Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    Rent some deer hunting videos.  Hunt with an experienced deer hunter.
    As far as baiting goes,  you have to be kidding - especially in an area
    that you claim has LOTS of deer.  Improve your shooting ability.

    
    Rivers won't stop deer, they'll just swim right across.
    
    -Kendall

    Where I live deer don't think twice about crossing the creeks.  I
    haven't hunted around a large river, but if I were a deer, Why cross it
    if you don't have to.  If there is food, cover, etc. on one side of the
    river and nothing is chasing them, I wouldn't see a need to cross. The deer
    in my area to parallel the big creeks until they find a shallow place to
    cross.  You may check along the creek for their crossing points.  You said
    that there were hardwoods, Oaks?  If there is an Oak grove look no farther.
    
    Like one of the previous reply's said, ractice, practice, practice. 
    That way when the shot does present itself, you will be smiling instead
    of kicking the dirt.
    
    Good Luck
    Wess  

    
    1. I'll rent some videos.  Good advice, thanks!
    
    2. I'm a Yankee.  One bumper sticker I saw this morning said: "Have a
    nice day, shoot a Yankee."  Besides, my experience around here is that 
    hunters don't want new folks around hunting "their" land.  Before 
    moving down here, I had a Massachusetts guy who promised to take me 
    hunting three times... he never followed-up.  I have *NEVER* met another 
    hunter that showed a sincere interest in taking me hunting.  It would be 
    great to find someone to share my interest, but I've pretty much given-up 
    on that idea, so I read a lot, get out in the woods as often as possible,
    and practice.  I've come to the conclusion that hunting is a loner's
    sport.  I don't mind.  I'm instilling my love of hunting in my sons.
    
    By the way, I'm not an obnoxious jerk.  I have made lots of friends and
    acquaintances here.  Few of them are hunters.  And the acquaintances
    that are hunters shy away from anything that sounds remotely like an
    invitation to go hunting.
    
    In my begging local farmers to hunt, two of them (with no prompting
    from me) remarked that hunters are the most selfish (their word) people
    they know.  "They just can't stand the thought that someone else
    *might* just get a deer on land where they have permission to hunt."
    
    3. I'm shooting a 7-1/2 inch Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag.  I've put 1,500
    rounds (at least) through it, and I've just got a scope for it.  I'm
    pretty confident that I'll hit what I want to.  But, I'll take your
    advice... I'm always looking for a good excuse to shoot, anyways.
    
    4. I'll check out the woods more thoroughly for oak stands.  Good
    advice!
    
    5. I don't understand the reasoning behind: "Lotsa deer, no bait." 
    Just because there are lots of deer in the general area, whats the
    guarantee that they'll be in this little 15 acres lot?  In my scouting
    Saturday, I saw no fresh sign at all (droppings, scrapes, fresh tracks,
    nothing.)  Please explain.
    
    Keep those cards and letters coming!
    
    - Tim

    i too have moved from new hampshire to rebel country here in alabama 
    but i ran into a differrent situation i found there is alot of people
    that enjoys showing me differrent place to hunt. the problem i find is
    getting permission to hunt on land because you can't find the owners.
    the one thing i found is hunting clubs they are all over the place the
    cost is about $75 to $200 a year. i have a friend who got 16 deers last
    year and thats not making up a story. but what i don't like the use
    bait for their hunts. so i kinda hunt alone went ever i can find an
    owner of the land.

    Down here, everybody at a minimum knows everybody, more often than not
    is related to everybody.  The hunting "clubs" are phantom groups of
    individuals who lease hunting rights ($4-$5/acre) and post signs every 5
    feet threatening death by dismemberment to anyone who dares stray into
    the cherished territory.  The sign will say "Tom's Hunting Club" or
    "Little Creek Hunting Club" but there are no names or phone numbers. 
    You get the distinct feeling they're not looking for new members 8^(.
    
