Say you have one of your hit list bucks grazing in a field in front of you while you're in your stand, how late are you willing to stay not to spook him? Sat for an hour after dark last night not to spook a group that included on of my hit listers and I got to wondering what lengths people would go to not to spook their big bucks
Depends on which hit lister we are talking about. 150" buck? Ill blow at him after half an hour. 180"? Ill sleep there.
As long as the buck isn't sleeping under my stand, once it gets dark I will start preparing to leave my stand, make sure backpack is packed, secure and lower my bow, and climb down. If I'm quiet enough I will get out without being spotted. If I'm heard they will leave without knowing what I was so they will come back.
I usually wait. I've waited over an hour before. I usually can sneak down...takes awhile being super quiet but its worth it. If nothing else works, I would try snort wheezing or howling like a coyote, I've had luck with both of them.
Hell I got blocked in by a yearling doe that I knew was in estrus/coming into, she fed within 20 yards of me for an hour after dark. Oak flat bordering her bedding area, no chance I was pushing that doe!
I often wonder if trying a predator call or "blowing" like an old doe does when she smells me would work? I know what you mean. Im sure everyone could use something like this from time to time. Basically, what scares the deer away from you, without them knowing its you!
There was a piece of land that I hunted years ago where I had my eyes on this one buck. Basically there was no way to get where I had to be (during daylight hours) to be able to kill him without either spooking him on the way in or spooking him on the way out. So I packed up a bunch of gear, some food, water, spray, wipes, etc... and slithered all the way back there around midnight and slept there for 3 nights.
