I was just recently in that position during muzzlerloader season . I saw a albino doe come out just at dusk, in a small clearing to my right . I did not want to take her . As I watched her, I heard something behind her . It never came out where she did, but as I waited and it got darker, I could hear it circling to a clearing in front of me. I could no longer see good with my eyes, but I could see with the scope. I saw a large deer body come from the thick woods. As I watched it through my scope, it raised it's head and I could see that he had a nice rack . I could have taken a neck or broadside shot, but I could not see good enough for good shot placement so I passed .
I went back to the same spot 2 days latter in the morning . After I just finished a grunt call, I saw him come running up that same path in front of me . I had to make a noise too get him to stop . He was about 15 yards from me, quartering toward me when I took the shot .
Not making excuses for my poor shot placement , it was light as day . He took off, back the way he came like he had a rocket on his back . I thought that I missed him .
I came down from my stand and didn't see any blood . I walked the path about 20 yards and still didn't see any blood . As I was walking back ( to go sight my gun in ) I saw a clump of hair. When I bent down to pick up the hair I could see blood in a little cedar tree. So I started looking and tracking, almost on my knees for blood spots. I gave up 3 times and then would go back to the last spot that I saw blood and start over. After about a hour of tracking and a whole lot of luck I found the deer.
I would not have found this deer at dusk, but if I had made a better shot he would have dropped sooner .
