Sad, but not giving up yet . . . Need advice :/

[VFX_man]

Reflections on 2017 hunting season

As the season draws to a close for me . . . am reflecting back on the past years of my BC Hunting adventures.

This is now the 4th year I have hit the BC wilds hunting since being transplanted here 5 years ago. Have had disappointing results to say the least, and am trying to assess the reasons for that.

Other than a few grouse and rabbits, been hitting blanks on connecting which is unlike me youthful self so may moons ago.

Please humor me and review my logs and see if something is popping out to you. I think I have not been able to focus on one region and learn it, but not sure that is my issue.

Sorry for the long post, but hope to gleem some insights.

Cheers, VFX

Year One:
Outing 1*: First day out and right off the bat, missed a nice broadside 4x4 because I stupidly didn’t test shoot my hunting buddies back-up gun he loaned to me . Was walking up the edge of a cut and he had just came out along the edge. Picture perfect, but not . Test fired it later at the quarry and it took 3 shots to get the correct position scope/eye alignment and was hitting bullseyes -- the first two went wide left, so shot in front of him.

Later in the week, had 4 does walk up on my ground berm stand. Knew the buck was there since they kept looking back. But he somehow caught sight/wind of me and bolted. The Doe’s never cared and bedded down about 50 yards from me as night fell.

Found a great spot that had lots of bedding sign and another hunter had seen a monster buck there the day before. He was big, but it was our last day -- we would return.

Outing 2: Was to a new spot near my buddies off grid cabin in a different MU. Did some scouting and found some promising rubs and scrapes in WT habitat. BOUGHT a used rifle since I was still waiting for mine to arrive -- silly me, it was a .30-30 exactly like my uncles that I had shot 2 WT with as a youth. I should have gotten a .30-06 to be my backup and match my arriving rifle.

Decided to give my 2 rookie hunting buddies the spot I had picked out, since I felt my .30-30 would not have the range to accurately hit at 300 yards and I headed into a brushier area. Meeting back up, turns out they watched the WT buck and doe dance around in the cut for quite sometime. They couldn’t pull the trigger they said . . . o-what-the-!%&$?

Outing 3/4/5: Tried a few other spots and saw nothing

----------- End season one ------------

[I][U]Hunting technique: Slow driving into cut areas, then slow walking and/or ground blinds once game was detected.

Year Two: Back to the same hunting area [*outing one], with new inisight and my own rifle in hand. Returned to previous years activity and nothing was found over a few days. More road scouting and we spooked a small herd on the bend of a very old and rutted logging road -- was so brushy we could not see then very well when the moved into the roadside timber [Note: The Elephant Hill fire engulfed that area, so at least it’s been managed]. There was one buck with them, but no go.

Wasted a day getting back to the monster buck spot - went the long way around [but faster] to get to the spot. We showed up at first light, only to see someone had set up their camp on the game trail. Not left or right of it - directly on it and only 100 yards from “The hot spot”. There is a reason that spot [trail] was clear of brush you morons.

Now it’s Nov. 1st and the any buck season is wrapped. Tried a new areas and saw 4 deer on the edge of a cut about 200 yards out. Could tell the one was a buck, but could not get a clear view to count the tines. He stood motionless watching us from behind the brushy tree for 15 minutes. Was getting impatient and dropped my guard - then he moved - yep was a legal 4x4, but no time to react.

The Outing two hunt area had been burned out by a fire a few months earlier and my schedule did not allow me to hunt it. Our ground blind was toast and the ridgeline was exposed now.

Hunting technique: As before, slow driving into cut areas, then slow walking and/or ground blinds once game was detected.

----------- End season two ------------

[VFX_man]

Year 3: My first hunting buddy moved over to Princeton area and was not able to travel to our former hunting grounds. So that meant new scouting and trying to get the feel of this land. Definitely different logging techniques near Princeton. Huge huge huge cuts with small isolated clumps of timber refuge. So covered a lot of miles on this trip.

