move it back or leave it?

[wtnhunt]

Where I hunted our opener of archery I had my stand set in what I thought was a great spot. After having deer coming up just behind me I decided after some suggestions on a previous post to go on and move it back up the hill a little where it flattens out. Seeing as how the deer were coming in behind me where the ridge of the hill curves around seemed like a great idea. Tree I moved it to did not have great cover and I ended up moving it back a little farhter again, which turned out to be a great looking spot awesome cover and good view of anything where it was flat. Only thing I did not consider was if the deer stuck to the trail I originally set up on. Yesterday morning they did just that. 6 does walked through just the other side, I could see ears bobbing along as they walked right past where I had my stand originally. I had tried a little calling earlier on and had one curious doe wander back after they got up on a trail about 60 yards off to my right, but I could not get in a postion to draw across my body for the close 20 yard shot she offered me. The rest of the does were just wandering up the trail I walked in on and the one eventually ended up turning back and following them.

The bad part is what I could not see at all. Nearer to the bottom of the hill off to my left as the does were making their way off on the trail I heard a loud crack thud(not for certain what the crack was) and saw another deer, I could hear it running and could barely see it through the trees, but could not tell buck or doe. It went running off about 90 yards out. It was far enough out the ridge was not in the way of me seeing it, but the trees were a factor. I had heard a deer grunting repeatedly from that area down the hill too my left and it stayed there for a pretty good while and would go away some and come back, but never would come on up the hill. I grunted and it would grunt back. I hit the can call and it grunted more. Pretty sure it was a buck. Where it was at was kind of in between the hills, and where I had the stand before I would be able to see that spot and I had cleared a lane that I am sure all the deer went through at some point.

Any suggestions. Leave it or move it back. Muzzleloader opens in 2 weeks and really think I need to move it back.

[buckee]

Re: move it back or leave it?

I think I'd be tempted to move it back. It sounds like you moved back a bit too far and are now too far from the main deer trail.

Is there another spot that you could watch this trail a bit closer, without having them come in behind you ?

It sounds a bit frustrating .

[RyanH]

Re: move it back or leave it?

I think i would try to move it back!!!!

[wtnhunt]

Re: move it back or leave it?

[ QUOTE ]

It sounds a bit frustrating .

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah Steve, a little. I am seeing alot of deer there, they just are not doing the exact same thing twice. Really the best two trees I think in that part of the woods are the first one I had it in and the one it is in now. Most of the trees in between are pretty good sized hardwoods, but do not have any good cover low enough for me with my ladder stand. These trees are pretty large and my climber is just not an option. Really think second guessing myself was a mistake and thinking I should move it back where I had it and just stick with it there.