Post by: Rustang662k on October 15, 2017, 08:39:46 PM
I'm a new hunter. This is my third year. While I've had decent success with Turkeys and pheasant, deer hunting seems impossible to me. I live in Bothell and I have taken several approaches.
My first year I tried a couple of local forests, walking and sitting on clearcuts.
The next year I tried a trip to Colville as I reasoned they have abundant wildlife. I realized that it is so far away, that scouting is not realistic.
Last year I scouted the area North East of Leavenworth. I thought I found a decent area but come opening weekend so did 500 other people.
The closest place to me is Markworth Forest (behind Duvall). I have hunted there extensively without getting a deer. This year I bicycled in 4.5 miles to a nice clearcut. I went four times scouting with game cameras. I got some nice bobcat pictures but no deer. I was able to find some poop and tracks. So this year I went and sat on those clearcuts all weekend. Not even a doe in sight.
Am I doing this wrong? I have read a lot and done thorough map reconnaissance as well as scouting and still no deer! As I am sure most people do, when I am met with failure, I re-evaluate all of my decisions. I see three choices moving forward:
1) Buy a Weyerhauser pass for $250 to be able to access the logged areas in North Snohomish and Skagit counties. Western Washington seems problematic because of the dense underbrush.
2) Try to find a good hunting area in Okanogan County.
3) Hire a guide service.
I would much prefer option one or two. I get that everyone wants a utopia where the game is plentiful and there are few other hunters. I know that that doesn't exist and it is a challenge even for the best. But is it really this hard? I am curious to hear your collective input. Thank you in advance.
Post by: colersu22 on October 15, 2017, 08:50:00 PM
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on October 15, 2017, 08:56:28 PM
Post by: andr3wxmma on October 15, 2017, 09:04:00 PM
[edit] saw colville and thought you were east side :chuckle: if you're hunting do the opposite of everything i said because i cant kill them to save my life.
Post by: Tiger1358 on October 15, 2017, 09:14:43 PM
Post by: highside74 on October 15, 2017, 09:15:22 PM
Post by: Cervid on October 15, 2017, 09:34:40 PM
Post by: Rustang662k on October 15, 2017, 09:36:00 PM
Were the signs new that you saw in the clearcuts?Yes they were.
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Post by: JimmyHoffa on October 15, 2017, 09:41:50 PM
I know how you feel. I'm in my late 20s and have been hunting most of my life. Two deer. I've shot two freaking deer in all that time. Zero bear, zero elk. I couldn't even guess how many miles I've hiked and days I've spent in the woods. Starting to wonder if it's even worth it anymore.might need just a small tweak to one or two things--maybe timing or placement
Post by: Tiger1358 on October 15, 2017, 09:55:28 PM
Were the signs new that you saw in the clearcuts?Yes they were.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't give up, you're in the right place. Go to your spot early morning when it's dark, glass the clearcuts till around 11am or so, if nothing, just slowly walk the trails and roads. Sometimes you'll find them in thick timber while still hunting in midday. Later in the day, a couple hours before it gets dark, go back to your clearcuts and keep glassing. Rut season is very close, stick to your spot and they'll eventually show up. No need to buy any permits or anything, we're lucky to have a lotta public land to hunt.
Post by: JakeLand on October 15, 2017, 09:57:21 PM
You'll see them all before the season then the go nocturnal
Then the magic time which is the last couple days of October!!!!!
Be there way before it's light and stay until it's dark always be behind the binoculars
And scan the uphill side of the timber next to cuts
Trust me when you do connect it's all worth it
Post by: Cervid on October 15, 2017, 10:00:54 PM
I know how you feel. I'm in my late 20s and have been hunting most of my life. Two deer. I've shot two freaking deer in all that time. Zero bear, zero elk. I couldn't even guess how many miles I've hiked and days I've spent in the woods. Starting to wonder if it's even worth it anymore.might need just a small tweak to one or two things--maybe timing or placement
I know it's where I hunt. The Methow Valley blows. Opening day I had 9 other hunters on the same hillside as me. Tried to go deep in the mountains today, but no one is seeing deer with antlers, not even the local rancher I talked to. Problem is too many hunters and not enough public land that has deer on it. Or areas that do have deer people don't want to tell you where. I've made up my mind though, even after my family has been hunting this valley for generations and we have a place here, I will not be hunting it for modern firearm anymore. Maybe not even hunting here for deer period. Unless I somehow got access to private land near the river so I can shoot whitetails.
