need advice

[brassproof]

I have been hunting for two years, and seem to see a buck every 4 to 5 times I sit in my spot on the ground. One day I saw five bucks, I put a good hit on one but never found him. I looked for two days, but I think he went under water or something.

It seems like no matter what way I am facing they seem to come up behind me. They never seem to stop though until they get out of shooting range from me. I don't think I'm spooking them cuz I am real patient and still.

Is there anything I can do to get a shot at them? And does this seem like a good number of bucks to see???

[ALAN]

id say get a ladder stand and get up in the air

[tp793]

A ladder stand would be a good idea. Are you trying to stop them with some kind of noise? Sitting on the ground is much more difficult then being up in a tree, especially with a bow. Try to get up in a tree.

[MNcrittergittr]

Well without knowing where you hunt or seeing your set up, it's kind of hard to tell what might be going on, or to come up with a good solution. I can tell you this though, I hunt out of a ground blind A LOT every year and there are some things that you have to adjust for.

One thing I would recommend, is figure out what deer are doing when they come into your set up. Yeah, it always seems like no matter what ya do deer are always a step or two ahead of ya, but figure out where deer will be coming from more often than not. Set your window configurations up accordingly. Getting the deer to stop within bow range is a situation you'll face a lot whether it's from the blind or the stand. Try to grunt at them when they are in your shooting lane or somewhere you have a good shot, you can use scents to your advantage as well.

Just remember, it's bowhunting. You will see a lot of deer you don't and won't get a shot at. If all else fails, maybe you should move. Like I said, it can be difficult to speculate, but one thing is for sure ya never know what can happen. Especially during the rut! So just prepare, stay positive and put your time in and eventually it'll come together for ya. As far as the deer you are seeing, it's more than some people I've been talking to, that's not too shabby for the lull. Things are about to get crazy in the deer woods so good luck!

[brassproof]

well thanks for ur big reply. I'm afraid to use my knight and hale adjustable (adult buck, young buck, doe bleet, distressed fawn) deer call and I'm unsure when to use what. I've read tons of books and it seems like ur call will change depending on the time of the season.

I pretty much sit on a hill with branches I found placed around me. If you picture a letter V I sit at the point of the V looking down at a small creek, and deer just run past me on both sides of the V. If this makes any sense. I wear scentblocker clothes and spray a ton of dead down wind spray on me before I go out.

One more thing do deer move when it is windy outside, and I hunt in Michigan do you think the rut is starting soon? its October 21.

Thanks for all ur time.

[robinhood]

Good number but they will split, try in grab a climer and set up in there so u can shoot at almost any angle, but I don't like to keep my stand in thereso they don't see it and geetcautous and I like to change to differnt trees to mix it upon them

[MNcrittergittr]

well thanks for ur big reply. I'm afraid to use my knight and hale adjustable (adult buck, young buck, doe bleet, distressed fawn) deer call and I'm unsure when to use what. I've read tons of books and it seems like ur call will change depending on the time of the season.

I pretty much sit on a hill with branches I found placed around me. If you picture a letter V I sit at the point of the V looking down at a small creek, and deer just run past me on both sides of the V. If this makes any sense. I wear scentblocker clothes and spray a ton of dead down wind spray on me before I go out.

One more thing do deer move when it is windy outside, and I hunt in Michigan do you think the rut is starting soon? its October 21.

Thanks for all ur time.

Yeah, you will definitely be able to take advantage and utilize different calls as the season progresses. I think I have a pretty good mental picture of your set up, it sounds like you have a nice travel route they are using, one thing you can do to draw em in a bit where you want em, or to catch some attention is during the rut use some Tinks #69 or other doe estrus scent. Deer do move in the wind, I mean, they'll hunker down in massive wind conditions. But they still gotta do what they gotta do, rain, sleet, or shine. Their behavior and patterns can and will change depending on the weather. As far as the rut goes, the notorious October lull is winding down, and we are gonna start to see things get crazy! Some people are already seeing scrapes, rubs and bucks bird doggin' does, but pre rut activity is going to flare up here big time. I live in northern Minnesota, and peak rut is usually around the second week in November. I'd talk to someone from Michigan or in your area about what is normal for your neck of the woods, but it's not going to be too different...Put your time in, it's a magical time to be in the woods! Good luck to ya!

[buckee]

If you want a deer to stop, for a better shot, all you do is:

#1- first getting ready for the shot, whether it be bow or gun, have your sites on the deer and ready to shoot.
#2- Let out a loud nasal sounding MAAAaaaaaa, or NAAAaaaaa!!

They stop dead in there tracks, and look at the direction the noise came from, giving you a great shot opportunity. Sometimes, even when a deer is heading away from you, offering a very poor shot, the Sound will not only make it stop, but most times it will even turn broadside, just to look back at you.
Trust me on this...it works good.

Now during the rut is another question..LOL. Sometimes you have to do it 2 or 3 times really loud to get the buck to stop long enough to squeeze the trigger, and sometimes there is nothing stopping them when they are chasing.

It is very, very important though to make sure you are ready to shoot, and try stopping him/her in a good shooting lane.
I always have my bow drawn and at the ready before uttering a sound.

[brassproof]

thanks again for all ur time it probably doesn't seem like much but your a big help. good luck to u too

[brassproof]

thanks for the advice

[hunterwebb]

If you want a deer to stop, for a better shot, all you do is:

#1- first getting ready for the shot, whether it be bow or gun, have your sites on the deer and ready to shoot.
#2- Let out a loud nasal sounding MAAAaaaaaa, or NAAAaaaaa!!

They stop dead in there tracks, and look at the direction the noise came from, giving you a great shot opportunity. Sometimes, even when a deer is heading away from you, offering a very poor shot, the Sound will not only make it stop, but most times it will even turn broadside, just to look back at you.
Trust me on this...it works good.

Now during the rut is another question..LOL. Sometimes you have to do it 2 or 3 times really loud to get the buck to stop long enough to squeeze the trigger, and sometimes there is nothing stopping them when they are chasing.

It is very, very important though to make sure you are ready to shoot, and try stopping him/her in a good shooting lane.
I always have my bow drawn and at the ready before uttering a sound.

buckee what was that sound again LOL

[fly]

Couple things I've learned in my 20+ years of deer hunting. I've had little luck rattling or using doe calls. I've had a lot of luck using a deer grunt call. I've called in small deer and big deer from mid-October - late-December. I generally move my head 180 degrees and give 5-8 short pops followed by a longer 2 second grunt. The first time I do it quietly, after 15 minutes louder.

Another thing I have found is that mature bucks like to travel with the wind in their nose so they can smell what is up ahead. Some times I think I know their route and put the wind in my face expecting them to come in front of me.
Then here they come behind me. Has happened several times. I hunt from a tree stand so I'm generally able to make the adjustment without being detected.

A ground blind might help if you like the ground.