Still Hunting

[NM_Shedder]

Well, I've only hunted two days so far, and still have two and a half weekends in September, and the first 15 days in January. Over the first two days, we have seen a good number of deer, a few small bucks and one that is probably 130" or better. We chased this group both Saturday and Sunday evening. Have I ever wished more so I had a rifle. Following the bigger buck after one of his little buddies busted us as we stepped around a tree after they vanished, I look up and see this big rack disappear over the hill. His two buddies were both out of my range, so I opted to pass up on trying to get closer, and went over the hill after him. There, 130 yds away, he was staring us down, and there was nothing we could do. This is were I wish I had a rifle. So, Saturday over, and having pushed the bucks, we backed out and went to a new spot Sunday morning. Slow start to the day, we found a group of does, and jumped a small buck, that didn't stop till he was over 100 yds away and again, too far for me. That was the end of the morning hunt. The afternoon comes, and we were back where the bucks were the day before. They were over on the next ridge, and seemed perfectly undisturbed. With an hour till dark, we started to stalk. Got down to around 100yds, where the same little buck from the night before, somehow sees me sitting behind a tree. The big one is still bedded down, and the medium sized one is somewhere below us. After sitting still for about 20 min, they leave, and we have no choice but to head back to the truck, once more in the dark.

 

Now, have next weekend, the weekend after that, and Saturday the following weekend, the first 15 days of Jan, and maybe finding a buck I can chase on my way home from school between now and the 24th of September. I love hunting deer, but with a bow, it is very irritating, and disappointing, even more so than with a rifle. Wish me luck!

[ctfsh2003]

I thought archery deer ended on the 8th

[turbo]

No gun needed. You are bowhunting, and, importantly, finding bucks. Success rates with a bow are lower, esp.out West. (that is Frederick Remington's The Luckless Hunter, and I think of that when a period of no shot opportunites arises from my efforts.)

Remember that the pattern of where they are over the last few days doesn't mean that they can change on you, and be "right there" so be ready for the shot.

 

The deer are not reading from the story line, I remind myself, as I am; a season's limited days means nothing to them, so each new day is just that, a fresh start.

Stay on them.

[Zeke-BE]

Wishing for a rifle is always the case for us bi-hunters rifle/archers. I put on more stalks and see more animals while bow hunting. There is a trade off though! You see frustration like what you are going through wishing you had a rifle. Funny thing is during the rifle hunts you don't see that many deer as you do while archery, there are lot more hunters, and the deer run skiddish. If i had a rifle I would of had a 190"-200" buck, but I had a bow and I still got within 40 yards but I couldn't get a shot off. But still I can say I put a stalk on a 190" buck (desert Buck) got 40 yards to it, and Ive never seen a deer that size while using a rifle, nor a 100" couse with a rifle yet. When I bow hunt I just think bow hunting and enjoy the hunt of seeing so many animal and getting close. When I rifle hunt I think rifle!! I then enjoy the 400 yard shots!

[Northern Pintail]

This guy is in new mexico (at least according to his profile)... thus different dates

[NM_Shedder]

Yes, in New Mexico the archery season is a rather extended season.