This is my thrid year hunting and the second one archery hunting. Last year I started with climber and once I learned about saddle, I bought it righ away and sold my climber. I am using a manace saddle and api outdoors sticks (replaced straps with amsteel rope) and I made myself a mini platform (will post pics later).
This year I was in Europe and came right at the beginning of Ohio archery season. I didn't start hunting till mid October. Only went to one public land where I was seing deer last year. Since there are only 3-4 trees that can be used for climbing and they are 1 mile away from the parking, I decided to by cheap steel muddy sticks and leave them on trees except the first one that I will carry with me along with saddle. Seven days ago I heard some noice from thick brush/short trees under me on the right, I thought it is a squirell but it was a young buck. I was getting ready but he never came out of that brush. I couldn't see him to take a shot. I thought that I spoke him and placed a camera on that trail. Two days ago I went out again, replaced sd card without even checking it and climbed the tree. Once I was set I checked the card and there were no deer on that trail for 5 days. I decided to go down and move to the edge of that brushy area and climb the tree along the creek. Problem is I didn't set up any sticks there and I only had one stick with me and that platform. Tree was in the group of trees, like a boquet of flowers and there it was sort of elevated 3feet.There was one branch that I used and then used my stick. I was about 12 feet up. At that point I was thinking that it was a mistake, it is 20 mins till sunset and I probably moved too late. Right after sunset the same buck from the last week came out and I slowly took my bow and got at the full draw as soon as he was at 25-6 yards, when he got at about 20 and broadside, I let it fly. He ran across the creek and into a field. My mood was a rollercoaster. When I shot him, he kicked- ok, that was a good shot. Then he ran like nothing happened and it seemed he is going far- did I f miss him? And then he started to stagger and crashed - YES! Went about 120 yards.
He isn't huge but it my first one! Ohio public land 8 point.
This year I was in Europe and came right at the beginning of Ohio archery season. I didn't start hunting till mid October. Only went to one public land where I was seing deer last year. Since there are only 3-4 trees that can be used for climbing and they are 1 mile away from the parking, I decided to by cheap steel muddy sticks and leave them on trees except the first one that I will carry with me along with saddle. Seven days ago I heard some noice from thick brush/short trees under me on the right, I thought it is a squirell but it was a young buck. I was getting ready but he never came out of that brush. I couldn't see him to take a shot. I thought that I spoke him and placed a camera on that trail. Two days ago I went out again, replaced sd card without even checking it and climbed the tree. Once I was set I checked the card and there were no deer on that trail for 5 days. I decided to go down and move to the edge of that brushy area and climb the tree along the creek. Problem is I didn't set up any sticks there and I only had one stick with me and that platform. Tree was in the group of trees, like a boquet of flowers and there it was sort of elevated 3feet.There was one branch that I used and then used my stick. I was about 12 feet up. At that point I was thinking that it was a mistake, it is 20 mins till sunset and I probably moved too late. Right after sunset the same buck from the last week came out and I slowly took my bow and got at the full draw as soon as he was at 25-6 yards, when he got at about 20 and broadside, I let it fly. He ran across the creek and into a field. My mood was a rollercoaster. When I shot him, he kicked- ok, that was a good shot. Then he ran like nothing happened and it seemed he is going far- did I f miss him? And then he started to stagger and crashed - YES! Went about 120 yards.
He isn't huge but it my first one! Ohio public land 8 point.
