I have a few theories on this type of thing over the years:
Mayhem seems to work from me.
Persistence and practice pays off, eventually.
It's better to be lucky than good.
First time - Mayhem:
I was about 18 feet up in my climber and just didn't like the way the bottom part of the climber was sitting in the tree. So while I was sitting I kind of put my feet under my legs and adjusted the bottom part of the stand. Well, we all know what happened then. The bottom part of the stand fell.
Thank goodness I attached a piece of cord to keep the bottom and top pieces of stand together in case something like this happened. So while I'm sitting there thinking this is a fine kettle of fish I notice a buck coming down the ridge. I lay my bow in branch of an adjoining tree and attached my pull up rope to it. I then reach down and try to pull up the bottom of the stand. It took me about 5 minutes but felt like 30 minutes. I then finally get the bottom of the stand secure and knock my bow out of the adjoining tree. As I'm watching the buck, my bow is swinging 15 feet below me. I'm thinking "I'm such an idiot". The buck is about 30 yards from me and knows something is going on with a big squirrel over there. I get my bow back, nock my arrow and stand up. At that point he pops up from a creek run and provides a shot. I harvest the deer.
Second time - Lucky - I'm hunting a new area and used my climber in a promising location. I noticed a decent buck working a rub line in early season about 100 yards from me. I then realize my stand is not in a position to take a shot if he passes on the trail that I didn't notice until I got up into my stand. I decided to turn my stand to other side of the tree. I lower my bow on my pull up rope. I turn around and make sure I have both parts of my stand together. I then move to the other side of the tree. My bow is banging off a few saplings below and my buck thinks maybe there's another buck over there. He double times it towards me. I get situated and start pulling my bow up. I get my bow and he picks me off. He starts angling away. I manage to get a shot off but it is low. I hit him in the heart and out the brisket. I harvest the deer.
Third time - Persistence:
My second buck and my first deer with size. I found a buck with a doe during the rut the evening before. The plan was to sneak into the area and get a stand up before light. I sneak in about an hour before light. As I'm climbing my tree I drop my water bottle. If anybody goes in early they know how quiet the woods are before dawn. I get up and get situated. I'm freezing my butt off. Then at first light I see my buck. I hit the grunter and his doe comes running under my stand. The buck comes to 20 yards, I shoot - miss. I'm shaking.
The doe runs off a few yards. I nock another arrow and hit the grunter. The doe comes back. I knock another arrow. My buck comes in. I miss again at 15 yards. The doe stands lays down underneath me.
My tree sounds like jingle bells, I'm shaking so bad. My buck presents a slight quartering away shot at 15 yards and I connect. Persistence and luck.
Fourth time - Practice:
I had a buck pick my off during my draw. I see his head rising up as I'm focused on my spot. I let my arrow fly as he realizes what I am. My arrow finds his mark and I harvest him.
Fifth time - Lucky and persistence - I have had a few large deer wind me when they were with a doe and sometimes they really don't care. Just wait till they present an opportunity and focus.
Half of these situations were with a compound and the other half with the stick.
IMHO - the stick allows my to react faster during these mayhem situations.
Sometimes, Murphy gets me and sometimes I'm lucky.
The more time you spend in the woods, the more you see and the more that stuff just happens. You just need to put in the time and good things will eventually happen.
Topic: I hate to even admit this one... (Read 1349 times)
