RE: Tree stand hight
it all depends on the situation and terrain. My dad has his gun stand 50' high in an old pine tree on a hump in the middle of a tamarak swamp. That works good! I should take pictures. You should have seen me building it up there. It has 4 sides and a roof and windows that open and the whole deal.
I usually like to get above 20', not because you need to, but it is a little bit of an advantage with the wind factor. If I can only go 15' up, then I will live with it, but if I can go up to 30' and still see well, then i do it.