Found a promising spot that I felt was on a good trail and built a debris stand near it. Hunted it a few days with no luck, took a break and met my buddy for lunch down the road. On the way back to my stand in the truck, low and behold . . . there was the buck and two does exiting and crossing the road right where my stand was just as the sky opened up and dumped heavy rain. Lost them in the brush as I trailed after them.

Met another guy to hunt with this year and hit the Boston Bar area. Not much luck there, too many hunters and then we got snowed out. Decided we were not compatible hunting buddies, so that ended that.

Tried a few other Lower mainland fringe areas, but not much luck either - too much pressure.

Couldn't make the off-grid cabin area work this year. Did re-build a tree stand on his property and started putting up trail cameras in the summer. So was getting to understand what was there. No real repeatable pattern, but there was game there.

Hunting technique: As before, slow driving into cut areas and scouting, then slow walking and/or ground blinds once game was detected.

----------- End season three ------------

Year 4: Now to this year 2017 -- Got my LEH for moose and Mule Doe and decided to focus all energy on getting to know the MU [the off-grid cabin location]. Deployed 15 cameras and scouted over 3 different holiday weekends up there.

Week one of the hunt: Went in early for the Any buck season and rolled into the Moose Nov 1st opening. Nothing seen except 3 cow elk and 3 WT doe’s. Did some cross country trekking and saw a little sign, but nothing moved when we were still hunting.

Snow fell and no tracks after 2 days - full moon and wolves heard in the valley. Went high 4,500 feet and low. Nothing. Cameras showed most activity had fallen off after the middle of October.

Went back to the burn area near the cabin late in they day, and as I travelled very slowly up the ridge road to the ridge, a WT buck was spooked and snorted as he retreated - never saw him. Think I was winded.

Hunted the tree stand and no movement either - deer were nocturnal on the cameras with the moon.

Weekend two: Long weekend, snow had fallen again. Travelled more of the MU looking for sign. The top peaks were snowed in and we thought they might get pushed down. Found the Elk herd and a big bull elk. A few moose tracks around that I tried to track, but they headed into the river or the thick timber up high.

Saw a small WT buck 325 yards out, but he was a smaller 2x3 and decided he needed to grow some more.

Last weekend: Decided to take one more trip up - a solo one at that. Saturday, heavy snow up high, but the one road had been plowed, but it was deep snow and I was concerned about snowshoeing back in the brush solo looking for tracks near the lakes. Yeah, that might have been what I needed to do, but with the amount of snow falling . . . I was more concerned with my life I guess.

Sunday morning, got flagged down by the C.O. as I left the cabin [he heard me call out on the FSR radio]. Nice guy. We talked for a bit as he checked my all of my tags -- he laughed and said good luck on that Nov LEH Moose - and you’ve not filled any of these tags? Sadly no I replied. He had been in there in October moose hunting and had no luck either -- this from a guy who had been up for the aerial moose count. They are here he said, but holed up high after the rut in a 500 foot area eating and sleeping until the snow drives them down. This took the piss out of my already deflated moral.

Started up high again, and the road was getting pretty sloppy so I stopped and had a hard think about life. It was time to pull the plug and head home. My spidey sense said the trip home could be bad and I should be on the Coq before dark [At least that was right - missed the closure by a few minutes it seems].

As I headed back down the mountain towards the cabin, something made me pause at a T junction. LOL, here came a small WT running around the bend and down the road. Glassed him, I swear it was the same one I had passed on the week before. He stopped, looked at me, then kind of casually slinked into the timber as I laughed - don't worry, that's two you owe me little guy. Laughed even harder as a raven rounded the bend behind him softly calling. I yelled at it as it circled -- since I had been letting them know I was there FOR THEM if they helped me - steaming guts buddy, steaming guts.

Saw one final WT doe when I was almost to the cabin. Should have just stayed near there and not burned so much fuel. The wife made a point of saying when I got home, “so you spent about $1,200 in fuel for this years moose hunt?”. I didn't point out that it was the Mulie LEH Doe Tag I had that ate up the fuel, not the moose.

sign

----------- Probably End season four ------------

[KCG1972]

Hello VFX_Man, where is your draw for Mule Doe? I am having the same issues - LOL.

