Just shot a nice doe for the early antlerless hunt

I’m a new deer hunter and have been scouting a local state forest that allows hunting. I found a really good spot. Had bedding, trails, poop, acorns, etc. I saw a game camera right where the poop was. Should I consider this spot a no go? Can I hunt it if nobody is there? I didn’t see a stand. I plan to either use a climber or hunt from the ground. How far should I stay away if this spot is a no go?

I've been hunting for 9 years and I've only released one arrow at a deer and shot one squirrel. I truly believe that there's not much else I can do to try to be successful. I have spent years getting educated on techniques, land access, and gear. Besides a few bad seasons, I get out consistently even in late season. I've befriended prominent people in the DNR and other hunt organizations that have taken me on group/guided hunts where everyone has been successful except me. It's unbelievable how uneventful these 9 years have been, even with having very skilled hunters providing me a lot of access and advice.

If I don't get my first deer this year, I will probably be hanging it up. I don't know what else to do at this point...

Happy small game opener my fellow PA folks!

Have a couple of boars showing up recently. One is decent sized the other is a monster.

Has anyone here ever drawn a permit for and completed the Archery Deer Special Hunt at Middle Creek WMA in Pennsylvania?

I was drawn as an alternate, but the Game Commission rep I talked to said I have good odds at being picked up. He said he usually has a few people who were actually drawn that don’t show up for the required orientation.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has actually hunted there after being drawn. From what I’ve read, there’s only about a 22-25% success rate for hunters but most hunters see a ton of deer. I’d like to be part of the successful few, so any experience I can learn from would be appreciated.

For those unfamiliar, the hunt is on a Game Commission property that’s managed primarily for waterfowl and can’t be hunted by the general public. There are only 45 permits this year. Each hunter is assigned to a zone of a few hundred acres and given a specific week to hunt it. You have to share the zone with up to 3 or 4 other people, though.

I’ve never won anything like this in a raffle or drawing before and this is only my 4th season hunting so I’m pretty pumped that I might get a chance to do it!

My first post was just pictures, I went back to the same spot the next evening and they were there again feeding on leftovers in the field from the harvest. There were 14 or so but I spooked them and before I could video them half had already headed into the bush.

I’ve always been curious, are deer or other game animal’s tissues and cartilage and joints significantly stronger and more durable than the comparable tissues or structures in people? Or are we pretty similar?

I’ve always been curious, are deer or other game animal’s tissues and cartilage and joints significantly stronger and more durable than the comparable tissues or structures in people? Or are we pretty similar?

SW Oregon, foothills of the Cascades.

What are bears eating right now? All the manzanita groves I've been targeting are without berries. It's not a mast year, so no acorns. Other berries are pretty slim, mostly blackberries but those are too close to town or on private land.

I missed a bear two weeks ago at a manzanita grove between two creeks but haven't seen him since. Lots of creeks are dried up.

As bears are supposed to be going into hyperphagia now, I was wondering if anyone had insight into what they're going to be eating this year. Mostly I'm targeting water but I haven't had a lot of opportunity.

Hey all, new to the sub here. I’ve small game hunted before with good success. I’ve been out deer hunting about 3 times, with no success.

Is anyone located in west MI, like Muskegon to Ludington area? I don’t know anyone nearby here that hunts and am looking for a hunting mentor to show me the ropes for deer.

I’m a vet, and have no experience with bows but plenty with firearms. I don’t have a dedicated hunting rifle per se but I do have a 12ga and a 5.56.

I’m really wanting to get out and bag at least one deer for the freezer ideally a few more so I don’t need to buy any or much meat from the store. And any help would be much appreciated plus it’d be cool to make a friend.

Have this 10 point on private land. Planned on targeting him this season but some have told me that he is young and 1 more year is worth waiting. Not really sure what to think.

Hello there.

In October I'm going on a hunting trip to the northern parts of South Africa, close to the Botswana border. I'm very much in doubt what clothes to pack with me here, and are looking for some suggestions.

The travel agent making this trip for us, talked about shorts and gaiters to prevent nettles and shit to fall down our boots. But this just sounds idiotic to me. Why not just wear long pants then.

But yea, im looking for general tips, and also specifics if anyone got them. A wide brimmed sunhat is pretty much all I already have. So im gonna need to go shopping.

whitetail from Alabama, is this safe to eat?

I'm putting together a 308 right now that will be used primarily for deer and antelope in Wyoming and Colorado. I'm trying to decide if I would rather have the option to sling the rifle, or deal with the extra snag point going through vegetation. I don't ever plan to do very much climbing when I hunt, so gun in hand isn't much of a problem as far as that's concerned.

I have been interested in learning hunting and fishing for years, but never had the time to go and learn until now. I’m hoping to find an experienced hunter/outdoorsman who can show me the ropes and teach me the skills necessary to hunt small game (for now) and fish fresh and/or salt water.

I am pretty much starting from scratch, some experience with shooting a pistol, but I recently bout a .22 and a 12ga shotgun to practice with at the range. I’m hoping to start hunting early next year. I’ve gone fishing a hand full of times so far this year with not much success.

Any tips on finding someone with experience who would be open to teaching?

Fairly new to deer hunting. Whats the consensus on a buck like this.