The mid September Blues

[The moose]

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?

[kw12]

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.

[Knotter]

...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.

[bowhunter9841]

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!

[3blade]

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.

[The moose]

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

[Passthru]

Originally Posted by 3blade

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.

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.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by 3blade

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.

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.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by The moose

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?

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