Not sure if this helps.

When I installed my tree stand last week-end, I also took with me a 75ft electric extension cord. Once I was done installing the stand, I tied the cord to my stand and essentially went as far as I could with the 75ft cord in all possible shoot directions and marked the sports with small rocks/branches. (nothing too obvious ...) That way, when I see a deer ill have a visual point of reference as to the distance. How is that for "getting off on the cheap"?