Stand Placement

Lets talk about stand placement. What makes a successful stand. Without this you wont have a successful hunt. Here are somethings that have helped me over the years. first of all you want to find a location you want to hunt.
Whether its a morning stand or evening to an all day sit. when im looking for that right tree, I look for a tree that will break up my sillohett. So im not skylined.
If you cant find one in the area that you want to hunt. After you hang your stand take some of the brush you cleared while trimming your shooting lanes and and tuck them in the ratchet strap that holds your stand to the tree or use bungee cords to hold them in place. What your looking for is to break up the outline behind you an give you alittle cover. It dose not take much. back to your shooting lanes the easiest way to do this is have a buddy with you, which he should be there while hanging stands for safety, NEVER hang a stand alone.While you are in your stand secured with your safety strap its easier for you to point out the branches that need trimmed to your buddy and he can cut them. Another thing I look for in stand placement is it easy to get to with out spooking deer.
Some tips that worked for me is in a morning stand I will never cross a field food plot etc. If you can access your stand bye going through the woods or a dry creek bed etc do it, even if it means walking an extra mile. It can pay off in the end. Without a good way to your stand its useless. I try to avoid bedding areas mid to early afternoon while getting to my stand. These are a few things that have helped me. Good luck hunting and be safe.

good stuff tony

we have mowed trails that go to most of our stands

Good post Tony Alot of times, especially if I am running a little late, I like to “hunt” to my stand. How many times have we just been walking in and we get startled by a tail running away ??? I especially like this for rifle, but have done it with the bow as well All this talk is really gettin’ me fired up Good stuff

Very good post Tony! Let’s keep this thread going by adding additional deer stand placement tips.

One of the things I always consider when putting up a deer stand is what direction do I want the wind to be coming from. I will then put the stand in the proper location and downwind of the deer travel routes.

I like to have a safe way out of the stand too, only takes 1 wise doe to peg your stand.Also I like to have strings pre tied to mystands for lifting my weapon and pack.Great thread!

Once the leaves start to fall in October, i like to brush a trail to my stand if there are a lot on the ground. This only is for a morning stand but can work if you are hunting a field edge if you don’t want to be recognized when leaving

Another thing I do is look for any old trails that were used a few years back but have overgrown. The deer quit using them when there too hard for an easy walk or quick escape. I cleared an old trail once and a buck and the three does he was tending started using it within a couple days. You can also find a good area and make a trail through the brush and small saplings and bring the deer close to your stand. Placing that trail between a watering spot and a feeding area will work, it may be a shorter route for them then. Id like to hear everybodys ideas too incase I want to try a new one.

I try to let the food source dictate where I am going to sit. Early season the food source is usually soy beans, clover, what ever you have in your food plot. Once October hits and the acorns start dropping, I usually will pull back from the field stands and try to find a place in the woods where the deer are eating acorns. Once the acorns are done and the rut starts in late October/early November I will start back at the field stands to try and find where the does are going to try and catch a buck following behind.

I have two or three spots that are “Quick In” spots to key travel area’s or funnels. Some of these area’s are no more than 30 yards off a main road, but deer are forced through these area’s before dark since it’s the only cover around. Even though these spots are close to the main roads, you’ll still see lots of deer. Since hunting time is a premium after work, etc, these make nice spots to hunt if I’m running a little late to the evening stand.

I believe making sure you can leave quitely is equally as important as getting in quite. Mature deer have great memories and onced spooked even when you leaving your stand may only lead to that same deer coming to your area later in the evening next time rather than sooner like you need. Therefore making sure I have a quite exit route is equally key.

Good luck hunting – Mike

Along the lines of what mosseydan was saying, I also like to take branches and close off or block secondary trails leading off the main trail that goes past my stand! I seem to see more deer by “directing” them towards me.