Page 97 - ODUNovAndDec2018

you a better idea of where the best stand locations are.

Once you know how the deer are most likely to use the terrain features in your area, you’ll also be able
to plan how to get to and from your stands with the lowest chance of bumping deer. It will also make it
easier to predict what winds would be best to hunt your different stand locations.

During the hunt, anticipate where the deer are most likely to come from, the different paths they are
most likely to take, and where they will go. The best time to prepare for potential shot opportunities is

long before your mind starts racing as a buck is quickly approaching your stand.

After getting set up, picture all the different shots you might have and what pins you’ll use for the
different shooting lanes around your stand. Once you know where your most likely shot opportunities
will come from, you can work backwards to plan when you’ll have the best opportunities to draw your
bow.

The better you’re able to anticipate the different situations that might arise, the more prepared you’ll

feel when the moment comes. There is nothing that can give you more confidence than watching a deer
walk exactly where you planned, knowing your best opportunity to pull back, and the exact distance
your shot will be.

Mental Toughness
We’ve all been there, the last few hunts you’ve been on weren’t great. You made a poor shot and
missed your target buck, or maybe you haven’t been seeing as many deer as you’d like. It gets

really easy to start thinking about leaving the stand early or even skipping some days you’d