Chrishunter

I use a small tripod stool that i picked up at Gander Mtn. It fits in my backpack but just hangs out the top. I usually try to bring as little as possible and easy to carry into the woods. And since we are on the topic of ground blinds, I prefer trying to make a natural ground blind as best as I can. Camo netting is a great tool I have used as well. How do you guys feel about the pop up ground blinds?

Congratulations. There is no feeling like taking your first deer. You will never forget it!!!

If im heading in for just a few hours i pack 2 granola bars and a bottle of water. If its gonna be an all day hunt, then I will add a sandwich and a piece of fruit to go along with it. In extreme cold weather I bring a thermos with coffe or hot chocolate only because the water seems to make me more cold.

I would agree. You have nothing to lose, try whatever you can. I have had some success with a grunt tube in the past. But like said in an earlier post, move your stand if you feel the need to. I would say that you have an advantage if he didnt spot you or wind you so he isnt spooked from the area. But most of us can agree, the buck just never comes out from where you want him to, or usually comes from behind you. haha

We never recovered the arrow from my shot which we were looking for to help us see if I made a good shot. From the very weak blood trail that I had, i started to believe that I didnt make a good shot. Whats actually telling me that it was a bad shot is the fact that the blood trail didnt start till about 25 yards from where I shot him, and the blood was very small drips that were a couple of feet apart. Definitely an experience to be had. And yes, I will be stopping at gander mtn friday afternoon on my way up for some of that spray. haha

Hey guys, new to the site here but heard lots about it. I have been rifle hunting for the last 20 years and bowhunting the last 9. I am not ashamed to say that I have missed my share of bucks through the years. (clean misses). With that, I have also had much success. Like most average working hunters I dont get to go as much as I would like do to having small kids at home, but it is a true passion of mine. I take my hunting very seriously and hunt with my father who I admire in his hunting skills. So let me get to the point and share a quick hunt that I went on last friday. I had a Beautiful wide 10 point come into my stand at 18 yards at first light. Hands down, this is the biggest buck I have ever seen in the woods since I started hunting when I was twelve. To make a long story short, I shot, felt comfortable about the shot, and waited in my stand for and hour when I walked over to where I had shot, NO BLOOD. But I knew I hit him, and thought that I hit him well. I was able to locate very small drops of blood approximately 25 yards from where the buck was standing. The blood trail went for 50-60 yards and vanished. The blood was very small drops and diminished as I continued to track. I tracked until dark. I returned the next day with my father and we attempted to search every inch of the woods in that area as best as we could with no results from first light until dark. I know this has happened to many hunters before. Just wanted to share this story with others to get some feedback. Definitely a tough pill to swallow. I would have rather had a clean miss then have the thought that I just fatally wounded a trophy buck that is never to be found. I do know that I made every effort to find that deer. thanks