Post by: Crunchy on October 15, 2017, 10:14:09 PM
Post by: wooltie on October 15, 2017, 10:26:32 PM
I usually see does just about every time out in Marckworth.
There’s animals there. I think they just move around and you have to be in the right place at the right time unless you find a spot where they hang out a lot.
Post by: Rob Allen on October 15, 2017, 10:35:18 PM
if you don't find being out there reward enough maybe hunting isn't for you? I only say this because i am struggling too, i almost didn't but tags this year..
Post by: Seahawk12 on October 15, 2017, 10:44:05 PM
He would look me in the eye and ask "Do you hear that? I hear deer! They're laughing at you."
He was fun like that. And no. I didn't cause the health problems.
Hunting big game animals is a challenge. They are survivors. The reason that the success rate for hunting is low is due to the tactics of the animals more so than the tactics of the hunters.
The best advice I could give you is to commit as much time as possible learning a large area.
Don't just know the clearcut. Know every path into it. Know the timber for a mile in every direction around it. Know the different ways around that hill or over that ridge with the knowledge that the weather is going to cause them to seek different areas within their home range.
I hunted an area a few years ago that I had not put enough time into. I knew where there was good food and water sources with good trails and sign. I set up a blind and hunted it for several days. Finally, I still hunted up the ridge above the area and found several well used beds. Looking down from those bedding areas I realised that they had great sight lines on everything going on below them. They had been watching me waiting for them down by those food sources and probably laughing at me.
Had i commited the time in the off season I would have known that my tactics weren't going to work in that spot and I would have gone in with a better plan.
So again. Rather than changing the place you hunt (unless there are overwhelming numbers of hunters) consider learning the place incredibly well.
Best of luck to you.
Post by: jsnmac on October 16, 2017, 06:17:27 AM
Too often the measure of success we use for hunting is harvesting. Did you see any wildlife at all? Did you enjoy being outside in the wild? That's a successful hunt.
It took me three years to fill a tag. Just keep at it and enjoy the outdoors.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on October 16, 2017, 06:28:43 AM
Honestly it's a constant learning game. I've killed two deer in the last two years now (hoping to fill my 2nd deer tag in early December, making that 3 deer in 2 years). My buddy tagged a bear this year at our camp and will likely get both of his deer as well, and we're filling the freezer with tons of turkey between spring and fall. I can't remember the last time I scouted for bear or elk and didn't see big elk. Honestly my biggest issue now is trying to figure out how to find the time to dedicate to the multiple hunts I want to do. I dedicated time to deer and turkey this year, and guess what? I tagged deer and turkey. I didn't dedicate any real time to elk this year, and I didn't kill an elk.
If I could offer two pieces of advice:
1) Learn the animals. Learn what makes them tick. It'll narrow down where you want to scout and spend your time. After that, SCOUT. This is a tough state to learn how to hunt in. Ask a ton of questions on this forum - people love to help. Check out the WDFW Hunting Prospects and Harvest Reports. That'll help you find out where others are successful and where the animals aren't.
2) Invest TIME more than anything. I don't know your strategy, but I can tell you I know a lot of guys who buy a $40 tag, leave Friday after work and hunt until Sunday around lunch time for the opener and that is it. They kill an animal about once a decade on average. I don't think it's a coincidence that the guys who are on here filling tags/freezers/ regularly are the ones who are dedicating a lot of time to their hunts. It's not just another hobby to them - it's what they look forward to every season.
Keep your chin up. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. And remember, a bad day in the woods is generally still better than your typical day in the office! :tup:
Curtis
Post by: Rustang662k on October 16, 2017, 09:08:29 AM
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Post by: elkboy on October 16, 2017, 09:59:42 AM
As another posted, later in October can be better for blacktail, as they begin to pre-rut. I have grunted them in at this time using a mule deer grunt call (the Primo's one is pretty good). Also, the first storms of the fall can knock the broadleaf foliage down, opening up sight lines.
