Frustration setting in!!

[bowhunter9841]

First, let me state that I have been having a great hunting season this year. I'm hunting a new area, and it's proven to be a good switch from my old hunting area. I have been seeing game every time out, with the exception of one day where I didn't see anything at all. I'm hunting antlered moose and deer on this property and I've been close to a couple good bulls. I had an eventful archery season, getting to within bow range of two different bulls. They did not end up giving me a shot however. I also flung an arrow at a whitetail doe. Which made contact and passed through the deer. Unfortunately the doe was not recovered. Guessing by the evidence on the arrow, I think I missed the vitals all together it was covered in thick tallow fat and had very little blood on the arrow. I could not find a blood trail due to rain, and after doing a search of the general area, I came up with nothing.

Fast forward to this past week. I am on public land so seeing other hunters is no surprise. There's not many guys hunting here, but It gets a little depressing seeing a moose gutpile and hide, right close to where I had seen the one bull last month. Another gutpile of what was obviously a deer was discovered this morning as well. There are other people having success, and I'm happy for them. The frustrating part for me is that I'm having numerous encounters, but no real opportunities at the moose. I've been hunting very hard, and having my butt kicked by these animals.

Yesterday, I came up on a bull that was more than sufficient for a first bull moose. I had him just outside 200 yards for over an hour, just standing there watching me. I could have shot him 100 times over. Unfortunately, he was 20 yards in to the neighbouring property. I tried calling him over, and he just stood there staring at me. So this morning, I headed back out there again to try my luck for half a day. As I'm walking through the one field. A bull elk pops over the hill, 80 yards away. No tag in my pocket for elk, draw only in that wmu. Had a chance to get one crappy picture with my phone before he bolted off! Fast forward three and a half hours as I'm walking out to my truck, through the same field, and I bumped another bull moose. This time he's on the property I can hunt him on. And surprise, he can run faster than Flash Gordon! It is extremely frustrating that I had a bull in plain view yesterday that was broadside for probably 55 minutes or more, but today when I'm able to shoot, the moose doesn't give me half a second to shoot! I guess this thread is just a big venting session. Anyone else having an otherwise super successful year, with the exception of folding a tag yet??

[Team Anzac]

Patience young Jedi, it's called hunting for a reason.

[J0HN_R1]

I've had a fairly frustrating season as well... I currently have a 406 Doe Tag (draw), and both White-tail & Mule deer general tags.

I either see the wrong species for the WMU I'm in, or the animal has spooked & is "gone like yesterday" before I can even raise the rifle.

In 406, I've seen moose every time I've been out there (no tag, all draw).

The last 3 times I've been there, I saw 4/4/3 respectively. The last 2 times, seeing the same bull with a pitch-fork on 1 side of his rack.

I too am at my wits end... And I've spent almost a grand on fuel since Sept 17, back & forth to Kananaskis or the Waiporous area every chance I get.

Off I go tomorrow @ 6am, to possibly torture myself again !

[Team Anzac]

Patience young Jedi, it's called hunting for a reason.

[MartyT]

But I bet it was a hell of alot more fun than sitting on the couch and even if it was on another property, it probably got your heart pumping pretty good didnt it. Its all part of hunting and often times parts of the hunt you remember the fondest arent necessarily of just the kill.

[bowhunter9841]

Yes, the blood was boiling pretty good! As I said before, I've had a great season so far. I'm learning a lot, seeing lots of game, and staying in better shape due to all the hiking. The biggest thing for me is that it took 6 years to get this draw, and I really don't want to eat tag soup, AGAIN. This is only my second time drawing for antlered moose in 12 seasons. The last time I drew, I didn't get much time out. Didn't even see a moose. This year I'm seeing lots, so that is great! Just getting anxious as I'm running out of time. I only have a few days left to hunt at the end of the month. Fingers crossed that I get lucky!

[sanjuanworm]

Originally Posted by Team Anzac

Patience young Jedi, it's called hunting for a reason.

I call it rifle hiking. If you need to know how my season is going.

[NSDucknut]

Experiencing the same thing. Last season was a disaster for various reasons, been a rough year personally - work 6 days a week to make ends meet. I have a magical 3 day weekend starting Saturday and it's make or break time to fill my tags.

And, most likely, those 3 days I'm going to be feeling super guilty that I'm out doing that while the wife is with the kids all day, just like she does all week. So, the pressure is immense to get an animal. I just don't want to feel guilty having spent the time away from everyone with nothing to show for it. I love the hunt, absolutely love it, but it gets hard to justify if I don't get the kill.

