Proof you dont have to be 20' up in a tree.
 

Took this pic from my stand tonight. I had a doe standing in the hole for at least 2 minutes, tonight, and had no idea I was there. She got a pass tonight. I dont like heights, so my ladder stand is only about 11' high. The trail cam in the lower left corner went off 2 times while she was there.



This is the view straight out front of me.


And this is over my left shoulder.It is corn this year.

Taken from a 10' ladder stand @ 20 yds.

I walked up a big old oak tree that had fallen over-I was not quite 8' off the ground, standing on the huge trunk when this guy walked by & I arrowed him at 18 yds.
I've taken 2 P&Y bears & both have been from 10' up.
This small buck was when I was only 7' up & he was standing 5 yds from my tree-done this a few times also. My average & highest height is a ladder of 15'.. Works great for me.

being 20 feet up is just ridiculous. i have had all kind of deer walk right under me, maybe 10 feet off the ground. i was in an apple tree last year, only 4 feet up when i shot a 9 point. going up that high i think there is just more to go wrong.

Well if you hunt in areas that have upto 450 deer/square mile, height is very important.

They can be shot at 0 ft off the ground too, i've done it. But if i'm in a tree i like to be at a minimum of 15 ft. simply because the higher you are the more you can get away with. Since i'm a piss poor hunter, i need every advantage i can get!!!

We are fortunate to have Big DSeer where I live but I guarentee, it's a long way from 450 per Sq. mile... boy, would i like that for a while. I haven't seen that many deer in 10 years in the woods.

Im typically 14-16' dont like it much higher than that. Had some see me there too but, I hunt way thinner stuff that yall were in.. And usually got some high spots near me, where deer can about be almost level eye sight from me 50-60 yards away.

i would be happy if i could get my tripod just above the canopy of the tree's..not over the top of the tree's ,but the lower canopy, if you look through the woods, you can see the bottom of the treetops..if you can get just above that area, imo you are good. but being below is like a red flag ..unless you are mission impossible guy and can draw on a 10 point buck while he is lookin right at ya..there are those guys.

I'm in a 15 foot ladder stand but I'm set up on a bit of ridge so most of the deer that funnel in are at least 20 ft below me. Only problem is that if they come in from behind we are at eye level.