KsTurkeyDeer24,

When I treestand hunt, I'm dictating where the deer will be killed. Too often I see people place their stands in places that aren't the best... in my opinion. If they would have scouted the area more, maybe they could have spotted that funnel area created by an open area and swamp edge. Maybe they may have found that super trail that runs through the cedar where the sun hardly penetrates... a likely spot for deer to walk any time of day for security.

When I place a stand, it's usually because my thorough scouting revealed to me it's the best place to be sitting. I will have, or think I have, strong knowledge of the bedding area(s) and feeding area(s). I'm not placing my stand in "hopes" of seeing something and getting lucky. Now I realize there's an element of luck when it comes to deer hunting, but you can increase your good luck by scouting prior to placing a stand.

Because I have taken great measures learning to figure where I place my stand, I will have found eating sign, hoof prints, feces, rubs and/or scrapes... or perhaps a super trail.... or just a faint suspicious trail hardly traveled through some thick cover.

What all this does is create a HUGE excitement factor for me. It's nice to be sitting in a stand when I know there are deer within my area that are what I'm after. This means that I will be able to sit longer in anticipation of seeing one of the many deer that created the sign that I saw earlier.

Hunt in areas that have already proven there are deer within that immediate area now. That anticipation will help you sit longer!

Good luck,

iSnipe