The Dreaded Right Hand Backside

[Adam S. Daugherty]

Bout got to close the deal on a mature buck yesterday evening but he got to the safest place in the world for a critter.  I about think the safest place in the world for a deer to be would be behind my right shoulder about 8 yards behind the tree I am sitting in.  Man they is just no way to make that shot with a 62 inch recurve and saftey harness.  The opposite would be true for a left hand shooter.

Story:  Stand hung on edge of thicket in a fence crossing funnel.  Deer came from my right side and got directly behind me before catching my wind.  he was close, within 8 yards.  I think he may have went on into a shooting lane I had behind me to other side of tree but when he got whiff of me he stopped, while I was getting positioned for shot on other side of tree I spooked some turkey that had roosted about 20 yards in front of me.  Upon the turkey flight, he turned and went straight away from me offering no shot back into the thicket  The 2.5 year old he was traveling with made same route but didnt stop behind me and popped out of the thicket and offered me a broadside 12 yard shot.  I guess that is the way it goes.  Was a good encounter in a stand that I can slip in and out of, should get a mulligan on him in the future.

This is truely a disadvantage to a traditional archer from tree stands.  The tight behind you bowhand side is an almost impossible shot once they are bewteen 930 and 12 oclock.

[Matthew Bolton]

I had a small spike at 4 yards that came up on my right side the other night. I know your pain brother.

[Hawkeye]

But wasn't the close encounter a thrill???

[Adam S. Daugherty]

Hawkeye, yes it was.  The encounters are what keep me a going.  Many people just dont realize all the other things that come into play when hunting with stickbows.  15 years ago when I started hunting with stickbows this had never entered my mind until the first time it happened, I have had several nice deer live a little longer over the years because they stayed between 930 and 12 oclock.

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Sounds like a good reason to get a tree saddle,  I've never had one,  Always used stands, but more and more I'd like to try one out.

[Hopewell Tom]

Ah yes, The Encounter.
When I started with the bow (only trad, never wheels) I was worried that those encounters would be off putting. So close and yet so far.
My first real encounter put me around 3 bucks, one that I wanted for sure, but he caught a movement, jumped back and was RIGHT THERE. Behind that tree.
The opposite happened, I was hooked.
Gotta love the fact that most of us have probably had one there in that unshootable spot, yet we get pumped up more than down.
I love this time of year.

[SheltonCreeker]

I feel your pain. But those close encounters sure do bring you back!