doing something wrong

[scotteam]

Okay.

The area i hunt has a lot of deer. I know it has a lot of deer. I have hunted 30 days, out of the 30 days i have seen 1 deer in the woods. I go out of the woods and i am finding tracks walking in my tracks. I sit, i still hunt, i use scents as bait is illegal here. I use deer bleat calls. I cannot seem to do it right. I have two days left to do it. If i dont i have to wait a year. I plan on going in the morning sitting from dark to dark. Now i use wash for my clothes, scent blocker soap to shower before i leave. I dont get it.

I here people telling me they watch deer all day long. I see none. WHY?

[dcamacho13]

To be honest, I was also trying everything in the book last year in order to arrow my first deer. Scents, gadgets, calls, decoys, drags...you name it, I tried it. This year, all I did was spray myself down and wash my clothes in scent-free detergent. I now have a bowed buck and a doe from gun season last weekend. My theory is this: you may be doing too much and making the deer avoid you. I like to go into the woods not acting or sounding like a deer, but like I am not even there. I try not to take the deer out of their relaxed state, which allows me the movement I need when it comes time to take the shot (shot my 8 pointer from a 10 foot stand). Also, I find that trying everything under the sun and not even seeing deer not only discourages me, but takes some of the fun out of hunting. I'm sorry that you only have one more day to bag a deer, but maybe my method will work for you.

[scotteam]

Yesterday, I went out again after fresh snow. I found that when i went into the woods deer came out in my tracks. It is me for sure. They are avoiding me for good reason i suppose. :> Anyway i must be doing something completely wrong but today i am putting the calls and scents up and lets see. I am curious however you stated you spray yourself down. May i ask what you are using to do that? Cover scent? Scent eliminator?

I wish i had the ability to be able to track because with the snow i would get on a deer till it is in my truck. Unfortunately i have a foot issue that prevents me from doing so. I use my atv to get me in and out of the woods. I get to my spot and walk in a ways to where i stand. I cannot handle a tree stand which also hurts my chances. I am working on losing some weight and gettign into shape so i can start using a stand again. With my ATV i can get the stand in and out without much effort.

OH I FORGOT TO SAY> WE HAVE MUZZLE LOADER SEASON COMING UP WHICH WILL EXTEND MY SEASON BY TWO WEEKS> I WENT OUT TO CABELAS AND GOT SET UP WITH A NEW IN LINE AND SUCH> ON SUNDAY AFTER RIFLE SEASON ENDS TODAY I WILL GO OUT AND SITE IT PUT ROUNDS THROUGH IT TO GET USE TO TEH GUN AND BACK AT IT AGAIN>

[dcamacho13]

Could it be that you are not entering the field early enough to as to not spook the deer? I had to change my strategy this year during the bow season from getting in my stand an hour before sunlight to 1 /12 hours before. I spooked a lot less deer this way and heard (too dark to shoot) a lot more movement in the woods.

As for cover scent, I spray down with Scent-Away fresh earth, but in the fall, I try and collect certain foods from the woods that I can stomp on and cover up my boot scent (such as black walnuts with the husks on them). Later in the season, I just spray down my boots real good before entering the field.

Here's a strategy to use regarding your ATV: if you know someone who is willing to get up as early as you, have them drive you as close to your stand as possible. Get set up in the treestand and keep the ATV running. when you are ready, have the driver leave. This gives the impression to the deer that there is something in the woods and they can hear it NOT A HUMAN THREAT), so they will be attuned to the sound of the engine/tires rolling. The deer will hear the ATV leaving and they will assume that the threat to them is gone. Once they go back about their business, they will calmly do their thing and you will be in your stand unnoticed. Happy hunting!