Slow Year Question/thoughts

[gpb1111]

Been a slow year for my son and I. On 12 sits we have seen 1 small doe. Since its been 8 straight sits without a single deer seen, 6 of those times with him. Two different properties, morning and evening, winds right, 3 different stands: nothing.

Sat last night in a creek bed between a thicket and 50 acre cut bean field from 4 to dark. Not a thing. Didn't hear anything either.

I see people on here seeing tons of deer.

I've never used bait because I barely have enough time to get out to my property to hunt and its not my property so I cant put in a food plot, but is this a giant missing piece?

How many of you would say baiting or food plots is the "x" factor or is it we have been unlucky (or bad hunters, which ever you prefer). Thoughts?

The bright side is my 8 year old did shoot that doe which was his first deer.

I think he is getting discouraged so I'm reluctant to take him in fear of burning him out.

 

[OO2]

I wouldn't say it's a giant piece of the puzzle. Sure you see guys with hunting shows on YouTube and tv with multiple food plots killing giant deer. For many of us, this isn't realistic or achievable. I'm lucky as my property has a nice food source and water source for the deer. If you don't have those or the deer don't use them often just stick with it and try to find travel routes as the deer pass through your property.
My first year hunting I thought I could make deer go where I wanted them to go. I'm talking spending the summer clearing a part of the woods and putting a food plot in. I hinted that hard all season and never saw many deer or killed one. These past two seasons, this one in particular I did trail camera hw and sought the help of a couple more experienced guys. I started setting up where I knew the deer went and my sightings went up exponentially, and I was able to take my best buck yet. I'd say just keep pushing and keeping after it! It could happen any moment.

 

[OO2]

Big congrats on his first deer btw!

 

[tpierce]

I think the most important thing is, have you identified signs of deer? If so, is it fairly fresh? Next do you know where they bed? It sounds like you are on a viable property with that beanfield, creekbed and thicket. You may want to set up a couple of trail cams at different locations. They are valuable for letting you know there are deer around. They just may be moving when you are not there, like at night or during non shooting hrs. Keep at it, maybe have an experienced buddy help you out.

 

[GoetsTalon]

Your putting in the time and that matters most. I have never hunted using bait so can't say on that.Congrats on the doe!

 

[xbowguy]

I wonder if the neighboring properties are baiting and pulling your deer out? I feed my deer plenty and watch them come over from the neighbors on occasion.

 

[Bigslam51]

How big are the properties your hunting?

 

[gpb1111]

One property is mixed hay field/ timber/ thickets. It's surrounded by farm fields and a 100+ acre stand of mature timber to the north. It's only 20 acres but I only hunt it with a North wind and have 1 stand there.

The other property is 200+ acres with CRP, deep creek bottoms, and about 150 acres of farmland currently soybean.

Both properties have avid families of hunters around them.

It's been a tough season but I have taken/ seen mature deer on these properties in the past.

Do you notice big differences in deer sightings depending on the type of crop farmed that year?

I've always wondered how that effects them but I havent really noticed anything in my 12 years of hunting.

Thanks for all the input so far.

Just have to keep at it I suppose.

 

[gpb1111]

I think the most important thing is, have you identified signs of deer? If so, is it fairly fresh? Next do you know where they bed? It sounds like you are on a viable property with that beanfield, creekbed and thicket. You may want to set up a couple of trail cams at different locations. They are valuable for letting you know there are deer around. They just may be moving when you are not there, like at night or during non shooting hrs. Keep at it, maybe have an experienced buddy help you out.

The 200 acre property I've hunted from last Dec until now so I haven't spent a bunch of time there.

I may buy some cheap cameras to set up multiple.

The small parcel I've hunted for 5 years and thought I had it figured out. Oh well.

