STAND PLACEMENT 101

Because of poor hearing in my left ear, I was startled as the heavily panting doe strode by only 10 feet below. Given that the peak of the rut was right around the corner and of her exhausted look, I knew she was avoiding a buck hot on her trail. Before she arrived I was enjoying watching a huge love sick 6 point push several does around in the core rut area around me. Because of his massive, long tinned 3 X 3 high-racked frame, I considered taking him if he offered the shot. But, that notion was about to change.

This new doe unexpectedly came in from behind me, altering her course off a series of trails coming out of a bedding area off to my right side that eventually converged into a main trail 10 yards in front of my stand, and then branched off into another trail 15 yards to my left. She hurriedly continued on and crossed over the main trail in front of me and disappeared through the junipers on her way to join the other does. By then I had positioned myself for a shot should the newly expected buck follow.

After a couple of anxious minutes he gated in from behind me, neck out, wide eyed, his head cocked slightly back, following in her steps. Nervously, I watch for his reaction should he pick up my scent as he began to pass underneath my feet. The steady NE breeze held true and blew my scent mere feet over his head. Instantly my mind confirmed that this awesome, heavy wide-racked 8 point was a shooter. After holding my breath for what felt like was an eternity, I had to swiftly decide how to make the shot happen. He too was heading away from me, offering no shot with my bow. When he broke clear of some tree branches between us and stepped into a shooting lane I snorted with my mouth to stop him, only he didn't stop. Before he completed his next step I snorted again, this time very loud and aggressively, halting him in his tracks 12 yards away. As he jerked his head right to left to locate the offensive buck which blew at him I readied my recurve, increased tension on the string and mentally beseeched him to step in either direction. He did. As he stepped to the left I picked my spot, drew and released in a liquid like motion. My eyes recorded the flight of the arrow, but my mind would only process the event frame by frame, as though I was watching a fast paced slide show - until it struck its mark. The instant the arrow passed through him I snapped back into real time. He had no idea what had just happened and only slightly jolted when the shaft punched into the earth a few feet beyond him. Moments later he sauntered out of site after branching off the main trail at the junction. Within an hour it would be dark, and I looked forward to completing the task at hand under the soft light of the closing day rather than in the harsh contrasting shadows of an artificial light.

Knowledge Begets Opportunity

Interestingly, this scenario played out almost identical to my big buck experience the season before. Same stand site, same time of year (November 15 & 17 respectively), identical weather, and both bucks retreated in the same direction and went down within yards of each other. Actually, I'm not surprised, except for the weather considering central Texas , which was definitely a coincidence. Not wanting to sound arrogant with that last statement, I'll defend myself by sharing one of my most productive bowhunting techniques - that being quality stand placement strategy. But, before we go any further I want you to think about your knowledge of the land and the deer you're hunting. Without a solid understanding of your hunting grounds, the best placed stand in the wrong location will only waist your valuable hunting time. I should know, been there and done that.

After hunting the same ranch for 15 years, I practically know every square inch of the land, the deer herd and where they'll be during each of the different phases of the hunting season. More importantly, I continually record and maintain notes of my observations afield of deer and their activities while I'm scouting and hunting by utilizing The Hunt Recorder & Notes Book. Specifically; where I find it, when I find (or see) it, and what they're doing (behavior). Specific information is then also indicated on a black & white copy of a topo map which will become part of my "how-to-hunt" strategy for each season. Important information includes big buck sightings, active trail systems (funnels and travel lanes), bedding areas, core rut areas, new rubs and scrapes as they appear each season, and stand sites. The compilation of data on this map becomes a histogram, indicating vital information, both past and present, which guides me to accurately determine when, where and how I should hunt during each phase of the season. The only thing left to do is locate sites and place the stands. You can learn more about the Hunt Recorder at www.huntrecorder.com.

When we don't have an intimate knowledge of the land, it's imperative to review topo and aerial maps, interview the owner or manger and others who work on and have previously hunted it, and then personally conduct a thorough scouting on foot. Again, aside from knowing when and where to hunt for each of the different phases of the season, the most important aspect for creating shot opportunities is quality stand placement. After that, you need only to sit those stands so you're there when he decides to walk by.

If you place it, they will come.

Besides missing a gimmie shot, I can't think of anything more depressing than to watch the buck I've worked so hard for calmly walk into my stand site, begin working his way into bow range and before he's broadside jerk his head up, begin starring my direction all bug eyed, nervously back step and then bolt out of range. After 21 years of bowhunting, my misses far out number the times I've been seen by deer. No, that doesn't mean I've missed dozens of times! Also, concerning the misses, those bittersweet events do contain a positive note - I HAD the opportunities to shoot at CALM bucks and does. The stand placements were perfect, my shots were not. You can be the greatest shot in the world, but your talent is wasted when you cut corners in creating the proper stand set up.

In this article we will take a hard look at stand placement strategy, covering three basic principles. Utilizing these principles will help you place a quality stand in a productive area within optimal shot distance of the deer you want; and, you will hunt with the confidence of not be detected when the opportunity begins to present itself. That in itself is a tremendous feeling and accomplishment every time it happens. We’ll make these heart pounding situations become a reality beginning in Part Two. -Zano