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Season's Over...What did you learn and what will you do differently?

Altiman94

Altiman94

Member
Guys/Gals:

Now that the bow and muzzy seasons are over...and many of us done are deer hunting all together for the '11/12 season, I'd like to know what you learned and what you will do differently next year.

What I learned:
1) Persistance pays off. Stay at it even when the deer seem to have disappeared
2) Using google maps is truly a great help. Found several public areas that I saw deer.
3) Hunt the areas that other hunters don't want to. That's where the deer will be...less pressure.
4) Keep your eyes open for opportunities to hunt new ground.
5) Moving stands when you quit seeing deer. If I don't see deer two or three times in a row...it's time to move to a diff spot.
6) Hunt the wind...sounds like everyone knows this, but we don't all follow. I saw alot more deer this year taking the wind into account more.

What I will do differently:
1) Stay later in the mornings. Normally I'm pretty much packed up by 9:30. I plan to either do all day hunts (in nov) or stay later in the mornings when possible.
2) Scout earlier. I didn't get out early enough to scout and had to use aerial maps more...still helped, but not as good as putting boots to the ground.
3) Continue trying to new areas and areas that are off the beaten path.

What about you? I think we can gain some good tips from each other.
 
Great thread. Quickly- I just got a new farm so my perspective is different Shot some bucks on it but learned a ton!!!! I will moving and tweaking at least half of my stands. I'll also be making a ton of habitat improvements. As usual- every year is a different animal. This was not an easy year with rut and also late season weather. Keeping after it is always wise- not getting discouraged when it's hard.
I also got more aggressive with shooting bully bucks and management bucks that r old. I always let younger, top genetic bucks go but now they will have fewer bullies to deal with and I'll do more of that ongoing.
 
The two most important things I learned: You can't beat having a good friend help you out by scouting properties and hanging stands when you are 1700 miles from your hunting areas. And I learned not to assume your bow is still sighted in after a 1700 mile journey. Go shoot it a couple of times to make sure its dialed in and use the hard case for traveling next time.

I learned that the tree stand I bought on sale is a good tree stand, but I now know there are better ones and I'll be investing in a LW before my next trip. I need to get a better set of rattling antlers. Being scent conscious (bathing and spraying/storing clothes) and hunting the wind goes a lot further than any special "scent blocking" clothes. I also learned that I really love tree stand hunting.

As for what I'd do differently, I'd sneak on to Skip's place while he's at work! :D Seriously, though, the things I'd do differently have to do with what I learned above: mainly a new tree stand. Beyond that, getting my buck the first morning didn't really do anything to help me hunt long enough to figure out what else I'd do differently.
 
I learned I need to get to EVERY stand and trim and adjust early in the summer. I have some stands I only hunt once or twice a year. And theat is because they arent very productive. Also going to get a ariel map of my farms and move stands where it looks better. I also I have a few parts of the farm i dont have stands in due to acess. But going to fix that problem by talking to farmer to see if i can go thru his cattle yard to reach the back of the farm.
I am also going to get new trail cameras and get them out early and let them soak for month at a time. I already have an idea of a few food plot ideas that I either need to expand or change alittle bit. I am going to maake each stand the best it can be.
I am looking forward to shed season and scouting for some more stand locations.
 
1 - Need to trust in my shot and equipment a little better. The first buck I shot this year I searched for 2 days without finding him and I knew I hit him in a good area despite the sign left on the arrow. Found him a week later dead and he was near water. Having them stink also helps in finding them, but after 2 days that hadn't started yet.

2 - I shot and killed a buck a week later which was still mid October, so I completely missed the rut. I'm still not going to pass up on a personal best just because of the date on the calendar.

3 - If you put in your time, Public land can be just as good as Private.. But if you are going to shoot one on Public, you better have some really good friends to help you get them out.

4 - When you think you are going to get down from your morning hunt, stick it out another 30 minutes. (You can sleep or eat all you want on Jan 11th.) We wait so long for this time of year, don't give up so easily.

5 - Gonna try and shoot all year round this year. Try some shooting league or something. I owe it to the animal to make the best shot possible.
 
I learned that my scouting hours need to increase vs. my actual hunting hrs. (new spotting scope for christmas should help this)

I need to pay more attention to weed control in my food plots.

I need to shoot my bow more than once a week during hunting season, to make sure I stay where I need to be.

I need to check the battery in my rangefinder, before I leave my vehicle.

I also learned that it never hurts to ask to hunt, even if you've been turned down numerous times. (Got on a great piece of ground, that I've been trying to get on for years.)

I also learned if 2 barn owls fly over, one will come back and land on my lap.

One thing I would do differently, is take different routes to the stands each time, even if it is just 10' one way or another.

I would also take more pictures/video, while on stand by myself.
 
I will shoot the first 145'' when presented the chance again. Two years in a row, I have let a mid 140's buck walk because it was Mid-October and thought I would see more later on.

Well, I did see more, but never within range or with a good shot opportunity. Trail cams can be a double edge sword, you know there are bigger ones around, so you decide to wait, but don't know if you get the opportunity.