[Dash]

I feel for ya! I'm in the exact same boat. 3rd year, haven't harvested a big game animal yet and unsuccessful with my Nov leh moose to date. Moose leh is for the exact same reasons as you. I'm in 8-23. Don't lose hope. I've seen your posts and the pics you've posted and I think you're doing a great job so far. You're seeing more than a lot of people have and you're putting in a lot of work. It will pay off eventually.

[scotty30-06]

Brotha its tough. ..been a while since I have gotten anything....sometimes due to my own pickiness....been hunting 5 years for my first blacktail....keep at it bro all I can say

[Wild one]

The best advice I can give to anyone not seeing the results they want is gain knowledge

Dont go chasing where others hunt and get to learn spots intimidatly. Hunting is not about miles it's about yards. The reason you find hunters who are always successful is small pockets within a large location and timing.

Some of my best deer pockets are in locations many think are poor hunting. But I know where the overlooked spots are that go unhunted.

I can honestly say 2 days tops I can be successful on a bt meat buck in region 2 yet most would tell you bt and region 2 are tough deer hunting. I can do this from knowledge of the species, area, and I stopped looking where others hunt

Be your own hunter, find your own spots, and don't chase where you hear others shot something that animals dead

[MichelD]

Hey. Don't feel bad.

My 48th season and I've got tag soup after four long trips.

[hickman]

It's called hunting for a reason. Friend shot his first back in year 5. It happens. It is a lot of luck as well... being at the right spot at the right time. Of course, experience goes a long way. But it takes time.
I have seen more bucks this year than ever before and have not been able to get a shot on a single one of them. Stick with it, find a couple of spots that hold deer. Study them in spring, summer, fall... I only now feel that I am confident in what I do in the bush hunting. I seem to hit the right spots and areas. I have been going at it for 5 years. The first 2 years I got nothing....

[Wild one]

There is a reason only a small portion of hunters run high success rate on some species and most of these are not good with all

You can listen to the majority or try to rise above them

[Cyrus]

This will be my 4th year in a row with no antlers as given the weather this week I know I am doomed...had an 8 year run prior to this. Sounds like you have had chances so keep at it. I have not seen anything with more than 3 pts in 4 yrs and have been having thoughts of calling it quits after this season for where I reside at the very least...

[longwalk]

Problem #1. You passed on the little white tailed buck. He would have been good in the freezer and on the table.

[butthead]

scored yesterday

[Timberjack]

Hey vfx. Keep at it. There's certainly an element of luck, but as others have said you really need to get to know and understand the animals and their habitats intimately. For instance lots of people hunt alpine animals and never succeed because they don't understand what makes them tick. It's the same thing with the moose that you've been trying to track down. We spent a lot of time hunting November moose with no success until we figured out what type of terrain and habitat they were gravitating towards. Since then, it has been easy ( relatively speaking of course). Also, when I hear of people talking about how much they've been driving around, there is potential that the wrong approach is being taken. Learn as much as you can about the animals and their habitat, then get out of the truck and track them down.

Now, this is just my experience and may differ from others, but I have never found any kind of consistent success while driving. Don't be discouraged, and keep at it and you'll find success.

Cheers
TJ

[albravo2]

Sounds to me like you are getting chances so you must be doing something right. Eventually those chances get resolved in your favour.

I haven't shot so much as a grouse this year but I've really enjoyed a few hunts, especially my LEH moose hunt up in PG at the end of September. So much more fun when the animals are moving and you get the odd chance.

I was disappointed without meat in the freezer but if you ask me if I got good value for the money I spent hunting I would definitely say yes. I hope you feel the same way.

[walks with deer]

come on vfx man..

you have been trying hard.. this year numbers are lower and a lot of people are struggling...
i know you put in the effort...

dont give up yet..

those elk pics are a trophy all itself...

ps whitetails are in full rut this week...