    Anyways... I went ahead and got three bags of corn (not acorns!) and
    put out three small piles of the stuff just to see what acivity there
    is.  Day later: NOTHING!  Boy, was I bummed.  But yesterday I met a
    local guy I've gotten to know who assured me that there's mucho deer
    around there.  He said my mistake is to pile the stuff up... The deer
    get suspicious and won't eat any, but if its spread around, they'll eat
    it.  So I'll go back and spread it around.
    
    It turns out there's no oaks in the woods there anywhere.  I've got to
    be patient, settle down and keep plugging...
    
    - Tim

    Well, went out to the area again last night.  The corn had been eaten,
    and I had a deer snort at me from the edge of woods (couldn't see it)
    while I crossed a field.  It was right near a runway I'd spotted
    earlier.
    
    I spread what corn was left around, but its served its purpose and I
    won't put out more (though I might after the season closes.)
    
    Watched two videos last night.  One was from 3M, and was very basic,
    covering stuff I already knew.  The other was very good.  It was from
    "Woods and Water" and though it was very rough (prodiction-wise) there
    was a lot of good content and I learned a lot.  It was titled: "How to
    use scents, camoflage, and blinds."  Any other recommended videos I
    should see?  I'll pick up more tonight.
    
    Based on what I now know about the area, and the advice in the video,
    I'll be building a stand out there tomorrow morning.
    
    17 days...
                                   
    - Tim

try hunting the Rut with Ben lee and Don Bell...  excellent!

Fra

    There are good ol boys, like myself, that will take someone under their
    wing and teach them the hunting skills that they learned from their
    dads.  My student is well known on this notes file, Bob Harris.  Ask
    him what I taught him!
    
    Good hunting land is to the hunter like burial grounds are to the
    Indians.  Look in the paper for clubs with openings or land for lease.
    
    Posted land means Posted land.  This land is already leased by a club
    and they have enough members for the season.
    
    Try inviting your hunting friend to your 15 acreas for a days hunt. 
    He'll probably come and teach you a few things.
    
    Earl 
    

    Tim,
    
    Earl's last comment was great.  Ask your friend (who has a place to go)
    to go with you.  Some people don't want to share unless you do first. 
    I have one friend who never asked me once to go with him.  I invited
    him to go with me a couple of times, now he calls and asks me to go
    every year.  You also get to know someone a lot better when you go
    hunting with them, they may change the "Yankee" stuff when they find
    out that you are Ok.  
    
    Good Luck
    Wess

    I was out in my stand one half hour before sunrise Saturday, stayed
    there 'till 9:15.  Then I got down and slowly scouted the whole 15
    acres again.
    
    Nothing.  Some tracks along a road, a scrape that looked like it was
    from last year... but no droppings, fresh scrapes, rubs, nothing...
    
    Needless to say, I'm more than a little concerned.
    
    Met another hunter on the way out.  He told me he'd seen several deer
    and had a shot at one that morning, in the parcel that's adjacent to
    mine.  Lotsa corn, assorted food types, etc.  He's a member of a club,
    but they've got a waiting list of hopeful wannabe members.  He took my
    name and number.  I'm not holding my breath.
    
    - sigh -

    By the way... I spent the morning watching about fifteen squirrels
    within 50 yds around my stand... busy, noisy li'l fellers, that
    didn't really take much notice of me...
    
    Then I realized where my feed corn had gone!
    
    - groan -

    Don't be discouraged.  Keep hunting.  Hunt different areas of the
    property.  Never hunt the same place all the time.  You will put the
    strong smell of human in a particular area, thus keeping game away. 
    Rotate your stand selection.  Keep a sharp eye out.  Don't give up.
    Deer move. 
    
    Bottom line.  Move around, and DON'T GIVE UP TO SOON!  You never can
    tell.
    
    good luck.
    
