I went out yesterday for some late season bowhunting. The weather was horrible, about 70 degrees with SSE winds, not exactly the best scenario for deer movement. I decided to go to an area where I had seen several bucks earlier in the season. I get out fairly early considering the heat, about 2:15 pm. I climb the tree and start putting on gloves, face paint ect. I'm putting everything in its place, binoculars, grunt tubes, saftey belt, etc. I hear something behind me. I turn to look, and standing there 20 yds is a nice 16inch eight point, not a giant, but a great late season buck. My instincts reach to grab my bow, and I get a sickening feeling when I realize by bow is still ON THE GROUND! Well I try to ease the bow up and of course the buck busts me and hauls tale out there. I sat the rest of the afternoon without seeing another deer and kicking myself for such a dumb mistake.

Note to self: In the future, pull up bow before doing anything else.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yea it really hurts does'nt it when after that you sit the rest of the day and don't see anything . its like its on an endless loop replaying in your mind

We've shared the 'result'. Once going to my stand, I'd got my sight caught in some brush, breaking the 20 yd pin. On returning home I called a friend who makes bow cases, face masks etc, to make me a 'camo sock' to cover my sight, to prevent something like this from happening again. A pretty good idea you would say.
Well a few days later (early morning), I was heading back to my stand, bow in hand and sock covering sight--proud of my idea, I wasn't going to be breaking anymore pins. Got up to the stand secured my safety belt, lifted my bow, removed the quiver, hung the bow, removed an arrow from the quiver--checked the expandable blades on the broadhead for movement, kissed the arrow and armed the bow. Settled into my position and now I was 'ready'. Guess, I thought I was. First light comes a doe, followed by three more--placing my hand below my seat I eased the seat up while coming to the standing position and then braced the seat with the back of my legs to the tree. Reached for my bow-- locked my release, came to full draw-- ancored, eye behind peep--so far a FLAWLESS performance--and what do I see---I see a camo sock covering my sight, the idea of a 'genius' --yeah right!!
Been there done that!!! Another 10 points to the deer--ZERO for myself.
We all do things that make us laugh--AFTER the fact!!

LOL at ampahunter!

Be my guest MOBH--the guys at the Bow Shop did the same and of course I gamely joined the group!!!

The 2nd week of november this year. I shot a nice doe out of my climber at about 12 yds. She ran off out of sight so I climbed down and walked over to look for my arrow and blood. Since it was so close I left my bow tied to the rope as I was going to go back and get as soon as I retrieved my arrow. Well wouldn't you know it a real nice 8 pt. comes trotting in possibly smelling the doe and hearing me moving around. I was stuck kneeling on one knee with a bloody arrow in my hand, a nice buck 10yds away and no bow for me to shoot and arrow with. The buck looked at me for about 30 secs and then slowly troted off. To top it off I couldn't find the doe either. So yes always get the bow off the rope before you do anything else, coming down as well as when you are at the top.

I had the same thing happen to me on a hunt in Illinois. The last day of my hunt I hunted a new spot that was alittle farther than the spot I was hunting all week. I got to the spot just as the sun was coming up. I climbed the tree with my lonewolf treestand , pulled out my bow hanger and started to screw it in the tree when i heard a hoof hit the ground. I looked up a doe has me dead to rights 15 yards away. I said to myself pllllllllease be alone, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i look around the other side of the tree and gess what 10pt 140 class standing there laughing at me , bow still on the ground!!!!!!!!!! It happens, thats hunting. But it was a long flight back to PA

Hatchet Jack

I suppose that's better than getting to your treestand and having the same thing happen except the bow was already up but with no arrows!! (left the quiver at camp)

NYBH <~~~~~~ winner of 2003 idiot award

NY - I've laughed at you enough for this brilliant move. Allow me now to let out a huge laugh for Belle Island - way to go man!!!!!!

Sorry dude, but that was a funny story. And of course, I've never made a blunder in the woods, as far as you know.

Believe it or not. A buddy of mine took a shot on a spike elk. The elk whirled around and fell down. He thought it must have been a great shot. He watched the elk for about a half hour. When he turned away and looked back the elk was gone. All he had was an arrow with no blood and a patch of hair on the tree. Yes the elk actually knocked himself out. All he had to do was walk over and put a shot into it. Its not often that one will just lay down for you. He still hasn't heard the end of it.