Tree Stand questions

[bonecollector10]

Just curious as to what everyones approach is when it comes to hanging stands.

When do you hang them and for what reason? Do you hang them on a fields edge, deeper in the bush...? And lastly apart from the wind when do you decide what stand to hunt and why?

Looking for some insight and experience.

[Bonescreek]

Wow, that's a loaded question.

I use a climber and ladder stands myself, but there are so
many variables it's hard to narrow it down.

The best help and worst problem I've had has been finding
cover in the tree at the height I set the stand up (not being skylined).

[schian]

thats a good question for us rookies. my biggest question of those ones, is WHEN?
if your setting up a new stand at a place where you know there are deer, how early in the year should you set up the stand??

Schian

ps. not trying to hijack, thought it was a good question.

[bonecollector10]

Originally Posted by Bonescreek

Wow, that's a loaded question.

I use a climber and ladder stands myself, but there are so
many variables it's hard to narrow it down.

The best help and worst problem I've had has been finding
cover in the tree at the height I set the stand up (not being skylined).

haha I know very vague. The issue is no ones every taught me so ive been learning by mistake. One being what you mentioned, had the deer coming from the right of me and I was sky lined to the left. This was deep in the bush and Im scared I was too much in there bed and eventually pushed them out.

[bonecollector10]

Originally Posted by schian

thats a good question for us rookies. my biggest question of those ones, is WHEN?
if your setting up a new stand at a place where you know there are deer, how early in the year should you set up the stand??

Schian

ps. not trying to hijack, thought it was a good question.

Im thinking the same thing. Is there such thing as too late? I cant see early being an issue, but Ive always heard of good bow hunters keeping one stand just for the rut. How do you pick that one?

[Bonescreek]

Getting too close to a bedding area can be a problem but can be
done if everything comes together.

Some will tell you the higher off the ground the better, a lot of times
this is true. Sometimes it's not.

I found a situation one time a few years ago where there happened to
be Rhododendren (Mountain Laural) growing at the base of some fair
sized oaks that where good sized for the climer. The oaks didn't have
any branches below say 35' off the ground the Rhodies around the oaks
where mature and like 14' high. So when I got my climber up on an oak
in the center of the Rodies I only had to get 12' off the ground.

Situations like the one I mentioned above seldom if ever happen within
bow range of a deer trail, but sometimes they do.

[Bonescreek]

I appologise for missing the point of your questions.

You are asking about time, when to put up the stand.

The best advise I can give is with a fixed stand if it's a hanger or a
ladder etc. the earlier the better. So how many do you have ?

Deer, Im sure Elk, Moose etc. will change trails and routes from
bed to feed and feed to bed and migrate. Deer like turkeys will follow the
food, when White acorns drop (they are the first of the oaks and least
acid) both deer and turkeys will seek them out). Next other oaks drop
acorns and other forage becomes availble like wild onions etc. They will
move into other areas to seek them out. You need to move too to keep
up with them.

There is a lot to be said about investing in either or both a blind and a
climbing stand. (climber is the elimente of surrprise, fixed stand has no
sent and they get used to it being there).

Things to think about.

[Stik'em]

I hang my tree stand over choke points, or where the main trail branches off to feeding areas. I always have a ground blind set up else where in case the wind is no good that day. I have private land I hunt, so I hang my stand in August, before season start 1 sept. I also have my trail cam set up in June, to see where the main traffic is going through. Walking the ground helps see where all the tracks and droppings are.

Stik'em

[Bonescreek]

With all the output of info I put out my previous posts, I
forgot to mention the most important and simplest thing.

Quote from Stik'em..

Walking the ground helps see where all the tracks and droppings are.

Scouting on foot yourself is the best way to figure out what's going on.


You summed it up in a few words, thank you Stik'em.

[Stinky Buffalo]

It can also depend on how pressured the animals are in that area.

Last year I took a break after setting up my stand on a cutline. When I came back, the amount of tracks made it look like the local deer had held a rave in the area in front of my tree. Didn't seem to spook them at all.

This was in a spot where my partners and I are pretty well the only ones that will walk in that far.

