I keep getting busted....I need some tips.

[GingivitisKahn]

I think you answered your own question right here...

"so I turned and crouched slowly to position"

If the wind was in your favor as you think, then he either heard or saw you.  My bet is that he saw your motion.  Camo is great, but (I'm probably not the first to mention this in this thread) the best camo is "don't move".

[vermonster13]

Saturday I had two does feed up to me an bed down about 18 yards in front of me. I had a small hemlock behind me and about an 10 inch wide maple in front of me. The wind was in my favor and my face was covered. I would slowly peek around at them to keep track of them hoping they would get up and continue down the trail into my best shooting lane before dark but the best laid plans and all. The girls never knew I was there and my front cover was minimal at best but I had good back cover. I did draw on the girls a few times for practice.

[John Nail]

full face camo and movement. It will take some time until you learn when you can move.

[Legolas]

A little tip:
If hunting on the ground I watch the deers eyes and draw/move when it's head is going behind a tree.

Paul

[JrsyBowHunter]

get your self a bottle of deer dander, its the best cover sent i have used and have been within feet of deer on the ground and havent been picked off.

[SuperK]

This is my first year hunting primarly from the ground.  IMO camo from head- to- toe is a must.  Also make sure you have something behind you to break up your outine (tree lap, stump, etc) and I use an Apachie Pyramid blind in front so I can move around to get in position.  Of course if the wind ain't right, you're busted.

[southernarcher]

Sounds to me like the deer saw movement but couldn't figure out exactly what it was.Yeah,get some face paint,or headnet.Also,I hunt in a homemade ghillie jacket,and it works!

[Chisler]

Deer "blow", a strong forced expiration through the nose, as a warning to other deer - either that danger is imminent or just that something ain't right.
    you can also get big corks in the "self serve" hardware drawers, you know all the odd type fasteners, washers, etc... at Lowes, probably at Home Depot too.
   I love this thread.  I said before the season started that one of my goals was to get a deer from the ground - I feel so handicapped (can't think of the right word) when I'm on the ground that I didn't even give it a fair chance, yet...  Next year!!  when there's leaves again.
    I can't imagine being "feet" from a deer and not having it know you were there.  Then I'd probably have a heart attack before I could really consider drawing my bow.

[deertraks]

As far as scent goes read the testimonials for   http://www.scentsmoker.com/test.html   I bought one but have only been able to hunt with one time. I used it on my buddy that day and he had four does down wind that day. One doe raised her head, sniffed the air and went about her business.  

[stickbow1]

I would just like to add my 2 scents....I think smell is one of the most important elements.  We can't be positive what deer can see but we do know they smell very well.  I have had deer very close not wearing a bit of camo, then others sppok esily.  However one other important thing I think is eye contact.  Never make eye contact with a deer it will spook them.  Once they are spooked then they are sniffing more and become more alert.

[rg176bnc]

When ground hunting I like to get a spot I can let the deer get dead even or better yet slightly past before I make my move.  A cross wind is best for this.  The longer you hunt you will notice deer have 2 diffrent snorts they use.  The short and crisp snort is usually a once or twice as they are running away.  The other is more of an investigational snort.  They dont know what they saw or even if they saw anything at all.  DONT MOVE FOR ANYTHING when this happens.  More than likely the deer will calm down in a few minutes and will more than likely offer a shot if you let things run their course.  Another note conditions arent always condusive for still hunting.  Especially when the leaves are very crunchy or the wind is swirling.  A tactic I like to use when the wind is swirling is I go to a place that is not my best on these days.  This way Im still in the woods and Im not spooking deer I want to hunt later.  These are good squirrel days.  Another thing to keep in mind when huntin from the ground is that when you are gone your scent is still their.  Rubber boots are a ground blinds best friend. If I was still hunting I would go w/ stealty foot wear.  Good luck!

[Brian Krebs]

Whitetails will often follow each other with scent and movement. They will see a deer ahead; and go to where they can smell them. They do this all year.

I am wondering if; although your wind is good from where you are sitting- what is it doing where the deer is?

Wind changes directions; gets pushed right and left when it hits trees; and brush; and what might appear to be a perfect wind; where the deer is; might be perfect for him.

I like to check the weeds and grasses where I have a stand; and see what direction they are falling over in.  That seems to be the prevailing wind. You might walk from your blind to where the deer smelled you; and see if the wind is moving your scent to it; and adjust your stand position; or lay brush on the trail; forcing the deer to go where they cannot smell you.

Movement indeed is the thing that moves them out fast; after they get a whiff of you. Move slow and  deliberate- and whenever the deers vision is blocked.

face paint; or a head cover can work wonders.

The best blinds though do not allow the deer to see you until they are in a position where you can shoot them. Deer are more likely to see something on a trail (or in line with their direction of travel - than next to it- off to the side.

Deer commonly wind their way instead of going straight in a direction- to help smell us.


         

[Killdeer]

Don't BUY cork! Only drink wine that has a real cork in the bottle.

Killdeer  

[Jerry Jeffer]

Good one Killdeer.  Face and hand cover is pretty neccessary, especially if you are as white as me. Play the wind as best you can. Like Killdeer, I have had wind come from every direction of the compass while in one spot. Keep the movement to minimum. I started using a UV killer on my clothes and noticed a big difference as to how much I am seen.

[Brian Krebs]

Jerry- your camo is great- but you don't seem to see the photographer- what was he or she wearing?  

[randy grider]

you'll see my face shines pretty bright in this photo. i just uncovered it for the pic.