Nightshift

First post; been lurking for about a month since I discovered this site. Here's my story....

Been bowhunting about 10 yrs now, no luck so far. I've only taken 2 shots at deer and both were admittedly past my bow range back then, but I was younger and foolish then. Didn't hit either deer.

I do most of my hunting close to home in SE Michigan, on public land. There's a lot of hunting pressure here, and there's not an overabundance of deer by any means. For example, if I even see deer during a morning hunt I consider myself lucky. There are also a lot of hikers and mountain bikers using the trails throughout the recreation area.

This morning I was in my treestand before light. About 830 am 3 deer came over the ridge and started slowly down the trail toward my stand. They were walking single file, very slowly, really cautious it seemed. They were coming from my right, and close enough that I couldn't stand up and turn; being right handed, I could not shoot to the right without standing up and turning my body 90 deg. to the right. So I hoped they would pass by my stand and then maybe I could get a shot. But when the first deer wasstill 15 yards from me,she looked right up at me. I tried to avoid eye contact, but needed to see where she was looking. Eventually I saw she was looking right at my eyes, and it was all over.

I am using a tree with no branches. The only trees with branches in this small area I am hunting are mature pines with a million dead branches up to about 50 feet, after that there are live branches. Anyway, how do you climb a tree with branches using strap on treesteps?

After climbing down later, I went to the spot where the deer saw me....I figure I must stick out like a sore thumb sitting in the stand. Full camo, net face mask and all, platform about 12 feet up, not moving and perfectly quiet, and she still saw me like she had a sixth sense.

This is not the first time I have been busted in a treestand. Any advice you experienced bowhunters have would be greatly appreciated.

Please forgive this long winded post.

Thanks in advance...........Ken