Hey guys, I'm still new to this art of bowhunting so I wanted to get some really good feedback on stand setups and placement of fixed and/or climbing stands. I have plenty of experience rifle hunting but this is totally up close and personal with a bow. Please, let's hear from everyone on your experiences and preferences. I believe we can probably all learn something from each other on this subject. Thanks in advance. LT

Personally I hunt travel corridors and natural funnels to and around food sources....whitetails eat and breed....focus on this need and you'll be very successful.

YEP I THINK LIKE ROB, JUST TRY TO FIND THEIR ROUTES!

Hey Rob and Mex I appreciate the input, but I was really not so much asking for stand locations(although that is part of it). What I'm really looking for is Stand location info and all the different equipment, like stands, stick ladders, ladder stands, and how you actually hide yourself, etc., etc. So maybe I can learn someting from yours and others responses. Thanks, LT

Tomkat: I hunt exclusively with a climbing stand so when I'm setting up I look for a tree that is straight as possible and in the early season has a lot of back cover. Later in the season after the leave fall I stay off the ridgelines and mostly set up on benches. What' your terrain like.

I'm not a Pro so I can't tell you.

I use lock-ons and climbing sticks. I have 5 lock-on stand sites for bow hunting. I can also gun hunt them. The stands range from 20 feet to 28 feet. I feel safer and more secure in a lock-on. If I choose to move one it's no real big problem. I have mine set up on food sources(white oaks), trails, and places where the bucks scrape every year. I put two extra straps on each stand, so I know that stand is not going to fall. I personally don't like climbers. For some reason I just don't feel real safe in one. I don't like the noise climbing with one early in the morning. Trust me, you can't use one without making some noise. I can climb up my climbing sticks and into my lock-on without making noise. I know there are good points with using a climber, but I just don't use them. Tomkat, where in Louisiana are you from?

i think rob hit on the head deer eat and breed, travel corridors and natural funnels are ideal. as far what stand to use that is really your own opinion. how much weight you are willing to hump around and how deep you wanna go. if you own your ground its my opinoin nothing beats the big platforms of a permenant stand. if not, im partial to climbing stands, and as far as picking a tree, like gutshot said back cover and stay off ridge lines, but remember the grass is always greener on the other side. theres always gonna be a better tree 30 yards from where you hung your stand. i try hard not to second guess my choice of tree. if its not the right tree i know i can move it tomorrow. its really all about spending time in the woods, the more time you spend the better you will know. i have just moved and i am hunting all new territory, so im sure ill get my workout moving stands. good luck with it,there is plenty of time to scout in the off season.

Well other than the stand locations I suggested above,

Once picking that spot if I hunt out of a loc on I'll usually pick a tree with some under cover so your above the cover and hopefully it'll have back cover as well from the direction you assume the deer are coming from. Other than that I hunt high and I'll rely on my camo...

When hunting from a climber, I'll hunt high and rely on my camo..I don't want anything attaching to my tree such as fake leaves/sticks that could potentially be in the way or cause an errant arrow.

I'll mention that I wear ASAT camo especially in the 3D leafy wear...

Ideally, you'll want to put yourself in or around some cover to help break up your silhouette. I hunt from a portable most of the time, so I'm relegated to telephone-pole trees with no limbs for 20+ feet from the bottom. To help with hiding on a straight pole tree, I look for 2 trees close together, or a tree that splits at the base into 2 or more trunks. That way, you can swing your platform between or up against another trunk to give yourself something added cover.

You just have to look up at where you plan on sitting, and predetermine what would be a good position for your stand.

I like to be at least 15 feet high, but usually stay at orunder 25' (I run out of rope).

Early in the season, the leaf canopy is heavy, and the surrounding leaf cover may dictate your ideal height. You can't kill a deer that you can't see. Late in the year, however, the leaves are gone, and you're naked as a jaybird up there, so you really need to find something to tuck yourself behind.

I use a summit bushmaster climber with a safety harness. I have one of those gear-retriever self-contained ropes, which saves time (no untangling). Also, get yourself a pack or two of those el-cheapo rubber coated screw-in hooks. You'll want to hang up your daypack, bino's, camera, bow, quiver, etc.

You'll find out that it's handy to have another treetrunk within arm's reach, not only to hide behind, but to hang your stuff on. Also, it gives you a sense of security if you aren't a big fan of high altitude.