does it bother you to NOT see deer?????

[ChuckC]

on an individual hunt,  not a chance,  but after seeing deer on nearly every single days hunt for the past 18 or so years, and now not seeing a single deer for 13 hunts (last fall) or seeing a buck on your very first hunt (CWD area means doe first) and then nothing for the next four, yep, it gets discouraging.  I have moved to another area of the state, out of the CWD zone.  But. . that was my favorite place to be in the fall and now, judging by the lack of cars and other hunters,  well, it just plain sucks.  

Thank you Wisconsin DNR for the priviledge and joy.
ChuckC

[Burnsie]

If it did, I would have quit a long time ago.

[Hopewell Tom]

This year was a bit discouraging. The sign was there, the pics were on the camera, but nada when I was in place. OK, so maybe I was to blame, but the setups were pretty good this season (wind, my approach, etc.)So, tough to take from an expectation standpoint. What I do HATE is when I'm poking along and then the flag and snorts happen. So close and yet so far. So then - I don't like to see deer!

[BWD]

Only when I'm deer hunting. Can take not getting a shot, as long as I am seeing deer on a fairly regular basis, but get a lip pooch when I don't see one every now and then.

[guspup]

yes, now when the snow covers the ground, and it seems every squares foot of it has a fresh deer track on it, and you sit for 4 days and not see a deer, yea, it gets a bit discouraging.
But at least I know they are there. Dancing around all night when I'm sleeping.
there are ALOT of whitetail around here, and I very thankful for that. But this time of year is tough.

[TooManyHobbies]

It doesn't bother me too much, but it does tend to sap the energy out of me. Getting out of bed in the cold to go sit in the cold, with no confidence of seeing anything. But, I'd rather do that than stay in bed dreaming of it. If I see something else like turkeys, canines, bobcat, fisher, owls, etc, that makes it all worth the effort.

[Altiman94]

I was seeing a lot of deer early in October.  Then once late Oct. came around the hunters came out also.  I quit seeing deer until mid November when the rut hit.  But then, most movement was late and nothing in range.

I devoted this year to entirely my trad bow, so I figured it would happen, but I definitely need to venture out and find some new land.  Maybe late season will be different.

After things settle down here from the gun seasons, i'll get back out after it.  I actually didn't see a deer tonight either.

[Gun]

Absolutely. I love being outdoors too. I spend way more time out looking for sheds and scouting than I do hunting, and I hunt a lot. What gets me is a mis-managed deer herd and too damn many coyotes. 1.5 deer per square mile. On the plus side every once in a while you see a Booner! 3 this year. One too close!!!!!

[Kevin Dill]

The answer is....

It depends.

[bigugly1]

When I was just starting out as a hunter if you saw one deer all season you had a great year. Since 1985 the deer numbers in Ontario have increasingly went up till about 2006 then they sort of leveled off, and now on the way down in many areas including mine. I just got use to seeing deer almost evertime I went out. This year has been the slowest for deer sighting for me since 1996. I actually packed all my gear up this past weekend. Snow all over for last week and half and not a single track to be found. I think I crossed over that line from hunting to just sitting and looking stupid. Next year will be my first year with Trad only equipment so I am looking forward to that!

[Bullfrog 1]

Fortunately, I am hunting a place where it is RARE if I don't see deer. It used to bother me when I would go out 4 or 5 times and not see a deer. SO, yes and no.    BILL

[kstout]

As long as I'm seeing tracks, rubs, scrapes, etc, so I know the deer are here it dosen't bother me.  But if I hunt an area 3-4 days and see very little sign that deer are in the area, I move on.  There are many reasons not to see the deer, weather, hunting pressure, food supply, etc.

[John3]

I don't need to kill deer to have a great bowhunt.  Getting close and seeing the deer is enough.  It is rare that I don't see deer and not seeing one for a week hasn't happened here since the early 90s.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Not anymore! Season officially closes 30 minutes after sunset!

[Stumpkiller]

Or 30 minutes sooner than that.  ;-)

"Big game hunting hours are sunrise to sunset."

 http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8305.html

[guspup]

Thanks Stump..... it's amazing how many folks don't understand that in our state.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Your right Charlie, I was just typing without thinking, dont mind me.

I was watching the season close from work anyway    

[koops4]

It does not bother me to not see deer.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to see deer every trip out but that does not always happen.  The reason that I am out in the woods to get the chance to harvest a deer but that is not the only reason.  I love being out in the woods and watching all the critters and being able spend time in nature with my 17 year old son (knowing that may not last forever).  So I guess I am with the both "yes and no group".