RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

Dont know where to start..... One that really sticks out on my mind is the second year I hunted. There wasa nice trail going right underneath my stand, a lot of cover right behind me and lots about 30 yards out...a nice clearing for a shot. At this point I didnt own any waterproof gear and it was sleeting and very cold. I was freezing left earlier than I should have. AsI was on my way down my stand, bow already on the ground, a nice 8 point came out of the thicket behind me. I tried climbing down slow but he just snorted and took off.So of course I got some waterproof camo...gotta have the right gear

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

It's taken me six years, but I've learned not to overpressure my favorite stand. Not as much learned to do it, but forced myself to remain patient and hit it when its right. Also, playing the wind. I really didn't think much of it early in my hunting years, but have learned that lesson all too much. I believe time and experience make us all better at hunting. You can become a very good archer in a short period of time with practice, but to be a good hunter takes some tough and frustrating time in the woods.

Kelly

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

Walk half as fast and pause twice as long as you think is right.
(self explanitory,I think)
Don't walk too quietly.
(Cats and predators are quiet, everything else makes some sound)
Walk like a deer.
(part two, walk like a deer feeding. take a few steps, take a couple more, pause, take a few more. sound like the deer does)
Pretend you don't see them.
(don't stare..... like a predator)
and so on, and so on.....................

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

on a climber make sure they are connected so the bottom doesn't drop out from under you and slide to the ground

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

Shoot your bow throughout the season. On a sunday about half way through the season i was bored and since you cant hunt on sudays in pa i decided to take some shots out of my bow. Thank god I didnt shoot at a deer earlier in the season because my sights were about 6 in to the right and if I would of hit a deer it would be right in the guts if i was aiming for the lungs. You never know when you may of bumped your sight getting it out of the truck or hitting a branch in the woods if u hit your sight in the right spot you can definitely knock it off. always shoot during the season.

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

Last year while on my way to my favorite spot I had a major goof. I parked my truck at the field entrance as usual and got everything ready, climber, bow, scent lock suit on....blahblah,blah. It's about a 1/2to 3/4 mile walk down an old logging road thats wide enough for one vehicle.to where I hunt along a ridge with a stream down bottom that leads to a marsh. I always walk slow to stay as quiet as possible. As I was rounding a corner I caught a movement to my left, and stopped immediatly to see a nicerackcoming up from a brookinto a Pine standwith a couple shooting lanes.All this happening no more than 15 yards from where I'm standing.I raised my bow slowly to draw and set my pin on him when I realize I never knocked an arrow for the walk down to my site, (which I always do sxcept for this day). Buck spooks and is gone. Huge Lesson learned the hard way.

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

Don't shoot a doe during the pre-rut (late Oct). Last year I was doing my management part and harvested a 3.5 year old doe during the late morning hours.I made a confident shot on her and I wanted to get her back tothe house so that I could get back to the woods and not miss anything. Wouldn't you know it as I approached her, 40 yards to my right I see antlers, to my dismayit was the shooter I was looking for all year and he had already picked me out . If he wouldn't have been so far behind her, OR if I would have let her go, I may have had a 20 yard broad side shot on him. But that's why they get BIG.

Keeps you coming back for more. ;)

RE: Best Learned Lessons...
 

Best lesson learned are always play the wind always and let the little ones go if you want to shoot the big ones.. Walt