Huntnfish89
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2021
- Messages
- 111
Hello all,
I'll preface this by saying that I know I should have spent more time scouting and having a better understanding of deer behavior in my area. I don't excuse my poor planning, but I chose to spend the time learning more about elk and actually managed to do pretty well despite not being able to get a shot off. I guess what everyone said about archery being frustrating was right. I stand by that decision, but now I have humbly come here to ask for help and guidance for the rest of the season.
Anyways I have been hunting deer since 2012 and have yet to tag bucks other than my first deer that was on private land at a friends property in NE Wa and a surprise spike in 2020. We now live in the Idaho panhandle and since moving I have shot a number of does, but I cannot seem to put everything together to get myself in front of a buck for a shot, let alone consistently. I know it is still early in the season and the rut will get going later next month, but I wanted to ask if anyone has any advice on what I can do in the meantime to grow into a better hunter to get into some bucks, but more so to hunt with "intention" rather than just set up on some sign and hope that something will come along.
I will say that being more aware of the wind and thermals and using this to determine my approach and setup has considerably increased the number of encounters so that has been a huge change.
Typically, this time of year I will glass clearcuts, both near and miles off the road, hunt over trails, pinch points, funnels, saddles, you name it. I will also still hunt throughout the day or from spot to spot (although this dry year has made this a little more difficult). I will also try to "use other hunters to my advantage" and set up where I think the deer might get pushed to throughout the day. Later in the season I will rattle, grunt, doe bleat when I think I am in thick timber which it just about all of N. Idaho.
I should also note that I have had to essentially learn everything as I go (with considerable from here, AT, and various other forums, google, academic journals, youtube of course, etc.) so there has been a steep curve for sure, but I feel that when I do make progress this way it is more meaningful and I have been fortunate enough to have filled tags or had the opportunity to for the past 6 years. Despite having a number of friends that hunt, many of their "ethical" decisions/choices while hunting have me going solo just about 99% of the time. This is completely fine by me, but but there are still days that I wish I had someone with me to smack up upside the head when I sit in the wrong spot, fail to notice obvious sign, make too much noise etc. all the little things and bits that you don't know until you know type stuff. Now that I type that, it makes me wonder if it might just be a time thing.
Also I am currently hunting "Any weapon" season until it wraps up. There is also a december archery season.
There too is the slightest change that's it's just been a slow couple of days and the season just opened yesterday and someone need to tell me to get my panties out of a bunch, quit whining, and keep working at it.
I'll preface this by saying that I know I should have spent more time scouting and having a better understanding of deer behavior in my area. I don't excuse my poor planning, but I chose to spend the time learning more about elk and actually managed to do pretty well despite not being able to get a shot off. I guess what everyone said about archery being frustrating was right. I stand by that decision, but now I have humbly come here to ask for help and guidance for the rest of the season.
Anyways I have been hunting deer since 2012 and have yet to tag bucks other than my first deer that was on private land at a friends property in NE Wa and a surprise spike in 2020. We now live in the Idaho panhandle and since moving I have shot a number of does, but I cannot seem to put everything together to get myself in front of a buck for a shot, let alone consistently. I know it is still early in the season and the rut will get going later next month, but I wanted to ask if anyone has any advice on what I can do in the meantime to grow into a better hunter to get into some bucks, but more so to hunt with "intention" rather than just set up on some sign and hope that something will come along.
I will say that being more aware of the wind and thermals and using this to determine my approach and setup has considerably increased the number of encounters so that has been a huge change.
Typically, this time of year I will glass clearcuts, both near and miles off the road, hunt over trails, pinch points, funnels, saddles, you name it. I will also still hunt throughout the day or from spot to spot (although this dry year has made this a little more difficult). I will also try to "use other hunters to my advantage" and set up where I think the deer might get pushed to throughout the day. Later in the season I will rattle, grunt, doe bleat when I think I am in thick timber which it just about all of N. Idaho.
I should also note that I have had to essentially learn everything as I go (with considerable from here, AT, and various other forums, google, academic journals, youtube of course, etc.) so there has been a steep curve for sure, but I feel that when I do make progress this way it is more meaningful and I have been fortunate enough to have filled tags or had the opportunity to for the past 6 years. Despite having a number of friends that hunt, many of their "ethical" decisions/choices while hunting have me going solo just about 99% of the time. This is completely fine by me, but but there are still days that I wish I had someone with me to smack up upside the head when I sit in the wrong spot, fail to notice obvious sign, make too much noise etc. all the little things and bits that you don't know until you know type stuff. Now that I type that, it makes me wonder if it might just be a time thing.
Also I am currently hunting "Any weapon" season until it wraps up. There is also a december archery season.
There too is the slightest change that's it's just been a slow couple of days and the season just opened yesterday and someone need to tell me to get my panties out of a bunch, quit whining, and keep working at it.