picking a tree stand
 

hey everybody

I waswondering how you guys pick your treestand setup and what you look for? I'm wondering this because I'm new to hunting with treestands and that and serious need help with it any suggestion well help big time

RE: picking a tree stand
 

I actually see what other people are using. Like my family has all had different types of stands, and through everybodies trial and error, I have settled with a summit.
If I had to get a new stand they would be in this order
1. Summit, makes a fast, comfortable, sit all day stand. to me the best stand made,
2. Ole Man, light and pretty well made.
3. API, extremely comfortable however little on the heavy side
4. Loggy bayou, havent hunted out of one in years but they are very light and quiet, i just didnt like the way they gripped the tree.

All of these are reasonably priced and good quality stands..

RE: picking a tree stand
 

If I have to pack it in very far, it's the weight I'm most concerned with. If I'm going to leave it up for long, it's the most comfortable one. As far as brands, the ones listed already along with Gorilla are all good choices. Seat size and distance of seat to platform are important to comfort if you're not of average size.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

I think I totally misunderstood the question, My bad. I thought you meant how you decide which treestand to buy. Sorry....

RE: picking a tree stand
 

I just edited mine because I thought I had:)

RE: picking a tree stand
 

hmmmm is it Monday, ....... nope...... hahahaha

RE: picking a tree stand
 

Being honest.....When I first started hunting....I sat up on the edges of my hunting areas....because I "thought" they were using the interior as a bedding area. I didn't want to disturb that.....so I hunted the edges for a good while (my entire first season). In my second season.....I hunted the edges until I wanted to push it a little....and started moving in. I found out (through sheer incompetence) that they weren't bedding on the property I hunt, at all.

By hunting the edges, though.....I was able to observe a lot more than I probably would have if I'd dove into the heart of the woods right off the bat. It was a sound strategy.....I just didn't know I was doing it.

On the new land I have acquired.....I'll be doing that on purpose.;)

RE: picking a tree stand
 

Fly-- What do you know about the area you'll be hunting? Where do the deer bed, where do they move to feed? What are the food sources that will be available at the beginning and throughout the season? If you know these things and can establish a general travel route to and from these areas. The next thing to do is find a suitable tree for your climber. Make sure the tree is not just out in the open, where you may be silhouetted against an open back ground. (from the approaching deers point of view).

If you are unsure of these things take a walk now..see whats out there, any sign still from last year rubs scrapes, any tracks from recent movements?

As summer begins to wain, scout from a distance with binoculars at first and last light. See what you can learn.

As Jeff said play it safe at the beginning better to error on the side of caution and ease in. Unless pressure dictates that you hit the best area as soon as possible.

Lastly don't get pinned down to one spot have multiple spots and rotate them, often, over hunting a stand will turn a great spot sour rather quickly. Always hunt the wind and remain scent free as possible even from a treestand. Good Luck.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

Find a food source, find a trail to that food source, find a straight tree with cover along the trail to the food source, climb it.Dont over hunt and area, the beauty of a treestand is being able tochange location. Thats pretty much it in a nut shell.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

after years of trial and error, I find myself preferring a nice ladder stand. something comfortable with a nice big platform to stand on, weight has no influence to me, since I hang it and tend to leave it, if I need to move it I move it.

even in a nice hangon, i want a big solid platform with a comfy seat, arm rests are nice too, I sit in/on stand sometimes the entire day, so comfort is abig thing for me, most stands can be ok for a couple of hours....but 8hrs or more is another story.

I also prefer a flip up seat.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

heyguys thanks for all the helpjust let you guys know the foods that i know of is going to be oats this year and there is quad trail run though out the bush and there is bunch diferent grass growing on it and long that trail there are some area's that are about 20 yard wide

RE: picking a tree stand
 

IMO, that is the best thing you can do. Low impact hunting is a very important part of harvesting older whitetail deer.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

That trail is going to be a food plot in itself if there's grass growing. Should be easy for you to figure out where they're hitting it too.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

Look for terrain features that funnel the deer into a narrow area that you can cover with your bow. It could also be the vegetation that does the funneling.

RE: picking a tree stand
 

I am guessing that you know the land you are hunting, and you are asking others about how they select there trees/spots...???

So I will start at your selected spot and assume it's wooded..??
Find the prevailing winds and the direction you believe the deer are going to come from to narrow down your choices.
At this point I prefferably find a tree around 15-20 yards from the selected trail(s) to get a decent trajectory for my arrow and obtain a good broad side shot. If I have a choice, I use a tree that leans backwards 5-15 degrees, for comfort and prefferably a spruce tree to conceal myself and have natural scent from the spruce.
I will set the stand up the tree at least 15 feet, to maybe 20 feet high, I stop there cause I'm scarred of heights and believe you start losing good trajectory for a clean kill,
unless you shoot further distances. The other reason's to get off the trail 20 yards, is that most people sight in @ 20 yards and are comfortable @ this distance, also any little noise like swooshing clothing or peripheral vision is less detected. Before ascending the tree, you will of course cut the neccessary branches, and clear a clean path to pull your bow up without banging or disturbing your setup. #1 Priority = Set your safety harness up. Once up in the tree you can see the trail(s) and pick the holes with the least amount of branches to cut and clear. After cutting, I like to drag these branches out of the area or strategically hide them in the most inconspicuous places. I then take dirt and rub the ends of the fresh cuts to dull the finish, so it's not like a light bulb if deer or hunter see's them. Sometimes if it's a multiple trail intersection I will clear a 2 foot wide troth as far out as I can shoot, because deer don't always use the trail and will meander through these spots and you won't remember what's cleared during the heat of the moment, I learned the hard way! I suggest only shooting in these lanes you cleared - trust me it will save a lot of time tracking wounded deer and heartache.
Now all you have to do is pick which deer you want to shoot!! Go get'em

RE: picking a tree stand
 

What he said,and here's one more tip.

Pick a tree with plenty of cover, I'd rather be ten yds from a trail in the perfect tree then 20 yds from it in a so so tree. There is nothing wrong with setting up 10 yds off a trail. I have a tree I set up 7 yds from the deer. Its more aboout cover than distance.