The books by Louis Terkla and Boyd Iverson are gold for the serious blacktail hunter. I highly recommend them.
https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Black-Tailed-Deer-Oregon-Perspective/dp/1878175181
https://www.amazon.com/Blacktail-Trophy-Tactics-Boyd-Iverson/dp/0963040502/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508172968&sr=1-2&keywords=boyd+blacktail
I had a lot of "non-successes" in my early years of hunting, which were on the west side of WA after blacktail deer. I used the disappointment to motivate me to learn even more about deer, become a better marksman/woodsman, and generally improve as a hunter. Keep after it. I promise you that hunting blacktails is a multiple-year endeavor, and that it is ultimately worth it.
Good luck to you!
Post by: JDHasty on October 16, 2017, 10:22:26 AM
Actually probably smelled or heard you, and identified you and they can and will sneak off w/o you knowing they were there. The other thing is a blacktail can be standing right there looking through foliage at a guy and unless he knows what to look for he can't see it.
It can seem counter intuitive when hunting in an area in which you cannot see fifty yards in any direction that your binocular is your friend, but believe me your binocular is your friend. Your sniffer is not going to allow you to identify and pretty much locate a deer, your ears may be a bit better, I heard a buck moving past my stand Sunday morning (I checked the tracks after I quit the stand around noon), so your eyes are pretty much all you have going for you and a binocular makes the difference quite often between seeing a BT deer and not seeing it.
Post by: Igottanewknee on October 16, 2017, 10:32:59 AM
Good luck!
Post by: fishsticks on October 16, 2017, 12:36:12 PM
Post by: Alchase on October 16, 2017, 02:42:30 PM
It is because they have figured out how to use the masses of people and deer instincts to their benefit.
You can be in the best deer area ever, and if you are not paying attention or taking precautions, you will never see a thing except by sheer chance.
I learned years ago, if you go where others do not, the deer will be there.
That does not necessarily mean seven miles in. That could be just a small transition zone that deer use when spooked. Believe me there are hundreds of these areas on a given mountain, you just need to find them.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on October 16, 2017, 02:47:54 PM
Have you noticed the same people come home with deer every year?
It is because they have figured out how to use the masses of people and deer instincts to their benefit.
You can be in the best deer area ever, and if you are not paying attention or taking precautions, you will never see a thing except by sheer chance.
I learned years ago, if you go where others do not, the deer will be there.
That does not necessarily mean seven miles in. That could be just a small transition zone that deer use when spooked. Believe me there are hundreds of these areas on a given mountain, you just need to find them.
I've said it a thousand times - you get away from 90% of the hunters by walking a mile off the road.
Post by: Alchase on October 16, 2017, 03:06:01 PM
After about 10 minutes, two hunters walked down a trail within 15 feet up hill of the buck, talking the whole time. The buck waited until they were past him, and he snuck out the behind them with his nose up and head back.
They never saw him.
Post by: boneaddict on October 16, 2017, 04:08:46 PM
Post by: Tiger1358 on October 16, 2017, 04:38:48 PM
Have you noticed the same people come home with deer every year?
It is because they have figured out how to use the masses of people and deer instincts to their benefit.
You can be in the best deer area ever, and if you are not paying attention or taking precautions, you will never see a thing except by sheer chance.
I learned years ago, if you go where others do not, the deer will be there.
That does not necessarily mean seven miles in. That could be just a small transition zone that deer use when spooked. Believe me there are hundreds of these areas on a given mountain, you just need to find them.
:yeah:
Post by: Cervid on October 16, 2017, 04:45:10 PM
And you can be the best hunter in the world, but you aren’t going to kill anything if there isn’t anything to kill. The herd in Methow Valley specifically, and maybe Okanogan county for the most part is in the worst shape I’ve ever seen it. That’s a good 40 years of paying attention. It wasn’t too long ago, the skeptics were accusing us that we were just doomsdayers, or the Sky is falling types. The doe killers were happily filling their freezers. Now you must pay the piper.
I saw more coyote sign than deer sign in Pearrygin. Couldn't believe how much. Heard them almost every night too. I might be going back this weekend with an electronic call to shoot as may as I can.