It's a tough thing. Luckily my wife is great, and realistically the hunting season is short, and then it's over. But boy wouldn't I be glad to tag out Saturday morning. Keep hammering guys!

[husky7mm]

I get how you feel, bow hunting can be very frustrating, animals just out of range or too fast..... makes you want to throw your bow at them after it happens again and agian.
Anyways on a different note, that is why they have so many liberal, general bow opportunities in this province. Low success, if everyone connected they would shut those opportunities down chicken louie. Its important when hunting to keep a postive outlook no matter what happens. The harder and longer you hunt, the more you learn. Find the good in being unsuccessful and learn from being schooled by the animals. Learn to enjoy the entire experience of the hunt. Learn to hunt sign instead of just the animals, you will be sooo busy you wont know where the time went. Become a hunter, a woodsman instead of someone that really badly wants to shoot something or cut a tag. If you dont have low times you wont appreciate the high times as much. Change your mind set about it, make sense?

[ak-71]

Last year filled my general whitetail on the second day, this year - no luck what so ever, last time on the drive in saw multiple whitetails and had to actually stop and wait for 2 whitetail does to finally let me drive to where I can hunt them, watched 2 mule bucks walking all around me, - and no luck with general whitetail so far, go figure.
PS. Not even bow, must've messed up my karma somehow.
PPS, With the snow - the place looks infested with deer too, way more tracks than I saw before

[last minute]

This time he's on the property I can hunt him on. And surprise, he can run faster than Flash Gordon! It is extremely frustrating that I had a bull in plain view yesterday that was broadside for probably 55 minutes or more, but today when I'm able to shoot, the moose doesn't give me half a second to shoot!

That's hunting at its best
Just keep at it good luck.

[3blade]

My scouting time is very limited. I spent 5 days in 936, found only one elk trail, so decided not to draw. 5 days gone.

Got bit by a dog on a training hike, spent a week sitting around on antibiotics with a fever and pus draining out of the bite. Lost more scouting time.

Found out my cousin had been diagnosed with cancer. He wanted to get a an elk with his bow, as it'll likely be his last season. Spent 3 days scouting, found him a spot where the elk were going through morning and evening. Hoping both of us would get our first elk. I had to work the first three days, told him how to set up on it. He decided he knew better, and set up UPWIND of the elk trail. Surprise, elk gone. Then, just to make sure, the next day he went stomping through their bedding area. No elk.

Wanted to hunt a spot I had seen lots of mulies, they had cows in there till November.

Had 2 elk in a small bowl at 150 yards, they literally covered each other's blind spots for an hour. One feeding, one standing watch. Did a half mile circle, they moved up and bedded facing me. Then, on the walk out, just to rub it in, I saw a bull moose within 60 yards in a zone where I got blanked on a P7 tag 2 years ago.

My "back up" whitetail spot in the hills, bright green clover cutline, where I couldn't go 2 hours without seeing a deer, got there just to find other hunters and no clover. Completely grown over with field grass. No deer.

Coyotes took out multiple deer on my bow zone spot, so the deer vanished. Again. Farmer likes coyotes.

Hit every single heat/rain/snow/wind storm all season. 30 degrees with a full moon, 3 foot snow drifts, week of rain, more snow, had elk figured out and then that stupid wind storm that knocked the train off the trestle.

More snow last week, then just as it cleared up, my grandpa (who is by far my best friend and the person I talk to the most) ended up in the hospital potentially about to lose his leg.

5 WEEKS OFF, 14 days of hunting total. I average 40 and have been up to 60 some years.

At this point, I'm just hoping everyone stays above ground and maybe I'll get some scouting done for next year. Never know though, it only takes one second to turn it all around.

[JWCalgary]

Learning year for me too (again). This season I drew an antler less WT for 406 as well. Nice to hunt close to home. Each time I'm out I find myself in that pivotal mental state of "call it quits or maybe just over there...one more hill" I am definitely at the peak performance point of patience

Tomorrow I will find my quarry.... tomorrow and tomorrow.

Still better than sitting in my office crunching numbers though.

Patience young padawan. The force will be strong with more training

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[deerless]

I hear you! Froze my ass off in the stand for hours on sunday. Scent wicks out, scent drag attached to my boots on the way out there, called and rattled my little heart out. Nuthin.

On my way home that night, nearly hit a mule doe with the truck. Swerved all over the road to avoid her. There was a split second where I thought "who needs a front grill anyway? I'm sure not THAT much meat would get spoiled!"

Keep at it man, the rut is just starting. Can't win if you don't play!

[3blade]

Originally Posted by deerless

I hear you! Froze my ass off in the stand for hours on sunday. Scent wicks out, scent drag attached to my boots on the way out there, called and rattled my little heart out. Nuthin.

