i got busted............now what?
 

well i was in my stand (my stand is located on a field edge which overlooks two small fields) this afternoon and at around 5:15 a big buck comes from out of nowhere at like 15+ yards. im looking the other way and when i see something i moved my head over to it real quick. when i moved my head the buck stopped in its tracks and stared at me. we were staring at each otherfor probably 10 minutes and then he started sniffing and it stomped its foot a couple times. it then kept walking like normal, and i moved to try to turn and shoot it but he bolted i never got a shot off. i dont think he smelled me i think he saw me. im really frustrated about it. this deer is probably old by the huge body on him and by the size of his rack. what did i do wrong? and if i hunt there tomorrow afternoon as well will i have a good chance of seeing a deer? give me some advice
thanks

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

It all depends on the deer. You never know when he will come back. Most of spooked deer do, but I guess there are some that do not depending on how uncomfortable they feel. Maybe you'll get lucky and see him again tommorow.

GOOD LUCK

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Move slower, I did the same thing on a doe earlier this year. I know it's tough, but you have to. Especially if he's heading into the field, you should have plenty of time to get the gun/bow up and ready.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

i think this deer was very smart becasue the instant i moved he stared me down.
like there was a couple times he stopped looking at me and i moved very slowly and then he stared at me again. can i move slowly if hes staring at me? what does it mean if he stomps?

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

The deer that I had it happen to me with was a yearling doe. It doesn't matter how old or smart they are, if they catch that movement, they're ready to bolt. Also, I think while they're staring, the best thing to do is sit as still as possible. I've been busted before from movement, and if you sit still long enough, MOST OF THE TIME, the deer will go back to whatever was on its mind before. And when a deer stomps its foot, or does the headbob, it means they know, something ain't right.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

yeah thats what i thought about the deer stomp.
well we were staring each other down and he got back to what he was doing and he was walking like normal and i wanted to make sure he didnt get in the brush and be gone and so i moved and THEN he ran. what can i do different about that?

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Not sure. Tough to say when I wasn't there. Different deer do different things.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

thats ok.
when is the easiest time to shoot a deer? (like body position) and when is the worst?

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

With a gun, the only shot I won't take is straight to me, or straight away. I actually prefer a quartering to shot with a gun.
With a bow, I won't take a shot unless it's broadside, or quartering away.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

I'd recommend you try sitting in a different tree if possible. Keep em guessing. If he got a little whif of you he knows what to stay away from now.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

yeah he didnt get a whiff from me im sure now. i might hunt in some brush near my stand and see if i have any better luck with more cover

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Im thinking that you take a stand in a different tree in the same area as well. Bucks bust people all the time, but if they weren't REALLY scared, they'll be back, just a little wiser. Plus, if its the rut, they have the ladies on there mind. If it wasn't for my buck this year trailing a doe after he spotted me, there would be one more buck running around the woods right now.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Isn't it funny how 30 seconds or a minute in the deer woods always turns into 10 minutes!:D:D:D

Just joshing with ya!

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Once you have a deer walk up on you and you finally realize it, you're always close to getting busted, very close.You basically have no alternative, you must stay absolutely still, or as still as you possibly can. During that time, you must try to think things through. Ask yourself, if he bolts now, what should I do? If he continures on, when should I make my move? Like most hunters, I have been there as well. It can be nerveracking for sure.

Most times, when you think it's safe enough to move, it isn't. You must understand, you're not watching a deer that is simply moving through an area, you're watching a deer that knows you are there. He may not treat you as a direct threat at first, but he's still on high alert. Stomping his legs is his way of telling you that. He also may not be sure exactly what you are and he wants you to make a move so he can be sure exactlywhat it is.

I would look at this as a learing experience and trynot to make the same mistake twice. It seems obvious he bolted when you moved. He was waiting for that and you underestimated his ability to see you.