Post by: brew on October 16, 2017, 06:21:34 PM
Post by: Alpine Mojo on October 16, 2017, 06:44:31 PM
I'm in my late 20s and have been hunting most of my life.
Youth is always wasted on the young.
Post by: Stein on October 16, 2017, 07:07:59 PM
Honestly, pick a spot with decent access and decent harvest statistics and keep at it. I learned a bunch from this forum as well as talking with guys in hotels, at the pool after hunting, desk clerk at the hotel, dudes at the next table at dinner, at the gas station or wherever you can strike up a conversation. I'm an introverted guy at heart, but after getting some really great info more than once, I figured out how to strike up conversations. There are a surprising number of people out there that will give you a piece of the puzzle, particularly if you are humble and not picky about what you shoot.
If you really want to just break the ice and kill a deer, PM me and I'll give you a guy that will put you on a private land doe for a reasonable cost.
If you aren't set on deer, plan to hunt antelope in WY next year. For what you would pay for all the WA licenses and draws, you can get 1-3 tags in a 0-1 point draw unit and see animals every day.
A final option is to go to a state with more public land deer and more "any deer" units. There are numerous places in MT you can get on a doe or spike on either public or BMA feel free to hunt land. Almost every hunter will pass on a herd of does with a spike or two in it and they'll just be there for the taking. I'm sure it is true in other states as well.
Post by: Cervid on October 16, 2017, 08:09:34 PM
I'm in my late 20s and have been hunting most of my life.
Youth is always wasted on the young.
How so?
Post by: Naches Sportsman on October 16, 2017, 08:48:33 PM
A lot of hunters have had dad's and grandpa's that have hunted and showed them the ropes. I'm one of those that lost his grandpa at a young age and didn't get a chance to meet the other one as he died before I was born. My dad didn't hunt big game. This is my 8th season with a deer tag, but I'm getting better at learning mule deer every year. Takes patience. Document your hunting in a journal. It's one thing I've done for bird hunting and have started writing about all o the daily big game hunts. You can look in the journal and figure out what area you've seen the most deer in and go from there.
Post by: Turner89 on October 16, 2017, 09:34:33 PM
Tiger's right.Were the signs new that you saw in the clearcuts?Yes they were.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't give up, you're in the right place. Go to your spot early morning when it's dark, glass the clearcuts till around 11am or so, if nothing, just slowly walk the trails and roads. Sometimes you'll find them in thick timber while still hunting in midday. Later in the day, a couple hours before it gets dark, go back to your clearcuts and keep glassing. Rut season is very close, stick to your spot and they'll eventually show up. No need to buy any permits or anything, we're lucky to have a lotta public land to hunt.
I was out both days last weekend, and only saw 3 does on Saturday, a nothing Sunday. Nothing to worry about early. If I were you I'd stick to that area 4 miles back, and hunt it like tiger said. Closer to the end of the month we get the better it gets.
Defiantly wouldn't waste your money on a permit :dunno:
Post by: fishnfur on October 16, 2017, 11:35:01 PM
So when you accept the fact that you want to learn a new skill, the next question is: How do you choose to go about it. The tried and true method involves a family member showing you the ropes, or a friend who is already skilled taking the time to take you out and acting as a substitute family member. There are endless books and videos. There's the old "time in the woods" adage that is thrown about so frequently. All are valid ways to learn. Remember though, there will likely never come a day when you do not learn something new as you hunt, or understand that what you thought was right, might only be right on certain occasions. Never stop learning.
So you have to accept the fact that you've chosen one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, big game animal in North America to hunt. From the outset, you have to accept the fact that the odds are against you. BT bucks, by nature, choose to live in the darkest nastiest most inaccessible areas in their daily lives. From late August/early September until mid - late October (in other words, most of the hunting season), they stay bedded all day long, rising only to pee and stretch out a bit. They are masters at hiding and bed so that the winds and surrounding vegetation or terrain will alert them to danger. Once the velvet is off their antlers, they will almost never be seen in daylight. They leave their beds just before dark and go back to bed in the morning just as it starts to get light.
