Not getting busted.

[tipitina]

What is everyone's trick for not getting busted. I am still waiting for my first deer, but have been busted twice. Once by a doe, because I had my pin light on right before dusk. Learned from that one. And two days ago by a nice 8 point at 17 yards. He looked right at me, and kept moving slow, so I don't think he could smell me. The wind was even blowing from the south and he was in the north. So I think my scent craziness worked. I think I rushed and should have waited, but I was so dang anxious! He busted me ran about 60 yards behind some trees, and snorted a few times. I heard him seem to be walking back, but it was getting too dark. Anyway, do you think he will be back, or is he gone for the year? And, what are y'alls tricks/experience to not get busted. I have learned from both, but can learn from y'all too. I hunt from a 10-12 foot homemade tri/quadpod. Never measured it.

[tipitina]

Here is a pic of my stand, it sits between 4 medium sized oaks. Two sides are pretty well naturally covered. I hung some bailing wire between the trees in front and back, and hung some cedars upside down to help with scent and cover. Worked pretty good, as the buck was just walking slowly along and didn't spook until I drew.

[Epack]

what are you using for scent concealment? cover scent? scent elimination?

[AtTheWall]

Setup looks good. Read the ears and head and make your draw when they can't see you. Always check for other deer before you make your move too. You getting close way close. He will be back.

[Bloodhound]

tipitina, if you've only been busted twice, I take it you're new to bowhunting? I get busted most times. I finally killed my first 2 deer last season in my 3rd season of bowhunting. I got busted numerous times before that and since. I've always hunted public land from the ground so it stands to reason that I'll be busted most times, but I would think that you can expect to be busted the majority of the time no matter how you hunt. Others may agree or disagree...let's see what they have to say.

Don't be discouraged about getting busted. It's really painful when you've stalked a deer from hundreds of yards away, but you'll learn a lot from your mistakes.

I think the deer you spooked will be back, especially if you are using bait.

The main way to keep from being busted is to stay downwind. Movement is #2 in my book. I can be fidgety on stand and I'll never know how many animals I've alerted by not sitting still. Unnatural noises are bad, such as scraping nylon or clanking an arrow. I read in a hunting book that one should never take less than 10 seconds to turn one's head from side to side. I believe it was a gun-hunting book since I read it 20+ years ago. You can't go wrong if you take at least 20-30 seconds turning your head from side to side. When you need to scratch your face, raise your hand at a snail's pace keeping it next to your body. I read in that book that if you leave an itch alone long enough, it will go away. Sometimes that takes more willpower than I can muster. Use these examples of "movement control" as a template for all your movements. When you think you're moving really slowly, slow down a lot more and you may be close to moving slowly enough to avoid detection.

[AtTheWall]

Also check your shadow cast from the stand. You have to watch your movement in your shadow as it casts down from up high. Any little shadow movement on the vegetation down low will give you away. Think of things 3 dimensionally on stand. Birds alerting to you, squirrels alerting to you etc.. Deer read the other critters sounds as an early warning signal too.

Your working the scent so stay with it and keep your setup fresh with evergreen branches. Excellent choice in material for breakup. Toss more down low and keep it fresh. It will help keep the smell saturated at ground level.

[Hunt NXS]

Dont overkill on the cover scent, thats a huge mistake. Spray down really good with a scent killing product but be stingy on the cover scent, especially cedar oil. A little goes a long way. It took me a few years of getting busted to not get busted. I get busted now maybe 1/15 hunts. If I do get busted, I try and figure out why and learn. The more your out there, the more you will learn.

[Teuf]

I don't get busted much anymore aside from scent now and again. The key is what AtTheWall said about reading their behavior and only drawing when they are looking the other way or their vision is otherwise obscured by a tree/bush/branch.

One trick (when using corn) is to throw some hand corn into a bush or cactus, so they have to stick their head in or behind it to get at the food. That will leave their body exposed. I've killed a bunch that way.

Key is to wait till the time is right. If the right time never comes, at least you didn't spook him and he'll be back. Rush the draw and blow him out of there, nobody wins. Good luck!!