Face it or tree between?
04-13-2004, 11:35 AM
#22
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Too close to Chicago
Posts: 3,337
RE: Face it or tree between?
I face away from the tree unless it's been a really slow day and I need a change of scenery.
I like to keep my best shot alleys in front of me or to my left with a few decent sized trees between me and the main trail.
That way I can draw without being seen when the deer's head goes behind a tree trunk. If a deer walks by on the trail from in front of me to my left, then I will get a broadside shot at my left. If the deer walks along the trail from my left to in front of me, then I'll have a quartering away shot when he gets out front. I learned my lesson the hard way about this. My first deer was almost a non-lethal wounding. He was on my off-side (right for me), and I was too close to the trail. He was too close to risk changing my foot position and I took the shot with my feet facing forward and my bow pointing to my right at about 2:00. It was tough, and I messed up the release a bit causing my arrow to hit the spine and ground him. A finishing shot was easy enough and he died quickly, but I felt badly enough that I'll never take that shot again.
I also stay in the shade or have the sun at my back whenever possible.
I try to keep my back to dense cover so I don't get blindsided. That way if a deer comes past, he has to do it in front of me.
I like to keep my best shot alleys in front of me or to my left with a few decent sized trees between me and the main trail.
That way I can draw without being seen when the deer's head goes behind a tree trunk. If a deer walks by on the trail from in front of me to my left, then I will get a broadside shot at my left. If the deer walks along the trail from my left to in front of me, then I'll have a quartering away shot when he gets out front. I learned my lesson the hard way about this. My first deer was almost a non-lethal wounding. He was on my off-side (right for me), and I was too close to the trail. He was too close to risk changing my foot position and I took the shot with my feet facing forward and my bow pointing to my right at about 2:00. It was tough, and I messed up the release a bit causing my arrow to hit the spine and ground him. A finishing shot was easy enough and he died quickly, but I felt badly enough that I'll never take that shot again.
I also stay in the shade or have the sun at my back whenever possible.
I try to keep my back to dense cover so I don't get blindsided. That way if a deer comes past, he has to do it in front of me.
04-13-2004, 05:53 PM
#24
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 881
RE: Face it or tree between?
Zak123. I'm a hang on stand kind of guy. I get up in them puppys as high as i can. If i think i will fall and live i'm not high enough. The only problem with the theory is one thing. WIND KILLS YOU. Its like trying to shot fish from a john boat in the ocean during a storm, its almost impossible. I have stands set up for windy days, but most of the time i try not to hunt windy days, i don't see much anyhow. Pines have the best cover of any tree out there.
