Had my first sit on Friday evening, as usual forgot something, my watch. Got in my creek bottom box stand and felt that feeling of "this is where I belong". At around 5 or so I had three does approach from the north, which is to my right. Two fed up hill and behind a small swampy area in front of me about 40 yards out. The third doe, a mature adult, came towards me. She worked her way through my "kill zone" and got just to the left of my stand. She then made a direct left and walked straight to the edge of the creek that runs in front of my stand. Her demeanor changed in an instant. First came the head bobbing, then the four good hoof stomps, last was a loud snort as she bounded away. For good measure about 60 yards out she stopped to give two more good snorts.
I'm thinking OK, what went wrong here. Every encounter can give clues to what caused an animal to react as it did. My first thought was, after passing me at less than 15 yards, why the abrupt turn to the left and walking to the creek edge. Once there why all the typical on alert signs from her. She never put her nose to work and seemed honed in on something across the creek.
I leaned forward in my chair and looked back out my side window. THERE IT WAS!! Over the last couple years walking has become much more difficult for me. I had decided I must get my tractor closer to my stands than ever before. This spring I hade made a "blind" about 15 yards south and 10 yards behind my box blind for parking my tractor. Well I didn't make it big enough. Part of both back wheels and tires stuck out the back of the tractor blind. I'm sure this is what alarmed her. I'll remedy this before my next sit.
I'm thinking OK, what went wrong here. Every encounter can give clues to what caused an animal to react as it did. My first thought was, after passing me at less than 15 yards, why the abrupt turn to the left and walking to the creek edge. Once there why all the typical on alert signs from her. She never put her nose to work and seemed honed in on something across the creek.
I leaned forward in my chair and looked back out my side window. THERE IT WAS!! Over the last couple years walking has become much more difficult for me. I had decided I must get my tractor closer to my stands than ever before. This spring I hade made a "blind" about 15 yards south and 10 yards behind my box blind for parking my tractor. Well I didn't make it big enough. Part of both back wheels and tires stuck out the back of the tractor blind. I'm sure this is what alarmed her. I'll remedy this before my next sit.
