RE: new bowhunter seeks a little advice
 

I think you got some good advise from everyone, and I strongly agree with Ratllesnake1, just like some of us say "we have a sixth sense" and a deer's nose is 1000x times better than ours, I belive a deer's sixth sense is 1000x better then ours. Unless there is alot of cover and/or distance (30yrds+) between a deer and I, I will lower my head (so my hat brim hides my eyes) and peek, not stare at him every once in awhile. Whenever most of us stare at a person and they all of the sudden turn and look right at you, most of us turn our heads away. Well you cant make any sudden movements, even with your eyes when a deer does this to you, so you are forced to keep staring at it, well then your brain keeps telling you "your gonna get busted" and then the "adrenlin shakes" start coming on, more so when a deer is 20 yards or closer and that can expose you much easier or worse cause a rushed shot. This may only happen to me? If I spot a deer coming in I will camo and postion myself as best as possible, check everything (loose clothing, arrow on rest, pull face mask up, hat down) to avoid mistakes, and use my camo to the fullest.
Another thing is ... dont stay in a stand location for to many days. Deer know everything in their area and to much traveling to the same spot will start to keep deer on edge, before they avoid the area all togther.

RE: new bowhunter seeks a little advice
 

You guys are great! Thanks for all the advice. From what I'm reading, I'm thinking I've got to have a little more patience. I know my camo's working, I had a 4-pointer staring up at me not ten yards from my stand the other night, looking right at me and never got busted. He was nervous but he didn't make me. I think my stand location is good. It's in a jackpine stand and the deer like to come in and feed on the moss, foliage and even mushrooms (!) on the forest floor. I've seen deer everytime I've been out there. I use fox pee for cover scent and I know that's working. I had a doe come in yesterday from directly downwind which surprised the heck out of me. She wouldn't come in range but she never put her tail up once. I think I just have to wait a little more til I can get that quarting away shot. Yes, it's hard not to stare at 'em but I'm gonna have to watch that too. We have our rifle season starting this weekend so I'm gonna give it a break for a week til all the blaze orange and noise leaves the woods. Then I'll be anxious to try out all your good advice. I'll let ya know how I do.

RE: new bowhunter seeks a little advice
 

Muskratpete, these posts were also helpful to me and this is my 5 season without guns at all. I've been busten many a time and have developed my method for success just as you will develope yours. Each of us hunts different terrain with different cover and food sorces. What works in a forrest may need adjustment on the great plains or the brush of south texas (think the words to God Bless America).

One thing I didn't read that is important is your bow needs to be silent when drawn. Some arrow rests make noise when the arrow is drawn back and over them others make much less. Draw you bow with your eyes closed and listen for anything. If you can hear it they can too. I use a dropzone which has a foam pad that the arrow is cradled in when at rest. As I draw, the arrow made some light friction noise that I could hear. I smeared a dab of vasoline on the foam and worked it in and now it is silent. My old Hoyt would creek the first time it was drawn in the morning. Having that first draw/creek take place while making a move on Mr. Buck is a bad thing. By drawing a couple times before I made my way into my stand it was not a problem at crunch time. I did finally source that creek to the split limb style limbsavers being too tight. Some like to have mole skin on the riser in the ledge area. Just in case an arrow falls off the rest and hits the risers.

If your draw requires you to struggle and raise the bow up and wiggle around and make grunting noises, turn it down to what you can handle. A 70 lb. bow set to 64 lbs. will make the draw effortless and still take care of business. You will need to check your shaft selection if you make a big change to the power but a few pounds will usually do the trick and help you make a stealthy draw. The good news is once you are at a full draw and anchored, that deer is just about done for. Also, practice letting your draw down. There will be times when a silent letdown will allow you to keep the deer close and offer another shot. I once held so long that flames were coming out of my shoulder. When I let down the arrow unknocked and fell off and scared the deer away.

Every trip will offer lessons to be learned. It's your job to learn the lessons and apply them each time out. When you get your first bow deer post the story. I want to hear about how your pounding heart was alerting the deer and how after the shot you just about fell off your stand due to the shakes!

RE: new bowhunter seeks a little advice
 

Thanks Greavous. More good advice. Vasoline! Now why didn't I think of that? I believe that's pretty much scent free too isn't it?