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Picked off when leaning?

Like @Scott F said, if it is on private, or if you're allowed to trim trees (not allowed in michigan), sometimes just prepping that stand a little more might be all you'd need. Might have to wait until next season, or heck, get out there and do it today, and hunt it tonight!

Find some oaks still holding leaves and trim a few branches, then tie them in some trees around your perimeter that will help hide you from the deers sight. Don't block any shooting lanes. Think of it as a "floating blind". Pine/cedar bows do a great job too, but look a little out of place if there aren't pines or cedars nearby.

Doing this preseason is beneficial also, with deer on edge now changing their environment like this can be just as strange to them as seeing you leaning in the tree.

I also think @slonstdy has a great point too. Deer know what humans look like standing up. So if you get in close with the tree, and look more like a blob, they're less likely to spook. I personally find teabaggin the tree slightly comfortable, and a good way to change up pressure points. I even snooze like that sometimes.

Or change up your camo. Going to something like predator brown deception, or an open pattern with lots of light colors, can be all the difference. Become one with the skyline instead of trying to fight it.
 
Something to consider as well, is that a large percentage of the time we think deer are seeing us, they are actually smelling us. I know that's hard to swallow, and lots people reject the notion. But wind is much less predictable than we think, and the ground scent you left at the base of the tree is acting very differently than you at the top. And the scent that fell when the wind was calm, or strong, or just off front straightline direction.

I have gotten two reactions that let me know the deer saw me 100%. If I'm motionless and they pick me, I start getting the head bob/stomp. If I get picked because I moved, it always involves them bolting, even if just for a few yards - it's instinctive. Those are obvious.

Then there are times when a deer is looking my direction, and I feel like they see me. They then appear nervous, muscles tense, twitchy steps and movements, and they look as if some unseen force is trying to pull them away from me. Then they'll turn and walk, trot or sprint away. I'm confident they got a whiff, and looked in the general direction the smell came from - which happens to be where I'm at. Not much you can do about this one. It's just bowhunting.
 
For me the beauty of saddle hunting is being able to hunt the nasty trees. A buddy and I both started saddle hunting this year and he always makes fun of the trees I pick to climb. I'm always picking forked trees, or triple clusters or trees with pines around it.

Even in hardwood stands there is usually a triple cluster or forked tree you can get into. Try avoiding those nice straight out in the open trees.
 
I have been tempted to do that; use the ghillie, but have not yet. I have been using the full leafy with headset and face camo. I probably should have tried the ghillie, but the leafy fits easily in my pack and can be put on right before I climb.
 
I have been busted In my saddle like that! I get away with a lot more in my lock on stand but I'm traditional bowhunting. I don't go higher the 18 ft. Now i use a .5 stand and rock climbing harnesses and have the best of both.
 
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