There is only the relatively short period of time in late-October to December when the does are receptive, that the bucks' sex drive overwhelm their desire to stay safe. In order to find the does, the bucks are going to have to do a bit of travelling, most of it is at night, but come late October, they'll be risking some daytime travel as well. They still stick to their normal hidden trails and stay close to cover at all times, but the fact that they are moving during the day makes them vulnerable to hunters. If you're lucky person, you might find yourself in a situation where you're glassing an area and find a buck that is tight to a hot doe. He will follow her anywhere and everywhere. He'll go stand out in broad daylight right next to her as she feeds. If you look closely at that doe, you'll notice her tail sticks straight out when she is in heat. If you see a doe with her tail sticking straight out, don't you dare take your eyes off her. Mr. buck is probably very close by, or will come along shortly.
Otherwise, you should be asking yourself, where do I expect those bucks to travel in search of does? Do some research on deer funnels, find a topo map and/or satellite photo of the area you hunt and try to figure out where the pinch points are. Scout them out as you hunt, look for sign, follow trails, etc, etc,... These are the areas you might consider hunting on the last few days of the month.
If the weather is really really bad and windy, the forest noise overwhelms their senses. They cant hear or smell normally, so they are reliant on sight. The deer will often go to into reprod or go stand up in holes in the forest where they feel safer, and can watch for predators. These are the best BT hunting days. If you know what time a storm is going to hit, you can pre-position yourself to catch the deer as they exit the timber and head into reprod. You can also hunt the leeward side of a ridgeline, where the deer will seek shelter from the winds. Trial and error. It's a great way to learn.
If all else fails, find a good patch of 5 - 8 y/o reprod where you can get a good view in between large areas of trees. Glass till your eyes bleed. There's almost always deer in them. You just have to find them.
As for me, I hunted Mason and Kitsap in the last two days. I can't believe the amount of fresh sign I see on the ground, at least in comparison to 506 and 530. I feel like there should be a deer sitting everywhere I look. No new rubs, and I saw no deer at all in the two days I hunted. I saw three does and bumped one unknown on Friday while ML elking down south. That is it for the past six days/two weeks of hunting. Still very slow. I had a great time though! Heading south tomorrow - I'm missing the kids.
Post by: dscubame on October 17, 2017, 04:35:21 AM
Blacktail in October are tough deer to hunt. Save your strength and sanity for the last weekend and it can be awesome.
Best advice here. Early season for scouting and conditioning with late season for harvesting. Blacktail are so nocturnal the rut of the late season is key.
Post by: Rustang662k on October 26, 2017, 02:04:39 PM
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m154/rustang662k/unnamed_zpsmbyfmxmb.jpg
Post by: h20hunter on October 26, 2017, 02:32:41 PM
Post by: Whitenuckles on October 26, 2017, 03:33:31 PM
Post by: elkboy on October 26, 2017, 03:39:37 PM
But I can read your story when it is written... so start tapping away! Congratulations! (I am assuming the picture is of a harvested blacktail!)
Post by: JDHasty on October 26, 2017, 03:46:00 PM
I can't see the Photobucket image... Can anybody out there?
But I can read your story when it is written... so start tapping away! Congratulations! (I am assuming the picture is of a harvested blacktail!)
I don't even bother trying to look at Photobucket hosted images on here any longer. I have never been able to figure out how to access the settings it references.
Post by: h20hunter on October 26, 2017, 03:47:46 PM
Post by: JDHasty on October 26, 2017, 03:50:42 PM
Post by: zkhowes on October 30, 2017, 01:55:29 PM
HA! I had some great laughs reading this thread. Hopefully, you begin to realize that hunting BT is way hard, especially so in the early season. You ask if it is really that difficult. For most people, the answer is yes, it really is that difficult. A very few people have a God given ability to hunt well with minimal learning. It is almost intuitive for them. My gut tells me it's a genetic trait, which makes a lot of sense if you put a few minutes of thought into it. For people like me, who had that genetic trait bred out of their family lineage over the last few thousand years, hunting is a skill that needs to be learned.
So when you accept the fact that you want to learn a new skill, the next question is: How do you choose to go about it. The tried and true method involves a family member showing you the ropes, or a friend who is already skilled taking the time to take you out and acting as a substitute family member. There are endless books and videos. There's the old "time in the woods" adage that is thrown about so frequently. All are valid ways to learn. Remember though, there will likely never come a day when you do not learn something new as you hunt, or understand that what you thought was right, might only be right on certain occasions. Never stop learning.
