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Missed a deer. How long to hunt spot again?


PBRstGang

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Hi all. I hunted a new property for the first time Saturday morning. I had a group of 3 does come in. (I’ve seen this group of 3, as well as 2 shooter bucks on cam for the past few weeks) The lead doe walked in directly towards me so I did not have a broadside shot. She eventually turned broadside at 5 yards. I’ve never taken a shot that close before. Note* She looked up at me right before I released my arrow.I remembered to bend at the waist and aimed low with my 20 pin but still missed clean right under her. All 3 deer bounded off. 
 

My question is- if I wait 7 days (this Saturday) will those deer ever return? The wind will be good this Saturday.  I still have 2 bucks on cam but I’m wondering if those does have been spooked out of that area. Should I let that spot cool off for another week or should I get back to it? Any wisdom is appreciated. Thanks!

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Do you have another stand on that location?   I wouldn't move if those bucks are coming thru there.  Always a good idea to have two stands in any location for different wind directions.  Plus you might spook them just as much moving the stand.  

I'd leave it.  You might have educated one doe but once the rut kicks in you might have does and bucks moving all over.  If it's a good travel corridor then it should still see others around coming thru.  Id only move stands if your not getting any action there.   

"it's pointless for humans to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it"- Ron Swanson

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19 minutes ago, mowin said:

I'll bet they already have.  You might want to move your stand though. 

Welcome to the site..

I understand the thought of moving my stand as that group of deer might now associate that exact spot with danger. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get back in there until I hunt on Saturday again. Plus, the effort and scent of me hanging a new stand might do more harm than good. The small piece of woods I have permission to hunt is a natural thin funnel between food and bedding. 

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4 minutes ago, PBRstGang said:

I understand the thought of moving my stand as that group of deer might now associate that exact spot with danger. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get back in there until I hunt on Saturday again. Plus, the effort and scent of me hanging a new stand might do more harm than good. The small piece of woods I have permission to hunt is a natural thin funnel between food and bedding. 

With that info, I'd leave the stand and hunt it the next time the wind is good. 

You didn't spook any bucks, so they should still be ok with that area. 

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Keep the stand where it is. If this happened last Saturday, hunting it this coming Saturday will be fine. As long as the wind is right. That doe kinda busted ya, but the other deer didn't. And she probably doesn't really know what you were? They all spooked from hearing your bow shot from a close distance. No big deal.

I once blew a shot at a doe. She ran a short distance, stood there and blew a few times and walked off. 45 minutes later a decent buck came down the same run. I didn't miss him.

Welcome to the site! Best of luck out there!

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Good chance there was little to no lasting effects on the deers behavior.

I would be pretty confident going back to the same stand. 

Early in my hunting days I missed a shot a 6 point with my bow. He came into this hidden corner in a meadow. My FIL told me to go right back the next day.

I thought I knew better and told him there was no way that buck was coming back. Well guess what? He did and my FIL had him hanging the next night..lol

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Did they snort or blow after they ran? What area are you hunting?

Where I hunt in the Hudson Valley it would be no big deal. At my place upstate the deer are much smarter and will change patterns very quickly. That said from the sound of your hunt I wouldn't worry much about hunting it soon.

 

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Worst case that doe will look up at your stand when it walks in and then when you are in there it will snort again. I had a similar case happen a few yrs back and got busted 3 times.

I placed a stand 50 yards closer on the trail where the doe was coming in, hung a camo jacket on the busted stand and shot her from the new stand.

Edited by cervidchasers
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matriarch doe often take the same routes. you're in her living room and place different furniture in it. you can move or do whatever but she'll still pick you out. the thing is just give them time. when she comes in with you pegged don't be getting ready aka moving. sit still and let her bob her head a couple times and relax and move on. the other deer are going to loiter as she ponders what she's looking at. i wouldn't hesitate to hunt it right away though. i wouldn't leave if busted that's for sure. other deer hear deer blowing on a daily basis. sometimes they cautiously come in to CSI whatever happened.

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