Blizzard up here in WV knocked down so many trees that my normal route to my stand was so blocked I would have had to have went completely around the ridge to reach my stand so I decided to set up in a homemade ground blind behind a tree about 25 yards up the ridge from a small field.

Got situated at around 6:45 this morning. At about 8:45 a mature doe creeped into the field followed by two young ones.

At about 18 yards Momma turned her head completely the other way so I drew back. Right as I hit my let off she turned and looked right at me for about 10 seconds. Then she ran up to about 10 yards from me behind a pine (Blocking any shot) trying to figure me out. She let out 1 quiet blow and scampered off. First time I've been busted in 2 years.


I guess Momma Doe did her job. Sucks for me.


I felt like I did everything right.

How long should I wait to go back into the area again?

well the rut is heating up in the NE so i say get back in there.

Some of them old does harder to hunt than any young buck. Had one in a group for weeks,would go out of her way to stay in cover. But they were regular. I would expect her to check where you were when you were busted. But hopefully not act like she owes someone in the area alot of money.
Sounds like she had a feeling more than full out busted you and gave the move out to her fawns,instead of grandstanding to show you to them and warn anyother deer. Hunt it when the wind is how you want it,expecting her to avoid or study where blind is. Without standing where she was with you in blind its a guess she saw some lines or something that didn,t blend with expected background.
Too some get skittish till they get used to snow again. Fresh build on blind or established?