What is the ONE thing you learned last year and will remember this season?

[33Canuck]

Or have two pair of socks on.

And, NEVER pick up a single glove near a tree stand.

LMAO, the most important lesson of all...

[NFA-ADK]

1)If a buck passes you undisturbed, use a doe call and get ready. And stay in cover after calling.

2)Doe calls work great at 1st light. Use it once and wait at least 20-30 min before thinking about moving or blinking. The bucks come in from a distance and take time to scan the area.

3)Find the acorns, never give up and always be ready the moment you enter the woods.

4)Make sure your scoped rifles are set to a low power after shooting at the range, you can always turn it up if they are far away... My biggest mistake last year, cost me a nice buck at about 15 feet but at least I did not wound him...

Sorry I could not limit this to one thing!!! With hunting only 3 days away I am extreamly EXCITED!!!

[UpStateRedNeck]

This Years: If you own 7 tree stands you don't have to move every single one each year (jesus I'm exhausted)

Last Years:

#1)Don't over-hunt 1 stand.

#2)Follow the acorns

2 Years ago :

#1) Buy a range finder.

[pistolp71]

This is an easy one.

On a gut/liver shot deer, wait LONGER than 6 1/2 hours before trying to recover the deer. It is not enough!

[hunter49]

Even with good blood trail ,back out or wait longer , took 3.5 hrs. of tracking ,he laid down 7-8 times , but got him in the end!

Edited September 29, 2011 by hunter49

[Tio1]

No matter which day you're in the tree with bow - be mentally ready to shoot that monster. Opening day 2 yrs ago saw monster and wasn't ready because wasn't in "kill" mode. Never know when it might happen. Good luck all - PA opener Oct 1!!!!

[erussell]

No matter which day you're in the tree with bow - be mentally ready to shoot that monster. Opening day 2 yrs ago saw monster and wasn't ready because wasn't in "kill" mode. Never know when it might happen. Good luck all - PA opener Oct 1!!!!

I hear you there, can happen with gun to. The neighbor shot at a super wide, heavy 8 point on top of the hill I was hunting. After the second shot I figured the deer was down and settled back into the tree and looked the opposite direction. Well I heard something coming down the mountain and turned around just as he crossed an wide opening in front of me and headed into the thickest crap you can think of 40 yrds to my right. Here's this giant 8 sitting there looking at me at 40 yrds and I can't get a clear shot. Well he looks back up the hill so I jump to my feet trying deserately to find a clear shot. I take two steps to my right and in the heat of the moment I neglected to rest on the tree to steady the shot and missed him. He ran passed me doing a 100mph and I tracked him in the leaves to the boarder of PA. That was the luckiest buck in the world that day, 3 shots at him and all clean misses all under 50 yrds. Ran into the neighbor back out at the road and he carried on for 20 minutes about how big the rack was. All I wanted to do was forget about how big he was.

[nyantler]

This is an easy one.

On a gut/liver shot deer, wait LONGER than 6 1/2 hours before trying to recover the deer. It is not enough!

LOL

[cbx46]

Remember to also watch the doe also not just the bucks eyes and if you have the pin set on the bucks boilerroom and the doe spooks don't turn to look at her take the shot bc when you look back at the buck it will be gone.

[MuzzyLoader]

Listen to your doctor! Don't hunt immediately after having an operation, you can rip & tear your insides!

[sweet old bill]

I had a 6 point buck just about under a stand in a old apple trees setup. I just watched him to get about 10 yards a way from the tree I was in. I drew on him and then overshot him with my first pin set at 25 yards...forgot aim small miss small and should have put the pin on the heart and not center mass. In this case center mass results in over the back and bye bye deer.