Thoughts on hunting this weekend anyone?

[JerryKern]

Anyone think the blacktail bucks will be out moving this weekend?? Getting a little nervous that I’m going to come up empty handed

[Platensek-po]

With rain and the dates this weekend should be good. Either way get out there and look for em! Deer will be outside moving around.

[Feathernfurr]

You should be hunting every single opportunity you get. Regardless of the conditions, or the circumstances, time in the woods is one of the biggest factors in harvesting an animal. In a perfect world it’s paired with hundreds of hours scouting during the pre season on top of years of experience and knowledge of the area you’re hunting. If you don’t have those things to point you in the right direction, then you need to be in the woods as much as you can be. Please don’t take this harshly, but year after year I meet people who say “oh I didn’t get my buck/deer/elk this year” and I ask how much time they spent hunting and they say 1-3 days. That’s just not a realistic amount of time. Maybe if you’re just looking to harvest the first animal that’ll give you a shot, but even then it’s not super likely. If you take it a step further and you’re pursuing a mature buck/bull, you need to be hunting every evening or morning that your work/life allows. I’ve had years that it has taken an entire 3 month season to connect on a mature buck, hunting multiple days a week.


Long story short, whether you think they’re moving or not, you should be going. As many people like to say “can’t kill em from the couch”

[ducks4days]

You wont kill any deer sitting at home watching TV. A sunny day in the woods provides more opportunity than any day not in the woods. Go out and get you some.

[westsidehntr]

Go out and enjoy the hunt. It’s not only about killing that makes a successful season. Take the pressure off yourself!

[GASoline71]

Why nervous?  Get out there and hunt my friend.  A harvest is just one fraction of the hunt!  Also coming up empty handed at the end of the season is another fraction.  However, it is usually the larger fraction.  Don't base your hunts on success alone. It's supposed to be an enjoyable and peaceful time in the woods and mountains. Not making a harvest is not failure.

Gary

[brew]

Go hunt.  Had a real nice buck in my backyard yesterday at 10:15 am

[Sakko300wsm]

Like GAS said harvesting an animal is just a portion of a great hunt! This last week I could of taken four different 3 point mule deer from 20 yrds to 125 yrds. But I came home empty handed and it was still one of the best solo hunts I have been on. Many different ways to measure success
Just get after it and have fun. And yes there will be blacktail out

[IslandHunter]

I know what you mean. I didn't get out hunting this past weekend and it was perfect conditions for BT hunting. I assumed the nasty weather would continue through the end of the season but its not looking that way. Weather is looking pretty mellow but we are also getting closer to the rut so even with dry, windless, sunny days the deer will be moving.

Ill be hunting this weekend. Might sit in my stand more instead trying to still hunt through the thick brush since I won't have any wind or rain to cover the noise I will be making but definitely will be out there.

[ljsommer]

I work a lot and have a house to manage (chores, repairs, estate management and planning) plus obligations to my wife and two young kids (6y and 18mo), not to mention any effort to maintain my own fitness which has sadly failed me as other priorities took my time from self-development. Any time in the woods for hunting is weighed against that list, so I have to prioritize which days I get out there, and unfortunately the result is that I am not in the woods very frequently.
It's always a balancing act, and so I have to try to set myself up for success as much as possible by identifying the most opportune times.

Add in a 1 hour drive each way plus a 1 hour hike into wherever you're going and the windows of absence get large enough that it requires a lot of pre-planning. I love my life now and wouldn't trade it for the world, but it sure was a lot easier to get out and scout all the time when I was a bachelor and it was just me and my dog in the woods together all day!

[JerryKern]

Yeah I’ve scouted all summer and been hunting every weekend. It’s my first season. I’ve missed to bucks because I get impatient and start walking. Learning from my mistakes just not seeing that many bucks is all.

[fishngamereaper]

If your hunting north Mason there's not allot of bucks left...

10 years ago you'd see a dozen deer each trip to the woods.
Now it's pretty sparse.

I'd get a couple miles from a gate, find a fresh rub line in 4-5 year old prod,  adjacent to a creek with thick timber and just sit.

Friday evening before the big low and Sat am after it moves through will be perfect.

[WSU]

This weekend should be good!

[shorthair15]

i agree with the rain the deer will be moving around. l

[follow maggie]

The deer are always there. When I lived in Washington I usually saw more blackmail with a light rain. Get out & hunt. Your chances are exactly 0% sitting on the couch & there a limited number days to hunt.