I readied myself as soon as I saw the heavyantlered velvet buck emerge. I had to — the tree holding my stand demanded it.
Scouting had made it clear that I needed to be in this spot to fill my August Alberta tag. Unfortunately, the trees didn’t seem cooperative. My only choice was a spindly aspen with an alarming lack of cover. Although large enough to safely support a stand, any major shifts caused the tree to sway. That made it critical to be in shooting position well before the shot.
Now, it was the moment of truth. My early move had allowed me to be in position with the buck unaware of my presence. Sure, there were a few nervous moments as he approached, glancing my way several times. However, even as he did a mule kick and made a final dash through the field, his life ended without ever having a clue I was there.
We’ve all been in a similar situation. We find a spot we know we need to set up in, but the location doesn’t provide a suitable tree. So we walk in circles staring at trees, attempting to will a good one to appear. Often, such as during my Alberta hunt, how we handle these situations determines the success or failure of a