    Bob
    

    Never give up hope.  You said you saw deer before and they ate the corn
    you put out.  If the guys missed deer on the adjacent land, they might
    run some over to you too.  I got into a depressed state a few years
    back and it sure sucks.  The landowner where I was hunting sold his
    farm a week before season and left me without a "good" place to hunt.
    I ended up hunting an old place that I had and lucked into a decent
    buck that 3 guys on the farm over were driving.  I heard 3 shots,
    looked up and the buck stopped about 70 yards from me and looked back.
    It was his last look.  
    
    NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!
    
    Good luck
    Wess

    I'm not giving up.  I've spent too much on scents, calls, seats, guns,
    scopes, clothes, ammo, and time to give up now.
    
    A little clarification.  The "friend" referenced earlier is only a bare
    acquaintance who doesn't hunt himself.  And I think the corn was eaten
    by squirrels.
    
    The only solid hope I have is that the deer I heard snort only comes
    through in the evening (I heard it around 5:00pm.)  I was in my stand
    only in the morning last Saturday.  I did use a pair of scent drag-rags
    on my boots and had laundered my camo with Sport Wash (scentless) and had
    kept my boots in a bag of leaves, besides showering with scentless
    "hunter soap."  So the area around my one-and-only tree stand (that
    happens to be permanent) shouldn't be that stinky.
    
    No matter what I'm going to hunt from 1 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour
    after sunset on opening day.  I'll be in the stand from opening 'till 
    10:00am and from 3:00pm to closing.  I believe there is a solid chance 
    that opening-day hunting on the adjacent property will drive something to
    me.  We'll see.  Six days to go.
    
    - Tim

    Why don't you try stretching your stand time out until about noon to 1
    p.m.?  You might be surprised. 3 keys to success:
    
    Be cammo'd
    be quiet and still
    Be alert
    
    Try going without the calls, scents, whistles and bells and just go
    with the cammo's, go scent free, and be still.  Stay on the stand later
    than normal.  Other hunter movement might herd them your way when your
    not even on the stand.  All those calls and stuff might be saying to
    the  deer," Hello, I'm here!"
    
    Don't give up on the optimism.  Last year I didn't harvest a single
    deer.  Every year 4 years it was one doe a year.  This year, opening
    day I harvested a nice sized deer with a 8 point rack.  The following
    weekend I harvested a nice doe.  The point is persistence WILL PAY OFF!
    Don't get discouraged.  Just keep hunting.  Hunting is like riding the
    bus, if your there when it comes by, take it!
    
    good luck.
    
    Bob (going to earl's trophy land this weekend!)
    

    If the adjacent club is putting pressure on the deer, you might try
    hunting 10 to 2.  This is a prime time for trophy bucks to be on the
    prowl for hot does.  The bucks (and does) know when the hunters are in
    the woods.  They will not move as much and will stay in the thick
    stuff til the hunters leave the woods.  Be on your stand at 10:00 and
    stay with it til 2:00, or even stay til dark.  I think you'll be
    surprized at the outcome.  The majority of the deer I've harvested were
    shot after 10:00.  ex: 9pt-10:45, 7pt-10:30, 4pt-10:30, spike-12:30.
    
    Earl                           

    re: last few
    
    This is all good information!!!  Thanks for all your help and
    encouragement.  I don't think I could "give up" with all the
    experienced folks cheering me on.
    
    Earl:
    
    That's very surprising about your after 10:00am success.  I would never
    have guessed it.  I've always pictured that the most hunting action
    happens between 6am & 7am, or late afternoon.  BTW, are you in
    Alpharetta?

    Earl and myself are in the Alpharetta complex.  And for what it's
    worth, EVERY DEER I HAVE HARVESTED, was harvested AFTER 9:30 in the
    morning.  I don't even go to my stand anymore until daybreak.
    
    Bob
    

    geez,
    
    I forgot to add something.  I was reading in one of my most recent
    hunting publications, that there is a "Spike" of movement for deer.
    Active movement times are of course the traditional 6-8 am.  But
    also there is heavy movement from 10-1, and then late afternoon.
    I assume the 10-1 movement has alot of impact from hunters getting
    off their stands etc.
    
