I usually still hunt myself
Never did like stand hunting

that buck was 30 feet away. he was donw in some think brush but if i had waited him out he might've given me a shot. better than wasting the rest of the day. but i convinced myself it was some other critter.

Part of the joy of hunting

the next day he was sitting in that same think brush but 30-40 feet up the path where i walked through the opening. maybe 50 feet away this time. was staring dead at me and all i saw was a figure of a deer dart off into the woods. he picked a perfect spot to lay up. even in bright daylight the brush is too think to make out anything unless it's moving.

But doesn't the challenge feel great

i prefer to be on the ground myself. if nobody else is back there i'll just go from stand to stand. if somebody else is back there i'll just take my time going to and from the stand. maybe sit in the stand for an hour or so.

My 15yo son shot a doe this year but I have only went one day. Been busy with other stuff

hell yeah! most people would be scared crapless to be in the woods in the dark with something making noises at them from 30 feet away. i can't wait for it to happen again....

I got out for about six hours this year

Sounds like you are hooked

my young cousins are hunting machines. see them with bows one minute and rifles the next. they will hunt all day long. and when i looked up one of them had a rod and reel just taking a break lol...

Sounds like my youngest brother