Dont be afraid to try something new. Theres no one best way of hunting deer. Case in point my largest buck ever came this year, with a ground blind strategy during muzzleloader season. I layed on my stomach in the snow to get close enough to where the deer were feeding to take a shot. With a foot of snow you sink right down and they dont even know you are there. I just wore alot of clothes and put a sheet of plastic underneath me. However, Next time I would use a rubber mat or something because when the plastic gets cold it makes alot of noise.
Be patient would be my next advice. Dont hunt a spot if you think the wind is "close enough". The buck I shot with my bow this year was with a east wind. I wanted in this spot so bad but had to wait. The first time we got a east wind was on Nov. 12th and thats the first time I went in there. It wasnt 20mins and he was dead. However,We fell victim to this same scenario. Another spot my friend and I had was perfect for a true north wind. I went along to video tape the last day of bow season, Dec 5th, before shotgun opened. The wind was slightly NNW. However, being it the last day we gave it a try. We were there about a half hour when two bucks showed up chasing a doe. The biggest a 150inch eight point. The doe did the only thing she couldnt do and that was to work downwind of us. Once there she stopped for a min and then turned right around while the bucks hung up at 50 yards. I know with a N wind it would of bought us enough time to work those bucks in within 30-40 yards. It really didnt matter that we screwed up those bucks on that last day, but it just shows that you need to wait for the perfect time to hit a spot.
Another idea that I thought was pretty innovative was one I seen on a hunting video. The guy had a buck come in and bed down 50 yards away. He had his rattling horns but he, as would I, was afraid to use them with the deer so close. Instead of risking being picked off while using the horns he tied his horns to his bow rope and lowered them down the back side of the tree. He then shook the rope to get the horns to rattle together on the ground. The buck immediatly got up and came to 15 yards. I dont think that rattling from the tree at that close would have worked. Im sure he would of pinpointed him.
Be patient would be my next advice. Dont hunt a spot if you think the wind is "close enough". The buck I shot with my bow this year was with a east wind. I wanted in this spot so bad but had to wait. The first time we got a east wind was on Nov. 12th and thats the first time I went in there. It wasnt 20mins and he was dead. However,We fell victim to this same scenario. Another spot my friend and I had was perfect for a true north wind. I went along to video tape the last day of bow season, Dec 5th, before shotgun opened. The wind was slightly NNW. However, being it the last day we gave it a try. We were there about a half hour when two bucks showed up chasing a doe. The biggest a 150inch eight point. The doe did the only thing she couldnt do and that was to work downwind of us. Once there she stopped for a min and then turned right around while the bucks hung up at 50 yards. I know with a N wind it would of bought us enough time to work those bucks in within 30-40 yards. It really didnt matter that we screwed up those bucks on that last day, but it just shows that you need to wait for the perfect time to hit a spot.
Another idea that I thought was pretty innovative was one I seen on a hunting video. The guy had a buck come in and bed down 50 yards away. He had his rattling horns but he, as would I, was afraid to use them with the deer so close. Instead of risking being picked off while using the horns he tied his horns to his bow rope and lowered them down the back side of the tree. He then shook the rope to get the horns to rattle together on the ground. The buck immediatly got up and came to 15 yards. I dont think that rattling from the tree at that close would have worked. Im sure he would of pinpointed him.
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