    If you have no success using one method of hunting, why not try the
    opposite?
    
    bob again
    

    Hi All,
    
    I have a similar problem.  I have been hunting deer for about 4 years
    and have only seen 1.  I just moved to an area in Mass where I can
    walk out my back door to state land and hunt.  The terrain is
    picture/book perfect for deer hunting.  Ample food, water, clearings
    and close by dense cover.  I have noticed plenty of well used trails
    and fresh scrappings and my friend noticed fresh dropping.  What I have
    not seen is any deer.  I have tried still hunting and stand hunting
    with no luck.  I am getting very discouraged.  We have set up ambush
    points throughout the area in hopes we can bag something or at least
    see something in the next month or so.  Does anyone have some advice
    to give out.  I could use some right now.  
    
    Thanks,
    
    Kevin "Still_waiting_for_that_first_one_!_!_!_!"

    What time of day are you hunting?  You are seeing fresh sign, right? 
    If so, they are there.  Just stretch your hunting times longer, or
    change position.
    
    bob
    

    Hicks- Yes I'm in ALF.  
    
    BTW. I read an article last year about a hunter with many record book
    deer that said he only hunts 10-2.  I never go to my stand until I can
    see where I'm walking.  You can't shoot in the dark so why hunt in the
    dark.
    
    Earl

    Guys,
    
    I would have to agree with the 10am-2pm timeframe, if you are in an
    area with other hunters,etc.  Don't give up on the early and late hours
    though.  Of the 17bucks and 3 does that I have "lucked" into, all but
    about 5 were shot early or late.  If you can stand it, stay out there
    all day.  It is tough to do, at least for me, but you sure wouldn't
    miss him when he came through, no matter what time.   
    
    I guess the best advice I can give is hunt as much as you can.  The
    more time you get to hunt the better you get to know the deer movements
    in your area.  
    
    As far as stillhunting goes, move as slow as you can(look more than you
    move).  I had a bad habbit of moving too fast when I first starting
    still hunting and all I saw were tails waving goodbye.  I was talking
    to an accomplished "Big Buck" hunter and he said he pretends that the
    deer are hunting him and he has to spot them first.  It sounds kind of
    weird, but it sure makes you look more.  
    
    Just my .02cents worth,
    
    Wess_who_has_the_06'_sighted_and_ready_for_saturday!

    go get em wessonality!
    

    re: last few...
    
    Are you saying stay in the stand all day?  Oh, my aching back!  I've
    got to get down and still-hunt sometime.  If I choose one or two times
    to still hunt, when should that be?
    
    - Tim

    re.26 Do you know where the deer are feeding? Bedding? Without that
    information, it's awful hard to pick a good stand site. You could 
    be hunting a feeding area an hour after the deer leave, or walking
    right into a bedding area just as the deer arrive. Result? Hasta
    la vista, baby. Still-hunting at mid-day is pretty much limited to
    bedding areas *if* you don't mind disturbing the deer and possibly
    causing them not to come to the evening feed area 'til well after dark. 
    
    dana

    Hicks,
    
    Dana hit it right on the head.  That is where the "spend as much time
    out in the field as you can" stuff comes in.  
    
    I don't know about down there, but here in KY the bucks are going crazy
    rutting.  They can show up at any time.  I usually try to pattern the
    slickheads and hope loverboy shows up looking for some action (No,
    not you Harris, I mean the bucks).  I usually stay on stand as long as
    I can stand it, then stay a little longer.  Then I work the fringe of
    their bedding areas, like Dana said you can spook them into not even 
    moving until dark sometimes, unless you are hunting a fairly large
    piece of land.  
    
    It is really hard to say what to do, heck, sometimes I'm not even sure
    what I'm going to do where I hunt!  I guess that is why we call it
    hunting instead of Killing?
    
