Lessons learned...

[mendozer]

Had a weekend hunt on some private land in the 124 GMU. Friday night went out and scouted the area, decided to put my food and blind by an apple tree. Tons of tracks in the area suggested it was a good spot off the wheat fields. Saturday morning, get out there and I pass about 20 deer scattered in fields 1/2 mile from my spot, but not on land I can hunt on. Get to the blind and decide by 10 AM that they ain't comin! Return at 430 pm. Stayed there till sunset, at which point two does come out of the dense thicket just 30 yards from my bait site (they were there all day!) and meander towards my apples. Every slightest move I made caused them to stop and stare for a bit. I couldn't figure out if they truly noticed me since I was moving so slowly in my blind. Then I slowly got up to move my stool out of the way (because my blind was too small to draw my bow) and they huffed and puffed then took off. I learned AFTER the fact that they probably saw me because the back door of my blind was open (1. for viewing for traveling deer, 2. for my drawing arm since it was too small of a blind). I tested this by looking into the blind myself with the back door slit open or shut. I clearly caused a very noticeable silhouette. Well damn!

Sunday morning trot out there again after re-baiting the site. On the way there (it's pitch black mind you) I hear trotting not 20 yards from me heading towards the thicket. Damn, I must have spooked them again as I was trying so hard to walk softly over the crunchy wheat field. Waited till sunrise, and they didn't return. I said screw this and headed after them with what I could tell was a fresh trail through the brush. I made noise too, trying to spook em. I kept hearing rustling in the distance. I was hoping to chase them out into the open. Finally I rounded the corner of the thicket and I see one poke it's head out. I froze, staring contest for a minute or so. Then it trots into the wheat field (finally a shot option). I draw my bow back, guessed her at 60 yards when the other pokes it head out of the brush. This one's bigger (the one I had at 20 yards last night) so I moved my pin to her, which she must have instantly seen because huff and puff off they went. I aimed for 50 yards and at the latitude of where her vitals would be while bounding, led her about 5 yards and RELEASE!  She happened to be on the downward fall from a bound and it sailed about a foot over her back. By the time I thought "f***" they were 80 yards away and I wasn't going to risk a non-lethal shot. They got away. I followed them to the timber line but it was pointless as I'm in the open walking on the loudest wheat fields EVER! Even a coyote felt bad for me and came near me. I briefly thought about shooting it but it trotted off.

Lessons learned...
1. clear the blind's ground first. There were way too many crunchy things at my feet as I pivoted and moved around in there for position
2. close the back door!!!! I didn't even think about it, very disappointed with myself
3. I'm actually surprised I got such a good shot (despite the miss) at a running doe considering it was my first time drawing my bow back at a living creature. No shaking or hesitation whatsoever.
4. morning positioning sucks. I feel like I can't get into any position since they're already out there and see or hear me before I know they're out there.
5. Learn to step quietly. I have never been feather footed. A skill I may never master
6. Kill the damned coyote next time. I felt him mocking me.

Any other pointers?? I am planning on going out again in 2 weeks (different private reservation)

[csaaphill]

  Kill the coyote 
Grats on being out there keep at it you'll get it done. Never been light footed either, but read somewhere that you don't have to be so much as long as you sound natural. deer aren't that silent so as long as you don't sound like a bulldozer your ok. Not sure on weather or not you should wait until it's a bit closer to day light or not, but if your spooking them in the dark if it was lighter you may get a shot. Grats on being able to sit in a blind, I can't sit still to save my soul I got a move around, and do the spot and stalk, or still hunt method. Anyways GL on getting it done you will.

[mendozer]

yeah sitting still was like torture to me. I brought a book though which helped. I tried napping in various positions using my three legged stool. That was awkward. I much prefer walking around as well but due to the private land aspect, still hunting was the way to go.

As for the comment about waiting later, if it was lighter out they would have seen me entering for sure. I had only one access point.

[fishnfur]

Maybe moving the blind out of the feeding area and placing it on the trail to the bedding area will allow you to get in there without spooking them and give you a shot as they head off to bed?

[mendozer]

This was a unique spot. L shaped land with an apple tree at the corner of the L. The lengths were wheat fields, and there was some timber north of the corner. Neighbors to the west and south. So the path from apple tree to bedding area was literally like 5 feet. I wanted to put it along the path (like a ATV road) off to the side, but that wouldn't have been where they were walking.

