I wish I had a tree stand a few years ago. I was sitting on top on a little knole slowly looking back and forth. As I turned my head back around there were two very nice mulies standing not 10 yards away. They walked up on me directly behind the only bush in my field of view. They looked at me for what seemed like an hour and started to walk off. Well when I thought they had gone far enough that I could safely draw my bow the smaller one turned to look at me and they both bolted. The bigger one stopped at 45 yards but in the heat of the moment I sent the arrow just over his back. I wish like he@# I was up in a tree so I could have seen them coming way before they got there. This buck was about a 180 - 190 non typical. I saw him a few more times that season but never did get close enough to shoot.

There are places that a tree stand would work very well. The problem with using them out here is that you usually have to pack them in a long way. This story is the exception as it was on private property. If you don' t mind lugging one in the mountains or hunt on the plains then go for it.

The other problem is the wind changes so much in the mountains that a lot of times you need to be very mobile.