I have an 11 yr old of my own and you ain’t lying!  Might try a pop up blind.  Worked for us.

@John Durino appreciate the suggestion. In your experience, can you put the blind up the morning  you plan to hunt? Or, do you put it up ahead of time so the deer have time to acclimate?

@Patrick Brown usually like to give it some time so the deer acclimate to it.  The better you are able to brush it in the shorter that time seems to be.  If you can settle into a cedar and brush it in with the cut branches that works great!

So in Kansas, sans one more week of
antlerless rifle season, we are done getting after white tailed deer for the season. Been a season of highs, lows, and plenty 'o' frustration. Got the gear cleaned up and stowed until next season. Two does in the freezer and, unfortunately, a couple unpunched buck tags...

I am relatively new to deer hunting and even newer to bow hunting. This is was my fourth season hunting white tailed deer but second season with a bow and I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say I learn something new nearly every time I go out, and I make it out quite a bit. Here’s what I learned this season:
-Bow hunting is like being at the plate, a .300 batting average ain’t that bad, even though it can be a real grind sometimes. Although this season I got pitched a no-hitter while bow hunting. Oof! Thank God for rifle season.
-Details matter. Most of you already know this, but hunting the wind when you have a bow in your hand is EVERYTHING.
-Having two guys in the tree is exponentially more challenging than hunting solo. My son bow hunted with me for the first time this year, and I kept him in the tree with me to help him out and keep him company. Suffice it to say, an 11 year old doesn't quite grasp the importance of sitting still, being quite, and staying awake like a more experienced hunter might. I thought I had Fred Astaire in the tree with me. Just ask the booner that saw us and the two forkies that walked, literally, right under our stand - whilst my son napped. 
-That little 10 minute snooze during an all day sit can cost you the hunt, see previous bullet point, LOL.
-Even the seemingly best spots with a ton of sign aren’t going to be a sure bet. 
-Scout, scout, scout, and scout. Oh, and scout some more during off season. You will find some cool spots to hunt the next season and might even scare up a shed or two. Scouting around here migth get you into rabbit and quail, so I pack my over-under while scouting. Kill two birds with one stone - shameless pun intended.
-I keep a running list of my prime (A) spots and then all the others. I save the A spots for that 2nd week of November, and not a minute sooner.
-Bow hunting is a thinking man's game and it ain't for the faint of heart. Success requires  equal parts:  preparation, strategy, persistence, and luck.
-Most important, have fun. Even if it starts to suck, try to remember how fortunate we are to get to do what we do. Everyone should be so lucky. 

The pic is from last season, one of those days the deer weren't moving. We improvised by building a snow man and hitting the local diner for some late AM breakfast. Can't beat it. 

Is it spring fishing time yet?

Reflections on Bow Hunting Season

Patrick B

Are you sure?

John D

Patrick B

John D