1. NEVER hunt a stand where the wind is in the wrong direction. NEVER. And I MEAN NEVER. Carbon clothing and all of the gimmicks in the world can't fool a whitetails nose.

2. Proper stand placement/location. It took me MANY years to be able to look at a piece of ground and know where and how deer will move through the given piece of timber. I only learned this by many hours sitting in the wrong stand locations and not knowing deers' habits.

3. Best hunting equipment you can afford and being proficient with it. I missed several huge bucks over the years, that wouldn't stand a chance now that I havemodern equipment like myBowtech Guardian, a release, a Lone Wolf treestand that doesn't squeak, broadheads like my Slick Tricks that fly true, etc. The extreme letoff that these modern compounds have, make for an easy to shoot bow compared to my old compounds that I shot with fingers 20-30 years ago. If I had one of these modern bows w- a releaseyears ago..well I can only imagine. I have had the best hunting season in my life this year, partially responsible I believe, is thatI learned that a 60# bow is better for whitetail than a 70# or higher poundage bow, as it shoots quieter, easier to draw in an awkward or sitting position, or with a cold, tired frozen muscles and body, easier to hold on full draw for EXTENDED periods of time while waiting for the deer to make that final step.. My arrows still get complete passthrus on all of my kills, including an elk this year.