Why do you not kill the deer you are after?

[1simplemann]

This is a good topic. It's one that people can learn from other people's mistakes. I've screwed up a bunch. I have probably 50 reasons why I didn't kill a deer. The one I laugh at to this day is a classic. I knocked my bow off the branch I hung it on. I said "crap that was stupid" I knew I had to get down so I looked around first before I did it. 2 different shooters were coming in about 100 yds away. I tried to sneak down and get it before they got to me. Didn't work! The doe he was following busted me and took him w/ her. The other one did come in to 35 yds. He almost got an arrow but he never gave me a close shot. That's just one story. I have others. The obvious one is I missed for various reasons. I didn't practice enough, made a bad shot, caught my sleeve, hit the shoulder blade, range finder was dead, hit a branch, sights were off, sights were loose, left my release in the truck etc. The list is a mile long. Another one is another hunter killed him. Over hunted a stand is probably a big reason for a few of them. This one probably gets most guys. DON'T overhunt your stands. Years ago I noticed that a lot of my kills were made the 1st time I hunted a tree or spot. I think about 50% of my kills are on the 1st hunt. That means you better have more than one spot if you don't get him on that 1st hunt. Anyway, here are some others. He didn't give me a good shot had happened a few times. He stayed out of range has a happened a bunch. Getting picked in the tree has happened a few times including this year. Not being ready or paying not attention is another. Getting winded will keep you from killing a deer sure as heck. Walking on the deer trail that you expect to kill em' on will get you busted as well. Pay attention to your entrance trail. Picking the wrong tree has happened lots of times. Every time I make a mistake, I file it away and try to avoid doing it again. Eventually if you eliminate all the little things you are doing wrong then you'll start to kill em' consistantly. However even after 44 years of bowhunting you'll still make rookie mistakes and bang your head against the tree for being that stupid. Ask me how I know!

 

[Topdog]

Yes, hunt like you’re being hunted.

Bingo! People are often times on such a mission to get in to one particular spot/tree they often forget the path or way in can be as productive as the final destination, a good hunter/friend once told me… they have to be somewhere, why not here? People can get so focused on chasing something, and then get defeated, they convince themselves it’s mission impossible, when in fact what they have been looking for may be right there in front of them unexpectedly, never become complacent.

 

[woodsdog2]

I know I also tend to get caught up in the method. I get in my mind, I want to kill this buck this way, using this weapon and this hunting technique. It should be about analyzing the most productive way to kill the buck. Period. But I do get enjoyment out of the other aspects too. Perhaps it’s not all about the kill.

 

[kbetts]

I know I also tend to get caught up in the method. I get in my mind, I want to kill this buck this way, using this weapon and this hunting technique. It should be about analyzing the most productive way to kill the buck. Period. But I do get enjoyment out of the other aspects too. Perhaps it’s not all about the kill.

That's me with gun hunting.

I don't care to make it easier or "more productive ".

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I know I also tend to get caught up in the method. I get in my mind, I want to kill this buck this way, using this weapon and this hunting technique. It should be about analyzing the most productive way to kill the buck. Period. But I do get enjoyment out of the other aspects too. Perhaps it’s not all about the kill.

I'd rather get kicked in the family jewels than to shoot a deer with a crossbow. No desire whatsoever. If that's your cup of tea, then more power to you. Would it make it easier? sure, but I would get 0% satisfaction from it other than I love to eat deers. When I want easy, I just break out old Betsy the 7mm. Mag

 

[woodsdog2]

I'd rather get kicked in the family jewels than to shoot a deer with a crossbow. No desire whatsoever. If that's your cup of tea, then more power to you. Would it make it easier? sure, but I would get 0% satisfaction from it other than I love to eat deers. When I want easy, I just break out old Betsy the 7mm. Mag

I’m not trying to start a debate at all because I agree with you to some extent about crossbows. But I can say after taking two turkeys and one buck with a crossbow, It’s not it’s all cracked up to be and it had its share of nuances and annoyances for sure. They are bulky, front heavy and a PITA to carry with other gear. They being said, they are accurate and they push mechanicals through most like a hot knife through butter. Would I rather hunt with my vertical bows? All day everyday!

 

[NATHAN]

I definitely would not rather get kicked in the family jewels.

 

[BTaylor]

I know I also tend to get caught up in the method. I get in my mind, I want to kill this buck this way, using this weapon and this hunting technique. It should be about analyzing the most productive way to kill the buck. Period. But I do get enjoyment out of the other aspects too. Perhaps it’s not all about the kill.

Not disagreeing but want to come at that from a little different perspective. I think there is absolute value in in using the mind set you mentioned. The trap is when you kill one or maybe 2 or 3 that way, folks stop trying other scenarios. For example a young hunter reads about killing bucks in a pinch point and hears stories of other being successful in pinch points. So he goes out a tries and kills one or maybe a few in pinch points, if never tries any other options, he limits his learning and opportunities, imo. He may be very successful over a long time period but will likely never be a well rounded hunter. It's not wrong just limiting. Hunting is a lot like science, we have a hunch what might work but wont know til we test it. The more hunches and testing the more we learn.

