Hey everyone, I have a question about a situation I've been in many times and so have you. You are sitting in your stand and group of deer come in just before it's too dark to see. By the time they are within shooting distance there is no chance of you getting a shot. It is so dark before long you can't see where they are in relation to your stand. It's quitting time and you can't hear them anymore but you don't know if you should leave your stand or stay just in case they are still nearby enough to know you are there when you exit. What do you do? Typically, I wait and wait and wait to make sure they are gone. But, does anyone have a suggestion on what I can do to speed up the process? I have heard guys bring rocks up in the stand with them and throw them near where they think the deer are so they spook. They will spook and they don't really know why is the logic behind this. I don't know, what do you think?
I hoot like an owl and slap the side of my leg or hoot like an owl and shake limbs and they will walk out. Works for me.
I text my wife and she comes out the back door with the dog for a walk and the doe bolt outta there! But i hunt 75 yards from my back door so it kinda doesnt help you, sorry
Good question, can't say I've thought of this yet. Guess that's why I signed up for the forum. The rock think sounds plausible but I don't know if I'd throw it AT where I think they are, maybe in the general direction. The hooting thing SharpEyeSam mentioned could work too and sounds like it has for him. I would say any sound to get them nervous non-human related would be your best bet. Find a recording of a mountain lion or coyote howling and put it on your phone? It could work, or just wait it out like you have been.
As badly as I have wanted to get down sometimes, I always wait until every deer is out of earshot so as not to spook them.
I don't like the throwing of anything from a tree stand to scare them. You don't want deer to associate your stand with danger. And there is a good chance they could see you flinging rocks. If they do they will skirt your stand from there on out and most likely will stomp or blow as they walk passed. I like to have a someone come and drive a truck or four wheeler there and clear the field. Works like a charm.
I had to do that once last year. I just sat until it was completely dark out, hoping the night would somewhat conceal me, then I started packing up and climbing down. They were still near me by the time I got to the ground and then spooked off. There's not really much you can do other than wait for them to leave. I knew I had plenty of other stand options on that property so I chose to avoid hunting that area after I spooked them.
