Strategies and Tactics

Go up as high in a tree as you dare with your tree stand - then go a little higher. Deer do look up. Find a tree that has heavy cover preferably an evergreen but be careful, evergreen limbs are not as strong as others for climbing. Cut just enough out to get a shot off. Put some sort of markers (logs, etc.) out at 10yds, 20yds, etc.   This will ensure that you know the target's distance and get a clean kill. Never shoot while the animal is looking up. Never shoot when the deer is on high alert even if it is looking in another direction, it may cause the deer to "jump the arrow". If a deer seems to be looking straight up at you, be as still as possible, avoid direct eye contact, and wait to make any movements until the deer looks away again.  If a deer is looking directly at me I will often close my eyes as this seems to make you less recognizable as a human.

Grunt calls are great especially during the rut. The best ones may be the type that can fasten to your bow or yourself and have a tube that can be run up to your mouth.   That way you do not have to move to get your grunt call and use it.  Nine times out of ten when you really want to use your call to turn a buck around, he is already on high alert and possibly looking in your direction.  If you don't have to move to give your grunt a blow, it really works to your advantage.

Scents

Believe what you will about buck attracting scents, but one thing is for sure -- deer can and will smell you.  Does this mean that you have to spend mega-bucks on special hunter soaps and shampoos?  Absolutely not!  I have found that scent and fragrance-free Neutrogena soap to work very well.  While it does not kill or hide human scent, it does not add any aromas either.

Accessories

A bow holster that attaches to your safety strap and allows you to rest the bottom cam of your bow in it can be very valuable.  Think about it, a buck walks in, you get your arrow nocked, and get ready to shoot, and the buck looks up at you.  You freeze, the buck continues on with his business, but now keeps one eye on you.  If you move the bow, the buck is gone.  Even the lightest bow can get very heavy under these conditions and some place to rest it can be a real help.