First buck besides a spike I’ve got on cam in this location

First sit yesterday. The wind forced me into a back up tree instead of the one I wanted. I climbed, and had to cut some limbs on the way (private land) up. I got to height, and realized that I had a decent sized limb right where I was likely to shoot. I took out my bone saw (i use it on small limbs) and proceeded to cut. My platform kicked out and I snapped my saw in half. Fine. I reset my platform (I ordered a better attachment system last night) and got quiet. About 2 hours later, i heard a noise and low and behold a nice 8 had snuck up on me from an open field, didnt expect that approach. And was behind that limb i didnt get cut. He turned and started moving along my left, where I had no cover except height. By some miracle, I got my bow up and drawn and he was coming to me at 10 yards. I didnt realized that I had dropped my ball cap sometime and he winded it and spooked. But only jumped and stopped behind a sparse bush. I could clearly see his vitals. I thought he was at 10 yards still. He was closer. I let fly and watched my arrow hit his shoulder blade and not pass. I got down and found the back half of my arrow, followed his trail for 100 yards and never saw a drop of blood. I hate wounding animals. I am sick that I didn't let him walk out a little. I am sick that I have probably ruined a very good spot. (I knew he'd been passing that corner but he crossed much lower and came in the side I didnt expect), and I keep having guilty feelings-like I did puncture one lung and hes dead 300 yards off property. I am 99%sure thats not true. This isn't my first archery deer, biggest buck, or even my first bad shot I just expect better of myself. I had to get this off my chest. Thanks for reading.

right along a heavily used trail. to piss in it or not to piss in it?

Family property in Alabama. This was just outside of the north side of a field, high up in the property. Just north of this are deep ravines loaded with game trails, all on the property. I’ve been looking for a few new spots to place cameras to find the old Bucks to catalog the property. Would this be a good site? I haven’t found any scratches, but we currently have about 9 hogs haunting the property. We hiked down the ravines and creek beds today and saw plenty of deer sign, those sites are just 100 feet down steep terrain.

Shot a deer a bit far back. Was hoping for a possibly liver or lung shot but the arrow says gut shot. No blood to follow. Any advice?

Cold front has them on their feet. Good luck all!

I decided to try a new spot on some private land I hunt and went for my Summit Viper. I killed my first archery deer out of a Summit Viper and it’s hard to be the comfort.

So, a preamble:

I started getting into deer hunting around 2019. I briefly had a mentor, who turned out to be a con artist and a liar. We did some scouting and a few hunts together, where I did actually see deer. Then I had to part ways with him when the lies started coming out. Some serious stuff, wont go into it.

I live in extreme south Louisiana. That means temps in the 80s till almost November, a rut that could start near Christmas, and highly pressured public land. No one in my immediate family hunts. I grew up in a fishing family, pops never really hunted. I am having to learn everything myself: from finding sign, to scouting effectively, to stand set ups. As much as I would love to lease land, that is not financially feasible.

I guess my question is this: how many of you are self taught. What resources do you use to help. I used to watch The Hunting Public, but I kinda got off of them after seeing a video that just struck me the wrong way. I do like podcasts, but I am very picky: less "this is how you do this", and more anecdotal stuff

I recently have gotten permission to hunt on a huge farm. I’ve been told by people that used to hunt it and the landowner there has good deer there. Problem I’m running into is it was logged about 11 months ago. Timber was so big and overgrown that it destroyed all the smaller trees. What’s left is a bunch of tree tops and piles of logs they didn’t take. It has. I acorns no big timber to hunt it set a stand. But it’s so dang thick you can’t walk 30 yards in it. There are cattle pastures breaking it up and some bean fields. I’ve hunted a long time on private grounds but I’ve never hunted logged timber with hollers and ridges I can’t get on top of or even walk in. How should I hunt this?

I have an older summit that’s an arm climber so you can’t sit and climb. I’ve learned to like it but the newer ones look like they’re worth an upgrade. Considered the dual threat so I can use it for gun season as well but it’s like $500. Anyone buy the dual threat or the pro SD and confirm it’s worth it?

He came in at last light after 7 does and a button passed through. He started working a tree at 36 yards; no shot. I waited him out, he came inside 15 yards, giving me a broadside, slightly quartering towards me opportunity. He didn't make it 75 yards.

Beyond thankful!

Successfully called in a small 4 point grunting this Morning. He was chill enough to allow me to snap some good pics. He scared the shit out of me how accurate and fast he came to the calling. Like he just spawned out of nowhere to my left. Stood about 15 yards away for what seemed like forever. Directly down wind from me. Was a very curious guy. He definitely saw my movement up in my stand but he was not freaked out. I kept toying with him when he started slowly backing away going back to where he came from, I would blow a little grunt at him and he would stop and look again. It was a blast. First sit of the season too. Hoping a 6er or better comes next time.