I used to leave it there quite a bit when I lived in Illinois (back before light, etc.), but I learned my lesson in Oregon.

In 95' I was bowhunting Roosevelts in the Tioga unit, and had patterned a herd using a creek bottom to access a clear cut in the evening. I put a stand over the creek crossing I thought would be most productive (incidentally I missed a 35 yard shot at a cow my first 2 1/2 hours on thestand). Being from Illinois, stand hunting was the only way I knew to hunt game effectively up until that time.

The herd stayed in the area and I kept at it, thinking I would get another opportunity. I had camped about a mile down the road, and decided to start sitting the stand in the morning as well.

I got up that morning had coffee and a bit to eat, and started my walk to the stand. Low and behold here are two elk standing on the edge of the road in the moonlight feeding. I laid in the ditch along the road and waited for them to move on. A few more elk started to feed out, and eventually a bull squealed. I was really kicking myself now! Shooting light was rapidly approaching, and my bow was 200 yds the other side of them in a stinkin' tree - crap!

Suddenly, a light winked at me from the other side of the elk...huh? Now this was getting wierd. Some of the elk got my wind, and they headed into the timber in the direction of my stand. I got up, and at the same time, anther guy got up from the ditch on the other side.

We met in the road. The conversation went something like this:
Me: How's it going?
Him: Are you hunting?

I thought about telling him that I was a National Geographic photographer here to capture nocturnal footage of banana slugs, but I was decked out in camo and there was nothing for it.

Me: Yeah.
Him: Where's your bow?

Dang, I was hoping he wouldn't notice.

Me: It's in my stand over the creek bed over there.
Him: Oh, that's yours huh.

I had to think of a way out quick, so I said...

Me: I'm from Illinois.
Him: Oooh I see.

Anyway,that guy and I ended up being good huntin' buds from then on. We've packed eachothers elk out a number of times, and had a blast.

Geez, the people you meet in the woods.