So you have to accept the fact that you've chosen one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, big game animal in North America to hunt. From the outset, you have to accept the fact that the odds are against you. BT bucks, by nature, choose to live in the darkest nastiest most inaccessible areas in their daily lives. From late August/early September until mid - late October (in other words, most of the hunting season), they stay bedded all day long, rising only to pee and stretch out a bit. They are masters at hiding and bed so that the winds and surrounding vegetation or terrain will alert them to danger. Once the velvet is off their antlers, they will almost never be seen in daylight. They leave their beds just before dark and go back to bed in the morning just as it starts to get light.
There is only the relatively short period of time in late-October to December when the does are receptive, that the bucks' sex drive overwhelm their desire to stay safe. In order to find the does, the bucks are going to have to do a bit of travelling, most of it is at night, but come late October, they'll be risking some daytime travel as well. They still stick to their normal hidden trails and stay close to cover at all times, but the fact that they are moving during the day makes them vulnerable to hunters. If you're lucky person, you might find yourself in a situation where you're glassing an area and find a buck that is tight to a hot doe. He will follow her anywhere and everywhere. He'll go stand out in broad daylight right next to her as she feeds. If you look closely at that doe, you'll notice her tail sticks straight out when she is in heat. If you see a doe with her tail sticking straight out, don't you dare take your eyes off her. Mr. buck is probably very close by, or will come along shortly.
Otherwise, you should be asking yourself, where do I expect those bucks to travel in search of does? Do some research on deer funnels, find a topo map and/or satellite photo of the area you hunt and try to figure out where the pinch points are. Scout them out as you hunt, look for sign, follow trails, etc, etc,... These are the areas you might consider hunting on the last few days of the month.
If the weather is really really bad and windy, the forest noise overwhelms their senses. They cant hear or smell normally, so they are reliant on sight. The deer will often go to into reprod or go stand up in holes in the forest where they feel safer, and can watch for predators. These are the best BT hunting days. If you know what time a storm is going to hit, you can pre-position yourself to catch the deer as they exit the timber and head into reprod. You can also hunt the leeward side of a ridgeline, where the deer will seek shelter from the winds. Trial and error. It's a great way to learn.
If all else fails, find a good patch of 5 - 8 y/o reprod where you can get a good view in between large areas of trees. Glass till your eyes bleed. There's almost always deer in them. You just have to find them.
As for me, I hunted Mason and Kitsap in the last two days. I can't believe the amount of fresh sign I see on the ground, at least in comparison to 506 and 530. I feel like there should be a deer sitting everywhere I look. No new rubs, and I saw no deer at all in the two days I hunted. I saw three does and bumped one unknown on Friday while ML elking down south. That is it for the past six days/two weeks of hunting. Still very slow. I had a great time though! Heading south tomorrow - I'm missing the kids.
Just wanted to comment that this was a bad ass write up. Thanks for taking the time to put your words to (digital) paper.
I'm also addicted to blacktail hunting right now, not coming up with a lot of success, and these words help a guy to keep going.
Post by: fishnfur on October 31, 2017, 07:46:56 PM
Post by: JDHasty on October 31, 2017, 07:54:30 PM
Glad to help. It's good therapy to keep me in the game too. I ended the general season with but a single shot taken (and missed - outside the capabilities of the ammo). Saw four bucks total. I'm still frustrated, but I had a great time! Good luck in the Late Buck season!
You are not alone. I've still got my MS Tag. I didn't have a buck in front of me that I wanted to shoot so far. Looking forward to late season.
Post by: Billy74 on October 31, 2017, 08:57:11 PM
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Post by: Rob Allen on November 01, 2017, 02:23:57 PM
I could be wrong but i do not believe anyone going where i went would have sen more than me.