 

[hickslawns]

I don't bait. Some days I see deer. Other days I do not. Human pressure seems to be the one thing that makes the deer leave or turn nocturnal quicker than anything. I've done it to myself by overhunting locations. If you have only been out 6-8 times and split it up on different properties, I doubt you have over hunted it. Are there other people hunting there? Have you noticed a big increase in coyotes or anything?

 

[gpb1111]

I don't bait. Some days I see deer. Other days I do not. Human pressure seems to be the one thing that makes the deer leave or turn nocturnal quicker than anything. I've done it to myself by overhunting locations. If you have only been out 6-8 times and split it up on different properties, I doubt you have over hunted it. Are there other people hunting there? Have you noticed a big increase in coyotes or anything?

Haven't seen any coyotes, but have noticed many footprints at the smaller property. I guess I could trap some. The owner doesn't allow gun use so picking them off in the night is a no go.

I know there is one other college kid who hunts the 200 acre property but he keeps his treestands on the west and I on the East. I've never met him but I assume he has more time than I do so he may be overhunting.

I think I'll get some cheap trail cams and a blind and try moving to new spots in the property.

 

[jlane]

Been a slow year for my son and I. On 12 sits we have seen 1 small doe. Since its been 8 straight sits without a single deer seen, 6 of those times with him. Two different properties, morning and evening, winds right, 3 different stands: nothing.

Sat last night in a creek bed between a thicket and 50 acre cut bean field from 4 to dark. Not a thing. Didn't hear anything either.

I see people on here seeing tons of deer.

I've never used bait because I barely have enough time to get out to my property to hunt and its not my property so I cant put in a food plot, but is this a giant missing piece?

How many of you would say baiting or food plots is the "x" factor or is it we have been unlucky (or bad hunters, which ever you prefer). Thoughts?

The bright side is my 8 year old did shoot that doe which was his first deer.

I think he is getting discouraged so I'm reluctant to take him in fear of burning him out.

Boys i don;t care who you are THAT right there is precious, got to love those kids and there expressions:smiley_clap:

 

[Joel]

It's been slow for me this year too. I have one good spot, three ok spots and I've put in a ton of hours hunting this year. No bait for me this year and I've been enjoying and learning from the challenge. Next year all my stands are going to get moved. I am also going to do way more scouting in the off season- I slacked on that big time prior to this season and it's showing.

Another thing to consider is the population of the deer you are hunting. Some areas you can see 20 deer in a cut field on a regular basis. The other day I saw 4 deer in one spot by my house and I about went into the ditch trying to look at them, it's just not that common around here. If there's not a lot of deer you won't see a lot or maybe any unless you're in a really good spot where they feel safe and don't know you're there.

I've been hunting bow season for three years. Prior to that I was the guy that wandered into the woods during gun season and sat on a log hoping something would walk by. Did that for 10 years. It's a learning process but I'm getting there... slowly.

 

[hickslawns]

Haven't seen any coyotes, but have noticed many footprints at the smaller property. I guess I could trap some. The owner doesn't allow gun use so picking them off in the night is a no go.

I know there is one other college kid who hunts the 200 acre property but he keeps his treestands on the west and I on the East. I've never met him but I assume he has more time than I do so he may be overhunting.

I think I'll get some cheap trail cams and a blind and try moving to new spots in the property.

200acres is a good sized chunk of land. I am not suggesting you encroach on the other hunter, but maybe explore a bit. See where the heaviest sign is. Find food sources. Find bedding areas. Try to set up between them if possible. Can you scout from the road? On mornings or evenings I can't or don't want to hunt, I often drive around looking for deer. I want to see what they are eating, when they are eating, and why. I want to see where they are coming out. I want to see how many there are. I want to learn as much as I can so when I hang a stand it is in a good place. Also when hanging a stand, I try to do it where the entry/exit routes to/from the stand are low impact. I won't walk thru a bedding area to get to a stand. It is silly. Good luck!

