I was out moving stands today, and getting ready for the upcoming season, and I found a great trail leading up to a mucky old watering hole. Its actually in an old overgrown gravel pit, that is about 2 acres. But only parts of it have standing water in from when it rains. Any who, I found 2 good trees tha t I could hang a stand in, 1 is just off of the trail about 50 yards from the water. And the other one is right at the water. Now most of my hunts are afternoon hunts so knowing that, which tree would be better, the one at the water, or the one about 50 yards away, on the trail leading to the water.

I'd hang the stand on the trail for the early season. During the prerut and rut I would consider moveing the stand and hunting directly over the water hole. Some times when bucks are chaseing does they will stop at water holes long enough to get a drink. I've seen deer standing at water lots of times around 2 or 3 pm this time of year. So I'd hang back and hunt the trail for now. If you think you need to move the stand in after a couple of sits, then move it.

Thanks, that is exactly what I was thinking too, but I was just second guessing myself.