First let me say I have learned a lot of great tips over the years on this site and I still think this one is a good one if the operator isn't a dope like me.
So I'm in my stand and in comes this large six grunting this hot doe up a storm. I manage to stop him at 14 yards and have a very small window to shoot through. I pull, anchor and release and my 14 yard shot goes low and left and just nicks him in the leg and off he runs. I figure out that the toothpick/rubber band arrow holder I had on didn't release properly and caused the errant shot. So, the next morning I have been in the stand for 2 1/2 hours and seeing very little. It started to get cold so I hung the bow on the hook with the toothpick/arrow holder in place. All of a sudden from behind me comes this doe and her fawn flying down the hill behind me. I stand up, grab the bow and get ready. Sure enough here comes the biggest buck I have ever seen charging down toward me not 15 yards behind me. He's got fire in his eyes and panting hard. I mouth grunt him as loud as I can and he slams on the breaks just 15 yards in front of me quartering away and looking down the hill away from me. I start to draw and this time remember the toothpick. I try to flip it with my thumb but it won't move. I try harder and it is stuck. I then reach around with me drawing hand and forcefully remove it. quickly back to the string goes my hand just in time to see the monster kick it in gear again and tear on down the hill after the doe.
It's ironic that like most of you one of the things I love the most about traditional shooting is the simplicity and lack of accouterments. But, my old fingers do get tired of holding the arrow on the shelf and the simplicity of the toothpick and rubber band arrow holder seemed like a great idea at the time. Obviously it's still too complicated for me so I have elected to remove those from my gear list from now on.
Fortunately the big boy is still around. I have seen him the last 2 mornings in a row cruising through the same area at about 8:30. Yesterday he was screened by some brush at 20 yards and then decided to reverse direction and go back the way he came. This morning I had to drop my brother at the airport and got to the stand late. As I am climbing in the climber about 12 feet up, I hear a noise behind me and turn around to see the big guy just plodding through about 20 yards away absolutely unaware that I was there. I'll give him one last time tomorrow, but will be sure I don't have the arrow holder on me.