Has this ever happened to you??

[Onestringer]

Gun season closed yesterday, so I blew off work this afternoon and went hunting.  Took my climber and went to an area I had seen deer come from the past.  Picked a tree and climbed up.  I got to the proper height and was getting ready to pull up my pack and bow when I saw a doe about 70 yards away.  Next thing I know she is running my direction and right behind her is the biggest buck I have ever seen from a treestand.  If it was an inch it was 150".  That doe, big buck, and smaller buck came 20 yards from my tree and stopped, then took off again.  All I could do was watch.

At least he made it through gun season and I have 6 weeks of bowseason left.

Scott

[mooseman76]

Scott, had something similar happen 3 years ago.  Instead of a hawg buck it was a huge coyote with a beautiful full coat.  And there was my bow lying on the ground with my backpack all ready to be pulled up in the stand with me.  He snuck by my stand at a staggering 5 yards and no bow...Mike

[wtpops]

Yup was hunting hogs and was my very first time in a tree stand, Im a western hunter and had never used a stand, was standing on the last step cliping in when i was serounded by hogs, there i was staring at the tree with my bow tied to a rope on the ground. Did i say this was my first ever tree stand expereance

[bowhunterfrompast]

Scott, years ago I was using my climber and had a young buck run in and stop at 10 yards. I'm still hugging the tree no more than 6 feet up, bow on the ground and him looking for a fight.

[paleFace]

scott just last friday i had just pulled up my bow and nocked an arrow when a nice buck came walking in behind me on the trail i had used. i was in my stand for maybe 1 minute.

[TradPaul]

Oh yeah man, recently in WV i was walking to my stand @ dark A.M. It had just rained and i was thinking man i'm being sooo quiet..just then i stepped on a branch and it rolled, flat on my face i go, upon getting up i find my self looking at a doe not 30' away and right behind her a big ol buck, to make matter worse, their staring at me while I, like an idiot, am trying to get an arrow off the bow quiver but cant because my shooting glove is wrapped around all the arrows. Needless to say, they bolted before i had a chance to nock an arrow. Funny in hind sight though.


P.

[pronghorn23]

One time I got down from my stand, walked about 40 yards away to where I had a plastic film canister with some scent in it hanging from a branch. As I took it down I heard something coming my way fast.

An 8 pointer was chasing a doe right down the trail I was standing near. They both stopped at 15 yards and stood and stared at me for about 2 minutes. They both offered a perfect broadside shot. I stood there trying to act nonchalant and not make eye contact.

Only problem was when I got down out of the tree I left my bow at the base of the tree-intending to grab the canister, return to the tree, pack up and head out.

My other concern was I was standing there holding a film canister wreaking of estrous doe urine with a hot buck right there. I was debating what would be worse...getting attacked and gored or the other option. At least if I was attacked I would have a good story. With the other option...what happens in the woods, stays in the woods.   :D  

Eventually they walked off and I returned to my bow and wiped the egg off my face.

Lesson learned...always take your bow both with.

[Brian Krebs]

the above are all real examples of traditional bowhunting.

I speak from experience !

[Toklat1]

OK,  Last season I went out to the small tract of private property that I hunt.  It was the peak of the rut and I had taken out some code blue.  I set my bow on the ground, walked maybe 30ft down the side of the deer trail heading to the clearing in which I can see from my stand.

I start dripping every 3ft one drop of the code blue. (didn't have a drag) I was doing this very quickly and when I came to the clearing, was putting some of in on a scent wick to hang on a tree branch.  This whole procees had taken me maybe a minute and a half.  I turned around to face the way I had just come from the trail and this huge 8pt. buck was standing not 15 steps from me. He blew (snorted) as soon as I turned around.

Mind you my bow was 20ft behind me on the ground. Didn't matter anyway because it scared the living bejabbers out of me and I started back peddeling with my arms flailing trying to keep my balance. As soon as the buck blew he turned around and headed ar far away from me as he could get!  And, YES, I did fall on my posterior.  After I gained my composure I sat there and laughed as hard as could.  Never saw another deer for the rest of the season!  

[BMOELLER]

I've had similar things happen like that to me.  I try to keep my bow with me at all times in the woods.  Unless I'm climbing or getting down out of the tree then I have to lower it.  Thats when it normally happens

[Onestringer]

I am glad I am not the only one with this experience.

[M.A.FITZHUGH]

Similar experience in San Saba in tree stand. Placed my newly camo'ed recurve on tree limb while I got situated. Hogs came up on trail and I could not find my bow for nearly 5 minutes because of the "GREAT" camo job I did! Funny now, then not so.