Time wasted hunting

[mheichelbech]

As I look back over this season with 3-4 weeks to go in Indiana, I am thinking about all the time I've wasted sitting in a treestand when I should have been scouting. Scouting was/is especially important in light of the EHD outbreak and knowing just how many bucks and deer overall died as a result. DNR reduced the number of total deer limit from 8 to 2 this year. I do know there are some that have made it through, but at this point of the season, I still do not have one buck that I would shoot in my sights. I blame this primarily on me hunting and hoping instead of scouting and finding. December has been my best month and I am still optimistic as there are 3 different bucks in different areas that didn't seem to pop up until late season the past couple years and I have found some evidence of 2 of them (or 2 big deer at least) being around. I sat yesterday in an observation stand for 5 hours...didn't see one deer! At least I can cross that spot off the list.

Anyhow, my point on posting this is as a bit of a warning. If your after big bucks, don't make the mistake I've made this year and get caught up in hunting when I should have been scouting....new places, new properties, whatever. You can't kill what isn't there and the old adage of putting your time in doesn't just apply to sitting in a treestand!

Good luck to the rest of you guys that are still after it out there.

[justdirtyfun]

Good post.
I have some of the same issues at this point in the season. New properties but not enough scout time to have a chance.
I love scouting, and late season can produce so persistence is the plan.

Heck of a thread title. I wonder what else might be said. Or will be said.

[MarshRunner1]

See my situation is I've got the big bucks where I hunt, its just pulling off a successful hunt for one of them is tough. I saw plenty of small bucks and does bowhunting but never the 5 different big bucks i've got on cam this year. Scouting is definitely important and I'm gonna do alot of it this winter so I can get a game plan on for next season. The marsh I hunt is really tough but I'm confident that I can get one of them on the ground.

[mheichelbech]

See my situation is I've got the big bucks where I hunt, its just pulling off a successful hunt for one of them is tough. I saw plenty of small bucks and does bowhunting but never the 5 different big bucks i've got on cam this year. Scouting is definitely important and I'm gonna do alot of it this winter so I can get a game plan on for next season. The marsh I hunt is really tough but I'm confident that I can get one of them on the ground.

It's not the easiest thing to do but I think knowing you have some is more motivating. Driving to where I hunted yesterday it just seemed like I was looking for a needle in a haystack...did I not see anything because they just weren't moving in daylight yesterday or was it because one isn't around? Not seeing any deer at all makes me think they just weren't moving yesterday for whatever reason. My brother didn't see anything either. Are they nocturnal because of gun season pressure still...a week later?? Who knows for sure.

[Edcyclopedia]

Need current/hot sign...

[may21581]

Great post and excellent point. Some good bucks have hit the dirt as a result of making moves and scouting till their exhausted this season. Personally I feel a season cant be complete until every stone has been turned and you have exhausted all your avenues. Then when you do get on a good one you may be forced to make a bold move! Keep at it and push on. Late season is a great time to shoot a stud if you play your cards right. The hardest part is keeping warm! Good luck

[MrT]

Check camers yesterday morning going in. Buck passed by around 1am. Put in an effort about where I thought he would be bedded, didn't show. Took a slightly different route back out since not checking the camera again and found his track, which tweaked the direction I thought he went in by a couple hundred yards.

Theres a bigger buck that I've seen on the other side of the property that I don't know as well and have 0 cameras. So I look hard at the picture I now have of the first buck, "do I want to go after this buck?". I've shot bigger, I opted to pass and go to the other side with stand on my back.

Slipped around, found deer sign but not the big buck sign I was looking for. Hung a couple cameras in low impact spots. When deeper into area that he was last seen and found his staging area. Running low on time, decided to do some aggressive calling from the ground despite lack of fresh sign. Walked out empty handed.

It's possible I could have gone for the other buck, also possible he wouldn't show either. I made the most of my time by scout-hunting the other side, gathering intel, and hanging cameras in spots that will be easy to check to help me locate the buck later. No regrets or feeling like time was wasted.

I've tried to keep this mindset and it definitely takes a lot of stress out of it. Hardest part for me is trying to shake that feeling that I NEED to get into the stand.

[tim]

I don’t hunt where they aren’t. I confirm with trailcams the property has big deer. That being said those big deer aren’t always on one property and trailcam footage is just that, it’s past information. All I need to know is they exist then the rest is up to me to kill them

[may21581]

I don’t hunt where they aren’t. I confirm with trailcams the property has big deer. That being said those big deer aren’t always on one property and trailcam footage is just that, it’s past information. All I need to know is they exist then the rest is up to me to kill them

Dont forget those observation stands too!

[Buckshot20]

Can you really waste time hunting??? Sometimes just the peace and solitude is worth it.

[Dewey]

Scout, scout, scout, scout......hunt.

I’m also guilty of hunting too much when I should be scouting instead. Staying on hot sign is tough when your always wasting hours sitting in unproductive spots.

[BuffaloBill]

I've learned over the last few seasons how important scouting is, and that I don't do nearly enough. Especially on public land. It sucks showing up to one of your few good spots and someone is already hunting that area. Also makes it hard to hunt mornings without having a special area narrowed down. At the end of season I will be out scouting for next season. I've told myself that the last two seasons but life gets in the way and next thing I know it's Spring. I'd rather be scouting when it's cool and when I don't have to worry about ticks. Also when deer sign is still fresh. I'm also in Indiana and still have a few weeks to get it done.

[Jdw]

When I started bow hunting I thought the more time I spent in the stand the better the odds of encountering a good buck.
As I have gained experience I am learning it takes one hunt at the right time and place to have success.
It’s better to go out and find the right place and figure out when you need to be there than to keep a tree stand seat warm.
Good post!

[headgear]

I was pretty bad at this years back, however I had young kids and it just seemed like any time away I needed to be in the stand. Was still able to get on nice bucks back then but the population of older bucks was better then. Now I have no problem not hunting and just scouting. Barely hung my stand early season this year, usually sit a little more during prime time because you never know.

[Lockdown]

The importance of in season scouting is crucial. Also pre-season the last couple weeks prior to season... that’s free intel with no option to hunt anyway.

I was out 6 times for MN archery this year once season opened.

I observed 5-6 times this summer. One property showed no shooters. The other had bachelor group with a decent buck on a pattern. Hunted him and got him opening evening.

No choice but target does after that. I had two evenings where I scouted around and didn’t set up. I was looking for a slam dunk opportunity.

Of the remaining three outings, one I scouted and set up on what looked best although it was mediocre sign. Had a doe come in bow range but bust me on the ground.

After work I took 15 minutes and ran out and checked some bedding I’d never hunted. Trails and tracks looked excellent. First hunt there I passed a fawn and small buck, couple does got around me just out of range.

2nd hunt I had a doe slip through my fingers, passed a yearling buck at point blank, and made good on the second doe that came through.

I have a hard time just picking bedding and hoping someone is home. That’s all I did the first couple seasons and the results were pretty lackluster.

When you scout and find the hot sign, there will be action more often than not.