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Lesson's Learned

I'd have to say I learned you need to be flexible and take opportunities that are presented even if they're not what you planned. A couple times this year I was so focused on getting to a particular stand "in time", because the wind was perfect or new scrape had shown up under it or whatever, that I'd pass up the chance to hunt deer I'd see on the next ridge over or out in the field, while I was hiking back to the stand. It seems kind of simple looking back on it - hunt where you see the deer, not where you think they might show up in an hour.
Had a chance to test this theory later in the season. As I was hiking back to the truck one morning I spotted a doe feeding in a picked cornfield. So I just knelt down behind some brush in the fence row and started grunting at her. After a couple minutes she started trotting across the field and hopped the fence to find the other "deer". Had her within 15 yards for several minutes and she never spooked at all. Felt a lot like turkey hunting. After she trotted off I followed for awhile, grunting every few steps. Moving at a slow walk I could keep within 30 yards of her the whole time. Deep buck grunts she would ignore. Doe bleats would make her turn her head to look. Young buck grunts would make her stop and take a couple steps back toward me. Sometimes it pays to experiment.
 
...being my first year bowhunting I quickly learned that I have a lot to learn and I can't wait for school to resume!...my portable desk will be back up after shotgun seasons end...

...(slightly off-topic)...this fall I introduced my Chessie pup to real duck hunting or atleast I tried...the first time out I was so worried about having things right for her that when I went to load my shotgun I realized I had forgotten shells!...her next trip I made sure I had my shells...took 2 boxes just incase I forgot one...just wish I would have remembered the shotgun!!...
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I've had the same thing happen several times over the years, but it really hit home this year. Passing a big ole doe up early in the season thinking I have plenty of time to kill her/ fill my doe tag. I passed a good sized doe early this year because she had the smallest fawn with her I've ever seen in bow season. What a mistake, she became the proverbial pain in my !@%$&*. To top it off she presented me with the dump shot we all dream of, 10 yards broadside without a care in the world. I believe that ole doe busted me every time we were in the timber together after that. I don't care if the fawn has spots next year MOMMA is gonna meet a Wensel Woodsman.
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I learned that the only time your stand will squeak is when the biggest buck you've ever seen in your life is standing broadside at 7 yards...
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In my third season archery hunting I have learned several valuable lessons. 1. Pay attention to detail. All the details : bow tuning, broadhead flight, stand placement, shot placement, wind, scent control. It doesn't matter what equipment you have, you have to slip the arrow through the boiler room.

2. Don't put pressure on yourself. I had a close encounter with a 140 class buck. I was unable to take an ethical shot so I passed. I didn't get another opportunity at him. After I saw him, it became more like work than pleasure. He was all I could think about.

3. Never loose your edge on stand, big bucks seem to appear out of nowhere, if you are not ready at all instances, they will surprise you and your opportunity will pass. ( Personal Experience.)

4. Get plenty of doe tags so it will be virtually impossible to run out of tags, then your wife will just assume it's not truly over until the last day of the season.
 
Not this year but…..If you use permanent stands, attach the platform using screws. Helps prevent that ever so slight creak on a cold frosty morning when the 150 class 10 is 50 yards out and coming into your rattling and you are adjusting your feet to get in position and and … dang I wish someone would have told me that a few years back.
 
three more!! for the late season

1 if you wear glasses a light layer of shaving cream on them will keep the fog down!! dont forget to wipe off the shaving cream before going into the field
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2 dont shoot the first nice buck that comes into a field, bigger will be behind him.

3. buy a sled, makes dragging a thousand times easier than a cart or the ole fashioned way in the snow. and they are cheap!!!

4 go get em boys!!!
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The biggest lesson I learned this year, was to slow down, enjoy the moment. I was moving so fast hunting Iowa, and surrounding states, that I didn't take the time to take it all in. The best time I had was just sitting along the edge of the timber while my son was in the tree stand hunting, just waiting for him to let me know that he "got one". I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life, I just wish I could bottle up the feeling I had walking to his stand as he walked up to his first bow harvest, then open the bottle up every now and then to let that feeling out.
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I guess that old saying to "stop and smell the roses" has never rang truer to me, than now as I reflect back on the last season.
 
