did I ruin this place?

[willis5]

I set up with a cross wind, and the deer walked on the trail down wind of me instead of the one upwind of me. well, 4 deer came in and blew at me and ran about 20 yards. I missed the 40 yard shot. they trotted off the way that they came.

is this stand finished? Will I ever get another shot on these deer in this location? If so, how long should I wait? I am sick that I missed... just over it's back!
Please, give me your opinions. Thanks guys.

[Daveinthebush]

I remember reading once that deer have a gland in between the hoofs and that when a doe stomps her foot it has a dual purpose:  One to get you to move, the other to mark the area with a scent to warn others of a possible hazard.

In your case, since there was no hazzard :-D , they might return in a week or so.

Just kidding about the hazzard!

[Myk]

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Friday of opening week I took a shot and missed high. When I went to get my arrow a doe was up on the hill and I scared her off.
The next day I heard something on the hill, it was the doe. She got spooked back towards my blind by some kids in the woods but I couldn't get a shot. Then a buck came walking up right where I had taken the shot the day before. I think it was a different buck than the one I shot at, I'm pretty sure the one I missed is still around and the one I did shoot was probably nearby when I took the missing shot because we have been seeing them together most of the time. (I saw them close together the day before I took the shot in the same area.)

Now if they smelled you, you took a shot and missed and then you cussed up a loud storm while waving your arms, making it clear what and where you were. Then you might have a problem.
But as long as you kept your cool during the whole thing you should be OK.

Getting spooked by unknown things is part of a deer's life. If they avoided every place they were spooked they wouldn't have anywhere to go.
Unless it was a trophy buck. They usually don't give you a second chance. They didn't get to be old trophies by being stupid.

[willis5]

I guess they could come and go as they please... I can't hit the broad side of a barn.  :-D

I don't think I am going back for at least a week... What in the heck am I going to do till then? Guess I have to find another spot. anyone else?

[Redhawk1]

willis5, you  should have no problem at all. I missed one the other day and the next day got one in the exact same spot. As Myk posted, as long as you kept your cool the deer stay in that area. But if you kept pressure on her she might leave. A lot of times if you chase a deer out of an area, it will circle around and come back in behind you.

[willis5]

Thanks guys. I need some meat in the freezer. that is 0 for me and 2 for deer this year when i had a shot. one jumped the string and this one I misjudged the distance by 5 yards. That is why they call it hunting and not getting.

[grouper sandwich]

i do agree about the monster buck theory that was mentioned, they didnt get that big that easily because of nothing...if you blow a shot at one of them you can kiss your chances good by of ever seeing him again.  i had this happen in Kentucky on a bow hunt, i had a monster 9 point with very massive bases slip in on me at 40 yards.  i got excited, guessed the range at 30 yards, and sent the shot bad low.  they found him 5 years later, dead from old age no one that hunted up there ever saw him again until they found him

That's what makes HUNTING so cool.  It's a game and some deer are just better at it than we are.  We have a big buck on our lease that my buddy has been hunting for three years.  He's only seen him on the trail cam but it is 5.5 years old and it's SERIOUS.  I wish him luck, but I have a feeling that that deer has him patterned better than he has the deer patterned.  But it's cool but it's personal between those two.  They know each other and know why each is there.

As for your stand?  I missed a doe out of one of our stands on Saturday before last.  The same buddy who is hunting the buck killed that doe out of the same stand this Sunday evening.  He said that it was very cautious coming in but that it did present him with a shot.  You should be fine here.

[willis5]

Alright, guys. My stomach is hitting my backbone... I have to go back. it has been about a week, and I will head back in a few days. i'll keep you guys posted as soon as I can. Good luck to all of you guys.

[willis5]

I MISSED!!!!!!!! :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :cry: