I see deer on a regular basis from my stand, but when they get close they always seem to figure something isn' t right. Now when I say close its maybe 10 yards. So that being said should I draw back before they get to that range where they figure me out. My stand is only 10 feet. Is this too low? Ive been bow hunting for only two years and i got lucky and got one last year. But i dont know whats going on this year. Ive seen so many just haven' t gotten a shot. Can you guys help me out?

Hi Kosak, welcome to the board.

10ft high in a stand is ok but the higher you go the better off you will be. As far as drawing back your bow there is no definate answer. You' ll want to draw back when you get the opportunity. Too many variables can impact the decision.

I would say raise your stand a little more ( I usually put my stands 20 to 30 feet depending on the terrain). Also try to drawback earlier on them and predict where they are moving to. 10 feet off the ground is not that high and I would think they are seeing you draw at 10 yards out.


Dave

Raise your stand to 20 feet and shoot them at 20 yards.

The thing is that i haven' t drawn back on any deer besides one this year and it was too dark to see threw the peep sight so they dont see me move. I don' t know if i don' t have enough backround cover or not. What camo would you sugest other then advantage timber.

the tree im on kinda prevents me from going any higher. I use a ladder stand and from 10 feet off the ground is where the tree is straight and after that it starts to curve off so i dunno if i could add my extra section and still sit in it??? Ill hafta try this off season.

I don' t think your camo color is the problem. Are you scent free? Is the wind in your favor? 15 to 20 feet is plenty of height. I' ve shot most of my deer at 15 yds or less. If they are willing to come close all the better for shot placement and penetration. Is the bow weight comfortable for you? I only shoot at 58 lbs. Most of my shots are complete pass through. I do draw early. It is much easier to hold a little longer than to try to draw and not get busted if the deer are close. Persistance is your best bet for getting that deer. Keep getting out there. Good luck!

Well, you can go a lot of ways. First off, you got to be comfortable with any increase in height. Just start creeping up a couple more feet at a time. If you' re afraid, you have to get some backcover and maybe even a bush or two hanging in front of you. Secondly, deer can really hear well. You may have something making a noise, like an arrow on a rest, a release, a cam.... all kinds of things. ME, I' d go higher and use more cover and more background and all the above. You have to know when to draw. You learn through trial and error. IF the deer is facing you... freeze. If the deer is looking your way... freeze. If the deer has his head up and alert looking left or right .... maybe. I always try to draw when they' re eating facing away or 90 degrees left or right or they go behind some bush or tree. Each shot is it' s own. I can' t tell you to draw sooner or when they' re at 20 yards or any hard and fast rule. Sometimes you should... and sometimes you shouldn' t. It depends on the deer, his speed, his attitude, the cover, his direction of travel, OTHER DEER....etc etc etc. Just keep learning. If something doesn' t work.... don' t do it. I prefer to be 18-22.

The wind is usually in my favor. I only go out when it is in my favor. And for the noise thing. I don' t think thats a problem, because i haven' t drawn my bow back on a deer this year because they usually figure something out. I don' t know ill just keep going out and trying it, maybe tomorrow will be my lucky day.

10 Feet is high enough, thats about how high I am and I have had lots of deer inside of 15 yards, and had some chances to draw on them. I got a doe at 12 yards at the beginning of the season, so now I am holding out for a buck.