So there I am standing on the platform of my stand. I take my backpack off and hang it to the frame of the seat. I hang my bow on its hanger and take the quiver off and hang it from a branch. I get my release out of my pocket and go to put it on. "heck with it I'll do it after I put the safety harness strap around the tree"(brilliant Einstein). Early in the day and I'm taking my time figuring I just want to get settled in well ahead of moving time. I reach around the tree with the strap to the harness to fasten it and I hear the famous crunch...crunch....crunch.... OH CRAP I think to myself. The harness strap isn't buckled yet and I'm facing the tree hugging it with both ends of the strap. So I almost painfully turn my head around still holding the strap and sure enough there HE is!! Nice 8 pointer with an 17-18" spread slowly quartering away at 15 yards in the dead middle of my shooting lane. A zillion thoughts quickly process into my brain of how to buckle the harness, get my release out and on my wrist, reach over and grab an arrow out of my quiver, knock the arrow, take the bow from the hanger, and turn around to get in position for a good shot on a mature buck. Well i quickly realize I have a better chance of winning the lottery so I just sink my head for a second then turn back around to view the scenery.
This is the second time something like this has happened this season. Am I blessed or does anyone else have a knack for getting caught like this?

Dang... Sounds like a little bad luck, but just seeing a great deer is an accompolishment... So you have to be thankful for that... I am sure your time will come and everything will work out just like it is supposed to... Good Luck from here on out...

I could see this happening to myself. IMO your were doing things correctly. The only thing I do diffrently is I use a glove release so I't would have been attached to my hand already but likely my bow would still be on the ground as it always is until I get buckled in. Tish sucks but it's definately better then taking a fall.

I've had it happen a couple of times with my climber tree stands. I think they are attracted to the sound of the tree stand scraping up the side of the tree. Perhaps it sounds like another buck making a rub.

That's funny stuff. I had the samething happen last night with my first eight pointer. I was still climbing when he choose to sneak out the thickets and wonder by. He was a nice looking buck one of 5 last night to pass me by. All 8 pointers about 18" spread. I'm still holding out for something bigger. I did walk through the though process as he was coming out as to whether or not I could pull my bow up and get a shot off if he was a monster.

Ha ha, Hey I dropped my release the other morning 22 ft in my climber.

I carry a weighted treble hook on a line for just such mishaps.

LOL got your climbing practice in that day huh?

Getting just like a 265 lb squirrel with that climber..

Your not the only one its happened to. IVe had it happen but it was towards the end of the evening. Iwas getting ready to call it quits a little early cause i had plans so i get everything ready and im lowering my bow to the base of the tree when i hear this twing snap fairly close, and i look and there's a nice buck heading my way and he see's me had a starring contest for close to 10 min then he just turned around and headed back where he came from. its all part of hunting.....ya win some you lose some!!....this year has been more of a losing battle for me though