[Livewire322]

Lesson one: Don’t pass on a legal animal if meat is the goal. If you want more than meat in the freezer you have to be prepared for long spans in between animals.

Lesson two: Forget antlers, fur is where it’s at. Hunt and eat bear, you’ll never starve because there’s so many of them!

Other than that it sounds like you are doing it right.

[835]

I just Glazed over your post but saw this ....

"missed a nice broadside 4x4 because I stupidly didn’t test shoot my hunting buddies back-up gun he loaned to me"

"Now it’s Nov. 1st and the any buck season is wrapped. Tried a new areas and saw 4 deer on the edge of a cut about 200 yards out. Could tell the one was a buck, but could not get a clear view to count the tines. He stood motionless watching us from behind the brushy tree for 15 minutes. Was getting impatient and dropped my guard - then he moved - yep was a legal 4x4, but no time to react."

"Saw a small WT buck 325 yards out, but he was a smaller 2x3 and decided he needed to grow some more."


what is happening is you are making small mistakes, you are learning from them all.. you most likely do not have a mentor that is a veteran. basically you are learning the hard way, which is ok.
mistakes like these are common. Hell a new kid I am helping made a grave simple mistake this year with me that cost a monster Island deer,, he had his scope covers on when he shouldered the rifle,, the time it tool to drop the gun and flip them off was the time it took for the deer to run....

It will take time for you to get over the simple mistakes that cost you animals, you have posted 3 animals and you have made mistakes and choices on them.
The other thing is maybe you are hunting places that don't have as many deer as you think...

Find good ground and get control. It takes time, im not trying to put you down I am just pointing out that you have had animals infront of you.. after that ....its you.
Good luck, keep at it don't get down it all takes time...

[trowt]

spend your coin on fuel in summer learning the roads, ins and outs of spots, etc. hike for berries, hike for fishing in those lakes. youll gain a deeper knowledge of your spots and then wont be wasting timedriving and farting around when it counts.
perseverance pays off bud. hardly over now, get out there and get yer boots dirty/snowy!

[VFX_man]

Thanks everyone. All good points.

Guess when I see all of the harvest photos on here, I was feeling like I was the only one missing out. :neutral:

Looking back, there have been opportunities . . . but decisions were made and situations occurred.

Just don't think I can get back up to the stopping grounds this year.

-VFX

[Livewire322]

Well, if you want to join me I go out for ducks around the lower mainland. Send me a PM if you are interested.

[Rotorwash]

I had a heck of a time finding my Muley leh this year. Usually I see tons this time of the year. I did probably 10 before work hunts and the same number of after work hunts as well as 6 full days. That was just this November.

I did 2 fly in hunts that were unsuccessful early season as well
It was the toughest hunting season I've ever had.

[brian]

I have been having a bad season too! Lots of time in the bush but very few opportunities. It felt like all the deer just had a 20 point IQ boost or something. None of them (except for wee ones that even I would pass on) were dumb enough to stumble out in front of me.

VFX man it sounds like you have a small case of badluckitis, just missed opportunities. Which is cool that every year you had opportunities to miss. As I see it you have tons of trail cameras out at a cabin where you can stay in comfort, space to explore, and more stomping grounds to learn about. Sounds like a pretty cool setup to me.

[VFX_man]

I have been having a bad season too! Lots of time in the bush but very few opportunities. It felt like all the deer just had a 20 point IQ boost or something. None of them (except for wee ones that even I would pass on) were dumb enough to stumble out in front of me.

VFX man it sounds like you have a small case of badluckitis, just missed opportunities. Which is cool that every year you had opportunities to miss. As I see it you have tons of trail cameras out at a cabin where you can stay in comfort, space to explore, and more stomping grounds to learn about. Sounds like a pretty cool setup to me.

True True. Saw areas that I had never seen before and have a nice list of lakes to get in and fish in the spring/summer. PLUS my goal is to track down these guys next year -- that are within 300 meters to 3km of the cabin. Just need to figure where they hide during the hunting season.