[lokidog]

For the noise issue, I have notice deer seem to freak out more in the dark when you are trying to sneak versus making natural, "walk like a deer" sounds. If you sound like a deer in the dark, as long as they do not smell you, you should be fine.

When I purchased a blind, I made sure there was enough room for my bow and another person.  The extra interior room, as you noticed, is well worth the slightly larger profile.  Also one of the hardest things with a blind is trying to watch behind your main shooting area, or even to the side as all of that extra light can make you much more visible. Some blinds have small camera windows, I've used those to view other directions. I've also climbed the apple trees for a tree stand to get off the ground, but that option is not always available in smaller/bushy trees.

Another possibility, is to camp out in the blind overnight.  I know this is not necessarily a super comfortable thing, but might be worth a night or two out there.

Good luck.

[csaaphill]

yeah sitting still was like torture to me. I brought a book though which helped. I tried napping in various positions using my three legged stool. That was awkward. I much prefer walking around as well but due to the private land aspect, still hunting was the way to go.

As for the comment about waiting later, if it was lighter out they would have seen me entering for sure. I had only one access point.

Oh ok. and yeah what loki said camp maybe.

[HntnFsh]

Guessing about 50 yards and leading by 5 feet makes it sound to me like your fortunate you didn't have a deer run off to suffer with an arrow sticking out of it.  Its hard to resist the urge in the heat of the moment. But wonder if you would be better off being more patient and waiting for a better shot opportunity. Good luck next time out!

[mendozer]

Guessing about 50 yards and leading by 5 feet makes it sound to me like your fortunate you didn't have a deer run off to suffer with an arrow sticking out of it.  Its hard to resist the urge in the heat of the moment. But wonder if you would be better off being more patient and waiting for a better shot opportunity. Good luck next time out!

I know. In hindsight I sound like a D bag. Shouldn't have taken that shot. emotions got the best of me as it was gonna be my first deer.

Loki, I'll consider the blind camping idea. I might want to get a bigger blind then, although I threw the Amazon box away!

[lokidog]

I slept on the ground in the bottom of a deep clearcut on the OR coast once, no bag, tarp, tent, or pillow, to see if I could beat some elk into it in the morning.  My only score was a huge Staghorn Beetle that kept me awake much of the night scratching around, unfortunately.  I still think it could work though.

[Special T]

Whitetail?  When hunting blacktail I often bump them trying to get to my stand. I normally just sit stands in the evening in areas that I have problems like that.
I second what loki said about how you walk. If you listen to the sounds of how deer and elk walk it is very different than how we do. Deer seem to take a few steps then pause. Next time you in the blind close your eyes and listen to them walking.

[HntnFsh]

Guessing about 50 yards and leading by 5 feet makes it sound to me like your fortunate you didn't have a deer run off to suffer with an arrow sticking out of it.  Its hard to resist the urge in the heat of the moment. But wonder if you would be better off being more patient and waiting for a better shot opportunity. Good luck next time out!

I know. In hindsight I sound like a D bag. Shouldn't have taken that shot. emotions got the best of me as it was gonna be my first deer.

Loki, I'll consider the blind camping idea. I might want to get a bigger blind then, although I threw the Amazon box away!

I think we all get excited out there. Especially with our first deer. If we didn't there wouldn't be any sense in being out there. I think you will be able to seal the deal next time!

[mendozer]

I thought about this today. What if I use like 25 yards of fishing line tied to a small branch of a nearby tree. Then when I'm about to shoot, I jiggle it (the line would run to me in the blind) and the movement of the branch would hopefully cause the deer to stare at the tree intently for about 10 seconds while I draw my bow out of its focus.

Think it'll work?

[lokidog]

Seems like it might spook it.   

I always toss a few apples where I want the deer to stick its head so I can draw, either on the outside edge of my shooting lane (both sides since I don't know which way they will come) or behind a tree or bush.  If you wear dark clothes and close the windows behind and to the side, drawing should not be a problem.

[mendozer]

well with my blind, the tip of the arrow will have to be out of the blind a bit as I draw. Hopefully that's ok. I also plan to position the blind so sunset or sunrise comes from the side and not head on so I remain in the dark.