    Good luck,
    Wess
    
    

    Well, yesterday was the "big day."  A brief report:
    
    Got out to the area about 6:15am, Got my camo stuff out of the bag of
    leaves, load my gun, and I'm off... OOPS, put the scent pads on the
    feet... *now* I'm off.
    
    Shooting time starts at 6:20am, its now 6:30, getting near my stand...
                    
    "PHOOOOT!!!"... <crish> <crooosh> <crash> <croosh>
                    
    First spooked deer of the day.  If I had been there 15 minutes earlier,
    who knows... oh well, up in my stand.  Get comfy and a dog goes by,
    never saw me, and I get a little bit of confidence in the stand.  Never
    smelled me either.  
    
    About 9:00, I was standing, stretching my legs and...
      
    "PHOOOOT!!!"... <crish> <crooosh> <crash> <croosh>
    
    Hey, where did that deer come from?  And how did it see me?  Wait a
    minute, its coming back... never saw me after all.  Its about 35 yards
    away behind some holly and a few hardwood trunks, so I can't see
    antlers/no antlers.  It wanders away.  I try a gruntcall ... no effect.
    
    One bad thing.  I am shaking almost uncontrollably.  The cold has
    started to get to me (about 25-30 degrees) and when the deer snorted, I
    was surprised... I couldn't shoot in this condition!  I've got
    Thinsulate boots and gloves, but sitting in a stand is no match for my
    "layered" clothing.  And there's only a gentle breeze blowing.  If
    there were a real wind, I'd be an icicle.  I'm wondering if I'll make 
    it to 5:30pm.  I'm determined to stick it out.  The woods are like corn 
    flakes and I know I'm not experienced enough to still hunt.  I'll do the 
    best I can.
    
    I pass the time by rattling antlers about once an hour (nothing),
    grunting (still nothing), sighting through my scope at stuff
    (carefully!), watching the birds (buzzards and crows fascinate me.)
    
    At 12:00 I afford myself the luxury of some Good Ol' Raisins and 
    Peanuts (my favorite trail food.)  I drink some water.  I get down at
    1:30 to answer nature's call (about 100 yards away) and as I'm about to
    get back in my stand... there's an orange cap headed down the road
    toward me.  I wave, he waves, we talk.  He and his dad and brother have
    killed about five deer hereabouts, one just last Thursday (he got a
    four pointer with a muzzle loader.)  He assures me there's plenty
    around.  I feel better and more confident ("maybe this isn't a complete
    waste of my existence after all.")  He goes off to put his climbing
    stand in some hardwoods near the opposite corner of the field that's 
    near my stand.
    
    Back in my stand.  Its a beautiful Carolina day, clear, bright, and for
    the first time in my life I've sat in one place long enough to see the
    sun rise and progress through the sky.  I enjoy about 20 minutes of
    warmth.  I've been shivering off-and-on for about seven hours.
    
    More rattling, grunting, squirt some doe-in-heat around... I'd still 
    rather be here than trying to help someone debug a broken ULTRIX
    installation over the phone!
    
    Late afternoon, and the squirrels are out.  Since 3:00 I've been extra
    alert.  About 4:00 I'm standing, checking out each sound, and "hey,
    that stick moved!?!"  In comes a doe.  She walks to within 25 yards of
    my stand.  I'm fighting hard to overcome the shaking.  I move around to
    where I can be comfortable if Mr. Big comes in after.  He never shows. 
    The doe browses around for 20 minutes, sees something she doesn't like 
    in the brush and "PHOOOT!"... up goes the white flag.
    
    Oh well, that was sorta fun.
    
    I'm sore in my guts from shivering.  But I didn't leave the stand until
    5:30.  Back to the car... At least I didn't spook anything as I went
    away...  Rather than take off my camo I just get in the car.  Get it
    running... oh *heat*!!!  "Hey, what's that smell???  THE SCENT PADS!!!"
    
