ORIGINAL: 4evrhtn
I agree, I have a Summit Goliath, absolutely LOVE that climber. Wouldn't buy anything but a summit climber- light, quiet, easy to use, and COMFORTABLE. I also hunt high, same range as you. My take on it is this... I spend alot of money on being scent free, spend alot of time scouting, spend alot of hours in the woods. If I can get 25 or 30 ft up and out of a deer's sense of sight and smell, I have him beat instead of him busting me. Nothing sucks more (except seeing no deer) than to sit all day waiting for the moment a good buck walks in front of you only to have him smell you or see something isn't right(6ft tall mass growing out the tree just a few feet of the ground), blow and run off just out of range.
I watched a young 4 pointer come from downwind of me. I was 28' up an oak tree. He noticed the shape of the tree wasn't right and kept looking. He would look away briefly only to make quick glances at me trying to catch me moving, he must have done this at least 30 times. If a young deer can pick me out from that height an older more wise deer will definitely bust you if you hunt only a few feet off the ground. Being high beats their two most acute senses (smell and sight). Overcome them and you increase your chances at success.
yes, getting high takes a lot of the wind game out.
i hunt where i know just about which way buck will come, not always.
if you are SKYLINED at 15 ft which i hunt,a buck could pick you out if you MOVE.
not moving, not likely.
i also pick a big fat tree, like hollow oak.PICKING A BIG FAT TREE WITH SUMMIT STAND IS NOT POSSIBLE
this way you can be at 10 ft and no SKYLINED or 15 ft
most hunters never think of being SKYLINED,dad taught us this at 12 yrs old.
problem with pa is the tree limbs are very low.
if you get above 15 ft, you cant see under the canopy.
in OPEN areas, yes, you can get high but i never hunt open areas.
in archery, getting high makes shot very hard.
most of time in RIFLE season your shots can be long, if you want to.
like 100 yds.
being low is no problem unless you want the buck to get close ,which most hunters dont.
very seldom, if any i get busted at 15 ft....
if i did, i would do as you said.
i smoke my clothes each day i hunt in my yard at home, i use pine needles and oak leaves in a pan,hold my clothes up over fire,then in my burlap bag to truck.
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