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Still Waiting

michigander

New Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
16
Still waiting for the first deer with my bow and still waiting for my saddle. I figured even though I was hunting out of my climber I could share my story here.

This season is my second season deer hunting, first season with a bow. Last year I was successful using my Dad's crossbow to take a doe. First couple weeks of the season I had some chances to take a doe on my Dad's property, but he wanted to wait until the rut kicked in to take any does in hopes that it would keep the bucks around. I have been hunting some public also and had does within 20 yards, but there was too much brush to get an arrow through.

My first buck encounter this year was on my Dad's property. I had set up between two trails with the expected travel to be to my left. In front of me I saw a nice 8 point step out into a bit of clearing on the neighboring property. So I waited, hoping he would take the expected travel path. As he crossed the property line he turned away from me and headed toward the trail to my right, this was my chance to stand a get set up to take the shot to my "weak" side, but I hesitated hoping he would loop back. He didn't loop back and I had no other chance to turn and shoot in that direction as I just had to watch him walk away. I took that as a learning opportunity and saw when I should have made my move.

Back on the public property I went back to where I had the encounter with the does hoping I'd have another chance. I set up in a different tree, in the direction the doe were traveling that offered better shooting opportunities. After sitting for a couple hours I finally saw a deer moving around the ridge in front of me, couldn't tell exactly what it was, but I was thinking it was doe based on the body size I could see through the trees. When they stepped out it was just little fawn. The fawn kept feeding 20 yards from me for a few minutes and actually gave me a perfect quartering away shot. I passed on the shot after contemplating it, deciding there really wasn't going to be much meat there. About an hour later I heard some rustling along a ridge to my right. Didn't think much of it since it was downwind and the squirrels had been running all over the place. Then I heard the rustling right behind me. I slowly turned to see a spike about 10 yards from me. I started to reach for my bow and he turned to head away. It looked like he might take the same trail the fawn was on so I started to turn to set up for the shot and turned to head back towards me. I was stuck between sitting and standing with my heart my pounding. I could see my shoulder shaking out of the corner of my eye and I tried so hard to stay still, but he must have spotted my and bounded off.

I feel like I keep setting up in the good places, but I'm never facing the right direction or make the right decisions. I guess all that comes with time. Hopefully I can take something with my bow before the season is over, but my confidence is a little low right now.
 
Hey man stick with it! Just keep up what your doing and eventually you will have the shot opportunity you are looking for make sure to pay careful attention to wind so you don’t ruin these spots you’ve been seein deer in. Also I would recommend taking a doe the first opportunity you have so you can hold out for a good buck later. Bird in the hand I guess? Maybe it doesn’t apply lol


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Taking a doe if I get the chance is certainly the plan. My Dad gave me the go ahead on his property too. Luckily in Michigan I have to two buck tags and a doe tag. So I can take a doe, a little buck, and still hold out for a bigger one. I have definitely been paying attention to the wind everywhere I have hunted so far and have a couple spots I'd really like to get too, but the wind just hasn't been right. I guess I can be happy with the fact I've been getting in some good spots. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.
 
Welcome from SE Michigan! Keep at it. I haven't taken a shot yet either and I've been out 4-5 times. Had deer around me but no close shots on bucks yet. Had my bow up on one last week but just outside my comfort zone. I haven't even hunted off my property yet but at least its given me time to get more comfortable in the saddle.
 
similar here man, 2nd year hunting, first with bow. I am going thru the same learning lessons. Great that you are seeing em! That's a lot of the battle
 
Taking a doe if I get the chance is certainly the plan. My Dad gave me the go ahead on his property too. Luckily in Michigan I have to two buck tags and a doe tag. So I can take a doe, a little buck, and still hold out for a bigger one. I have definitely been paying attention to the wind everywhere I have hunted so far and have a couple spots I'd really like to get too, but the wind just hasn't been right. I guess I can be happy with the fact I've been getting in some good spots. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

Keep at it. The learning never stops. It is called hunting deer not killing because the deer usually win. Their lives depend on it
I have had chances and blown opportunities and no deer this year too


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Came close again tonight...Doe at 20 yards just needed her to move a few more yards to be in the shooting lane. Then a little six point came out about 40 yards from me with 5 minutes left of shooting light. I practice at 40 yards, but not really comfortable shooting at a deer at that range. Plus with the low light I couldn't really tell if there was any twigs in the way. Hit the grunt call, but had no interest and he kept on cruising.
 
Sounds like your off on the right foot with your moral compass. You only need to take one iffy shot and lose the deer to regret it for a long time. I haven't even hunted Michigan yet, maybe I'll sit out back tonight for giggles. Haven't seen a buck that gets me excited since I started passing bucks in 2001. Tough to get motivated to hunt with that record.
 
Sounds like your off on the right foot with your moral compass. You only need to take one iffy shot and lose the deer to regret it for a long time. I haven't even hunted Michigan yet, maybe I'll sit out back tonight for giggles. Haven't seen a buck that gets me excited since I started passing bucks in 2001. Tough to get motivated to hunt with that record.

Luckily I still get excited with every deer that I see. I suppose there comes a time for everyone when that excitement starts to fade.
 
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