JRStrangfeld

I woke up early and got all set up to stay out for the day. I walk outside and just a little ways past my house I put some doe urine on a rag and I dragged it down the main path of the cow pasture out to my stand in the corner. I was a little noisy as everything was frozen and leaves crunched, etc. I jumped 2 bedded deer by my stand and got all set up and hung the rag in a nearby tree.

Not one minute after I sat down I saw a buck coming down the trail that I dragged on. I didn't think this dragging thing would work, especially in the cow pen. I didn't think there were deer in there. How wrong I was. It was still too dark to see what he was and he stopped at the trail and looked at me. He didn't come closer. I grunted a couple times but he just went under the fence and walked away. I heard and saw several other deer in the brush. One of which was a really decent sized buck. I grunted but none of them came in.

After a few minutes, another buck comes running down the trail and cuts through the brush headed straight towards me. It was a dandy 8 pointer, tall and wide w/ a nice basket rack and a big body. It cut across and was going to turn away from me so I took a shot at about 30 yards away when it was walking. I watched my arrow sail WAY over its back..must have been 5 feet above the buck.

I was disgusted with myself and my dad's old bow. This thing is at least 15 years old with no stabilizer bar, old pulleys and string, noisey as hell, and only like 50% letoff. No excuses though. I just am not good at shooting.

I watched the buck jump the fence then walk through the brush and out of my sight after he passed into some oaks.

About 45 minutes after that (rough guess), ANOTHER buck comes walking down the SAME trail. This one was a little smaller, a 6 pointer, but its main beams were really wide and long. I was going to take him. He cut down the same path that the last buck did and stopped right when I was standing up and about to draw. He looked at me, saw my breath in the air, then I looked him in the eyes. Bad move. He bolted behind a brush pile and I, like some sort of idiot, took a wild pot shot at him. WAY over his back again.

I was pretty depressed at this point as this corner of the cow pasture was SWARMING with bucks and the ladder stand that they all walked past was broken because some ******* decided to unscrew the screws out of the tree.

I got all my stuff ready to climb down when I see a doe and a yearling walk down the same path that I dragged the rag on. The doe saw me in my stand, even from a ways away and through the brush, and after a while of stomping and sniffing they bolted.

I got out of the tree, got my rag, and walked back towards the house. I saw another doe on the trail that I dragged the rag on. I hid behind a brush pile before she saw me but she didn't walk my way. I ended up spooking her when I started walking towards the house.

This was all between 6 and 8 o'clock.

I'm VERY VERY disappointed. If I decide to keep putting time towards bowhunting, I will take another old compound bow I have (or maybe just bite the bullet and buy a newer one for cheap if I can) and go to the local archery shop and get fixed up with a sight and other goodies and practice w/ my friends at indoor 3D targets, etc.

I can't shoot instinctive anymore. I was fairly accurate when I practiced but I didn't practice often enough and I had very limited range. Plus with the adrenaline rush when a buck is walking right towards you, you almost NEED a sight w/ pins to guide you.

I wonder if that stand is ruined now. Maybe I'll never see those bucks again. OR maybe there will be lots more this weekend? Rifle season starts on saturday. I think I will use the same strategy but I'm not sure where I'll sit. I might be better off behind a brush pile. But I would be very visible to wherever my back is turned.

metalback

With all the deer you saw...especially bucks....you don't have hunting in your blood...if you're going to quit this easy!!!! Sounds like you have a ton of deer there on your place!! What state are you in? I'd use the homemade reciept for scent killer here on this forum and I'd be in that stand as many hours as possible!!!

JRStrangfeld

Oh i have hunting in my blood. I just need to learn how to shoot. When Im bowhunting and I see a deer I get excited and just let er fly hoping I get lucky. I don't want to spook all the bucks into the next county so I think it's best that I lay low for a couple days until rifle season this saturday and I'll use the same strategy.

I'm in Central Wisconsin. I know I am very fortunate to have the land and deer that I do. Lots of opportunities, I just can't capitalize with a bow this year

extreme1

First of all its better to take shots that your comfortable with,not a 30 yard shot on a walking deer with a bow your not efficient with.I am not trying to bust your balls but practice with a bow that may be set up a little better to suit you.I do feel your pain though,we have all missed our share and it hurts because its usually the big one as well.
I think if you give your stand a break,say,about a week it should be good to sit in .The bucks you missed just might forget about the eppisode and may return,even if they dont,seems like alot of other deer are using you property and im sure there are alot more bucks in the herd.

nubo

Jr!

I know the drag rag work's and I'm sure you know that now as well ,you had your chance and unfortunately it didn't work today .It sounds as though your bow isn't set up correctly ,it also sound's as though the deer had spotted you and are very aware of your stand location .Try moving your stand a few yrds down or up the trail where you might have a little more cover .Sorry to hear you never got your deer but today was still a success because you've learned a new strategy and you know it work's .Sometime's the doe's don't like this strategy because they smell a new doe in the area and they don't like it so they'll stand and stomp at the smell of the urine .

Hopefully you don't give up for the season ,I think you should actually be pumped with today's outcome .
I also only use this strategy just before ,during and just after the rut.
Good luck and don't give up so easy.I've been waiting for your post all morning, and I'd say it's a success story.

I have to agree with Extreme 1 on this matter but also if your getting excited when the oppurtunity arises just take a few deep breath's before you shoot and this will help you get your emotion's under control.

nubo

JRStrangfeld

That's a real good way to look at it. I did learn a very good strategy. Thanks for the idea. I had no idea it would work so well.

I just don't want to spook all the bucks away. I can't keep taking pot shots. Rifle season starts this saturday and goes for 2 weeks so no bow hunting during that time.

JRStrangfeld

The stand is a permanent one nailed to a tree. I was sitting on a white bucket that was just laying on the ground before today. THat's probably why they 6 pointer saw me. I'm actually not so sure the doe saw me. She was looking in my direction, down the drag rag trail

I have to go fix the other stand without spooking a crap load of deer somehow. That would be the perfect stand. I wonder what time of day would be best to go do that. I'm going to be nailing and using a drill so it'll make a lot of noise. Or I can decide to leave it and use some sort of ground blind or brush pile.

nubo

I'd say it was the urine she didn't like and that's why she reacted as she did .But I believe the deer in your area spotted you for sure .During the summer month's I'd take the time to re locate it or put up another a few yrds away from that one .

Just remember you need to practice with your bow well before the season start's ,and be sure to take a few deep breath's just before you shoot it really work's well for me when I get that feeling. I don't get that feeling at all deer just the good one's LOL.
JR any time you need help ,I'll be glad to help you out if you need .



nubo

JRStrangfeld

Thanks a ton. I'm going to take my other bow to the local archery place and get a site and some arrows but i'm not sure when/if i should bow hunt in that stand again

what time do you think i should go out and fix that one stand? im looking for the time with the least deer movement as possible

nubo

Well! if the rut is on like it sound's as though it is ,The buck's will be running all day long looking for doe's .But I'd say the least movement would be at the noon hour frame.

good luck JR

nubo