A Successful Hunt

Successful day in the woods yesterday. My entry was a little off but I managed to get set up before shooting light. I spent the morning on the opposite side of the field from the pictures. About 11 I climbed down and was up in the stand on the opposite side about 12:30. I climbed to about 36 feet to have shots above and below the tree limbs I hoped would help screen me. About 1245 two ATVs started rolling through the trails. This is illegal activity and after making sure they didn’t just pass through I called the military police dispatch and gave them locations and they sent someone out (they were 30-40 min away). I watched and heard the ATVs until about 2pm. By this time I was very frustrated, cold, and sore and thinking of calling it a day. I fought thru the frustration and told myself to stick it out. About 3:30 this little black faced doe walks in and starts feeding. I thought she was small as soon as she entered from about 37 yards out. She gave me plenty of good shots and was oblivious to me (I was downwind of her and 36 feet up in a pine). When she stepped in the taller grass I actually thought she bedded at first because she disappeared. None of her friends came with her. So after deciding to let her pass I pulled out the phone and took some snaps. I watched her for about ten-twelve minutes and the wind shifted slightly and she looked up at me. Whether it was the umbrella over head or just me in the stand she figured she needed to move on. This is my first year hunting and I walked out that evening feeling successful. My study of the area, my entry plan and my setup proved to work and I was provided an opportunity for success.