I've killed deer just sitting against a tree, standing next to a tree, from a natural material(brush, sticks, limbs,etc.) blind, spot and stalk, still hunting walking slow and deer drives. These are all on the ground. The point is you don't have to be in a tree. However, I was just checking out a stand this morning and it's nice for a change of pace, so I understand your want to elevate.

There's so much I want to say, I but I don't know your situation, so I'll just comment on your words "How high up should one be?"

I use stands for two reasons mainly; to get a better view and to get my scent further away from the ground if I'm hunting in close quarters. There are many times I didn't go high at all. Shot several deer and wasn't any higher than 6' foot. Being elevated a little gives you a sight advantage because you can see over the brush better, increasing your chance to see something. If you're hunting a particular small area(bow) or a trail or two, you can position yourself on the downwind side and only be up high enough so the brush of the tree helps prevent you from being silhouetted. This also helps conceal some of your movement.

If you are downwind of where the deer will be or trailing by, you only need to be high enough to maybe help your vision or hide yourself better. So it's really not about "how high", but rather positioning yourself for a shot and more often than not, you don't even need to be off the ground. The 4' feet you speak just may be high enough.

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