Such is hunting...

Bow Life · Post by **Bow Life** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:27 pm

Soo i posted a while ago about scaring a buck off when i went to leave my tree. I had been sitting in the same tree this last weekend for 3 seperate hunts and had watched 3 deer each hunt walk 50 yards north of me in the thick cover. This past sunday i decided that i would sit on the trail 20 yards from where i watched them cross and hopefully get a shot at one of the deer. I sat here from daylight to about 9 when all of a sudden i watched the big 8 point that i had scared a whiel ago walk directly down the trail that goes right under my stand. he walked within 10 yards of my stand and then turned and walked south giving me a perfect quartering away shot FROM MY STAND. Just goes to show you you cant win em all... and at this rate ... im not gunna win any

rutman · Post by **rutman** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:37 pm

Say Ohhhhhhhhhhm! Mello and persistance will prevail.
You'll score Keep at it.

jpscribbler · Post by **jpscribbler** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:06 pm

Mike - Hi. I'm from Hamilton. Is there much public land within an hour's drive that is open to bowhunting whitetails?
I'm crossing over to a crossbow after years of hunting deer up north - Huntsville area - with a .30-.30. I love my lever action, but I find the two-week hunt too limiting and I'd like to improve my opportunities.

Any advice you could offer would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jp[/img]

DropTine · Post by **DropTine** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:25 pm

pm sent

Bow Life · Post by **Bow Life** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:24 pm

I do not hunt public land, nor do i know if there is any in the hamilton area. I personally live just outside of hamilton towards caledonia and hunt private farms around my area. My best advice would be to take a drive, and talk to some farmers. It goes along way with the people thats what i found. Good Luck.

Staghunter · Post by **Staghunter** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:26 pm

I feel ya bro!! Relax! It will happen!! At least that's what I tell myself and it normally pays off! Go get em!!

jpscribbler · Post by **jpscribbler** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:30 pm

Mike - Good advice.
I've done a lot of that with my birdhunting over the years. How are the farmers in Caledonia this year? I don't know if the native blockade has changed things.
I'm in Caledonia quite a bit for my son's hockey throughout the week and always drive the backroads from Hamilton to Caledonia. There's lots of great country around.

cheers,
Jp

Bow Life · Post by **Bow Life** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:20 pm

Im not sure about Caledonia. I have stayed clear of that area wether it be hunting or fourwheeling or snowmobiling. To many police, not that im doing anything wrong, but it can be a hassle some times. Also i have herd horror storries of things happening such as people being told they cant be on the river that its not free land and such. I stay more towards ancaster and then out towards binbrook. That would be where i would start.

jpscribbler · Post by **jpscribbler** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:40 pm

The Burlington Post ran a story this week about a goose that had been shot by an arrow.
The bird has a bolt through it's breast and is walking around the park by the Lakeshore. Lots of people have seen it and its not a good advertisement for hunters.
There's no way of telling who shot the bird, but people automatically link the wounded bird with hunters. I'll see if I can dig up a pix and then if I learn how to post pix, I'll send it up here.

Jp

rutman · Post by **rutman** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:51 pm

It's goose season, shoot the bird and end the problem.

wabi · Post by **wabi** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:08 am

I love bowhunting. I just sealed (to mail) my annual survey I do for the DNR each year or I'd be able to give you some exact numbers. I kill a couple deer each year for the meat, but I pass up a few shots, too. Probably average around 3 hours a day for Oct/Nov and two hours a day for Dec/Jan in the stand or blind. I'd say 1 deer sighted for every 3 or 4 hours would be a good average and 1 shot opportunity for every 10 sighted would be a very good average. When I say shot opportunity I'm talking about a high-percentage chance, not just having one close. One thing I've learned is patience is the key to success. Sometimes it's easy to get frustrated, and some days you feel like quitting, but if you stick with it the chance will come. Usually when I least expect it one will walk up, give me a perfect shot angle, and practically scream, "shoot me! - shoot me!" - that's when you find out you're still alive! (and just what stress really is!!!!!!!)

mikew · Post by **mikew** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:49 am

wabi wrote:I love bowhunting. I just sealed (to mail) my annual survey I do for the DNR each year or I'd be able to give you some exact numbers. I kill a couple deer each year for the meat, but I pass up a few shots, too. Probably average around 3 hours a day for Oct/Nov and two hours a day for Dec/Jan in the stand or blind. I'd say 1 deer sighted for every 3 or 4 hours would be a good average and 1 shot opportunity for every 10 sighted would be a very good average. When I say shot opportunity I'm talking about a high-percentage chance, not just having one close. One thing I've learned is patience is the key to success. Sometimes it's easy to get frustrated, and some days you feel like quitting, but if you stick with it the chance will come. Usually when I least expect it one will walk up, give me a perfect shot angle, and practically scream, "shoot me! - shoot me!" - that's when you find out you're still alive! (and just what stress really is!!!!!!!)

Well said!

To the OP - hang in there - it sounds like you have a good spot & it'll happen soon. Please keep us posted on when it does come together for you!

-Mike