 

[mschultz373]

I am a green horn and at that maddening stage where the reason I’m not killing the deer I’m after, which is any deer, is because I’m not seeing them. I generally ascribe this to sloppy hunting – being noisy when entering areas, being noisy when climbing, not accurately playing the wind -, but also due to the hunting areas that are high pressure, difficult terrains to read, and have low deer densities.

as much as I want to learn and be critical of myself, when I don’t see any deer at all, it’s hard to assess what exactly the problem was, particularly when you could sit the same spot five days in a row and maybe see a couple dear on just one or two of those days…

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I’m not trying to start a debate at all because I agree with you to some extent about crossbows. But I can say after taking two turkeys and one buck with a crossbow, It’s not it’s all cracked up to be and it had its share of nuances and annoyances for sure. They are bulky, front heavy and a PITA to carry with other gear. They being said, they are accurate and they push mechanicals through most like a hot knife through butter. Would I rather hunt with my vertical bows? All day everyday!

Maybe it's not the crossbow. Maybe it's just you. JK of course!

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I am a green horn and at that maddening stage where the reason I’m not killing the deer I’m after, which is any deer, is because I’m not seeing them. I generally ascribe this to sloppy hunting – being noisy when entering areas, being noisy when climbing, not accurately playing the wind -, but also due to the hunting areas that are high pressure, difficult terrains to read, and have low deer densities.

as much as I want to learn and be critical of myself, when I don’t see any deer at all, it’s hard to assess what exactly the problem was, particularly when you could sit the same spot five days in a row and maybe see a couple dear on just one or two of those days…

Hey, that's a great description of my season last year and I've been killin deer for close to 50 years so get used to it. I hung for probably 40 or more sits last year and ended up skunked. It happens to the best of us but all you can do is be patient and try to learn little bits each time you go hunting. Before you know it, you'll be putting them on the ground on a regular basis. I laugh sometimes (as I'm sure the other older members on here do) when I think back to some of the dumb stuff I did when I started out hunting that cost me deer. The big buck screw ups are the ones that hurt the most though. lol

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I am a green horn and at that maddening stage where the reason I’m not killing the deer I’m after, which is any deer, is because I’m not seeing them. I generally ascribe this to sloppy hunting – being noisy when entering areas, being noisy when climbing, not accurately playing the wind -, but also due to the hunting areas that are high pressure, difficult terrains to read, and have low deer densities.

as much as I want to learn and be critical of myself, when I don’t see any deer at all, it’s hard to assess what exactly the problem was, particularly when you could sit the same spot five days in a row and maybe see a couple dear on just one or two of those days…

The thing that is probably hurting your success the most is low deer density, not your hunting skill. If you live in a high deer density area, you can make a lot of mistakes and still kill deer since you get way more opportunities. In a low deer area, you just get a few opportunities per season so your chances of messing up are greater. I hunt in a low deer density area, about 4 to 5 deer per square mile. Imagine a 640 acre lake with 4 to 5 fish in it and you want to go catch a fish...that's the analogy I use all the time. It really puts it in perspective. The best advice I can give you is to first find the deer, like physically see them the day you are hunting. That's one of the main reasons I love the tree saddle and 2TC. It's also why I'm loving the ground hunting. I may have to walk 3 to 4 miles before I find a deer to hunt. Other than primary scrapes in thick cover during the pre rut and rut, I am moving to get on deer, not waiting and hoping one walks by.

 

[woodsdog2]

Maybe it's not the crossbow. Maybe it's just you. JK of course!

It probably is!!!

 

[mschultz373]

. The best advice I can give you is to first find the deer, like physically see them the day you are hunting.

I see and hear some - running away from me after hearing or smelling me!! They jump out of those thickets and are gone!

 

[Glenn]

Laziness. Greed. Lack of discipline.

Laziness; going the shortest route instead of the best route due to time and wanting more hours in the tree. Cost me a time or two. Had I taken the best route I still would have seen those deer. I had plenty of time. Just lazy.

Greed; I’m a bird in the hand guy. If I’m hunting and a legal deer is in bow range, that joker is gettin’ stuck. Zero doubt. So I am either tracking, cleaning or dragging at prime time on a good many hunts. We have a lot of deer and a lot of tags. It ain’t rocket surgery around here.

Lack of discipline; I’m no trophy hunter. I should pass more 2 and 3 year old deer but why? I like to hunt. I like to get close to and shoot deer. So sometimes they get to walk but when the mood hits me I’m bloodying an arrow. To have a better shot at killing “the deer” I’d need to reign in my inner child And I just don’t think I could nor do I want to do that.