I have my 15-foot Big Dog ladder stand set up on state land. Two weeks ago a decent sized 6-point comes in on my right side and goes around behind me, never gives me a righteous shot opportunity, and walks away like he never knew I was there. The sucker comes back 10 minutes later, again behind me, this time I get stood up and turned around ready to draw, his nose and tail come up and he's gone like a shot. I don't think he saw me, but I'm pretty sure he winded me. Fast forward to yesterday morning, this same buck comes stomping in looking for the doe he's smelling (I've got scent wicks hanging) stops 10 yards from my stand, looks up RIGHT AT ME, and tears a** out of there like he's on fire. I saw a total of three bucks and one doe from this stand yesterday (none besides him within bow range) so they're definitely around, and I really don't want to move the stand during the season. But is this stand done as far as Mr. 6 is concerned? It's obviously his territory, but would he avoid the area altogether now? I thought about taking my climber and setting up close by and maybe getting a little higher up to try to get another crack at him. I was ready to take any doe or buck, but this Dude is making it personal!!! lol Any advice from you veterans would be greatly appreciated!!
If it wasn't the right I would suggest moving but once he gets on a for he will forget. May not be worth rustling around the area to move the stand. Just my opinion.
I hear ya Slugger, this is the first year I'm really seeing some action, my last two spots I didnt see anything the whole season. Hopefully, he'll keep thinking about those does and forget all about me!!!
my opinion is he'll be looking hard for you in the tree next time(rut or not) but I have had deer that locked on me in the stand after having busted me before(also some does that were there when I shot another of their group) and I just locked up myself and waited them out until they presented a shot while looking away from my direction. However if those bucks are continually coming in from behind you and not presenting a shot perhaps it would be wise to take the climber in and cut them off on that approach.
I don't know what to do! I had a big buck come in and I had my camera all set up. I was going draw right away when he was line 30 yds out in some thick stuff. For some reason I froze and then went to draw when he was about 20 yds away. His head was down and he looked up just as I started to draw. He looked up at me and then ran off 40 yds away and stopped and looked back at me. I stayed completely still and then he just kept looking for a minute or so and then he walked away. He stopped again after he jumped the creek and stared again towards me and then he just walked off like and went about his business. I don't know what to do I never experienced this before. Is the stand still ok to hunt or should I move it camouflage it better? Chances are he saw me cause I got it on film but he didn't run out of the area he ran and then kept looking back and was just walking like a deer normally does.
Sounds like he is rut stupid and maybe didn't quite recognize you as a danger though he did realize something was wrong when he saw you move...his actions would say to me that he was wary but not completely spooked out so chances are you may get another crack at him. BTW - your camera doesn't have any blinking light or anything that would have been on while you were recording does it? He may have seen that to.
No it doesn't flash I know he saw me when he started to draw back if I had been more patient could of waited. But ya he wasn't real sure what I was because he spent like 3 min staring back in my direction.
From my experience is especially durring the day bucks at times cant really "see you" but make out something that is different in the area. Deer have better vision at night and lets say "foggy vision" during the day. They have hard time making out things at long distance. I would stay there. I have had bucks keep coming back and back and they have busted me. When the rut is on, they only have one thing on their mind. They give up their cautiousness while trying to find does. To go and move your stand and make all that noise may actually hurt you than help you. Stay where you are, make sure to have solid scent control, and try to anticipate and set up before he comes close enough. I know this is hard because you basically see them before you hear them and they are already right under you.
Ever consider using a decoy to keep his attention? Not sure if it would work but a buck decoy might be just the thing to get/keep his attention while you get a shot.
