals harvested.  And likely is watching his home ground in a a state of decline.  He knows what the ground was capable of producing, what its potential is, and it just isn’t what it used to be.  It is discouraging.  I can identify as over the years I have watched this same pattern in several of my hunting areas, both east side for mulies and west side for blacktail.  I still get out and spend time in the woods, but it is with lower expectations of a harvest.  It’s still enjoyable, but it is different.  Areas where you used to see 20 deer in a morning, you are happy to see a handful. And I know I’m not the only one, many of my friends who used to hunt the timberlands have given that up and now shoot their deer over feeders or salt in their backyard.  That’s just not my gig, but I don’t look down on it.

This is exactly spot on. I have been out chasing blacktails in N GH county since 1967. I thought we had pretty good hunting until about 20 years ago but now every year I say it can't get any worse and it does. 7 days hunting and still only 4 deer. It is just so sad what a wonderful area I live in, and it has been run into the ground by poor, dare I say reprehensible mismanagement.
I have killed a buck on the last day of season before so I'm not giving up but it would sure lift my spirit to see a few does. It almost seems like a way of life is coming to an end.