Took my son out yesterday evening after I got home from work. I decided to do a little ground hunting. We got out and set up 40 yds from a bean field, next to a fallin down tree. I had my son turned around so he could watch behind us. After about 1 hour my legs started going numb from having them crossed so as I started to get up un my knees, out pops this big doe from behind the fallen tree and she is lookin right at me. I had the bow in front of my face so I whispered to my son " Big doe in front of me, dont move". Well she did all she could to get me to move but I didnt. As she turned to feed on acorns I began to draw but Im not sure if she saw me or what but she spooked about the time a squirrel started barking and she bolted. We waited another hour and there was not enough light to continue hunting the woods so we decided to slip down the hill behind us to check the bean field. well we didnt get ten steps when all hell broke loose to our right. Two deer broke out of some thick stuff. One ran in front of us about 40 yds out, it was BIG. Had to be a buck but not for sure cause there wasnt much light. The other one took off away from us in another direction, never saw him but heard three or four jumps and the woods fell silent. It was cool to see with my son, but now its time to get back in the stand where I have a better chance, which means he will have to sit home.
After spooking those deer, the second two I know couldnt have seen us but I know heard us. But I guess its still a good idea to let things cool off for a couple days before heading out to that same location. Question: After a couple days do you feel the bucks will continue using that location and should i hang my stand close to it? I need some pointers on how to "pattern" bucks right now. Thanks....



AllenC