I've been at this for a long time and I should know better.

Tomorrow is the early muzzleloader opener in MD. So tonight I was out attempting to harvest another deer before they get severely spooked over the next week and a half.

Except for a Mexican standoff with a large doe on the way in, I hadn't seen anything and really didn't expect to until 5:00pm or so. At about 4:40pm I was reading "Our Daily Bread" when I stopped to survey my surroundings. When I looked behind me, I just about fell out of the tree beause there was a very large buck with a trophy rack standing directly behind me! I slowly stood, was able to retrieve my bow from it's hanger and even turn completely around without being seen -- the tree I was in is a huge old white oak completely leafed out and I blended in perfectly. The buck seemed a bit cautious and was just standing there broadside.

That's when I got stupid.

I wasn't really in a position to reach full draw with good form, but I really wanted this buck. He was a very, very wide 8 point with tons of mass and decent -- if not too long, tines. His neck was already pretty swollen and his body was massive. I drew on him anyway and he looked my way as I reached full draw. My bow arm was being kept from extending to the left by the tree so I altered my form which I now realize kept me from hitting the wall at full draw. I also was unable to bend forward at the waist -- and then I hit the release! I watched the arrow sail right over his back and he jumped forward about 3 steps.

We played "I think I see something in that tree, but I'm not sure" for the next 5-10 minutes. At one point I even was able to get another arrow on the string. He helped me to look stupid by actually stepping partially out of the brush he was in so I could draw again and (like a complete beginner) FORGET that he was going to duck. This arrow just missed him as I repeated the bad form AND watched him jump the string!

Tomorrow morning, I'll be back in that stand with my bow while everyone else will have the smokepoles with them. Even if he makes it through all that, my best chance is gone and I plead insanity.

While waiting for it to get dark, I think I heard other hunters setting up stands on either side of me. That sucks!