What should I do??
 

Yesterday I got into my stand at about 2. At about 6 I hear rustling, and look to see a 120-130 inch buck feeding 45 yds away. He starts moving away, so I blow on the grunt call a few times. He turns around and headed my way, then swung around an walked about 60-70 yds away, and then went straight downwind of me. I blew on the call some more and he started to head in. At about 50 yds, he stopped and bobbed his head some. He must have caught my scent, because he suddenly turned and ran. Should I hunt this deer tonite? He didnt see me, and he probably got just a small whiff last nite. I showered in scentkiller, and sprayed everything down before going in. Would it hurt if I hunted him again tonite?

Thanks in advance.

RE: What should I do??
 

I would hunt a different stand if I were you and you had another available.

You don't want to let the deer pattern you.

RE: What should I do??
 

I wouldnt. It may be tempting as hell to head back out there, but you should give him a day or two to cool off. You dont want to scare him too bad or he may totally vacate the area or go nocturnal on you.

RE: What should I do??
 

He's not going anywhere give him a couple of days better safe then sorry.

RE: What should I do??
 

to be truthful i think so should go back out tonite but try putting so cover scent around your stand that way if he does catch a whiff it will be the scent and not you.

RE: What should I do??
 

I agree with all the above. I'd try to hunt a different stand/area. Don't want to push this deer out completely.He's already educated to the grunt call for a little bit if he smelled you.

*Make sure you check wind directions for the next couple days. Enter with the wind in your face if possible, and make sure it's good for the new location. You can't always count on cover-scents.

RE: What should I do??
 

I would not hunt this same stane tonight.

RE: What should I do??
 

Sounds like you have a pretty smart buck on your hands. The good news is that they get a little dumber as the rutt approaches. I'd also hold off hunting that area for a while. If he busts you again while he remembers the first time, you may not see him again.

RE: What should I do??
 

Well first of all, he didnt get that big by being dumb and hes only going to get smarter with age. Mature deer will normally come in head into the wind. Also again, Id avoid that stand for a couple days at least and hunt an alternate stand. I woudl also pay more attention to the wind, your scent, entry and exit routes, movement, make sure youre stand is facing due north. This way the sun is never in your eyes, or reflecting off any equipment that you have. Try some good cover scent around the base of your stand. The scent wafers work well and last forever as long as you put them back in the canister after every hunt. Use something that is found in your area, If you hunt in an area that has pine trees you dont want to bring an apple scent or acorn scent. Theyll know something is up. Use pine scent for pine areas, apple where apples are found in the area, acorns if your hunting an oak stand. Common sense. Once the rut starts use doe the does estrus wafers.