    My wonderful wife makes a hot bath when I get home, and the whole
    family is sincerely disappointed I didn't get anything.  I feel better.
    
    Lessons:
    
    	1)  There's an insulated Treebark coverall at WalMarts with my name
    on it!!  Sitting in a tree stand for hours is not the same as a brisk
    winter walk.  (I don't think I've ever been so cold in my life!)
    
    	2)  I *will* be in my stand before shooting light next time.
    
    	4)  Remember to take off scent pads *BEFORE* getting in the car!!!
    
    	3)  My stand location is not the greatest.  I did the best I could
    with the limited time I had, so I don't feel bad about it.  But somehow
    I've got to get a ground blind set up in another area that I think will
    be better.  All my sightings are on one side of my stand, over toward
    some planted fields, etc., and both deer came and left without really
    crossing by my stand.  I'm going to set up along that side and down the
    hill toward the stream on Saturday.
    
    And we'll see what happens then!
    	  

    
    Great day of hunting.  Did you get cold due to temp or because of the
    deer.  Saturday, after I shoot my 8 pt, I got the shakes too.  My feet
    and hands also got numb.  I had to get Lamar to help me drag cause I
    could not walk real good.  Try dressing in layers instead of bulky
    suite, you'll stay warmer.
    
    Hang in there. Deer hunting is like catching a bus.  If your there when
    the bus comes by you'll catch it and you already know where the bus
    stop is.
    
    Earl

    Earl:
    
    Thanks.  I enjoyed your reply in the "SUCCESS" note.  I've had a
    question that I've asked myself over and over: Am I a hunter, or just a
    bumbling wanna-be-a-hunter??  I was really afraid that if I wasn't
    successful yesterday, I'd get so bummed out I'd give up.  But being that
    close to a doe (I practised putting my sights on her just to get used
    to a good sight picture) made me feel like I'd got to the point where
    maybe I *am* a hunter, after all!
    
    My shivering was 75% cold, 25% excitement.  It was DEFINITELY worse
    when I knew a deer was nearby!  And I was dressed in layers.  I had on
    longies, turtleneck, camo shirt, camo jacket, and camo pants over my 
    jeans.  I want something that's windproof (even with a gentle breeze, 
    I could feel it going through those layers!) and INSULATED.
    
    Every experience I learn more.  I think that's why I don't consider
    myself a potential slob hunter.  Whether I got a deer or not, I saw
    this all as part of the *hard*work* of really learning to be
    successful.  I think the average slob that shoots anything that moves
    goes into the woods just for an excuse to prove his/her MACHO and blast
    something.  Yesterday proved to me I'm not like that, and I'm going to
    keep at it.
                                    
    I think its time for a hands-on "how to gut a deer" lesson, though!!!
    
    - Tim

    Hey Tim...great story....I'm in the same category as you are..a
    beginner asking myself if I *AM* a hunter or just a wannabe..I added a
    reply to the UNSUCCESSFUL hunt note and was serious about becoming
    "dedicated" to "hunting" the bucks instead of sound shooting. My
    partner is STILL talking about me dropping my barrel to avioding his
    ear drums possibly being shattered because "I HAD TO GET THAT BUCK".
    That's my me or my style..
    
    I dressed in layers(2 pair longjohns((1 cotton,1 fleece)),
    jeans,flannel shirt,army winter camo pants,army camo field jacket then
    an orange vest,orange hat with sorel artic pac II boots and a thin pair
    of camo shooting gloves. The weather was 16 degrees and I moved around
    alot ,except for the 3 1/2 apple orchard sit.Ops! also bought a heat
    seat from Corey's in Littleton,NH for the ground sitting. The air was 
    brisk and I found myself sweating after 3 hours of walking/hiking. I
    wanted to take off layers but had no back pack to put things into.
    
    I will be back there this Thursday night late and be ready for them..
    