On my way home that night, nearly hit a mule doe with the truck. Swerved all over the road to avoid her. There was a split second where I thought "who needs a front grill anyway? I'm sure not THAT much meat would get spoiled!"

Keep at it man, the rut is just starting. Can't win if you don't play!

I got a permit for a fresh road kill once, only looked to have a broken leg, was curious to see how much is salvageable for dog food. opened it up, looked like someone had skinned the deer, run everything inside through a wood chipper, then poured it back into the skin. No recognizable parts or organs. Won't do that again.

[RayB's]

I have nothing to show for the archery season except a great story.

While hunting public land, I climbed up on a cottonwood limb about 4 feet off the ground before shooting light and waited. Within 1/2 an hour I heard a twig snap behind me, and turned to see a young bull moose looking my way. I had no tag for moose, so I watched as he moved about my area for the next 45 minutes or so. Eventually he came closer, eating some twigs...then walked to 28 yards, laid down and began chewing his cud. This went on for about 1/2 an hour until he fell asleep and started snoring! There were times I coughed in the tree, and even sneezed once, but he just looked my way and kept on resting.

Although no other animals came through that day, it's an experience I'll never forget!

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[Stinky Buffalo]

TullFan - Ouch! Glad you and the deer made it out okay.

Awesome post, RayB's. Experiences like that are one of the reasons I love to spend time in the bush.

[Jayhad]

I appreciate the words of wisdom and stories in this thread. Myself I have a 2 year old boy who is my world, but I find it very difficult to do day trips on the weekends when it is my only time to spend with him except for evenings. He's still to young to take out all day, and it truly tugs at my heart when I am coming in on 6-7 hours of sitting with no results.

That said I got out for a weekend a couple of weeks ago and totally blew a stalk on some whitetails that I was convinced was a sure thing..... as I tried to get up to them I had such tunnel vision I didn't see the 20 others bedded between us.... Life lessons.

I grew up spoiled and never thought hunting was this difficult. My father didn't hunt any big game besides moose and there was never a season as a kid that we didn't tag out at least one moose with marginal effort....and of course once again this season as every other one I can remember for 30 years, my father drove into his spot, got out, set up his chair and in 30 minutes had a bull on the ground....lol

I just took up hunting again a few seasons ago after a lengthy layoff and everytime I'm out there it seems the learning curve is as steep as always.

What has been really frustrating for me is the days I go in to check my cameras, you would think the deer have me GPS tracked, they'll be there 5 minutes before I walk in, 5 minutes after I leave and all day when I'm not in my blind..... dancing and laughing

I guess perseverance is the real ticket. I tend to fish a lot and I think this upcoming year I will curtail my fishing and just scout every chance I have. I figure if I get 30 days in the field before hunting season I should have some of these patterns figured out.

[bowhunter9841]

Windy day yesterday, led to very little activity. Right up until the last half hour, when I spotted 4 moose, who had spotted me first. Unfortunately they were on the wrong side of the fence again. Today was forecasted to be much windier, so I decided to take the day off, and I woke up to almost no wind. Ugh! Should have just got up and went out. Reality is starting to set in, and I feel like this will be another year spent working my tail off, with no game meat to show for it. Sure makes you regret passing up opportunities on deer earlier in the year. I still have another day and a half, so things can definitely turn around for me. Hope everyone else is having better luck than me.

[BiggieB]

Originally Posted by bowhunter9841

Windy day yesterday, led to very little activity. Right up until the last half hour, when I spotted 4 moose, who had spotted me first. Unfortunately they were on the wrong side of the fence again. Today was forecasted to be much windier, so I decided to take the day off, and I woke up to almost no wind. Ugh! Should have just got up and went out. Reality is starting to set in, and I feel like this will be another year spent working my tail off, with no game meat to show for it. Sure makes you regret passing up opportunities on deer earlier in the year. I still have another day and a half, so things can definitely turn around for me. Hope everyone else is having better luck than me.

Well this is my fourth year of hunting and 3rd year of tag soup, it just comes down to being one of the lucky few...right time right place....even if you put in hours and hours of scouting it does improve your likelihood but nothing when hunting is a “sure shot.” last year I spent to 30+ days in the woods never had a chance to connect with anything, but talked to people who told me a moose or whitetail had just come out of the bush not 5 minutes prior and I had a tag for both.

this year started a new job just before the hunting season so had little time to get out, on the days i did I have ran into people gutting deer but haven’t Come across one myself yet, and probably won’t....but it just makes me want to go out scouting for next year that much more.
Just keep fighting the long battle and when you do finally connect it will be worth the wait.