This year, like many have said, I will definitely hang stands earlier and plan to implement quite a few of Dbltree (Lick Creek's) QDMA practices.
 
What I learned was that I still love this sport, and that a doe and fawn within 10 feet of your ground blind will set your heart a pounding. A great year even if it was weird.
 
2012 will be better I hope?

What I learned:

*Despite having a trail cam picture of a 140 inch or better buck on each of the farms that I own do not get your hopes up that they will show during daylight (in MN).

*Spend more time on my Iowa land if I want something bigger than 140+

*The best venison recipe is backstraps cut into chunks, wrapped in bacon with cream cheese and a jalapeno (optional) held together on a toothpick and grilled to perfection!!

*More TSI and timber management
 
OK I have a few more things.

1. Take the time to sight my guns and bows in so I have 100% confedense in my weapons at what ever range I want to harvest an animal. Weither it be 60 yards with a broadhead, or 300 yards with a muzzle loader, or 200 yard with a shot gun. Im going to spend the money and find out what combo of ammo my firearms like the best.

2. Have ALL my stands set up with EVERYTHING I will need when I get to the tree (pull up rope, bow hanger, acc. hooks, strap for my safty harness) Less stuff to carry and forget.

3. Trim all my stands for a camera stand (I dont have 2 stands in every tree but I have 1 stand that is light that can very easy put up) This way I know where the stand will need to go before I get there.

4. Have FUN!!
 
1. Fine tune my stands a lot more once I'm in a good spot.

2. Take more pics/videos (to make my stories a little more believable).

3. A lot more scouting/running cams.

4. Know the exact distance a shot will be, missed a big buck this year because I thought 40 when it was 30.

5. Take a couple does early in the season, so the first deer I decide to shoot isint a buck.

6. And my last, like everyone said playing the wind as good as I can.

I can probably go on and on but 6 should be enough for now.
 
Ok I got another one.

1. Mark all my stands on a map.

2. Put all stands into a notebook with the best winds to hunt each.

3. Find most scent free and quitest way to each stand.
 
You dont need Ozonics, scent eliminating clothing, high tech camo, scent reduction sprays, 300 fps bows, expandable broadheads and food plots to be successful. Just a pile of desire, competence in your weapon and a wind in your face.
 
River1 said:
You dont need Ozonics, scent eliminating clothing, high tech camo, scent reduction sprays, 300 fps bows, expandable broadheads and food plots to be successful. Just a pile of desire, competence in your weapon and a wind in your face.
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Ya but what would I waste my money on then??
 
Don't get too anxious or bummed, if I don't see much until the 10th to 20th of Nov,,bucause my season logs tell me, that is when the bigger deer start showing in my area.
 
Paying more attention while shed hunting in Feb and March to buck sign is a must. Hung a few new stands in spots I've never hunted based on shed hunting sign and had great success. Just another good excuse to get out and shed hunt.
 
1. I won't get so wigged out about hunting a stand 2 or 3 days in a row if it's smokin' hot. I think sometimes I'm too careful, and miss good opportunities.
2. Although a ton of bucks get shot in Illinois during the first gun season right before Thanksgiving, I'm going to put some serious time in that week IF the first 3 weeks of November are as slow as they were this year. Saw more big deer on their feet in the open the week of Thanksgiving than any other week this year.
 
jesserichard said:
Ok I got another one.

1. Mark all my stands on a map.

2. Put all stands into a notebook with the best winds to hunt each.

3. Find most scent free and quitest way to each stand.
Click to expand...


Ummm, that's actually three more "ones". :D Just sayin'. :D

Some good points being made here...my "one" is:

1. SAFETY - the older I get the more I am recognizing how paramount safety is, for me and everyone that hunts with me. I have been pretty dogmatic for a number of years now as far as wearing safety belts while in a stand, but I must confess that I do not have any of my stands outfitted with a saftey climbing system and that is something I am committed to changing between now and next year.

A serious note to in particular the younger guys on here, who if they are like me considered themselves bulletproof in their 20's, etc, ALWAYS wear a good safety harness while hunting.

2. Do more hinge cutting - The benefits of just a little bit of hinge cutting and a fair amount of TSI work in my timber were particularly noticeable this year. THICK timber is GOOD! :grin:

3. Keep having fun - there are many truly excellent hunters on this site and I have learned a great deal from a variety of people here, which I appreciate, but one thing that I have seen emerge as a bit of a theme a few times in the past is people getting MAJORLY frustrated during a tough season, etc.

Again, as a younger hunter I too remember getting pretty hyper if I didn't get my buck or turkey, etc, but now...I just make it a point to enjoy the time outdoors, the time with family, the sights and sounds of a good hunt and meeting and talking with other similarly minded hunters. So even though I only shot 2 does this year...I had a good time with it and never got worked up.

4. Pray for rain - my food plots really needed some rain this summer/fall and it just didn't come.

5. Keep trapping - I trapped as kid with reasonable success, but not until kind of restarting the sport last season did I remember how much fun this was. I had fair success on coons and possums mainly this year and it really helps the nesters too. I am making plans now to ramp it up even more next year too!
 
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