Mike,

I know exactly how you feel.. I was about to throw in the towel with bow hunting about 5 years ago until I connected for a perfect shot on a 363 pound black bear (no stand)..

What almost caused me to hang up my bow was sickening enough to make a grown man cry. I had a monster buck come within 15 yards of me one morning, (I was on the ground again..I am not fond of treestands). I connected with a pass through shot.. I waited 2 hours and that was the longest 2 hours of my life.. I found the arrow with blood on it. I waited for my father and other relatives to help track as I was not sure exactly where the arrow hit the deer.. It looked like a decent kill shot but you never know. While tracking the deer, we were following a very good blood trail, I had 150% confidence we would find him dead for sure until my dad yells out "wow, look at the size of that buck!"... I took one look and sure enough, we spooked it up and it took off. I went up to the hill where he was standing and there were 2 very large pools of blood where he was bedded down... I followed again for a short distance only to have the trail lead into a field where I swear a UFO came down and picked up this deer. I looked for 3 days with no luck. I back tracked, side tracked, circled around with no luck. It was the largest buck I have ever had the chance of getting a shot at and I still wonder where that deer ran off to. Hang in there and you will succeed.

I agree with everyone here about practing out of your stand wearing the clothes you will be wearing while hunting. Get a range finder and have a buddy move your target around the yard. I have a range finder and my confidence has doubled since the guess work is now gone. I pick out a few trees and remember how far they are. If only those deer would walk by now!