Steve’s words replayed in my head as I walked the edge of the picked cornfield and headed toward his well-hidden ladder stand. “It might not seem like the best spot at first, but just wait until dusk. You will see deer.”

Wait until dusk. Those words say it all when it comes to most of our modern deer hunting locations where it’s a completely different world than it was 30 years ago. Deer hunting has never been as popular as it is now, and in farm country it seems this increased pressure has driven older deer to adopt even more nocturnal tendencies.

That’s OK. It might make the treestand vigils a little more monotonous, but at the same time it builds excitement.

So I climbed the towering oak, hung my binocular from a limb stub and rested the slug gun across my lap. It was 1 p.m. Dusk was a few hours away; plenty of time to do some work.

No, I wasn’t about to check my emails or send a Tweet. It was time to do some much needed reflecting. Treestands are perfect places for that exercise.

Safety harness secured and gun on lap, it’s time to assess the surroundings. Slowly reach for the rangefinder. Check the distance to that stump in the woods, that rock on the field edge and that lone-standing corn stalk on the field’s crest.

Lift the slug gun to shooting position and check the scope. Slowly place gun back on lap. Load a round, then snap in the box magazine. Safety’s back on. Inhale deeply, exhale and settle into waiting mode. It won’t take long for the subconscious to drown out the here-and-now.

When will the deer show up?  Where will they come from? Hmm.

Man, this is a good-looking inside corner. The deer have got to come through here.

Wow, check out that well-worn trail over there; it originates from the top of that ridge. It has to be a primary travel route, but I bet those older bucks skirt through this area in (eyes scanning the woods) hmm, yep, that thicket … back there, behind the stand.

Is the wind right for this afternoon? (Pause). Yes, it’s hitting me gently in the face. Almost perfect.

Minutes tick by.

I wonder how the other guys are faring. Will they see anything? They have trail-camera photos of a super 8-pointer near the stands they were going to hunt. Hope they seem him.

Minutes turn to hours.

The sun’s close to the horizon. Getting kind of chilly up here. Don’t grab for that backpack, though. It’s almost show time.

Stomach is growling. Friendly neighbors invited us to dinner tonight. Can’t wait to plate up some of that homemade food they’re cookin’.

Snap! Crunch! (audible buck grunt)

Whoa, don’t move. Don’t even breathe. What a buck. Big, wide 8-pointer. How’d he get so close without me noticing him?

OK, he’s looking away. Raise the gun slowly. Lean into it. Pick a spot.

Now squeeze. …