expectations and results

      Each year we 'scout' areas where we have hunted in the past expecting similar results. We go afield and prepare places to  hunt expecting the Deer will be there  in regard to past experience.. Sometimes not to be-----
     Here in Ct my area is devoid of any mast crop. I am permitted to hunt  a   S/E  facing ridge of mature Oak that has  procuced many Deer over the past  40 years.
    In early bow season all was normal . As Fall food sources transitioned the Deer left. This produced an area devoid of any Deer whatsoever.  NOT  one pile of fresh Deer droppings in over a week. All in an area  normally  well  populated .
   It would be easy to complain of NO Deer and over hunting etc however it is not those things at all- it is Mother Nature throwing a punch by virtue of the lack of preferred  food sources necessary to carry a Deer population.
  The early Deer taken  had their stomachs checked and the contents were all green grasses- no nuts at all. As those grassy fields are not within the permit property - hunting has been pretty thin this season.
    Hope it changes when snow drops if Deer return to their Winter bedding grounds on this ridge- Thats huntin----------
  The point being that lots of guys experience poor hunting on occasion and there are many natural factors to consider when it happens- or doesnt----

    Didnt even bother to get a tag for deer up in the Pulaski NY area this year by my place. Enough sits in the past coupla years to know what wasting time means- just go fishin now.
Hey- didnt wanna get involved too much with a PA thing bout AR but Doc Trout brought up a point over there bout seniors and that AR system.
Y-know some with COPD or Asthma or just plain aging cant get around or even get way back to dragem out like they used to and any restrictions can pretty much mean - no bucks for older PA guys with restricted movements compared to when they were only 40 or 50 or even 60.
     Givem a break over there-----doesnt amount to that many deer anyhow.

Got a couple to go before the big 70-congrats on the age and what seems to be the ability to still get the job done.
 Dragged out a flathead a couple of weeks ago and felt like laying there alongside for a while. Used to think I was bout home when I got to where I shot her.

Had some Wardens around the other day and they said they saw lotsa tracks in part of the area- also spoke to a guy who hunts over on some nearby flats whos seein nice bucks and plenty of does- I know where they are just cant hunt there- like you on some nearby lower flat lands- no mast crop and only saw 2 old dropping piles earlier this week high up too -pulled a tough shot on the  only deer seen all week  hunting  on  the ridges. They are stayin down low on available food sources and not on traditional trails and feeding spots.They have really tightened up and are not moving very much at all. Normal bedding areas are void of any sign whatsoever.