There’s No Deer on the Property – This is an easy excuse when you’ve got no idea what’s really happening with your deer herd. It’s a desperation excuse that pretty much signals it’s time to throw in the towel.

Trespassers – It’s always easy to cast the blame on the trespassers. Whether they truly exist, or you simply suspect them, trespassers get their fair share of the blame for the lack of deer on a property.

I Was Checking Messages On My Phone – The smartphone is likely the #1 killer of deer sightings. With as much time as we spend scrolling on our phones, it’s no wonder we’re not seeing deer. Rarely will you hear someone admit this one. However, every once in a while you’ll find a hunter honest enough to come clean.

The Deer Have Gone Nocturnal – This is another easy out when deer activity is slim to none. We like to say, “They’re runnin’ at night!” However, many biologists tend to believe that there’s really no such thing as a true nocturnal buck.

I Must’ve Bumped Them on the Way In – This is a go-to excuse when you’re unwilling to admit that you’re simply not in the deer.

October Lull – The October Lull gets the bulk of the blame for most hunters’ inability to find deer after the season is in full swing. We’ve said it for so long, it’s become quite a handy crutch for lack of deer sightings and success. (Many hunters try this same excuse for November and December as well).

They Weren’t Moving Today – You can bet the hunter you drop this excuse on, saw deer running like crazy where he/she was hunting.

Too Hot – It’s too hot, deer weren’t moving. This excuse is typically followed by, “I’m not going back until it cools off.”

Too cold – “It’s just too cold – the deer aren’t moving.” The reality is, that’s a type of cold most hunters won’t actually sit through.

Full Moon – “Full moon last night – deer moved/fed all night.”

Neighbors Got All the Food – It’s never easy to concede that the neighbors have outdone you when it comes to deer attraction and holding power.

That Drury App Sucks – When all else fails, blame the hunting app on your smartphone for the lack of deer encounters you’re experiencing.

Another Hunter Came Through – This excuse is growing in popularity as it makes you sound like you’re one of those hardcore, rugged public land hunters that just keeps “grinding” regardless of their inability to actually find deer.

The Weather Man Was Wrong – Much like blaming the app on your phone, blaming the weather man for your lack of results is another easy out when you haven’t seen squat.

The Wind Was All Wrong – We like to blame the wind, despite the fact that we continued to sit for hours on stand in a wind that was detrimental to our success.

Deer Never Move on East Wind – That poor east wind is like the red-headed stepchild that nobody wants to love. We hate it. We bad mouth it. And we blame our lack of deer encounters on it, every chance we get.

Coyotes / Dogs Were Running Through the Property – “Dang dogs were running deer all over the property!” The reality is, this scenario would probably play in our favor, if it was actually true.

We want to hear from you! What’s your go-to excuse for not seeing deer? Comment below, and let us know.