So I get to my hunting spot shortly before 3pm on Saturday. About 20 yds from my stand I see a small fork buck walking toward me. He passes 15 yds from me and never looks at me. Once he's out of sight I hurry to my tree and start climbing. I get to the 3rd step and hear something behind me. The same 5x5 I saw a couple weeks ago takes off from 25 yds. He stops and looks for a few minutes then snorts and takes off. The wind was in my favor so I know he didn't smell me at that point, and I wasn't moving. I hang on (literally) for a minute to make sure he's out of sight before continuing up the tree. A few seconds later here he comes walking behind my stand. He eventually worked his way to within 30 yds, then he'd look at me, then he'd stomp. He never spooked though. After 15-20 minutes of this, I couldn't hang on anymore so I started moving my arms to get some circulation back. He starts walking away. I hold on for a couple more minutes until I can't see him anymore. I didn't wait long enough [:'(]. He saw me and snorted and took off [:@].

Just my luck, to have him within bow range, under those circumstances. I'm sure he was laughing at the idiot hanging onto the tree for 20 mins . So now I'm hoping he finds a lady friend that brings him back to my neck of the woods this week. I haven't seen much sign of the rut so hopefully it kicks in this weekend.

Bummer. Depending on your hunting locale, it may not affect him that much. I hunt farm country where there are plenty of humans in and around the fields and fences before and during hunting season, and the deer don't tend to change their routines if you happen to be spotted as they might in the deep woods. In hindsite, I would probably have sat tight after seeing the forkie and gotan arrow ready anticipating a bigger deer to follow as is often the case. I wouldn't fret over it too much.

I would consider this spot suburban so there's lots of activity nearby, but there are not many people that venture through the woods I'm hunting. The bigger buck actually got up from the opposite direction as the forkie. I followed a dried up creek bed to my stand (my stand is on the edge of the creek bed). I need to get in the habit of checkingthe top of the creek bed (where the buck came from)before getting into my stand. I'm thinking he was bedded there so it would have been nearly impossible to see him, except from a treestand. Another lesson learned...

I had a nice 8-pointer walk by my tree in the darkness two weeks ago on a Friday. He came by that same stand on Sat. morning and busted me in it. I had something to do on Mon. (can't hunt on Sun., here) but got back in there, moved 40 yds. and shot him on Tuesday.

I knew where he was.....and I had to get back in there. Move a few yards would be my advice.

I would definelty hang your stand in a new tree, away from where he watched you hanging there.

ya, hang it 25 yards away from the area you think he was bedding... if its suitable... and High

I'm kinda stuck when it comes to stand placement now. Most of the trees available are too small to put a stand in. I have a couple other options but it will take some serious lumberjacking in order to get the stand hung and clear some shooting lanes. I'm thinking that may not be the best option either?? I definitely can't get any higher in my current tree. This section of woods is not very big, 10-15 acres tops so I'm already sneaking in on bedding areas. Though where I'm at now is about as far from the major bedding areas as I can get. I have another stand to sit in about 100 yds away. It's more of an early season spot though as it's out of the way on the far outside edge of the bedding areas and right on the edge of theactual creek (which is now ice covered). I'm thinking I may try the same stand again Thurs morning and Friday evening. Like I said, I don't think the bigger bucks have really started rutting yet so my best chances may be to catch him once he starts. Opinions??

Gave you mine......good luck.