Bob Foulkrod

EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob Foulkrod of Troy, Pennsylvania, has killed a world-record caribou and 16 other caribou that qualify for the Pope and Young record book with his bow. Also a bowhunting instructor, Foulkrod intensively hunts whitetails each year and has learned to solve bowhunting problems to bag more bucks.

Many hunters will set up a tree stand and may see deer 50 yards from their stands all week. I'm convinced a hunter should move his tree stand -- even if he has to lose a hunting day -- to get his stand in the right place to take a deer, rather than watching deer just out of range. I've also known other hunters, who after setting up their tree stands, have sat in these stands for several weeks and not spotted any deer. If I set up a tree stand, I want to see deer.

Although I don't believe the kill is the number-one reason for bowhunting, I do go into the woods to attempt to bag a deer. If I can't take a deer, I at least want the opportunity to see deer. For all these people who say they go into the woods to observe wildlife while sitting in their tree stands, I suggest they go out on their front porches or down the road and stay out of the woods where other people are trying to hunt. Perhaps more bowhunters don't take more deer because they're reluctant to move their tree stands once they put them up.

One of the most difficult problems with taking deer from a tree stand is the noise the hunter makes when he stands to shoot, when he draws his bow, when he moves on the stand to shoot or when his clothes rustle against a bush. In my opinion, the hunter hasn't had bad luck when this happens but rather is experiencing hunting problems created by the hunter.

Most bowmen believe when they put a stand in a tree that all that's left to do is to hunt from that tree stand. However, successful tree stand hunting involves much more than having an elevated platform from which to shoot. After I've placed a stand in a tree, I stand on that stand and practice drawing and aiming in every direction from which a deer possibly can come.

If a limb or a twig is in the way for when a deer presents a shot, I eliminate it. If any branch is sticking out close to my seat, I cut it off. Then my clothes won't brush against it. If my tree stand squeaks the slightest bit, I try to locate the squeak and get rid of it. I attempt to eliminate all the excuses or all the problems that keep me from taking a clean shot once the deer presents that shot. This preparation is made prior to my actually hunting from that stand. Then when I leave a stand site, I know the next time I get in that stand, I've removed all the problems I can that will prevent me from taking a clean shot at a deer.

Tomorrow: John Demp Grace