Due to reasons out of my control I could only hunt saturday of opening weekend. I was sitting high in my tree stand by 6:00am waiting for daybreak. About 9:00 a small eight point came within 15 yards of my stand but I let him walk, too small. Around 12:00 i discover that I left my lunch in the truck<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>. So I decided to get down and go get it. I lowered my bow to the ground and started the climb down the tree. About half way down I heard something. Two does were about 25 yards behind my setup looking thru the trees. I could tell that they heard something, but had not seen me yet so I froze. After a few minutes of them pacing around one blew and they both took off, I pulled up my bow as fast as I could and nocked an arrow and froze again, with my tree stand crooked and me sitting backwards in the climbing position, I must have looked like a fool. I could see the two deer comming back about 60 yards out, they made a wide circle towards me and went right back to the same place that i first saw them at. Finally they moved into a shooting lane at what I thought was about 30 yards. I drew and put the 30 yard pin on her shoulder, at the last minute I decided to move it up a bit and released. Between her ducking and my misjudging the yardage (she was only about 26 yards)the arrow went right over her back. Again they took off and I quickly nocked another arrow. For a third time they returned and stood looking in my direction. One was about to step into an opening so I could take another shot when snorted, spun around and they both ran off. I just sat there, unbelievable....Two deer and my bow was on the ground! I have read stories about this, and never thought it would happen to me!

Well, as I said I could't go sunday so I went out and bought a range finder.....won't make that mistake next weekend.

AH