I think part of the issue was . . . had too many things I was hunting and was hunting for everything. If I focused on the WT only, am sure I could have found these guys, but the LEH moose was my primary focus and trying to understand them [moose] was a learning experience.

https://i.imgur.com/wlG5VkK.jpg

[walks with deer]

vfx man i am going to go hit those guys know...


just kidding

[steepNdeep]

Saw a small WT buck 325 yards out, but he was a smaller 2x3 and decided he needed to grow some more
-VFX

Sounds like you are doing the right things. At least you are seeing animals... the rest will come together.

Advice - 1) close the distance & shoot that WT buck. What were u thinkin? Better for conservation to shoot a young buck than a muley doe. Lots.to learn after you pull the trigger, also...
2) Get out there in the snow & follow all the tracks u can. They will teach u a lot...

Good luck.

[TreeStandMan]

It was a hard year for lots of us... I had a three year run where I connected with mulies, but this year I didn't spot anything legal.

The lesson for me was that you have to have several good spots in your bag of tricks. Those three mulies I mentioned earlier, they were all out of the same area, and this year that area just didn't hold deer. Despite searching elsewhere, I only managed to find does (seeing ~80 in a three day period), or two pointers in four point season. Last Sunday I bumped a good buck, but wan't able to determine legality, so he snorted twice and bounced out of my life. I did manage to get a new hunter onto his first deer, with an LEH doe tag, which was very gratifying, so I was in on one kill.

Anyway, I think it's all about exploring and finding spots that hold animals, and then learning about what works for you. In other words, despite not connecting yet, in a way you're doing everything right by getting out there, trying new things and then thinking about it and learning from your mistakes. For every big game animal I've harvested I've probably put in 15-20 days... As we become better hunters that number might come down, but the fact is that the best part of hunting are those days in the field, and success is all the sweeter for the difficulty.

[VFX_man]

vfx man i am going to go hit those guys know...


just kidding

LOL, private property for those guys :)

But wish I knew where they hung out the rest of their days . . .

[Looking_4_Jerky]

Vfx,
I know you won't like hearing it, but it sounds like your outings, by and large, are successful! It has just been the perfect combination of events that has left the freezer empty. Had a few things been slightly different, you would have been successful on a few different occasions.

If you are passing up animals, you can't complain about your success. So many of us would go years without a buck on the ground if we passed up the one or two bucks that are realistic to see in a couple days hunting.

If you're hunting WT, find an area with deer traffic (being there in snow really helps this), and sit, preferably over a pre-baited site. You'll see the odd little guy bombing around in cuts, etc, over random parts of the season, but more mature WT are notorious for being reclusive and nocturnal for all but the rut, although my observations have always been that the opening of the season (in Sept at least) offers a few days of promise before they get cagey. The number of days you have before this happens seems directly related to the pressure the area gets. If you can't bait your spot, try rattling, calling, raking starting around the end of Oct. Not much point before that and not much point unless you know there's animals, ideally in good densities, around.

I don't know your moose spot, but Nov cow LEH can be tough to fill. Some can be gimmies, but lots are on the other end of the spectrum. Without intimate knowledge of the area, you are generally playing a luck game, which can go in your favor, but more often doesn't. That intimate knowledge can cost you plenty of gas, time, boot-miles or all of the preceding. You might rely on discussion with others who really know the area to decide if it's worth pursuing in that MU or if you should look for greener pastures.

Mulie doe LEH - what to say? When you don't have it you see dozens, when you have it sometimes it feels like you have a repulsion magnet or deer alarm on you. By Nov, most areas will start to see deer (mostly does) congregate toward lower ground, especially if there's decent snow at elevation. If they're bunched up in places, getting them becomes very much " all or nothing". If there's no snow, they will be very spread out elevationally and it can be tough, especially if hunting or predator pressure is significant.

That's a longer answer for what could just have been, "stick with it and it will all come together".