Earlier I started a thread about trying new things for the coming season. I'm hoping that some of you guys/gals that posted to that thread would post here about those things you tried and how things worked out for you.

This past season I used a new bow that I really liked shooting in the off season but found out that there was actually a drawback to hunting with this particular bow......the metal riser gets too cold to hold onto. It never crossed my mind that the riser would get so cold once the temps dropped.  

So come on guys/gals what new things did you do this season that worked out or didn't?

I tried a doe decoy - deer are attracted to it, to a point. They will not come very close to it staying about 20 yards away. So if you use one put it where you don't want the deer to be!! Hopefully nudging them to your shooting lane. It is nice they are so interested in the decoy though makes drawing a bit easier.

Dave N./TX

PICK A FREAKIN' SPOT!

Though I can't say it will not happen again.

Neil

If you hunt from a treestand, PRACTICE from a treestand. DUH!

Shooting indoors down in the basement at 5 yards with too small a target. Missed a few times and the arrows whooshed right back and hit my face with the nocks. Just call me Nick.  

If it Aint broke dont fix it!!  You would think after all these years I would get that one....

Unless you are shooting suction cup arrows, you've probably got enough KE, FPS, DWT, FOC.  Tune them straight and shoot them in the breadbasket.

Don't concentrate on just skimming by that tree , It is a sure way to hit it dead center.
Concnetrate on where the arrow is suposed to go and ignore the tree.

Never pass up on the first day what you would shoot on the last....that hurt me this season.

Timberbound

Pete W, that's easyer said then done lol. It's funny how you can concentrate on that spot on the target and just when you release, you look at that darn tree and yup there's the arrow dead center in the tree.

Maybe I could look at the tree and when I let go look at the target lol. Alan

Always take your weapon on the blood trailing job. Not having mine turned what would have been a slam dunk second shot into an overnight wait(very warm night), long recovery and partial loss of meat to spoilage.

Pick a spot! REALLY pick a spot.

Do not park your new or new-to-you truck anywhere near cattle. And watch out for the bull when you try to chase said cattle away from rubbing on your truck.

Remember when stalking deer that if there is one you're focused on that there is another (at least) that is acting as a lookout. Man I was so close!

I second the "pick a freakin' spot"

Mine: Don't look at the horns after you've made up your mind he's the one.

QuoteOriginally posted by NEB:
PICK A FREAKIN' SPOT!

Though I can't say it will not happen again.

Neil

LOL -- That's mine too!

QuoteOriginally posted by tmccall:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by NEB:
PICK A FREAKIN' SPOT!

Though I can't say it will not happen again.

Neil

LOL -- That's mine too! [/b]

Yep! after 20 years playing the game it still happens to me, especially if they are in real close...this season I blew an easy shot at a fat freezer doe by forgetting to bend at the waist.
I shot over her by a few inches.
I also rushed the shot.

Next year!
BD  

this year on the way to my stand, I must haved stopped 20 times in a row to glass a little thick patch where I have caught bucks bedded before.

Next year you can be sure I will do it 21 times in a row      

My some thing new I was trying was the WW broadhead. It was recomended by many on this site to grind the tip down to a thicker point. I didn't do that and well..... Dead smple, you know what happened.

You could say everything I did was new! I hadn't been bow hunting for deer since about 1974. That's before ladder stands, camo, scent killer, carbon arrows, etc. Back then I never got a shot at a deer, so actually killing one was new too.

BTW: I did pick a spot. By golly it works!  

Well i learned a couple of things since the switch from wheels BRING MORE ARROWS went on a hunt this fall for three days or six pigs which ever come first i only brought six with broad heads what a dumb !@#@!$!@# next time im bringing fifty or more just the thought of only having a few kept me from taking a lot of shots like small twig or funny angles that i would have made but the hesitation messed with my mojo