Sat the tripod this evening, watched an armadillo run around the feed pen for a log while. Just as things got dark the deer decided to come. We were set up perfect for their approach, they had no idea we were there. Watched them come in, mama made her baby stay outside the pen while she and the others ate corn and soybeans. They were so close we heard every crunch. Had a one doe circle around behind us directly downwind before going in the pen and another stayed outside the pen right behind us the whole time, straight down wind of us and we never got scented or anything. Was fun. Cows eventually spooked the deer away. Too bad we couldn't get a shot. Asked my son if he thought he could take one of the doe, but he thought it was too late/dark to make a safe shot. If he only thought so clear headed when he is with his friends.

Best part about it is we were whispering almost the whole time and never was heard, and we didn't have any scent product use and ran the thermacell the whole time, without being busted. Helped being up about 10 feet tucked in a mesquite tree on the tripod. Had we been nose level to the doe behind us I fear we would have been scented.

Tomorrow we will hunt a new stand at a different feeder. Hope to bag something as there has been good action in the morning the last couple mornings there based on the camera.

Good luck!

Good luck. And as that teenager, the lessons he is learning in the woods with you will translate to his everyday life. It's why it is so important to take our kids hunting. I haven't had mine out yet that there wasn't a life lesson learned or relearned.

This am they were a few minutes too early. Had two deer under the feeder for about 20 minutes but they left before the crack of dawn....still sitting hoping something comes by, but doubtful at this point, it's too early
In the season for that.

Hang in there, have seen 2 pass by in the last 10 minutes

Had a lone doe (possibly a button buck or something as for don't normally travel alone?) come out around 8:30 and we watched it come back along the tree line and seemed to be avoiding the feeder pen and going to bed down, but blew a couple times after a while and we saw it walking away behind the trees. Never had a clear shot at any time through the trees, so it was an exciting time for a bit but nothing came of it.

There's always next time, unfortunately had to come home after the morning hunt today. Good news is we saw deer and they didn't see us, except maybe the last one scented us or something but we really don't have a clue since it didn't run off and just blew a few times (might have been blowing at cattle moving or really anything since we didn't see it at that point so it may have scented us too).