Seeing Deer? Not me.....

[ny hunter]

I have not seen horns all year.Only saw 2 doe on Saturday opening weekend.I saw a coyote too.Have not seen a deer again till last SaturdaySaw a few doe again no horns.Hope this weekend I see something to shoot at.

[the blur]

It would help if we stated what zone.

I saw NOTHING in 3J all season. (4 days)

just some coyote scat filled with hair.

[ny hunter]

I hunt in 3h.

[TR19]

It's been a dismall year for deer sightings in 5R & 5J. I've hunted everyweekend since Northern Zone Muzzle Loader opened & the entire opening week of Southern Zone.

Northern Zone - 19 deer total - 2 bucks (I missed 1 & couldn't get a clean shot at the other).

Southern Zone - 6 deer total, 1 doe opening weekend, 5 in a group I pushed out.

4 of us hunting every weekend since October 23, 0 bucks killed, 1 missed.

We're still out there though & will be until Southern Zone ML closes.

[steve863]

I hunt 4P.  Saw a good amount of deer before the gun season, but now they seem to have vanished.  3H and 3J are AR units aren't they?  From what some who hunt those units say about the benefits of AR's on this site, one would think that you fellas would be seeing plenty of smaller bucks, if not the big boys?? 

[the blur]

One guy admitted to pulling a spike out of 3J (AR).

Don't know why he was bragging..... or even telling any body.

And I'm PO'd because my son could have taken him legally !

[ny hunter]

I found some really big rubs on some really big trees but thats it.I saw no horns whats so ever all season.

[WNYBuckHunter]

I was able to get a quick walk and stalk in after work tonight. Saw 5 doe bedded down in a creek bottom, took a shot from @ 125 yards and hit a branch that I didnt see. Get out of your stands guys, the deer are around, they just arent gonna come to you.

[orion]

Not many deer at all, most of the days nothing.  Not a lot of shooting either 26 shots opening day 31 on Sunday. After that in never hit double digits. Deer that have been seen were mostly at dusk.

[Bleitten04]

I hunt in 8g.  Saw tons of deer during bow with the majority being bucks.  On opening day 8 does came through but they were accidently pushed to me and my buddy by my dad when he was going to his spot (my buddy got one of them).  I've seen one other deer and that was the second sunday of the season.  It was a buck that my dad pushed toward me and I got him to.  Since then nothing.  I have even left the stand (only twice) to walk around.  Seen plenty of tracks just don't seem to come up on anything.  O well though. There still there just gotta play the cards right.  I probably won't be out until late ML though now due to surgery. 

[ny hunter]

I agree I did more walking this season to make something happen.You have to go after them now.

[TR19]

I agree WNYBuckhunter about getting out of the stands. I usually sit in my stand until 10:00 or so then still hunt my way around.

The biggest problem we've had this year seems to be a swirling hard wind more than previous years. I think we've had 15+ MPH winds almost every weekend most of Southern zone. Again today, 15 - 20 mph winds with gusts to 30. I helps hide the sounds of stalking but is killing me scent wise & I do take a lot of care to eliminate & reduce me scent.

[ny hunter]

Yes I  thought the same.Wind was a killer this year.It did seem like every day was out the wind kicked in about mid-morning.

[Doc]

Ah yes.... the good ol' N-S-E-W wind. I know it well. I hunt in hill country with lots of deep ravines and uneven formations. The wind never seems to know exactly which way to blow other than on my back. I can walk a complete huge circle and have the wind directly on my back all the way. At least I know that in one direction, the weatherman will have gotten it right.

Opening day I sat on a west face of a hill with a predicted west wind. so the wind should have been blowing uphill, and not to any deer being moved up the hill. .....Yeah, right. I spent the morning watching the wind take turns blowing up, down, and sideways, never really showing any preference. The same gust would blow in one direction and then without even slowing down or hesitating whip right around 180 degrees and blow the exact opposite.

Doc

[Jennifer]

The wind has been miserable here too. We're getting 30 and 40mph gusts, 20+ sustained, and you're right Doc. It swirls around in the hills and hollows so you can never really 'work' it... just gotta hope that it doesn't work against you at any given moment (but it always seems to, haha!).

I haven't been in my stand in the last week and a half. I wish I could hunt where we think they are bedded but it's in amongst houses and down across the PA border.  This wind and snow has them hanging low in my area it seems.

[BAR]

For the guys still hunting wind can be a plus Go slow and really look. Two years ago shot a nice nine pointer in his bed. Real windy out. Took three shots to hit him and he never got out of his bed. Wind had him messed up. This year I got a small eight the same way, but got him first shot.

[jr.deerslayer]

For the guys still hunting wind can be a plus Go slow and really look. Two years ago shot a nice nine pointer in his bed. Real windy out. Took three shots to hit him and he never got out of his bed. Wind had him messed up. This year I got a small eight the same way, but got him first shot.

thank god you shoot a semi

[ny hunter]

Thats  awesome way to go.First shot or third shot you got it done.

[bubba]

ahh the warning shots method.  At least it wasnt shoot and release.

[gundeck]

Saw four doe less than a hundred yards from the house two different times yesterday.  Must be the cold.  Then, this morning (about 15 minutes before legal shooting time), my wife and I heard a shot across the road from us.  Guess there are three now.

[ny hunter]

I'm going back up state Friday afternoon and Saturday for a last ditch effort.May the cold has deer moving.Lets see.

[First-light]

I can't wait to get back. Cancelled last weekend but have a three day muzzleloader set Sat-Mon next week.

[steve863]

I'm going back up state Friday afternoon and Saturday for a last ditch effort.May the cold has deer moving.Lets see.

I have a suspicion that Friday and Saturday may just turn out to be the best two days hunting of this entire gun season.  Calm winds at last on Saturday and snow and ice is expected for Sunday, so just maybe those deer will finally move.

[ny hunter]

I hope so.I know there are some very big rubs so something made them.If there is some weather coming that just might get em moving.NOW Iam going no matter what.

[Robinson446]

im 15. got my first doe this year. I got her opening day. A hunter shot at the group of them. they ran to where i was sitting across the road about 500 yards into the woods. and she ran by me and stopped and i dropped her. I got my second doe two weeks ago and i kicked her up in the pine trees and she stopped and looked at me and i shot her. I only have a buck tag left now. only saw one huge buck but he was moving really quick and only saw him for a few seconds. My best advice to you guys is too do a drive or just walk around and sit for about 10 mins. then walk about 200 yards and sit. and keep doing that. in my area they are bedding down during the day and moving at night. Best of luck to you all.