[schian]

where i'll be setting up my blinds/ stands is on private land, a few sections, quite a bit of cow pasture.
i have 2 hang on tree stands, one climber and 2 pop up blinds.
i know one spot where i'd like to set up a treestand or 2, but i'm just not sure when to get it up. and im really not sure what to do with the others as we haven't been able to find consistant spots where the deer (and other game) are often coming.
i'm planning on setting up some cameras as between myself and another fellow that hunts it, we have a bunch.
how long do you think it takes to really pattern the animals in the are?
all summer, a few years, or just a few weeks?

thanks.
Schian

[Stik'em]

Depends on how often you are out watching the property. Trail cams are a huge help if you can't watch it all the time or spend time out there glassing. Both properties I hunt are near roads, so I can sit in my jeep with binos and glass them, as well one property I have been on for 10 years but only hunted for 3.

Just go out and walk around in June, July, August see where the trails are and feeding areas, give the animals plenty of space and just watch them. See where they are entering and exiting from. As well see what times they are doing this so if you know at say 2pm there's nothing around in the field you can go hang a stand near a field entrance.

I always chase the does as well, placing stands near where they are cause sooner or later a buck will show up near by, plus I'll take as my two bow zone does if i can. As well if you have a water source of the property like a small pond, throw a blind nearby. I got a shot on one of the 8pnts on mine ( I blew it though ) because I patterned him at the watering hole.

Stik'em

[heretohunt]

Sometimes it's not a bad idea to set up in the dark the evening before you hunt. The situation has to be right and there are some risks. -Wrong tree, too high, too low, branches not clear etc.
The benifits are there though. There is a good chance the animals are feeding somewhere else and if you are just hunting a travel route they may not smell the scent on the ground until its too late. This method takes a bit of pre planning and a bit more scouting to do well. It's good if you have used the tree before so you know how everything goes. Lanes, angle and wind direction etc.

[bonecollector10]

I have sole permission on a beautiful quarter with a pond that holds water all year so I had set a stand near a trail for early season and another near a pinch point for later and my camera were producing some great bucks. Shooters in my opinion and Im a strong believer in hunting the wind. Problem is they show up either at night or not at all when im there.

Trees are real skinny and my stand placement isnt ideal for one of them but had to use the tree. should I switch to blind?

[bonecollector10]

As mentioned above if I gain permission which would be around june Ill walk the property look for old trails, rubs or sheds. Then ill proceed to put trail cams and if some decent bucks are coming by ill hang my stand early august and only scout from a far now. Its when it comes down to actually hunting only the does show up when the bucks should still be on there feeding pattern so I figure its something Im doing.

[Ultimate Predator]

Im constantly moving stands as the animals change there patterns they move u move im a firm believer if you want to see game sit on a feild edge you want to kill game get back in the bush!!

[GillieSuit]

I use the hangon type stands and I set them out early. Some years as early as July. That way there is no disturbance as the season approaches. I use funnels, pinches, and choke points all the time. I like junctions too where multiple trails come together.

So when (early to mid July), Where (pinches, funnels, and choke points between feeding and bedding areas) Side note is I find the staging trail from the previous seasons rut and then find funnels along this trail. It should be 60 to 80 yards back in the bush from a good food source and at least 100 yards from the prime bedding areas.

The how is tricky. I am not a big fan of moving stands all over the place. For one its alot of work and in my honest opinion all that activity screws up your spots. So my technique is mostly hands off. I sit and watch the food sources from afar. Find the funnels that are bringing deer to those food sources and that's where I hang. The location of the staging trail is important because that's where the action will be hottest in the rut.

The question about wind and stand selection. For me, wind is the deciding factor. If the wind is wrong I won't sit that stand. Scent trumps everything I might sit a sketchy wind and risk it, but if its dead wrong then I just don't hunt that spot until the wind is right. Some years that means certain stands just don't work out.

Hope this helps.

[L.O.S.T.Arrow]

I use mostly ladder stands due to drought and tree size...so i like them up weeks if not a month before I use them.to let animals get used to them...having said that I have set them up in a morning and used them that evening and been successful...

I set up with prevailing winds in mind and so one isnt blinded at sun rise and sundown...over trails mostly...I try to find a duel trail used for bedding and feeding...

I have taken many animals out of stands and they are worth all the effort...

Neil