Started getting a cold yesterday, just a little congested and that feeling of having breathed in pool water, you know the feeling. Otherwise felt fine so I went hunting this afternoon. First chance I've had to hunt this particular spot, NW wind was perfect. See nothing for a couple of hours. Start having this urge to cough which I resist. I lose the sun behind the ridge but there's still plenty of light. Need to cough overcomes me and I let out as muffled of a cough as I can and immediately 3 deer, that I did not even know were there, explode out from under a pair of white oaks 30 yds away. In another month I'd be able to see them but today there were too many leaves still on the trees in that area. I'm thoroughly disgusted with myself at this point and put my arrow back in my quiver to leave but immediately catch myself since I've learned better than this. The deer scattered in different directions but none of them went to the next county. One went 10 or 15 yards, stopped and blew at me once. I re-nock my arrow and sit tight believing they don't know what they heard or where it was exactly and will likely hang around the area. I'm trying to pick up any movement near the trees they were under while watching my left and right as well. Maybe 10 minutes go by and I think I hear something behind me. As I turn my head to check it out, a doe (I think probably the one who blew at me) sees me, from 30 yds to my left and tears off up the hill. Well, I blew it twice in one hunt. No arrows launched today.

This is my third year hunting Cahaba. 1st year I was clueless, hardly saw any deer at all but felt like I learned a lot. Last year I was very confident going into the season saw a lot more deer but only had 1 (a really nice buck) get in bow range. I blew the shot. So far this year I've been on 6 hunts, seen 7 deer (yeah I know that's laughable to a lot of you) all of which were in bow range and have been unable to launch an arrow at any of them.

On the one hand I'm happy that I'm figuring out where I need to be to have a chance, on the other hand it's starting to feel like a monkey on my back. I just can't seem to put it all together. I keep finding ways to screw it up.

Done whining now.

0 for 6 this year. About to turn 40 and have never launched an arrow at a deer. Hang in there.

Remember where you are hunting. It’s a low deer density area, public land and you’ve had deer in bow range. That’s success buddy!

Hang in there. It took me 3 seasons before I got my first.

Shoot I’m hunting private land and I’m 0 in 4

If you are hunting the Cahaba, and have had 7 deer in bow range with 6 hunts, you're doing dang well!

Keep at it, it will happen when least expected.

God Bless,
David B.

Sounds like you've had a decent season I dont know what I'd do if I saw more than 3 deer on a hunt

Yea hang in there this is my 3rd year on public , the first year I hunted 25 times and saw nothing the second year I hunted probably the same amount and saw 6 but all on one sit. Now in my 3rd year I have seen a deer on 5 out of 6 hunts including a big 8 or 10 point that I missed at 45yards. It does get you down but you saw deer on public and that sir is very rare for some.

It can some times be frustrating!
That's what makes it so so good
when you are Successful !!!
Your on Deer ,,It's gonna happen!!!
Good Luck!!

Bow hunting for whatever reason is more difficult, I think it is the time of the year. It's hard to get them close. Gun season I'll have them walk right underneath my stand and not blink an eye. Those WMA deer are pretty slick too. I've had a couple blow at me and I have no idea how they knew I was there. But from year 1 to year 3 looks like you have made some pretty strong progress. In a year or two you will be asking yourself if that deer is worth dragging out or not

JMX has a great signature. Every day is a gift. be grateful you are out there. By watching deer you can learn so much, their behavior. be patient and wait till you get a good shot, don't start flinging arrows at deer until you are certain you can kill one. Bowhunting is more difficult because it's about getting a deer close enough to shot. Anyone can sling lead at 100 yards.
Getting a live animal 20 yards from you is something else.Good Luck and hunt safe.

Man just be happy your alive and well, and are blessed by the good Lord for the opportunity to hunt...just means you will cherish it even more when it does come together!

Public land is hunting not shooting in some cases. Think of it like this some people are hunting in front of corn now with an easy open shot. They know the angle, distance, and have no obstructions, so their success rate goes up 1000's of percents. You are trying to get an animal to move where they really don't have to be if the oaks are all dropping everywhere. Odds are really against you and just seeing a deer is an accomplishment. Shooting one is like shooting a 1000 plot or corn deer. Forget about killing one and enjoy your surroundings. The shot will come and eventually you will let a lot walk because you chose to. Just enjoy yourself, maybe even let the first one you get a shot at go if you choose. Your time will come.

I was bowhunting for 3 or 4 years before I actually kilt one. That's like a century ago. But after that, it seems like it just came natural, it got easier. Nothing changed, I was hunting the same way, but my confidence went up about 10000% that was the big difference.

Hang in there man. I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum. I was having my best season ever until the other day when I shot a giant buck but could not find him. I’m still sick over it. It’s the second big one I’ve lost. Life goes on. Every sunrise is a blessing

@smells, I'm where you were 3 years ago. Been scouting Oakmulgee for past 2 seasons and this is the first season we've actually tried bow hunting. Yesterday, we jumped 2 doe on the drive in, but didn't see anything at our spot from about 3-6:30p. We have been hunting those green field clearings the rangers maintain down there--the ones close to Payne Lake. There are awesome hard woods(black/red oaks) in the middle of the two we have scouted, but the trees aren't dropping any acorns this year. Just see old acorns from last season. Not much sign actually. We were going to abandon our first choice until one of my sons found a bunch of fresh tracks in a draw leading into the clearing. We set up about 30-40 yards above that in a blind. Was a beautiful sunset, but nothing else besides some crows and yotes singing. Actually, it was worth it just for that. Sure would be nice to see some deer though--especially when you know they're out there from the drive in.

@smells, would you share your scouting strategy in the Cahaba WMA? I'm pretty familiar with that area as well. My people are from Pea Ridge and West Blocton.

I'm thinking we need to scout off the logging trails deeper in the woods for white oaks and clearer deer sign, e.g. droppings.

The best advice I can give to anybody bowhunting is "hunt in a place with LOTS of deer." Nothing is more defeating/discouraging that trying to bowhunt a needle in a haystack. Best thing I ever did 20 years ago as a young guy was spend the money to get in a Chambers Co lease (doe factory). Oh-my-word, you could see a dozen does every sit and get a shot more times than not. It really groomed me for bowhunting.

I have several acquaintances around here who don't share my love for bowhunting, and their common denominator is they have only ever hunted a WMA or other low density land.

If you make it a chore it’s going to feel like a chore.

Sounds like you are on em though. I bet that spot is still good.

I’ve had the crud the last 2 weeks and haven’t went for that very reason. I hate for that cough you’ve been holding for so long and decide to muffle it an it sets in a full blown coughing hacking session

Hang in there. If you let yourself get frustrated with it you’ll put too much pressure on yourself to get the job done. It won’t help you. I’ve seen 3 deer this year. A yearling, a small basket 6, and a stud 8 point that is now in my freezer. It only takes 1. Bowhunting is hard bud. It isn’t supposed to be easy. If you put in the work and keep a good attitude it will happen. Something I tell every relatively new bowhunter is don’t go out for the first 3-5 years looking to kill a deer. Go out looking to learn. I’m not saying it will take 5 years to kill a deer. I’m saying if you’re using this time to learn, you’ll make quicker work of getting a shot on one. The more sits you have, the more you’ll learn, and the better bowhunter you’ll become. Look at it this way, you’re going out by yourself and finding deer. Most new hunters don’t even know how to put themselves in the position to see deer, much less have them close enough to start blowing.