So, for the last day of the season I decided to still-hunt through an old growth timber stand I had bumped a doe in a few weeks ago. The old growth borders a massive clearcut and there's sign galore along the edges and really all the way through the timber stand. I was hunting a large bench in there. wind was in my favor the entire day which was nice.

Today was an excersise in patience for me. Looking back at all the close calls I've had since September I know that eventually I get impatient and start moving too quick which is usually when I bump deer. So, today I decided was gonna be the day that I fully discipline myself and move extra super slow. to put it in perspective it took me 4 hours to get to where I figured there would be a deer. When I walked out it took me 5 minutes tops to cover the same distance. haha.

To start off the morning I was about 30 yards into the timber on a heavily used game trail. It was snowing pretty hard and it was actually making noise as it came through the trees. I think that helped me a little. I ended up breaking a twig at this point so I crowched down and immediately I hear to snort wheezes very close to me but I couldn't see the deer. then it snort wheezed again and I heard thud, thud, thud as it bounced off. At that point I sat there looking and listening for about ten minutes.

I started hunting my way through and was coming to where the bench starts to slope down. The doe I had bumped a few weeks ago was right on the edge of the bench standing next to small, mossy alder thicket. As I was creeping through, the alder thicket came into view. I stopped and looked. sure enough I saw the outline of a doe's tail. I looked a little harder and then I could see the outline of the body and ears. I slowly raised my binos for a confirmation. It was definitely a doe, and a fatty doe at that. when I first saw her she was standing with her back towards me and looking away but then all of a sudden her head spun around she had me pegged instantly. She bounced off at this point.

Remembering the sneaky blacktail trick where they sometimes circle back around to see what scared them, I dropped to a crouched position. About a minute after she bounced off I heard a stick break and there she was again! Same doe back in the same spot and she came in jogging! So there she was, at 40 yards and I had a clear shooting lane. problem was she was locked in on me and my release wasn't clipped on! she turned her head a few times and each time I would move my release closer to the bow so I could clip it on. This was the closest I have been to a deer for that long all year. it was litterally a ten minute staring match! she even took a few steps closer to me at one point. She looked away again and I dropped one knee to the ground since I was crouched and it was getting painful. I knew that if I could draw back at this point I could send an arrow into the pump house. However, when she looked back at me I think she noticed I had moved slightly. she stomped twice and let out a couple snort wheezes. Then she turned quartering away and started flipping her tail. I could see she was about to bail so I mouth grunted at her. she froze for long enough for me to clip my release on but bounced off before I could draw back!!!

I waited a few minutes and then tried to find her again. But as I've noticed before, once you bump them twice they usually go much farther the second time and I couldn't find her again. I wish I had more time today but I had to get home to the wife. It was however an incredible experience. Being that close to a deer was surreal. I could see her breathing and could see her breath in the cold air. maybe I shouldn't have looked directly into her eyes because I'm sure she saw me blink? I know that I'm fully ready to let one fly too cause I felt no sense of nervousness or anything. I was a predator locked onto my prey and nothing else mattered.

I learned a few things today. slowing waaaaaayyyyy down really helps! stopping often to glass and looking "through" bushes can help you spot them before you get busted. looking for parts of a deer is the way to go like how the outline of her tail popped out at me through thr bushes. And finally, blacktail really will circle back around out of curiosity to check out what scared them in the first place. I had the right idea crouching down when she busted out but I wish I had thought of clipping my release on at that that point. if I had my release on all I would have had to do was come to full draw when I heard the stick break and she would have been a dead dear!

thanks for listening to the above story. I learned volumes this year and can't wait for the early season! 7 more months! That's ok though cause that gives me 7 months to get in tip top shape for early elk, become an even better shot with the bow, and scout, scout, scout for deer! At some point I need to flip my steelhead switch back on but I'm finding it hard to think about fishing even though the season is finally over. if I had a tree stand I'd be back in the woods predator calling for cougars. That's how bad I've been bit by the bowhunting bug.

Do you wear face paint ??? I always squint when game are at a close range, whether they know I'm there or not.

I was wearing a camo beanie and a camo neck gator pulled up high over most of my face so the only part of my face that was visible was a thin strip for my eyes. I thought about face paint when I was driving home tonight. maybe if I had some face paint around my eyes that would have broken me up enough? I was squinting too so when I had to blink it wasn't too extreme. I tried looking away and watching her from my peripherals too but I knew I wouldn't have much time to make a move once she looked away so I brought my full attention back to her. it was an incredible experience. I could see the definition in her fur and the shine of her eyes. I was soooooo ready to let one fly. Guess I'm a stone cold killer. next year it's on!!!

Drew, you might think im bullsh!ttin you, but im not....

save up for a Ghillie Suit... not some cheap ass POS 30 dollar one either, spend a hundo or 3....

thank me later...

that would be sweet but I like my Rivers West gear in realtree AP. shits waterproof like a motherfuck€r! And it's pretty quiet.

have you hunted in a ghillie suit before?

I do need to get some Baer's Feet for stalking/still hunting though. My Irish setters are killer for keeping my feet warm and dry but are rather clunky making it hard to feel sticks. I find myself having to look down too much to plan out each step versus being able to feel my way around mostly.

