How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I have found a heavily traveled trail through a dried up swamp. The only tree I can find that is suitable for a climber is about 10 yds. off the trail. Think this is too close? It has a perfectly clear lane across the trail in 2 spots.

Darrell

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

How are prevailing winds, how well will the tree break up your outline, how high can you get in the tree, how scent free do you get, will you have a good opportunity to draw your bow....etc.etc......

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I like 20 yard shots, so almost all of my stands are 15-20 yards from where I'll take the shots. I have hunted out of stands 10ft or closer to a trail, and when they come in that close it gets tricky making a shot, I found this out 3 years ago when I rattled in 2 bucks directly beneath my treestand, but it is fun to shoot a deer straight down thru the spine an stick him into the ground. :D

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I can get about 12 feet off the ground...heavy tree cover behind so I think it should break up my outline pretty well. There were no winds today, but judging from the direction the leaves were laying on the trees, the wind should be blowing straight across the trail and into the woods behind me.

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I guess at least then ya don't have to track him very far! ;)

I was thinking the same though, 20 yards. Bow season opens in 2 weeks, how badly do you think I would spook them if I cleared out another spot a little further off the trail?

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I also have no ckoice only able to shoot 20 yards and i'm on the ground. So It gets frusrating ,but after a couple hundredhours it works out and one goes down

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I would say that it depends on your direction...both in terms of wind and the way the deer will be approaching. I have set up in trails this close but I was usually under plenty of foliage and high enough off the ground. 20 yards is typically what I try to go for if possible.

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I try an set up for a 10-15 yd shot. I like things close.

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

15 yds

anything less than 20 yds - and I don't even have to think about my pin. Also, I've had deer that were "spooky" duck the arrow at 20-25yds. That distance is about right for that to happen, longer and they don't react so violently, less - and they don't have time.

FH

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

Yup, I like close. 10-20 yards is good. I've shot them straight down and far out, but given a choice Ilike that puppy about 10 yards away when I let it go. 12 feet is really borderline for height as far as I'm concerned. I hunt at what I feel is the minimum 18 feet up to 22 or 23. If the wind is wrong....just don't bother to go near the place.

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

how close doesnt matter too much as long as you are way up high ...say 25 feet.Deer walk under tree stands.. No more than 25 yards. from the trail for me and on the ground .Im deadly from 25 yardsand less..chances are Ill see him before he sees me...Clear shooting lanes a must.

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

I don't think 10yds is too close, except for the steepness of the shot angle. I agree with others who have posted in this forum in the statement that wind direction is everything. If the wind isn't right (a crosswind is best), I don't care how good the tree looks, I won't use it, period.

In a situation like this it sounds like you have a lot of ground blind material laying around so go for it! When you prune your shooting lanes, just don't leave the slash laying around for the deer to find, use it withon your blind. Your chances of having a shot will be better from a blind if the wind isn't right with the only available tree. You don't need to buy one of those expensive popup blinds either.
Walmart sells blind fabric that is inexpensive and is very lightweight and easy to transport. I always have a few yeard of it in my pack just in case.
You'll want to wash and line dry it to get the factory smell out of it before you actually use it though.

If you do decide to use the tree, I would suggest setting your stand up on the back side of the tree so a deer that might happen to look up won't see your platform. You will have the tree as cover between you and the trail, but you'll have to stay on your feet more and be ready. You'll find you can lean against the tree while your waiting and it's not so bad. Good luck!

RE: How far off the trail do you place your stand?
 

About 15 yards is the best I think.I always hang my stand on the opposite side of the trail.
The farher the way you are the better you can trim your shoooting lanes.If you have to be close to the trail,I wouldn't trim much, if at all.