Getting in my own way......
 

I had a good spot picked out for this morning. I hadn't hunted near this woodlot, all year.

Before shooting light.....2 does mill right under my stand. No shot opportunity....and that's fine. They slowly milled away....no wiser.

Before I even got up the tree.....I realized I'd already done the following things worng:

1. Forgot my haul line (made a little noise carrying my bow up in the climber)
2. Forgot my gloves and facemask (grrr).

Been there a little while.......(dropped my cap....lol)......and realized I wanted my bow hanger on the other side of the tree. Unscrew it......reach around to the other side....."Jam" it in the tree to get it started....and a doe with a fawn not 20 yds from me blows at the sound. She didn't see me....because she milled back in my direction.....but it cost me a shot opportunity.

So now I sit down with my bow across my lap. I'd already ranged a tree at 20 yds, earlier.....and I happen to look to my right to see a mouse (OK....it was a doe....but she was quiet as a mouse in the dry leaves;)) waltzing by like she hadn't a care in the world. Stand up when she gets behind a tree....and now she's 30 yds. Never offers a real opportunity (other than the one I would have had if I'd been standing and looking around when she was approaching).

I haven't had a day like this in a while.....where I shot myself in the foot so many times. Actually....it's been a couple of years.

But....I know they'r emoving through this area....and I already picked another spot for another morning about 120 yds up the woodlot.

It's hunting.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I've never had good luck trying to stand with deer in the area, I have started standing while I bow hunt, seems to help....

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Ya know, though, NC....it's been SO dry, here....I have always been good at hearing them approach. She was just really stealthy. Good for her. She's a worthy adversary!:D(actually.....obviously better than "worthy")

She was walking a dried up creek bed.....and I never heard a peep from her.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I never stand I shoot my deer sitting down!!

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Wow, rough morning! At least you know you are in a good spot!

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Mike I was really looking forward to this spot, too....lol. It wasn't a bad thing, really.....just some missed opportunities.

I'll go back in a while, there. I really need to hunt the entire woodlot and see what I actually DO have, there. I maybe missing out by not utilizing the entire woodlot. I scouted out some stand sites, last year....and I might try ot ge tin one of those on the next weekday morning I hunt.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

at least its better then a good day at work

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Oh I was at work by 9:45. I drove 8 hours yeaterday (all in one day) to be able to hunt it this morning.....instead of staying in Richmond and driving home, this morning.

Great morning, really.....

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Yep, it has been dry, I'm down in Asheboro...I can't hear squat (except for the ringing in my ears)...I'm also in one of those areas where you hear yard dogs, lawnmowers, weedeaters, etc....Go get another tonight....I'm waiting until Saturday evening...

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I have several days like that a year when I am fishing. Get tangled every other cast, miss my marks, forget how toset a hook, fall down the bank, spook fish. I feel like a rookie.Maybe that is just what its like getting old? ;)

As dry as it is here in PA, the deer have been quiet. Once the fresh leaves fall, it'll be real crunchy again.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

It happens to all of us sometimes its just the way stuff works out

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

That is why I leave one tied to each of my stands, including my 2 climbers.

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RE: Getting in my own way......
 

When I have days like that, I usually expect to see something good.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Funny you say that, Bob. When I shot my best buck....I left my bino's at the base of the tree, that morning. When I shot my doe, last week....I left them at home, that day.

I'm not making these blunders up! I'm that wacko.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Usually though when things like that go wrong is when all that cool stuff happens. Good deal that is why they call it hunting.;)

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Somehow I have no problem believing that! :D

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

me too, have Lisa dress you and get you ready in the morning[8D]

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

LOL, guys....I know, I know.

I'll tell you this.....and if you've heard this before....forgive me.

I hunt property that runs about 1/2-3/4 of a mile down the road I live on. I've found that the deer think nothing of a car....but a person jogging....riding a bike (I've witnessed this) down the road....they have issues with that. So.....My lovely Lisa gets up at 4:30 on Saturday mornings and drives my pickup .....with me sitting on the tailgate.....to my enrance point of the woods....wherever I'm hunting, that day.

How's THAT for a good woman?!!!:)

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

That is pretty good Jeff. I'm lucky if Carie rolls over and says "good luck"!

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

OH I forgot, Greg.....I then call when I get down.....and she'll pick me up!:D

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Oh go ahead and rub it in then!

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I had similar experiences last night but I didn't see any deer.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Better to do those things early in the season.......less apt to forget them later on, at least thats my theory.;)

It really makes me feel like a dope if I forget to tie or clip on my haul line using my climber. Nothing I hate more than having to climb back down for something.[:@]

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

twil ...... how do ya get the deer to sit down so you can shoot 'em? ;)



Jeff ..... that was my entire YEAR last year!!! Mistake after mistake ........ I couldn't seem to do anything right [X(] I hope this year is like the ones previous to last ....:)

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I remember one year i dropped my flashlight and of corse it hit every single limb on the way dont and kept shining till the batteries went dead....lol. It happens.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Sounds like my Dad. He is blunder prone. He forgets, drops, breaks stuff all the time. It's a comedy of errors.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I was going to hunt this evening after work. Well while at work we had some trouble with a piece of equipment leaking diesel. While I was only there to secure the jobsite until the shop mechanic fixed the line(leaking fitting) it was in an awkward spot so I was giving him a hand. Once we got the line off I proceeded to dump the residual out of the line onto my pants leg and boot. While I do have a change in the truck the smell of diesel doesn't really wash out real well so it looks like I will wait until Saturday to blunder around the woods some more. Se la vi.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I'm gonna say I forget "something" about every 5th hunt. So far, this year, I've forgotten my binos, TWICE.....my haul line, TWICE.....My gloves and facemask, ONCE.......A bow hook, ONCE.

I'm a clutz, it seems.[&:]

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

I forget alot of things....it seems to increase as I get older.

One thing I did do, I placed a hook in my backpack. It's there so I can attach it to my haul rope to retrieve things from the stand. [&:] ;)

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Join the club, this is so bad I don't want to type it but I left my bow on the tailgate while putting my bag and climber on and getting"organized", once I was "organized" I started walking. I only made it a couplehundred yds. andI realized I was a complete moron.

RE: Getting in my own way......
 

Rob ..... unfortunately, I can relate, my friend [:o]