I was curious how people treat situations when groups of deer are traveling together. I almost never see just a single doe.I know every situation is different, but it seemsvery difficult to draw the bow with multple deer in the area without being busted.

I usually only worry about the adult does. For example if there are 2 does and 4 fawns together andI am after an adult doe, I only pay attention to the two adults. The fawns seem to stand and look at you, but they arent experienced enough IMO that they are going to start snorting or stamping and you can usually draw even if they are looking at you. Not always, but usually.

If it is all adults, I try to keep an eye on everybody and draw when everyone is looking the other way or behind something. When thats not possible, remember even if you spook one of the deer, you should have a second or two before the one you want spooks to.o So try and get a good quick shot off.

The best way to handle a big group of deer like that is to play it like normal. As long as they don't know you're there when they come in you should be in good shape. Wait until you have the right opportunity and all the deer are facing away or feeding. Just do the best you can with the situation. If you play your cards right, you'll do fine.

I also typically wait for the last deer to take the shot. Two reasons for that...one, the last one might be a buck and, two, after the others pass by then the last one is really the only one you have to worry about noticing the movement.

I do my best to fix this problem before season starts by placing my stands in trees that provide good cover. Even if you are 20 yards away from the ideal stand spot, you may recieve less shots butI kill more deer and have more luck this way. Iwill typically place curiosity or rut scent (depending on what time of the season) in the spot where I want them to shoot, or drop a small tree before season starts that funnels them to where I need them for the perfect shot. You usually won't get them to go far out of their intended path with these tricks, but usually it is pretty easy to make them move 20-30 yards to where they need to be for a good shot from good cover. This is why I hunt out of strap on type portables mostly, because my climber won't usually allow me to be in a tree with lots of cover. I usually try to pick a hemlock or other softwood type of tree to hang in it, soI have good cover even when the leaves drop.

The funnel trick worked perfectly for me this weekend, when a doe came in with 2 fawns and a 3 pointer harassing them. I needed them to come in on my right side for a clear shot, my left side if I trimmed too much would provide me with no cover. I left all the limbs I trimmed out of this hemlock 2 weeks ago on the left side of the stand and magically they all picked the right side to pass by. I was moving quite a bit in the stand while they were nearly directly underneath, and even though the doe looked directly up at me she didn't make me out or spook.

Unless I have one looking at me already,I pretty much don't do anything different. I take my chances that I am high enough, concealed enough and able to draw with little motion to set them off.