    
    		Good luck, be safe and happy hunting..
    
    
    			Another excited beginner, john

    
    John,
    
    Can I give you a good piece of advice? Drop the cotton long johns and
    buy yourself a pair of polypropolyne (sp?) long johns. When cotton gets
    wet from sweat it doesn't evaporate and keeps your skin cool. The PP
    keeps you warm by allowing moisture to evaporate. granted the PP cost
    a little more but when your freezing your hynny off in a tree you'll
    wish you had spent the extra cash. Just a little friendly advice.
    
    Walt
    
    p.s. good luck to both of you. I've been hunting for..well.. a looong
    time now without getting another deer. Don't get discouraged!

    I went out last night and got the coveralls.  The selection was
    limited, even though this place had lots of hunting stuff, cuz its late
    and the season's here.  I would like to have got Gray-Leaf Realtree,
    but I settled for Mossy Oak Treestand.  The material is a cotton duck,
    almost like chamois.  Nice and dense, should be windproof, with *lots*
    of room to wear longies, sweats, sweaters, whatever, comfortably, but
    not too big as to get in the way.  Got a fleece fanny pack, Treebark
    pattern, that'll work better than the day pack I had.
    
    One thing I'm convinced of now is the goodness of stand hunting,
    especially tree stands.  Watching that doe convinced me that you'd have
    to be very, very good to be able to sneak-in on a deer in woods like
    we've got now, with all the crispy, noisy leaves.  I could move around
    and that deer never looked up.  If I were on the ground, I'd say there
    would be a one-in five chance she'd see me, and if I was sneaking up,
    I'd probably have only a one in three chance of escaping detection.
    
    The way I look at it, if you know there's deer around, the longer you
    stay in one (reasonably decent) place, the more chance that a deer will
    come to you.  Hey, if it was "doe days" (Dec. 2-10 around here) I'd
    have venison now!
    
    There is a big difference between the woods around here (NC) and where
    I come from (MA.)  The woods around here are taller, and the trees are
    *made* for treestands.  Its easier to use a climbing stand when the
    tree has no branches and goes straight up 35 feet!
    
    - Tim                     

    Thanks for the input...I knew NOTHING about PP longjohns so opted to
    buy cotton. I did see PP's at SAM's CLUB for 31.99 a set. That's what I
    paid for the Fleece set. 
    
    Again thanks for the input/advice...
    
    
    Geez!!!!!!!!    I love this sport already
    
                                           Happy/safe hunting, john

    Well, I went all day Friday, didn't see hide nor hair of a deer.  I
    also tried an ambush in a different area of "my" tract.  Nothing. 
    Again, rattling, grunting, and doe-in-heat scent did no good.
    
    I was very bummed.  I called a guy in my church that I met recently who
    is a very experienced hunter.  His assessment is that when the guns
    started going off at the beginning of the season, they all went into
    hiding.  All the land around here is posted, so I can't just go looking
    for 'em.  and with a river and stream on two sides, and no food sources
    around, the deer just don't have a good reason to come my way.
    
    I think I'll take up bowhunting next year.
    
    I'll try a few more times after the season has quieted down.
    
    - Tim                                            

    
    Tim do not give up you've got a better chance of shooting a deer
    where you've been hunting than in your living room. Deer hunting
    can be very discouraging sometimes but you have to think of it
    this wasy. You're not out to kill you're out to have a good time and
    enjoy nature. If you're lucky enough to get one then thats just icing
    on the cake. Like I said before it's been many years since I shot a
    deer but I'm out there every year getting cold, wet, discouraged,
    limbs slapping me in the face, trippingover stuff and just having a
    great time. 
    
    
    Walt

    
    If you are giving up because you have not seen a deer in a couple of
    days, then this is a bad sign for you. You should not give up, the
    deer could have been right in front of you, or no place near you, you
    will never know. I don't know what the hunting is like in the south,
    but in New England is is not uncommon to go the season without seeing
    more than 1 or 2 deer, possibly not even getting a shot, the success 
    rate is about 10% in NH. 
    