 

[tpierce]

200acres is a good sized chunk of land. I am not suggesting you encroach on the other hunter, but maybe explore a bit. See where the heaviest sign is. Find food sources. Find bedding areas. Try to set up between them if possible. Can you scout from the road? On mornings or evenings i can't or don't want to hunt, i often drive around looking for deer. I want to see what they are eating, when they are eating, and why. I want to see where they are coming out. I want to see how many there are. I want to learn as much as i can so when i hang a stand it is in a good place. Also when hanging a stand, i try to do it where the entry/exit routes to/from the stand are low impact. I won't walk thru a bedding area to get to a stand. It is silly. Good luck!

this.

 

[giles]

200acres is a good sized chunk of land. I am not suggesting you encroach on the other hunter, but maybe explore a bit. See where the heaviest sign is. Find food sources. Find bedding areas. Try to set up between them if possible. Can you scout from the road? On mornings or evenings I can't or don't want to hunt, I often drive around looking for deer. I want to see what they are eating, when they are eating, and why. I want to see where they are coming out. I want to see how many there are. I want to learn as much as I can so when I hang a stand it is in a good place. Also when hanging a stand, I try to do it where the entry/exit routes to/from the stand are low impact. I won't walk thru a bedding area to get to a stand. It is silly. Good luck!

I like this. I will also add that the members here posting about lots of deer have passed on deer for many year to get to that point.

Congrats to your boy on his first! That's TOO good.

 

[gpb1111]

Thanks for all the replies. Very good insights. I may venture over in his section during midday to see if I can find any promising sign. Unfortunately it is virtually impossible to observe most of the property from the road. I'd have to either go through some woods first or would have to be on someone else's property.

I told my son it has been my best and worst hunting season. Best because I got to share those days in the field with him and be there when his effort paid off.

I'm very proud of him.

That was my ONLY goal this year so I guess it's been a total success.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Well done with your son. That's awesome!

Not sure how long you've been hunting total or even hunting these farms, but some farms are giant puzzles that just take time. It takes seat time. It takes scouting in February and March. Food plot prep in April and May. Minerals and cams in June and July. Glassing in August and September. Then back to seat time in October through January. We have 80 acres and I've spent 11 years doing this and still don't have it nailed down. However this year is the best year yet and a few things have revealed themselves recently that will allow me to build for future success.

As for baiting, I have baited for years, rarely hunting over it myself. I wish we'd ban it. It sure helps with cams, but it brings and unnatural influence that I'm not sure benefits hunting overall. I still do it and sat 38 yards from a pile in front of a cam today. The does hit it and the bucks know to check for does at the corn even though they won't eat from it. It's effective, but when the whole neighborhood does it, I think it can be a detriment.

 

[MoonLab]

Fuggin awesome right there....congrats

 

[cspot]

Well done with your son. That's awesome!

Not sure how long you've been hunting total or even hunting these farms, but some farms are giant puzzles that just take time. It takes seat time. It takes scouting in February and March. Food plot prep in April and May. Minerals and cams in June and July. Glassing in August and September. Then back to seat time in October through January. We have 80 acres and I've spent 11 years doing this and still don't have it nailed down. However this year is the best year yet and a few things have revealed themselves recently that will allow me to build for future success.

As for baiting, I have baited for years, rarely hunting over it myself. I wish we'd ban it. It sure helps with cams, but it brings and unnatural influence that I'm not sure benefits hunting overall. I still do it and sat 38 yards from a pile in front of a cam today. The does hit it and the bucks know to check for does at the corn even though they won't eat from it. It's effective, but when the whole neighborhood does it, I think it can be a detriment.

This is spot on. It takes time to learn a property. I have found it takes 3 or 4 years of hunting and scouting before you start to get it figured out. Things change over time as well so it is an evolving process.

At our new property in Ohio we are learning a little more on every hunt. Since we didn't close until almost May it was too thick to really get in any good scouting and we were busy getting the camper that was on it, cleaned up and leveled. I can't wait until Feb or March to get down there with some snow on.

Also congrats to your son! The pic is awesome!!