What are your secrets for finding a place to put your deer or elk stand? I have heard many various reasons, but would like to know why you put your stand where you do? Is it feed, cover, escape routes, bedding areas. I am interested in what you have to say! Thanks for your help.

Dr. Mike
[email protected]

1st off I am by no means an expert. I hunt mostly big woods and small woodlots and mostly public land. Any stand I hunt must allow the deer more than 1 reason to be there. I never hunt a lone trail, but rather where trails meet, esp close to a thick area, and hopefully close to either oaks(fall) or honeysuckle(winter) and the stand would always be placed on the downwind side of the prevailing wind. Also those trees are located from mid Jan. thru March. Either me or my hunting buddies have been in my trees the following year the first time(I don't scout preseason) and harvested a deer for the last 3-4 years.

I mainly hunt trails entering and exiting bedding areas.

where trails meet. if possible, by a buck trail.

FUNNELS!

what about wallowes (sp?)

The features I always look for in a whitetail stand is thick evergreen type trees (always for good backdrop) combined with some type of funnel converging at this set of trees. I've taken most of my deer in setups similar to this. This is usually set up on the edge of a swampy type area (part of the funnel). I also like to get my stand up about 20', sometimes higher. Trim a few shooting lanes (but sparingly) and my hopes are pretty high in taking a deer. In my opinion, this stand setup in it's first few hours of use are top-notch. I try to get this on the trails leading to bedding areas (scouting all year long pays off here) and get to your stand WELL before first light. I like to be there 45 mins to an hour before first shooting light. Also, setting up this stand well before the season starts is also helpful. I like to have it setup 4 to 6 weeks before the season opener. This year I will be in an identical setup and my hopes are high that I will take one opening morning. Good luck, Scott.

outdoor338, I too am not an expert but I spend all year in my area and know deer patterns. One of my favorite types of sites is on the leeward side of ridges. I place stand about 5-8 yds. down wind of ridge top. Stand height is usually 15 ft.. The reasons I prefer this type of set-up are you are downwind and have a good view of approaching game. Also, many tend to circle about and come back up that same ridge from your backside. They tend not to scent you because although you have lost wind advantage you just increased your elevation advantage. You can spot them easily ascending the ridge which increases your chance of readying yourself and not having a quick arrival foil your set-up. SCOUT SCOUT SCOUT!! Remember that Boy Scout motto: BE PREPARED!!!

I agree with JimPok61. I scout in and out of season. I check tracks, scrapes, rubs, trails and potential bedding areas.
I will hunt on ground or stands. My next spot is a vehicle entry at the corner of a field. The buck walks around that corner nearly every morning. There are some downed trees there with heavy limbs for cover and plenty of room for manouvering. Over a 3 day period I am sure I will get him.
Stands. I will place around where heavy trails meet. Nothing thinly traveled.