    As Walt said, the major part of hunting is enjoying nature, being 
    outside and having a relaxing time, it is not about having to kill an
    animal, sure it makes it alot nicer when you see things. Personally,
    my weekend last week was made by seeing a moose for a couple seconds.
    Never saw a deer the whole weekend.
    
    they are around, but remember, they stay alive by not letting you see 
    them.
    
    Sit back and enjoy nature, there are bound to be lots of other 
    animals around to keep you watching, or do what my father does, sit 
    down at a comfortable spot and catch up on your sleep :-)
    
    --Bob
    

    Tim,
    
    Sit back and enjoy nature at its best...
    
    I've been hunting for 4 years now and haven't seen a deer yet.
    At least not during hunting season.
    
    Last year I had a moose cross my stand within 10 feet of me, a
    chic-a-dee land on my head, a mouse sniff my boot, and the
    bee-gee-bers scared out of me by a grouse.
    
    You seen to be the makings of a good clean hunter.
    
    Best of luck,
    Greg

    Tim,
    
    As I stated in a previous note, try hunting without rattling, grunting,
    and using scents.
    
    They are all beneficial at certain times, with certain situations etc,
    and I feel that if you concentrate on being still, cammo'd, and keep
    your eyes moving around constantly, you might be surprised.
    
    There are times when every hunter gets a little discouraged from not
    seeing anything, but that's hunting.  Look at me for example, I have
    been hunting for five years, and just took my first antlered deer
    opening day.  You can't get on the bus if your not at the bus stop.
    You can't harvest a deer if your not in your stand.  It takes ALOT of
    patience, but it will pay off.
    
    Just try to be like a ghost in the woods.  Leave the rattlin bag at
    home, leave the scents in the bottle, and don't blow in that grunter. 
    I am not knocking those things, but just maybe your rattling is scaring
    them away, or your scents alarm the deer.  Be invisible for their
    noses, eyes, and ears.
    
    Just try it.  Good luck.
    
    Bob (who is coming down to the wire with deer season)
    

    Hey, I'm not giving up!  I just haven't had a chance to get out there
    recently.  I'll have to go back and read my previous reply, it must be
    a downer!
    
    - Tim

    Tim,
    
    My wife took it hard that she comes in second during deer season.
    She knows that she is my first passion, and deer hunting is my second.
    At least, that's what I tell her.  I almost got divorced this year with
    all the hunting I have been doing (just kidding).  She is happy that
    the season is nearing it's end.  Next year, it won't end until mid
    January, right Earl?
    
    Oh well, think I might eat some venison chili tonight, and make that
    korean marinate this weekend.
    
    
    ciao,
    bob
    

    Yes, the deer hunting bug has bit me again.
    
    I reread the old notes here.  Boy do the memories flood back.
    
    I never was successful in '92.  I gave up on hunting in '93 and '94. 
    This year I have permission to hunt a 100 acre farm.  I'm in full
    swing.  I've already been there scouting 4 times, seen four deer, had
    one walk up on me from behind while I was sneaking around, fooled
    another in a field, musta heard that old "PHOOOT" sound a dozen times,
    but this time they didn't know I was there.
    
    I'm going out at various times, morning and evening.  The main central
    field of the farm is planted with tobacco, which the deer hate, but
    there is some soybeans in one place and corn on a adjacent field.  This
    year, I have a tree stand coming "for my birthday 8^)".  I want to be
    dead certain where the deer are before I put up my stand this time.
    
    Anyway, the scouting has greatly increased my confidence.  And I'm
    taking the first week of hunting season off to make sure I get
    undistracted continuous days in the field.
                                          
    So, we'll see... but THIS IS THE YEAR!!!!

    Glad to see you didn't give up.				
    
    I hope you get one, I know you will have a good time.
    
    Wess