Hi all I'm back! No I still havent harvested a deer yet!!! Grrrrr Anywho' The first day of season, my husband sat in the bottom of the ravine in a climber,, He had 12 deer right under his stand along with 2 small bucks! wow right. The stand is in the corner of 5 heavily used trails. Our 11 acre peice is right next toa big peice of scientific land, there are farms and a few homes in the area. Oh! btw, he didnt shoot because we found 2 very nice shed's in early july, but lots of the saw him in the tree. they hung around for over an hour! eating and playing! We moved a new double tree stand close to where his climber was, and moved the climber to a new location. I have sat in the stand now maybe 8 times, although I do see deer out of it, they are not using the trails they were using, and I cant seem to get a shot. Saw a nice buck but it was moving WITH the wind on a higher trail. Is it just that befor rut turns on, they change their patterns, or is the stand scareing them away, if I can find the cam I will take some approch shots and post them! Wish me luck, goin out for a noon hunt!

You answered your own question w/out knowing it. You stated you've hunted that stand 8 times, and your hubby hunted it once or twice before that. The deer have patterned you and know you are there, so they avoid the area. They haven't gone far, but they've changed things up enough to avoid you.

On top of that, their food source has prolly changed, and the rut is kicking in. Add all of that together and it's time for a move.

What he said. You have overhunted that stand.

I agree with what has been said. I would add that you are going to be limited in hunting an 11 acre parcel. The only way you may be able to do it without burnout is to be incredibly careful about scent control and your entry and exit routes. Way more important that what bow you are shooting, as most of us obsess about most of the year.[&:]

Guess I got luck! She gave me a 15 yard shot! My first deer, it was awsome!

I basically was going to say the same thing as the others, but when I got to the end of the post I see you went back out and got Ya one! So now I want to change my post and say dont pay them no attenchion and go back out, and hunt that stand one more time! All kidding aside Congrats on your first, and great picture! in the woods, like it should be!

Congrats! Glad you connected.

I have found that most bigger bucks will not run the same worn out trails as the other deer. The bucks have their own trail, normally 20-30 yards away...

I've noticed that whitetails tend to sort of migrate as the season goes on. Where you find them in the early season, as far as daily movement, can change as the season wears on. There are of course, certain core areas, but there is a certain randomness to their movement over the weeks and months.

Good luck to you and congratulations.

Well, I disagree with what has been said, but only based on personal experience. It is not the same for every hunter. I hunt the exact same stand for the entire gun season and I see plenty of deer. I see big bucks, small bucks, a few does... but mostly bucks! Now, if I'd just stop MISSING them, I'd have some proof to back up my story! LOL

Seriously though, I only hunt on about 5 acres, 7 at the VERY most, and I don't think hunting the same stand makes any difference for me.

I know many would disagree, and they have every right to, afterall, maybe the deer on their property DO pattern them and move away! Who knows, there is no way to prove or disproveit, it's all speculation.

Congrats on the doe! I have yet to take a doe in 4 years of hunting now, only 3 bucks. I can't FIND any does! LOL