Ever since my 7- and 8-year-old boys have been old enough to “trick or treat,” I haven’t been able to bowhunt evenings on Halloween. This year being no different, I decided to sneak out in the morning. I climbed my Buffalo County stand Oct. 31, 2007, and at 8 o’clock, I decided to stay only 30 minutes more as the sun was up and the woods were quiet. It was clear and in the mid-40s, with a steady west wind blowing about 5 mph. At 8:05, the best buck I had seen all year walked 18 yards from my stand.

I drew back my bow, settled my pin on his vitals and my razor blades passed cleanly through this “Halloween Treat” of a lifetime! The rickety stand in the background is about 10 yards from the hackberry tree I shot the deer from. I call it my decoy stand, as I believe the deer look in the stand to see if it’s safe! Bill Katula Jr., Fountain City, Wisc.