The mid September Blues
 

Mid September. The elk and moose have left the property and taken the big bucks with them. Cattle have been placed in pasture with my stand. Blues are beginning to set in. I have been hunting long enough to know its early and things will pick up, but feeling down none the less.

I usually just try to push threw and hunt more because you wont see anything from your couch.

What do you guys do to Help the hunting blues?

The same thing has happened to my property. It's sucks. Not a single pic of anything but some doe's and fawns. I say the same thing not gonna kill anything from the house. Heading north this weekend to try and get something on the ground with the bow.

...snap out of it ; )
 

...at least you're out. With 4 kids and a mad work schedule I'm happy to get a couple of mornings in september. at least you're out there. If it isn't working try something different. Those animals live out there 365 days a year... every moment. go get 'em.

think positively and keep at it.

I wouldn't give up just yet, but if it's available, you might want to try another spot out? Or do a little scouting on the property you're already hunting. If you are stand hunting, sometimes hunting it too much will push the animals out of that particular area, but they're probably still not far off. Do a bit of recon and try to find out if they're simply just using a different trail now instead. And move your stand accordingly. Then, don't overhunt the stand. Sit there only when the wind is perfect for your setup. Good luck!

This took me years to figure out, and it's the simplest dang thing...

Velvet.

When in velvet, bucks and bulls avoid injuring their antlers by sticking to open areas. This is why we see them. As soon as they harden up, they can go anywhere and venture into the bush for safety from both hunters and four legged predators. Find the nearest tangled up hell hole, you will find your buck.

Though in the OPs situation, cattle will push game out as well.

Im speaking more about getting over the emotional side of hunting blues.

In my situation I hunt in 212 with a very transient group of elk. they come and go for what seems no particular reason.

I agree one of the best things to do is mix it up and look for better results. Sometimes that's not always effective however.

I have a few different properties so when I find one is slowing down or needs a rest I move to a different spot.

unfortunately im seeing similar results at all my properties.

Just need to keep plugging away and make my opportunity count when it comes.

I really dont care about anything but elk this year too. 6 yrs is too long to have never shot a elk

My elk area just had cattle put in for the first time in a few years. Stinks of cow pies and ****. Not to mention them stampeding through the forest when I tried to sneak past:(

I tried hunting today to after the rain with this in mind, glad I changed it up. I've been set up on the forest edge in a treestand, only seeing does, but rarely still hunt. I bumped a ten point buck out of the thick stuff today. I saw him before he saw me but he heard me. Kept out of sight but couldn't nock fast enough. I guess I'm just gonna have to always have an arrow nocked at all times on the way to the hidey logs. :angry3:

Better luck next time. Not to derail post but who carries the rifle or bow when just going to switch memory cards in cams? I always do now since almost walking rite up to a cow moose, with nothing in my hand, other then you know what.

Tough slog
 

That herd is a tough nut to crack. The cows are very cagey and experienced. I got into them once and they kicked my butt. Hopefully the cold moves them back into your area and that they stay out of the non huntable areas. The measure of worth is the depth of the hardship. At some point they will be back. With that many stomachs to feed they wil have to eventually.

I remember a time when I was younger, I was lucky enough to take down a
6 point in the first week of Oct. double lung, pass through had him in the
freezer the next day. Next 2 weeks went without any opportunity but does.
3rd week cold front and heavy frost, Oct 29th full moon.

I unloaded my bow and geer at the home place, 3:45 am by the light of the
moon, under the light of the pole light I could see a mist coming off the stream
before the barn.

Two days before I staked out a tree for a stand up past the old graveyard in
the 10 acres before the Smith's farm.

I stepped into my camo, strapped on belt and quiver then made my way softly
and slowly into the night. With a pen light flash light held spotted upon the
ground before me. I krept step by step on into the night.

Upon reaching the top the winding hillside road where I would cross the barbared wire fence to reach the graveyard and beyond, an owl or something
swept close past my head. Like some omand, passing by.

Like a ghost it made me duck as it flew by.

I cleared the wire and walked hurriedly across the field to the graveyard, then
slowed to stalk the woods just past.

As I aproached my tree my stand a light coaught my eye.
And as I swung my light to the tree that night, another light came back
twice nigh.

Someone else has taken my stand, so bold so damned.
Someone so early so much like me.

So I left him alone and I re-stepped my foot steps back home and I
ended up standing on the hill of my fathers farm.

It was now about quarter before 9:00 and I stood there watching
all the while as the morning began to unfold.

I watched as the people left there homes to go to work, I watched the farmers
call in there cows to milk in the morning.
I watched the traffic grow slow as 9:30 goes I saw a strange bull follow
the herd, out side the fence.

Look at the tail on that spike.
He's a biggin'

Morel of that story is if someone hadn't taken my stand I would not have
even seen that buck much less was able to get a shot at it.

I simply would not have been there if someone else didn't make me do
something different.

There is a God. :-)

I always bring my bow/ rifle when checking cams. To many opportunities can happen, and your obviously interested in the spot so the chances you see something are increased.

Always have alternates...plan B, plan C....used to get upset in my younger days when that dam farmer, how dare he decided to take crops up and move out my bucks....then I realized I need to take control of my hunting situations...it's all about adaptation, evolution of the hunter...evolve or go hungry:confused:

Yup I had a buddy walk around and get the cattle to go through a dense pocket of brush...out popped the whitey, stopped and looked back as cattle are common, I was sitting 50 yards away...thank you cattle.:sHa_shakeshout:

Had a cougar come visit me last night in the stand. I guess I know what happened in that little area. Also a couple days ago one of the ranch hands apparently saw a large black wolf pursuing some deer.

Wow. Game changers on both accounts.

Bought myself a cougar tag today just in case he comes back

Doesn't that season open really late?

LC

212 has a fall and winter season as far as i can tell. I was also very confused when looking into if the season was open. Fall is reisident only - no dogs. Winter lifts those restrictions

Found online.