Smitty what do you mean by "well your from up north of the city"? I am on the outskirts of Fredericksburg, in Spotsy. My mailing address is Fredericksburg, but I am miles outside of the city limits. I know what you mean about the city boys, not all of them though, to be honest some of the most unethical hunters I have ever had the misfortune of knowing were as country as they come. I have a neighbor who told me he took a shot at a big 10 point, he said "I knew I couldn't kill him, but I figured if I wounded him, we(his hunt club)could gang up on him and finish him off"!!! I have not spoken to this dirt bag since. Oh and thakfully he missed.

Well I will be going back to the same stand this afternoon, do some minor cutting of 2 new shooting lanes and see if they maintain the 4:45pm and 5:30 pm schedule! Who knows maybe that buck that has been tearing up this rub right near my stand may show up.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Taz, thanks for defending us city boys.

Ignorance isn't zipcode specific. Like you said there are just as many country boys out there with no ethics or regard for the rules.

Sorry to hear about your lost opportunity. I had a similar situation a couple of weeks ago. I had a doe working to the right of my stand coming from behind me. She was only about 15 yards out. I slowly turned my body and when she got even with me and her head went behind a tree I drew. Problem was that I never saw or heard the other doe that was behind the tree my stand was in. When I drew she caught the movement and bolted. The doe I had drawn on startled but stood there, problem was a tree was right in front of her vitals. After a brief pause she bolted another ten yards and stopped again, you guessed it with her vital right behind another tree. She paused there a few seconds still unaware of me and unsure what the danger was then ran off after the other doe. That would have been my first bow kill too and it was very disheartening to go from the excitement of seeing one close to the thrill of drawing for the almost sure shot to the agony of a lost opportunity that you were sure you had.

In the end we just keep hunting, because that's really what it's all about isn't it? Your time will come and so will mine. Good luck.

Taz...keep it up and you'll get 'em. Sounds like you've got your stand in the right spot. In my spot the wind is NEVER predictable and swirls and swoops all over the place. I've learned to never pay attention to wind direction and do my best at scent control. It has paid off and will for you as well. As far as shooting lanes, I'm anal about having several lanes whereas buddies of mine insist on just the opposite. I absolutely hate to have missed an opportunity on a deer within bow range due to not having a clear shot. It's hard enough to get a whitetail to within 20 yards in the first place. But all of these problems are what making a final harvest so rewarding. I can't wait till you get yours! Good luck!

Taz keep that head up. Sounds like a great spot.

I share your pain I hunt in a very dense area. each time I have been out I have seen deer. Opening day I had 3 doe within 30 yards. 2 fawns within 10 yards and mom at about 30 yards. I passed on both fawns hoping the large mom would make herself available. After 15 minutes of them browsing the beechnuts they took off mom never made it in closer than 20 yards and never presented a good shot. Mind you this was 7:00 on opening day but I am glad I waited.

The buck who has a rub in the area near my stand finally showed himself to me last Saturday. If he would have came in 5 more yards I might have taken a shot but 30 yards just isn't my most accurate range and I am better at 25 or less. I can't wait to make it back to my stand this weekend for that rush of adreniline as him or any deer makes their way in. Enjoy every day of hunting no 2 are alike & I know I can't wait for my next one.

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