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Got my first shot off at a deer today! It was a spike, but it was 15 yards away and presented a perfect broadside shot. I lined up my sights for what should have been a double lung shot. Hit the trigger on the release and the damned thing jumped the string!!!! After it jumped and stared at me for a bit it started to trot away. It got about 60 yards out and hung around for a bit, but never came any closer.
sitting high up by 6 amgoing out tomorrow what time is everyone heading into the woods?
What a rush, I need a bow mounted camera. This was unreal to see live!!
I have still yet to see any deer. Went out Saturday, got in the woods around 8am stayed out till 12:30. Saw fresh deer droppings but still no deer!
I’ve thanked her for dinner.
8am is generally speaking too late. Sunrise is around 7:20. Deer start moving for breakfast about an hour prior to sunrise and most bed about an hour post sunrise. Legal shooting time is ½ prior to sunrise and you want to be in your ambush at least ½ hour prior to that to let things settle. So 6:20 at the latest. Most morning opportunity would be around 7:30 to 8:15. If your area has low hunting pressure and deer must travel far for their morning food source, you might see them even at 9 or thereabout, but the odds are lower. I am not saying you cannot successfully harvest a deer walking in at 8 and leaving at 12:30, but your odds are very low.
I think this is conventional wisdom, but I read a post last year that once the deer get used to hunters being in the woods early and late, they will move around mid-day. I tested this theory this year and have seen deer everytime I have been in the woods mid-day. Yet to take one (see my earlier post) but I am going to try this strategy as last year I did as conventional wisdom says and saw one deer the entire season.
8am is generally speaking too late. Sunrise is around 7:20. Deer start moving for breakfast about an hour prior to sunrise and most bed about an hour post sunrise. Legal shooting time is ½ prior to sunrise and you want to be in your ambush at least ½ hour prior to that to let things settle. So 6:20 at the latest. Most morning opportunity would be around 7:30 to 8:15. If your area has low hunting pressure and deer must travel far for their morning food source, you might see them even at 9 or thereabout, but the odds are lower. I am not saying you cannot successfully harvest a deer walking in at 8 and leaving at 12:30, but your odds are very low.
Yes, the conventional wisdom addresses a general situation. What you are describing is often referred to as the “midday stroll”. It normally takes place between 10:30 and 12:30. However, midday stroll is often takes place near bedding area in a very thick brush. So chances of seeing the deer are low, unless you know where they’ve bedded.
Lets say you want to see a school bus driving down the road. When would be your best chance? Conventional wisdom would say Sunday at 8pm is highly unlikely. But I saw one yesterday at roughly 8pm and it was full of kids too. IMHO, hunting is the odds game, not guarantee. That is why I go in the woods around 6am and leave around 6pm. Yet I do expect to see much after 9 or before 4.
Awesome, were on earth did you shoot it. I dont see any holes?