Deer have a way of putting you in your place sometimes

[8pointer]

I'm guilty of it, at least I have been this year. I guess you can call it over confidence. I've got some deer picked out that I've scouted. "I'll pattern them and seal the deal just like I do most years" right????

WRONG


I couldn't help but laugh to myself this morning as I was walking out of those East Texas pines. This morning was probably my last hunt I will be able to do this archery season and I have hunted HARD this year and put in a lot of hours on stand. Understanding the challenges this year (acorns,temp,moon etc), I still thought I would get it done.

I couldn't help but think about what my uncle told me years ago. I think I was 8 or 9 at the time. He said "When you are hunting in the woods, you need to think of your living room. These woods are the deer's living room. It's hard to outsmart something that has home field advantage".

Tough hunting conditions like I have faced this year have been very humbling for me this year. I've unsuccessfully tried everything I know. It has reminded me why I love the sport of bowhunting so much. I guess you can say the deer put me in my place by letting me know that they have the upper hand. It's their world, and I'm just bowhunting in it!!!!

[Deathrow Jethro]

Very well put.

I have been getting skunked this year so far as well. Last year every sit, I had deer come to the dinner bell. With the recent rains that Ozona has had, it looks like it is spring, from all of the new growth. Couple that with the fact that I moved my parking spot closer to my set-ups (tired of the LONG walk) and it hurt me. A lease mate told me to park back in my usual spot to see if that would work. I did this on Sunday morning and sure enough deer came in. Did you change anything up from last season?

[8pointer]

Very well put.

I have been getting skunked this year so far as well. Last year every sit, I had deer come to the dinner bell. With the recent rains that Ozona has had, it looks like it is spring, from all of the new growth. Couple that with the fact that I moved my parking spot closer to my set-ups (tired of the LONG walk) and it hurt me. A lease mate told me to park back in my usual spot to see if that would work. I did this on Sunday morning and sure enough deer came in. Did you change anything up from last season?

I've had some success this year. I harvested a doe the second week of season and my brother got one last week. The frustration has set in this year because Ive got some good bucks this year but haven't even caught a glimpse of them from the stand.

[perfectstorm]

Ha! Wow Im feeling the same way. I patterned a cull, had a plan, followed it & killed him the first time I sat/saw him. So I see this trophy on game camera & I follow the same methodology. Well after 9 hunts for this trophy, I got sick but never saw him- even after applying the same skills from that cull experience. While Im sick my fiancee sits in my stand once & kills him in the first 5 minutes. Just when you think you have a deer & deer hunting in general figured out - they very well show you that you don't know your *** from a hole in the ground. Keeps you always wanting more though. Hey, if it was easy they would call it gun hunting.

[Daniel75]

Ha! Wow Im feeling the same way. I patterned a cull, had a plan, followed it & killed him the first time I sat/saw him. So I see this trophy on game camera & I follow the same methodology. Well after 9 hunts for this trophy, I got sick but never saw him- even after applying the same skills from that cull experience. While Im sick my fiancee sits in my stand once & kills him in the first 5 minutes. Just when you think you have a deer & deer hunting in general figured out - they very well show you that you don't know your *** from a hole in the ground. Keeps you always wanting more though. Hey, if it was easy they would call it gun hunting.

Lmao!!!!

[Deathrow Jethro]

Ha! Wow Im feeling the same way. I patterned a cull, had a plan, followed it & killed him the first time I sat/saw him. So I see this trophy on game camera & I follow the same methodology. Well after 9 hunts for this trophy, I got sick but never saw him- even after applying the same skills from that cull experience. While Im sick my fiancee sits in my stand once & kills him in the first 5 minutes. Just when you think you have a deer & deer hunting in general figured out - they very well show you that you don't know your *** from a hole in the ground. Keeps you always wanting more though. Hey, if it was easy they would call it gun hunting.

[TX_Kevin]

Last year I had picked out a wide 8 that was a 10 the year before. I thought he looked four or five year one, and five or six year two. I tried my best to get next to him, but never did.... during the season.

We went the first weekend of the special doe and spike season to see if we could kill some sausage. Guess who showed up and ate at my feeder for 30 minutes giving me a really good look at that wide rack? 20 yards for 30 minutes in daylight. Easy shot. And there were a couple of doe in the pen with him. I just watched in amazement.

They do have a way of putting us in our place for sure. I think that dude had an iPhone with a calendar and 3G.

[jcso139]

I know I definitely have been skunked this year! bad! Acorns, Acorns Acorns!

[8pointer]

The challenge is what keeps me craving for more!!!

[salth2o]

Very well said. I feel your pain.

I have hunted hard every weekend and during the middle of some weeks and have yet to see a deer. However, I'll keep after them until one slips up.

[x1jett]

Good post.

Experienced the pain of a miss on a giant last year, but the pursuit is the thing. Keeps me pumped up on adrenaline, and coming back every year.

[Texasredneck]

Right there with ya, seen lots of tracks and even a few on the camera but they got me beat this year. At least I have gotten the chance to go and even though I got skunked, I still enjoyed every moment I was out there.