Anyone else just not into it this year?

[OkieKubota]

We are 1 week away from our bow opener and normally I have all my camo washed and hung, be shooting my bow a few shots daily, have every stand shooting lanes trimmed, camper at deer lease all ready to go,stocked, feeders running at deer lease, cameras out at deer lease. This year I have only shot my bow a few shots a couple weeks ago. I have stands that need trimmed up here at home but I have drug my feet on them. Amazed I even got the plot going good... I have only been to the deer lease once and it was to Brushhog the roads, camper needs a major cleaning! I have no idea what kind of deer we even have down there this year, I know what is going on here at home but that is it...

It’s not a time issue because I have time. I just don’t have drive! I am hoping once we get out of these 90’s and upper 80 temps and I don’t have a horsefly biting me square in the middle of my back every time I go outside. I have no desire to go out on our opener with the morning low of 70 and 90 daytime temp...need some 60 degree for high days and 40 degree mornings. Having said that I am planning a trip to the lease to check some stands and try to get a few things done Thursday.

Anybody else in a funk?

 

[lakngolf]

I am in it for the grandsons but have no drive for myself. Got a few things done but nothing like past years. I am going for more simplicity this year. Few plots for stands accessible without going thru deer spots.
Some of this comes from being contracted by my past employer to help with a major computer programming project. And we are in crunch time.
And I am sure you have plans for trips north!

 

[PineSapJunky]

I am 100%. Just not fired up like I normally am. You would think working a week on then having a week off I'd have all sorts of things done. But for some reason I'm just not that in to it this year. Even my wife asked when I was going to get things done. Normally I shoot my bow year round but I haven't picked it up since I laid it down last season. I think with all of the "land drama" this year it has left a sour taste in my mouth over hunting. Cooler temps will wake me up a little. So you're not the only one

 

[catscratch]

Dove hunting was great! Now I take a break and don't chase deer until November. Starting to think quite a bit about ducks.... Cant say I'm fired up like I got in my younger yrs, but I'm ready!

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[MarkDarvin]

It's the heat.

I cant' wait to go hunting, but as long as it's north of 65 degrees, I have zero interest in going. I have no interest in being in the woods one minute longer than I need to be when it's hot. However today, I noticed the first smells of fall.

 

[TreeDaddy]

I am never NOT into it......

.......then,again,I hunt with field glasses and Coors Lite....

bill

 

[Triple C]

Johnny...Say it ain't so!!! Hopefully, it's just the hot weather much of the country seems to be experiencing. We've had more days in the 90s during September than July or August with only one rain event. Extended forecast until Oct 3rd is low to mid 90s. It sucks. Afternoons are tough enough with these temps but just as bad is the mornings with temps in the mid to high 60s and high humidity. Just doesn't make for a pleasant sit in the stand.

 

[Elkaddict]

I get it Johnny. I’m more excited about spending a week with my brother (who comes down for the bow opener) than I am about getting out. My bows are tuned and I’m shooting well (despite February shoulder surgery). But I’m probably less excited than I’ve been in a decade. We’ve got good (not great) deer on the property and I know I’ll have an opportunity on a 41/2 year old buck the first 2 or 3 evening sits.... As much as anything, I’m looking forward to some much needed time off. I do know that when a mature buck or bear walks into range, things will change very quickly. Arrows will fly with a mature bear or either of our top 2 bucks....other than that, I’m looking forward to the magical fall foliage, watching wildlife up close, and time with family.

 

[cutman]

We (the collective group here) work too hard. Deer hunting is a year round pursuit that we sacrifice for, and when the season finally rolls around it can seem anti-climactic. On top of that, factors we can’t control (weather, neighbors, Mother Nature) often wreck our plans and discourage us.

I’m most excited about my trip to Canada in 2 weeks. I’m more excited about that week of waterfowl hunting than the entire 4.5 months of deer season. However, when the winds shift, the temp drops, the acorns fall, and the bucks start chasing does, we all know where we are going to be.

 

[Chainsaw]

Each fall breaking away from our summer lives with minimal deer related activity takes longer and longer. There is a mountain of "important" must do activities involved to transition from summer into late fall. This year is no different and when late fall forces our hand and ends the summer/early fall life here the late fall and winter life in the woods is set to kick in full throttle and will just as sure as the bucks will eventually become active. Experience and the use of cameras over the last few years and especially last season has resulted in me significantly reducing actual in the woods hunting activity to very specific time periods versus hunting everyday for two consecutive months.

The property is near full ready with ten acres of plots growing, a fair amount of apple trees loaded, and the strongest natural browse growth in years. I'm looking forward to our group having some great hunting and a great time this fall again. For now though I'm just haven't turned the corner yet from summer to late fall. The time is very near but not here yet. Heck we aren't even wearing camo here yet, that is likely still a couple of weeks away.

