Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: CoryTDF on October 18, 2013, 06:42:48 AM

Title: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: CoryTDF on October 18, 2013, 06:42:48 AM: My little brother in law was upset last night because his brother went hunting with him and shot a deer. His older brother only hunted one day was able to kill a deer and it really upset the little guy as he has been hunting all season with no luck. I tried to tell him that hunting is mostly about failing. More often than not the hunt does not work out. It's about learning from it and getting back out and trying again. I told him that it's just a "right place at the right time" game and the only way to get one is to just be out there trying. You cant shoot deer from the couch. He was pretty upset and said he didn't want to hunt anymore! I just want to see how long everybody else hunts so I can show him that not everybody shoots deer opening day.

My brother hunted my tree stand for 7 nights while i was elk hunting this year. I came home for one night to shower and do laundry and decided to sit in my stand. I was late to get into the stand and only sat for an hour and shot the best buck we had seen on cameras this year. Right place and the right time! Luck and fairness don't always overlap. My brother was not bent though as it was my stand anyway.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: crschralping on October 18, 2013, 07:40:33 AM: The last two years I've filled my deer tag on the opener. It is absolutely all about the right place at the right time.

Now bear hunting on the other hand, has kept me quite humble this year. Been out more times than I care to count and have seen one bear. My hunting partner took him. Am I bitter? Heck no, I got a bear last year he didn't.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: andrebeergog on October 18, 2013, 07:50:07 AM: I think it would also be interesting to capture whether the deer are being harvested on private or public land as well.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: Jonathan_S on October 18, 2013, 07:51:20 AM: Last three bucks I've killed on the third day, second day, and fifth day respectively.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: DeArBuCK4me on October 18, 2013, 08:05:03 AM: Thanks for posting that note: I haven't been able to get one and have hunted for a few years--I know one is coming and when it does I will celebrate and tell the world. Until then I will keep looking and learning.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: Rainier10 on October 18, 2013, 08:14:52 AM: I have shot them on opening day, the last and sometimes the next year, but never from the couch or my cot. Another thing I know is as a bowhunter, I have missed more animals than I have hit. My daughter was disappointed last year when she missed a cow elk and I told her even with all of the animals I have shot I have still missed more than I hit, buck fever gets everyone at some point, it just happens.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: lostbackpacker on October 18, 2013, 08:15:54 AM: It took many years for me to know the area I hunt. All the years of learning have now started to pay off. The past few years have been good. Sure there is still some "right place and right time", but I have really narrowed which area to be in for the "right place and right time" down.

Last year I went 2 for 2. Deer opening morning of deer season. Elk opening morning of elk season.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: mrmoskillz on October 18, 2013, 08:19:27 AM: Tell him not to feel to bad. It took me 30 years to kill my first deer. I have killed a deer for the last 4 years straight. 2 does and 1 buck with my bow and 1 buck with a rifle. If you don't count all the years it took to get my 1st one I would say I get a deer for every 5 solid days in the woods. My Son was 9 when he shot his 1st deer and was on his first day ever deer hunting. Right place right time. I was taught it's about being in the woods and learning and experiencing nature. If you are lucky enough to hang a tag on something well then that's just a bonus.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: D-Rock425 on October 18, 2013, 08:19:53 AM: Can't really vote I'm probably close to 15 or 20 days with archery gear.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: oldleclercrd on October 18, 2013, 08:27:02 AM: Quote from: D-Rock425 on October 18, 2013, 08:19:53 AM
Can't really vote I'm probably close to 15 or 20 days with archery gear.
:yeah: I was gonna say the same thing...
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: buckfvr on October 18, 2013, 08:39:59 AM: Thats a loaded question........many of us here pass on animals most would kill. Its about being at different points in your hunting life. Young/new hunters see a kill as success........I see hunting as seperate from killing, with killing being the culmination of a successful hunt, but a successful hunt does not require a kill.

Some of us like to hunt more than others........others prefer to kill something asap. Ive ate my share of tags by passing lesser bucks right up to the end. Hunting, like many other things in life, means different things to different people. I love to hunt, and will kill the right animal......but mostly, I love to hunt.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: nw_bowhunter on October 18, 2013, 08:48:19 AM: I had two opportunities opening weekend BUT both times there were other factors which didn't allow me to be successful. That's usually my luck have an opportunity but can't close the deal...When I younger made me mad now I just take it in and realize I'm hunting for the adventure. If I get one great and if I don't there is always next year...
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: lokidog on October 18, 2013, 09:30:56 AM: I said 5-7, though that is simply a guess for my 37 years of deer hunting. I have shot some on opening day and a couple the last day of the season, and more than eight years ago some seasons with no deer. It depends on the weapon as well, archery hunting has usually taken longer than rifle, though muzzleloader has been a long hunt a few times as well.

Don't even ask about elk though.... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: CoryTDF on October 18, 2013, 11:24:33 AM: Quote from: buckfvr on October 18, 2013, 08:39:59 AM
Thats a loaded question........many of us here pass on animals most would kill. Its about being at different points in your hunting life. Young/new hunters see a kill as success........I see hunting as seperate from killing, with killing being the culmination of a successful hunt, but a successful hunt does not require a kill.

Some of us like to hunt more than others........others prefer to kill something asap. Ive ate my share of tags by passing lesser bucks right up to the end. Hunting, like many other things in life, means different things to different people. I love to hunt, and will kill the right animal......but mostly, I love to hunt.

:yeah: but he is only 12 and right now it's all about the thrill of the kill be it a buck or a doe.
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: mikeybuck on October 18, 2013, 11:53:56 AM: Quote from: buckfvr on October 18, 2013, 08:39:59 AM
Thats a loaded question........many of us here pass on animals most would kill. Its about being at different points in your hunting life. Young/new hunters see a kill as success........I see hunting as seperate from killing, with killing being the culmination of a successful hunt, but a successful hunt does not require a kill.

Some of us like to hunt more than others........others prefer to kill something asap. Ive ate my share of tags by passing lesser bucks right up to the end. Hunting, like many other things in life, means different things to different people. I love to hunt, and will kill the right animal......but mostly, I love to hunt.

What he said!

Last buck I took was in 07, since then I've been real picky and this year it payed off
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: Rainier10 on October 18, 2013, 12:01:49 PM: Quote from: mikeybuck on October 18, 2013, 11:53:56 AM
Quote from: buckfvr on October 18, 2013, 08:39:59 AM
Thats a loaded question........many of us here pass on animals most would kill. Its about being at different points in your hunting life. Young/new hunters see a kill as success........I see hunting as seperate from killing, with killing being the culmination of a successful hunt, but a successful hunt does not require a kill.

Some of us like to hunt more than others........others prefer to kill something asap. Ive ate my share of tags by passing lesser bucks right up to the end. Hunting, like many other things in life, means different things to different people. I love to hunt, and will kill the right animal......but mostly, I love to hunt.

What he said!

Last buck I took was in 07, since then I've been real picky and this year it payed off

Welcome to the site :hello: and how about posting up that buck in the 2013 bucks thread?
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: igotbigbulls on October 18, 2013, 02:13:59 PM: 1st day or two. :bfg:
Title: Re: Average harvest. how many days??
Post by: boneaddict on October 18, 2013, 02:15:25 PM: Usually in the first 1-3 hours. This year I think I made it to 7 hours :chuckle: hard to tell really after 30+ years of harvesting a buck in Washington. Sooner or later