Post by: dscubame on November 01, 2017, 02:27:09 PM
Post by: JDHasty on November 01, 2017, 02:48:09 PM
I hunted 9 days of the general season. Most all but two of thoes days i was a mile or more behind locked gates. I saw 2 deer on public ground both of them the same day and thr area with the most hunters. I only saw one hunter while in the field. I saw lots driving around and i passed two others walking back to their truck. I was slow and observant. I saw lots of fresh sign. The deer were simply hiding all day the ONLY way to have found one was by pure luck. Or you were there opening day and knew where they'd be.
I could be wrong but i do not believe anyone going where i went would have sen more than me.
You are more likely than not wrong, there are guys who can almost always find them - I am not one of them, but there are a few who post here that fit that description.
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 01, 2017, 03:00:22 PM
This time of year you must hunt them at night with a flashlight or some kind of night vision to have any sort of consistent success. There once was a guy who was known to attach a flashlight to his bow and that seemed to work for him.
:bdid: Illegal, and also not entirely true.
Post by: 7mmfan on November 01, 2017, 03:16:26 PM
This time of year you must hunt them at night with a flashlight or some kind of night vision to have any sort of consistent success. There once was a guy who was known to attach a flashlight to his bow and that seemed to work for him.
:bdid: Illegal, and also not entirely true.
Classic thread :chuckle:
Post by: Tiger1358 on November 01, 2017, 03:26:43 PM
This time of year you must hunt them at night with a flashlight or some kind of night vision to have any sort of consistent success. There once was a guy who was known to attach a flashlight to his bow and that seemed to work for him.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
May as well go with a thermal scope and tracers, more fun. Screw the flashlights :chuckle:
:bdid: :bdid:
Post by: 2MANY on November 01, 2017, 03:32:44 PM
Persistence always pays off eventually.
If you ain't out there you will lose.
Suck it up, set the alarm, get out there, and expose yourself to the potential for success.
Post by: DRobnsn on November 01, 2017, 04:04:02 PM
This time of year you must hunt them at night with a flashlight or some kind of night vision to have any sort of consistent success. There once was a guy who was known to attach a flashlight to his bow and that seemed to work for him.
:bdid: Illegal, and also not entirely true.
Classic thread :chuckle:
:chuckle: RIGHT!
Post by: fishnfur on November 02, 2017, 12:10:46 AM
I hunted 9 days of the general season. Most all but two of thoes days i was a mile or more behind locked gates. I saw 2 deer on public ground both of them the same day and thr area with the most hunters. I only saw one hunter while in the field. I saw lots driving around and i passed two others walking back to their truck. I was slow and observant. I saw lots of fresh sign. The deer were simply hiding all day the ONLY way to have found one was by pure luck. Or you were there opening day and knew where they'd be.
I could be wrong but i do not believe anyone going where i went would have sen more than me.
You are more likely than not wrong, there are guys who can almost always find them - I am not one of them, but there are a few who post here that fit that description.
Thanks JD - but don't leave him guessing. You can go ahead and say FishnFur out loud. :chuckle:
Post by: ctwiggs1 on November 02, 2017, 06:04:33 AM
Post by: tonymiller7 on November 02, 2017, 07:04:14 AM
Post by: JDHasty on November 02, 2017, 08:44:20 AM
You need to pick an area and stick with it. It takes a few years to learn the area and the habits of the animals there. Jumping all over the state looking for an easy deer is not going to do you much good. Spend time in the woods in the off season, find the areas where they live, set out game cameras, get away from the road, stay persistent, and you'll start to figure it out. I get a deer pretty much every year where I hunt, NOW, it took me at least 5 years to figure the area out though. Deer and elk hunting is not easy and it takes time.
I talked to a bio once and he said something like 40% of BT are bucks and 30% of them mature three point or better bucks. He also said that where I was talking about the BT population was something like 80/square mile. That cured me of a lot of my urge to move around and instead to find the three or four mature bucks that were using properties I have access to.
I have three or four areas like that that I hunt and I don't know what I would classify as a lot about them still and one thing for sure and for certain is I spend a lot of time hunting and scouting them. I know a heck of a lot more than anyone else who hunts them, but when it comes to knowing everything about the mature bucks who use them, like I said - Just as soon as I start to think I know something Drill Sergeant BT comes along and lets me know I don't know crap.
That is really good advice though. Learn as much as you can about a limited piece of land they live on.
Post by: Special T on November 02, 2017, 09:11:18 AM
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