 

[THE LLC]

I been there, but let me tell you something. LEARN TO PACE YOURSELF. Anything you can do all the time you WILL take for granted. Once you lose the desire to pursue something you have loved you are doomed to a life of monotony and boredom which will lead to dementia and mental health issues. Believe me.

And just another free piece of advice from my late uncle. He was one of the wealthiest and most generous people I ever knew. He told me not to always concern myself with chasing a dollar. He said "Son, you can make more money. You can't make more time". Get out and enjoy life. It don't last long.

 

[T-Max]

It's the heat.

I cant' wait to go hunting, but as long as it's north of 65 degrees, I have zero interest in going. I have no interest in being in the woods one minute longer than I need to be when it's hot. However today, I noticed the first smells of fall.

This is where I am at for sure...

 

[OkieKubota]

I am glad it’s not just me...I got some stands trimmed today here at home before the humidity set in something fierce. I also called our county commissioner a couple months ago about our deplorable roads and then I put a scathing review on Facebook of the lack of getting our road fixed about a month ago and still they did nothing. I had to go into town today and dragged center on our little Honda Civic going out and coming back home so I said to heck with it and jumped on the Kubota which I have the box blade on right now and went up there and fixed it. I have a new neighbor who put their house very close to the county road and the fix was directly in front of their house and I felt bad about it because I was literally 30 feet from them making all kind of racket. I packed it all down and then came home and jumped back in the Honda and drove over it at normal road speed and all is good...tomorrow I get to see how bad my trails in the deer lease are...

 

[MarkDarvin]

I am glad it’s not just me...I got some stands trimmed today here at home before the humidity set in something fierce. I also called our county commissioner a couple months ago about our deplorable roads and then I put a scathing review on Facebook of the lack of getting our road fixed about a month ago and still they did nothing. I had to go into town today and dragged center on our little Honda Civic going out and coming back home so I said to heck with it and jumped on the Kubota which I have the box blade on right now and went up there and fixed it. I have a new neighbor who put their house very close to the county road and the fix was directly in front of their house and I felt bad about it because I was literally 30 feet from them making all kind of racket. I packed it all down and then came home and jumped back in the Honda and drove over it at normal road speed and all is good...tomorrow I get to see how bad my trails in the deer lease are...

Invoice the township/county. $300/hr due in 5 days, cashiers check only.

 

[Buckeye]

I’m actually washing my hunting clothes as I type this. I’m planning to shoot my bow tomorrow. Ohio bow season starts Saturday with 90 degrees for Saturday through Wednesday.

 

[farmer]

Way more excited about getting my boys on deer than I am myself. Locked down a new lease this year I haven’t even stepped foot on. I’m sure cooler temperatures will help change the mood.

 

[OkieKubota]

Invoice the township/county. $300/hr due in 5 days, cashiers check only.

I like that idea...may just do it!

 

[OkieKubota]

My wife called me and told me the high today was 54 in South Dakota...man that would get me going for sure!

 

[j-bird]

I am SO far behind it isn't funny. My bow opener starts 10/1....youth weekend is THIS WEEKEND! I haven't checked on stands, I have 3 new ladder stands to put up, I haven't even shot the bow (or crossbow or gun for that matter) even once. I typically don't hunt until about Halloween any way....but my spare time has been on other projects. I still need to get some wheat spread in plots as well..... I still got some trees coming to plant, some seed to ship and my apple order to place.

Man, I must be horrible at this hunting/habitat stuff!

 

[Mennoniteman]

We are 1 week away from our bow opener and normally I have all my camo washed and hung, be shooting my bow a few shots daily, have every stand shooting lanes trimmed, camper at deer lease all ready to go,stocked, feeders running at deer lease, cameras out at deer lease. This year I have only shot my bow a few shots a couple weeks ago. I have stands that need trimmed up here at home but I have drug my feet on them. Amazed I even got the plot going good... I have only been to the deer lease once and it was to Brushhog the roads, camper needs a major cleaning! I have no idea what kind of deer we even have down there this year, I know what is going on here at home but that is it...

It’s not a time issue because I have time. I just don’t have drive! I am hoping once we get out of these 90’s and upper 80 temps and I don’t have a horsefly biting me square in the middle of my back every time I go outside. I have no desire to go out on our opener with the morning low of 70 and 90 daytime temp...need some 60 degree for high days and 40 degree mornings. Having said that I am planning a trip to the lease to check some stands and try to get a few things done Thursday.

Anybody else in a funk?

Here I thought all along that climate change was a hoax, now I see that it's for real. The temp's are so out of control that even the most dedicated deer hunters can't get out there and beat the heat to provide meat for their families. The answer seems to be to burn more fossil fuels to run electric air conditioners in our enclosed hunting blinds.