As far as seeing that deer again, I am certain he will be in the same general area. If he has no reason to believe a threat exists the next time, (no human scent, no movement, etc) IMO,he will return.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Try setting your stand as high as possible. Maybe find a tree with more cover around it, its tough without leaves on the trees but you can try to find one with a cedar or pine back drop maybe. I try to use cedars in the late season to provide stand cover, this will greatly help keep you from being busted.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

make sure you scent control is on point & spray your clothes w/ UV KILLER & move slower next time..... GOOD LUCK

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Yeah, he saw you move. The stomping was try to get you to move because he wasn't sure you were a threat. You should have remained still, moving only when you knew he isn't looking. I would rather him not be spooked and get him another day, but that's easy to say sitting at my desk.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

I would get right back in there and hunt I would move my stand to a different tree

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

i hunted from the same stand tonight but didnt see anything. a friend of mine told me that i should not look at the deer in the eyes becasue they can like feel that you are or something, he also said that when he puts he head down he tries to act like hes feeding but he actually is doing that to make the threat move so he can bolt.
why should i move my stand to another tree? would hunting on the ground be a better idea for tomorrow? what strategies should i use tomorrow?

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Well with most animals looking them straight in the eyes is a no no because they are prey animals. It is a predatory thing to look them right in the eyes. Just give it some time he will come back around.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

why should i move my stand to another tree? would hunting on the ground be a better idea for tomorrow? what strategies should i use tomorrow?

sorry to repeat this question

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

studies have shown that deer often look away in a method of deception in order to get their prey (or you) to move when you think they're not looking at them. Bucks and does often look "down" or "away" when in all reality they are keeping their attention focused on you to see if you make a move. Remember, the biological makeup disables deer to focus on objects that are completely still, thus, you should remain still as long as possible even if it means relinquishing the opportunity to get a shot. Often, not getting busted is more important than just trying to get in position to take a shot

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Yeah, I got pinched back in Oct. Pretty much the same scenario. I only saw the buck again on my trail camera a couple times. The one thing against me was this was public land. Once people started pounding around in that spot for the 4 day antlerless hunt a couple weeks later, that was the end of him for me anyway. If it was just you on your own land and only getting busted once, I would think you have a better chance of seeing him again. Hopefully anyway...

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Yes i would moveyour standto a different treeclose to where you have it now.If he comes back out he is probably look up in that same tree to see if the coast is clear. And if he looks up and sees you there he'll probably spook.

Wayne

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

If you're worried about pressure and being detected and you think this buck is hanging around in that specific area its going to be awful hard for you to be able to get in, move a stand and get out without being detected, leaving a lot of scent or ruining the area for the next couple of days

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Not looking a deer directly in the eyes is a good piece of advice. Think about it, you see him, he sees you, you blink, he's gone!

As far as a deer lowering his head as a decoy to make you move, I think that's giving the deer too much credit. They ain't that smart. If a deer has doubts about what he sees, he will continue to look until he's either satisfied all is OK, or he feels a direct threat and reacts immediately. I have seen deer look at me for minutes trying to identify exactlywhat I was. Not only that but they never moved one step in that time.

As far as a strategy, I would hunt the same area. You can either hunt the same tree or move to give a better vantage point. If you want to hunt from the ground just make sure you play the wind.

Good luck, go getem!

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

not so fast my friend as that is exactly what they do ;) ask mr rue, alsheimer or anything other scientific literature on the matter:D The reason that deer look at you trying to identify you while you're still is because the biological make up of the receptors in their eyes does not allow for focusing on a stand still object

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

yeah next time im hunting will be this sunday evening becasue i have to go to chicago. but i hope pressure from my neighbors hunting their land will push them to my area and i can nab one sunday

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

That and anatomically they are not suitedto seeobjects well straight in front of them.

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Very interesting!! I never knew that!! thanks for the tip...
this is what makes this forum soo great. all the smart people...

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

yeah i LOVEEEEEEEEEEE smart people:D

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Busted big time due to movement, what was the wind direction and how high are you in your stand ?
Everybody who hunts has been busted. If a deer sees you and stares you down he will act like going back to normal when he looks down and then back up to you to see movement or a configuration that wasn't here before. His body language will dictate to you the level of threat they feel. Stomping is a way they try to get you to move and when they start walking stiff legged with the ears back, your just SOL. A bow shot is usually impossible when there alert like this and will jump a string almost all the time .
I would most definitely move the stand, he may be going to and from in the same direction but he will possibly take a different trail. Learn how to read his footprints and characteristics that you can read the difference between that deer tracks and others. This is one of the reasons they call it hunting. Good Luck.

Bobby

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

i will try and do that thanks

RE: i got busted............now what?
 

Predators tend to have botheyes in front oftheir headto have better depth perception for hunting prey. Prey tend to have eyes on the sides of their head to have a greater field of view for detecting predators. Deer can eat off the groundand look around them at the same time.