Referring to L4Ruts number 2 comment "2 dont shoot the first nice buck that comes into a field, bigger will be behind him." I have been glassing the last couple days some out of the way areas that don't attract alot of gun hunters. Two times I have watched this over the last couple of days. Grouped up bucks entered the field at last light and just kept getting bigger as they came out. If you are after a trophy it pays to have alot of patience, and wait for what you want.
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Another lesson learned this fall, have multiple stand sites in one area that you can hunt on different winds. I found myself fighting winds this fall, a lot more out of the east than usual. I had but one stand to hunt wind from this direction and it was a nonproducer. I have several trees lined up for next fall for that area. Essentially, I need to have more flexible stand sites that way I do not jeopardize my locations due to hunting a stand with a bad wind.........
 
I have learned that when I think I know everything I need to about our awesome sport of bowhunting,I just log onto this site and realize I don't know squat!!You guys really have so many great ideas and to share them all openly is a tribute to the quality of people on this site....THANKS AGAIN!!!
 
The thing I improved the most on this year is opening up with known tactics. Basically giving something a try. I was always wanting the big buck to come in range, but never wanted to try anything to lure him in as to educate him so he will never return. I broke out the horns and called more this year than ever. Had some good experiences. Also stayed out of the prime area until the prime time of the year. Worked for me.
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Last year on my 20th birthday, I headed out for my stand. Got in my stand at 6:00 A.M. and didn't get out until 4:00 P.M. Thats not that hard to do when you've seen alot of action. Anyway, at 3:30 I saw my first living Booner. It's unreal how intimidating a deer of that caliber can be. Being all worked up I took a shot that I would have never taken. The arrow hit em in the left shoulder and didn't get hardly any penitration. Since last year I have had to keep a promise to myself, which has been difficult at times. From that day on I haven't taken a shot unless I knew that my shot was going to be fatal. This year I have passed up shots that some guys probably would take. You've all heard that it takes a bigger man to walk away from the fight than it does to fight. In a way, passing up a shot is the same way.
 
Deer that have not been exposed to cattle on a regular basis do not like sharing common ground when suddenly introduced. I found this out as the landowner moved his cattle from the normal pasture area into his cut fields and wild timber during the first week of November. This is an area of the farm which has never been used for this in the past. It was obvious that the cattle made the resident deer very nervous. To the point that a few would even spook and run. A few of the cattle found their way through a downed fence into the timber. Stands in that area that have always produced consistently went cold quick as the cattle remained there over a couple weeks. The bucks didn't seem to mind as much as the does, but when most of the does moved to the neighbors property, so did the boys.
 
The lesson I have come to learn year after year is...... there is always lessons to be learned. When you think you have them figured out they always make you realize you don't. There will always be things to learn about these beautiful animals. When you figure out everything about them......what will be the point in hunting them?
 
Last year I had something happen I would like to replay.
I rattled in a nice buck in early Nov. He came in on a run, right to the base of my tree, not giving me much time to hang up the horns and get set.
At any rate, when he came in that close he found my flashlight at the base of the tree, which had fallen out in my climb.
It was a bad mistake. No not to pick it up, but as he turned inside out and exited, I did not come to draw. He ran out about 20 yards, and hooked a hard right, presenting a perfect broadside opportunity at about 25 yards. Had I come to draw as he exited I would have been ready. As it was, all I could do was stand and watch.
Lesson, If they bust you, and you have your bow in hand. Come to draw, and get ready. He may stop long enough for a look, and present a shot anyway, but you won't have time to draw if it does happen.
 
Things I've learned.

If they see you, you might be ok...
If they smell you, you might be ok...
If they do both, the gig is up.

It's never the buck you're trying to shoot that busts you...it's the doe that he's following.

A deer bedded down 10 yards from your stand is NOT a decoy...it's a stiff morning from not moving for hours.

Yearlings are dumb. It's amazing to think they are the same deer that outwit us day in, day out when they get a couple more years under their belt.

A grunt call is as likely to send a buck running as it is to bring them in. If that happens, take heart...it just means there is probably someone bigger around that he doesn't want to tangle with.

And finally, If you hold real still a squirrel will climb down your back.
 
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