well. What are some tricks of the trade?

I think my biggest problem is I don't have any faith in my bow. I shot a big deer 30 yards away, with some very small limbs in the way. If it where with my bow, I wouldn't even attempt it. But maybe it would be ok. Heck I don’t' know, I just need to shoot more I guess. What about the actual getting ready for the shot? I have had a spike come up to my stand when I was bow hunting, I never knew he was there, so I had to stand up to shoot and get situated, when I did, he seen me stand up and ran off.