Exorcism needed

[denisdendenis]

That hunting for you ... on the positive side you saw some deer just go and enjoy the outdoor. A old friend tool me once just look for a nice tree to sit ,push the leaves out and just sit and do not move ,god creatures will come to you . chipmunk ,chickadee bird ,fox ect... and maybe a nice deer enjoy yoursefl . good luck to you !!!
ps
if you do not get one ... still next year
hope you get a big one
Denis

[paarcher462]

I don't think that you are the only one not seeing deer in PA.Hang in there.

[georgiaboy]

You gotta keep trying...your luck will change, mine did in one day!!
Good luck to you!!

[deerman]

It may be time to try another area.
Hank

Thats correct, is there any deer sign,scrapes,rubs,droppings,tracks??? Put a camera out to see if it's even worth your time to hunt that property.

[OkXbowHunter]

There are a 101 reasons that you may not be seeing deer. We can't cover all of them in this post. Instead of telling you why you may not be seeing deer, I'll share with you some errors others make that keep them from seeing deer.

Here are some of the more popular ones.

1. You sit in the same stand regardless of wind direction. Every stand you have should be placed for a particular wind direction. You may only get the perfect wind a couple times per season. This is why you need multiple stands. The more consecutive times you sit in the stand, the more lingering scent you'll leave and the less likely you are to see deer. Another reason to have multiple stands and locations.

2. You don't sit still and you don't sit long enough. I'm betting everyone know someone who is climbing down out of their stand after sitting an hour or hour and half. You should be in your stand at least 30 minutes before shooting light and stay there for several hours. The longer the better. You should be back in your stand in the afternoon 3 to 4 hours before last shooting light.

Remember, Deer hunting is a numbers game. The longer you sit, odds are the more deer you'll see (if you've done everything else right).

3. Your hunting an area with few deer. I don't care how good a hunter you are, but if there are few or no deer in your area, you're not going to see them! Knowing how to scout properly will not only tell you if there are deer in the area, but it will give you confidence knowing there are deer there, which in turn will help you sit longer.

4. Forget the scrapes. There are several types of scrapes and as you found out, most scrape activity is at night. Look for feeding areas and trails between feeding and bedding areas. Learn to to find both.

5. Still hunt to and from your stand. Too many times hunters alert deer to their presence because they sound like a bull in a China shop on the way to their stand or on the way back out. Your goal is to get in, sit and get back out without the deer knowing you were ever there.

6. You have a trail camera, use it! Buy a few more if you can. Put them on trails and edges where deer are likely to travel. Leave them at least a week. Keep changing their location until you find the deer. Trail cameras are tools. They're not a cure all. And remember, they have a short range.

These are a few reasons many people go year after year without killing and/or seeing deer. I'm betting one of them is your reason, but I have no idea which one. Also, learn all you can about hunting deer. This doesn't mean watching hunting shows on TV! Get yourself some good books on hunting and study them. Deer and Deer Hunting is a good magazine and they have some good books as well.

Good Luck and keep at 'em!

[koko]

I get in my hunting stand 3 hours before it gets dark and in the morning I like to get in 1 hour before it gets light and put my Walker Game ears in and just listen to the sounds. I have had the camera at 6 different locations and if you want to sit there for a week straight you might see something one time in the morning. I have yet to see anything in the evening during shooting hours on the camera. If you don't watch where you put the camera it won't be there very long even if it is in a box and pythoned cable locked to a tree. To many hunters walking around in these spots chasing the deer off. These hunting properties are not big (10 to 15 acres). The spots I have are - One spot is archery only, one spot is archery for buck only, and one spot is use anything but there is a tree stand everywhere. You kind of walk in and walk out. To many deer are shot from areas aside of these properties. 5 years ago I could always find 1 of these spots to get me a buck, not anymore. The PGC is giving out 117,000 doe permits for this area. Money game, if you buy them they just give out more the next year.
I know hunters that will shoot there buck at their hot spot and than come to where I hunt and shoot their 2 doe. Don't want to ruin their good spot for next year. The PGC did good PR work in getting every body to shoot 2 doe and a buck every year . Now nobody can stop . Deer hunting is not going in the right direction where I hunt . The only way it will pick up here is when there is not enough deer here for the hunters to hunt and they go someplace else.

[OkXbowHunter]

To many hunters walking around in these spots chasing the deer off. To many deer are shot from areas aside of these properties.
I know hunters that will shoot there buck at their hot spot and than come to where I hunt and shoot their 2 doe.

I think you've answered your own question. Time to find some ground that isn't heavily pressured. I know it won't be easy, because if it is, others have already found it. You'll have to go to more trouble and work to find these unpressured areas, but it will be worth it.

[VixChix]

Welcome to my world.

Lack of good locations but it's ok - I usually just enjoy being out in the woods.

Actually haven't been able to get out this year yet - too many other commitments up until now.

Am looking forward to rifle season this year - hoping to get a chance at deer up north.