I've followed your experiences this season. Sounds like you've learned alot on your own. If I was you I'd hunt out of a stand if possible. Maybe take up coyote hunting if you really want to hunt a critter that will peg you before you even know it, IMO.

dude, you gotta relax. everyone always tries to find the "thing" that spooked the deer. it could have been anything, but likely scent, and not necessarily yours. i've been within 15' of does during the season, bobbing their heads around, trying to get a whiff of me. ghillie suits are heavy! especially over rain gear. not made for still hunting. while deer see movement very well, they don't put things into context like people. if they've seen a hunter that spooked them, well maybe. if they see something that they don't know, they investigate a little. they'll stomp around to see if you'll spook. they'll snort and try to intimidate you. they'll look and look and try to figure you out. don't sweat the small stuff like eye makeup. be quiet, stay down wind, move slow. it will happen. blacktail are quite possibly the most difficult big game animal in the lower 48. you've had a great season! encounters are the shizzle! shoot everyday if you can. keep you stuff scent free. keep doing what you're doing and it will happen. low stress=success. talk to stam....



willy

I'd love to do some coyote hunting. Seen plenty of videos of guys stand hunting for them using predator calls. I've only seen one coyote this year while I was hunting through some reprod. only saw him for a split second before he was gone.

I had a perfect cross wind that was carrying my scent directly away from her so I'm thinking she didn't wind me at all. maybe I shouldn't have mouth grunted at her? but after she stomped, snort wheezed, and quartered away with a twitching tail while still looking at me I figured I had better try and stop her so I could at least draw. And I'd love to talk to Stam. Have yet to meet the guy. I hear he's quite the old school recurve hunter.

If there's deer there's dogs...keep hunting the same spots..

I've been waiting for the pictures. Next year!

next year for sure. I know too much now. No deer is safe. haha. I have a new respect for deer actually. Especially doe's. I remember saying quite a few times "I'll get a doe no problem, or all I need is a doe". Well, doe's ain't easy is what I found. One might say they're easier to find than bucks but not easy...at least not yet. I actually never even saw a buck this year aside from the other day while in Olympia I saw a spike and a doe eating somone's grass in their front yard. Haha.

Years ago when I hunted I have walked up on a few (does) pretty close in the real think clear cuts. The ones with christmas trees about 10-15 feet tall. I had the wind but didnt worry much about noise. They looked suprised to see a human when I came into sight. Still cant believe I missed at that range with my muzzloader.

Keep working on it Drew. I regularly get to within 20 yards of animals just wearing a fleece top, Cabelas boots, and my Wrangler "Ranger" pants. Slow, steady, don't make eye contact, especially when they freeze. You'll get there next year.

One very important thing to add to your gear is a breeze squeeze... IMHO they're more important than camo.. Second would be a bottle of scent eliminator...

I can't tell you how many times I've been out bow hunting and thinking the wind is in my "favor" only to have it swirl and get busted.... Any time you are in hilly situations and timber/reprod or anything that holds temperature changes the wind will do wierd things... You'll think it's in your face but it swirls in ways you can't see...

Keith

Keith,

I always spray my camo down with Dead Down Wind Spray and I usually won't suit up until I get out of the truck. I keep it in a scent free plastic container. When I bought the container I hosed it down with Dead Down Wind spray as well and at least to my nose it eliminated the plastic smell of the new container. I also carry a wind checker made by Dead Down Wind and use it religiously, like every 20 or so yards while still-hunting. lately too, I've been spraying myself with a few sprays of the Moccassin Joe's Blacktail Doe Urine for good measure.

Andy,

Maybe if I can't put something together in the early season next year you can show me your ninja ways? I'm going to be scouting some local spots pretty hard starting soon and I hope to get into deer all year so I can practice getting close. I'll be stand hunting the early season for sure as well.

Did you ever see a picture of Fred Bear in a Gilli, Nope plaid red shirt, Color blind they are, You just need to break up the large solid object that is not natural in the woods. When you are in the woods and see a large Solid colored object, your eyes are drawn to it, like a black bear in a clear cut, stands out like a sore thumb, It is the same that for animals. But do break up your face with camo. it shines or reflects, Just like when you are staring motionless at ducks and they flare at your bright white face. or your buddy tells you he can see the shine from your face across the canyon, So do critters..... Save your money, Scout, Shoot lots of unmarked 3D's this year, become very accurate at judging yardage and learn to "Move without motion" this is the most important. Then your killing of trophy critters with a bow will begin.... Matt

Also as Dogfish mentioned in different words, "Move without motion", slow steady and deliberate, Soft sole shoes don't make the ground noise as hard rubber soled shoes, ect. A blacktail deer, would rather stay still and let you walk past, But if he thinks you are onto him, it's over. many times, I have spotted a nice buck looking at me, I did not walk toward him, But walked side ways to him getting ready for a shot, when ready with an opening, I would draw, slightly turn and then release. I too have killed many animals and some real big ones, And I wear geans and Camo Chamos button up shirt, and face paint.