3 Sneaker Bucks and How to Handle Them

Has a buck ever suddenly appeared under your stand, taking you by surprise? It happens. What you do next will determine whether you can get a shot. Photo by eliharrissss.

All is good when a buck eases out in front of your tree stand, rack brassy in the fading light. You watch the deer and flow with his every move. When his head goes behind a tree, you draw your bow. When he emerges broadside or slightly quartering away, you let loose the arrow and hear that mighty thwack, followed by the deer crashing down 60 yards away.

But what about those days when a buck approaches your stand from a hard side angle or creeps in from behind? Or when you look down, flinch and see a ghost buck standing 20 yards below your perch? Here’s how to handle those sneaker bucks.

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SIDEWINDERS

Most of you shoot right-handed, and you’re in good shape when a buck appears off your left shoulder, or even slightly left and behind your treestand. If the deer keeps coming, there’s a good chance he’ll walk into that frontal left arc where you can ease up your bow, draw and fire an arrow with minimal movement.

But before you do that, chill. Sit tight, cut your eyes left and watch the buck. If he’s a shooter, you’ll know it. Pull your eyes off that rack and look ahead of where he’s walking. Take a split-second read of the terrain and foliage, and predict an opening for the shot.

Scan your eyes back to the buck and watch him. When his head goes behind a tree or brush, ease your bow off the hook and stand up, smoothly but quickly. Pan with the deer as he walks into the front-left arc, and draw and shoot when you can.

A buck that sneaks in hard from the right is trouble for us right-handed shooters. That 90-degree arc from directly right of your stand to behind it is no-man’s land.

If you hear hooves crunching leaves in no-man’s land, freeze. Cut your eyes right, pick up the deer and watch him. If he steps behind a bush or tree, reach for your bow and stand up. Turn slightly right on the platform, but don’t contort all way around and try to face the buck. If you move and twist too much, you’ll get busted.

Stay cool, watch, and move your bow and body smoothly with the buck as he moves in. There’s a fighting chance the deer will walk in from the right side of your stand and offer a broadside or quartering-away shot out front.

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DOWNWIND BUCKS

Sometimes, a buck bucks the odds and creeps in from behind your treestand. Of course, he isn’t supposed to do that because the wind should carry your scent to the deer long before he gets close. But maybe the wind shifted, or your scent molecules rode warm thermals up and away. Whatever the case, a buck might not smell you and sneak in the back door.

When that happens, you have one good option: Keep still. Upon hearing a grunt or crunching leaves behind your stand, the worst thing you can do is to get flustered, stand up, turn around and look to see the deer is coming. Busted. You can generally get away with a little head turn and a peek around the side of your stand tree, but even that’s risky if the sneaker is close.

Sit tight as a buck walks in from behind. You’re well covered by your stand tree. Take a deep breath and listen as a deer’s hoof beats get louder. Read the walk and predict whether the animal will pass to the right or left of your stand. Then shift slowly into shooting mode accordingly.

Let a buck walk under and away from your stand. When he gets 20 yards or so away, and if you have a clear quartering-away shot, draw and take him from the sitting position if you’re comfortable with that. Remember to move your aiming point back on a buck’s ribs so the arrow and broadhead will angle forward through the lungs.

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GHOST BUCKS

It’s a warm afternoon. No deer are moving, and you’re daydreaming. You look over and there’s a buck 40 yards below your stand. Amazing how that happens, but it’s not uncommon.

It’s easy to freak out, especially if the deer has a big rack, but fight the urge. Gulp deep breaths, and don’t move. Sit tight. Let the buck make the next move, because that dictates what you do.

There’s a chance the deer will turn his head and look or step away. Slowly pick up your bow and ease into shooting position if and when you can. If the deer raises his head or looks back your way, freeze. Keep watching the buck, and react when you can.

Sometimes, you’ll get lucky and get the chance to draw and shoot.

Other times, you might have to let a big deer walk, because it’s impossible to grab your bow, draw and shoot without spooking him. That hurts, but at least you didn’t scare the buck. You can come back and hunt him tomorrow. Because he crept in and caught you with your camo pants down once, you’ll be ready for the sneaker next time.