Stupid Mistakes

Do you ever seem to have one of those deer seasons where it seems nothing ever goes right, and everything you do works against ya? Well I have had them before and looks like this one is turning out to be another goofed up one too. Last Monday morning I checked the weather forecast and the wind was supposed to be a SSE wind, which is perfect for hunting the stand that I placed on the trail with all the rubs leading in and out of the thicket that I found. So even though it’s late season, I was still feeling good about it.

Well I eased my way back to my stand and got there just before daylight. I used my windicator spray powder and checked  the breeze and it was blowing from exactly the way the weather had forcasted. I climbed up about 15 ft off the ground in my Summit Viper Climbing Stand, and got all settled down for the wait. After a bit I grabbed my windicator out of my pocket to check again, because it felt like it changed a little, and dropped the bottle to the ground. I was surrounded by trees, so without the windicator it is hard to tell really which way its blowing, unless it is a pretty gusty or strong wind, and this was only a slight breeze. So I told myself it is probably just me being paranoid and that I was gonna trust the weather forecast,  because I did not wanna climb all the way down to get the bottle, and risk getting caught off guard by deer in the middle of climbing down or back up the tree. 

Well I should have because I sat there for a good 4 hours and saw nothing at all. About 11:30 the wind started gradually picking up a little and then I could tell that it was all wrong. It was blowing from the NW which put my scent blowing right down the trail into the thicket. It had changed on me earlier in the morning, but I could not be sure which direction because it was only a slight breeze and without my windicator spray I could not figure it. I also did not figure on it changing from SSE to NW just like that, but it did! I climbed down and was pretty disgusted at the fact that I had sit there,  probably for at least the last 2 hours, with my scent blowin in the thicket and warning every deer in there of my presence. 

I have not completely givin’ up yet, but I must say I am about ready to admit defeat this year. I know that this time of year, it is like bucks just vanish off the face of the earth around here. With all the hunting pressure that has been on them and the wear and tear the rut put on them, I know they are gonna be in lockdown mode for awhile. I can only hope I get lucky, and a good one might make a fatal mistake, like just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. But I also know that if I keep making stupid mistakes like I did Monday morning, then it is very doubtful that he will!

I started my vacation Thursday, and with the kids being on Christmas holidays and all, I will only have a few serious hunting days to get a good buck on the ground over the next week or so. I plan on taking some time out and taking the kids squirrel hunting while they are on Christmas break also. Michele and I are getting married on Dec 31st,  so after that I will be calling it quits this year for deer. I still love my new place and have learned alot about where I need to be when next bow season starts. I am really looking forward to getting it ready for next year, and predict that I will kill my biggest buck ever in the 2010 season. If not there is always 2011!  Heck,  Michele’s already started calling me” Buck Repeller”!  I don’t think it is very funny at all, but she sure does, and I am starting to believe she is right!