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How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

Old 01-10-2004 | 09:04 PM
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Default How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

I have hunted with guys and have wondered how do they find their stands, early in the morning. How do you locate your stand in bad weather, for example in snow or heavy rain? Do you use tacks, or lean branches against trees as you head toward your area, or GPS in the dark, interested in hearing what you have to say!

Dr. Mike
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Old 01-10-2004 | 09:38 PM
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

3 answers:

1: i use surveyors tape in a few places, so that in the dark i flash my flashlight around until i find it.

2: Just being familiar with the area helps a lot.

3. I have just gotten a gps, so i will use that when i find a promising spot.
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Old 01-10-2004 | 09:38 PM
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From: WARTRACE,TENNESSEE walker country
Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

i will say it again .....tacks is what i use...
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Old 01-10-2004 | 09:55 PM
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Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

yep, reflector tacks
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Old 01-10-2004 | 11:04 PM
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Dominant Buck
 
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

I just plot my course to it when I leave. I travel by such landmarks as stumps, ditches, paths, big trees, groups of trees, creeks, openings in the canopy, change of trees...all kinds of things. As I back out I keep looking back and repeating the land marks as I go. By the time I'm out I have it down.A lot of times I may want to enter from a particular direction. If it's really a long haul(like some in NY) I may throw in a tack or two to keep my on track but I NEVER... flag all the way to the stand with tacks or anything. No way do I want to mark my location for some lazy slob. The last 200 yards or so are strictly by natural markers. I've been playing with my new GPS today. Looks like I'll be doing some GPS'ing from here on out.[:-] I found my way all the way home from the grocery store today.[:-][&:]
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Old 01-11-2004 | 12:40 AM
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

where i hunt, i don't have much nearby hunters, they would have to be really lucky/dumb to stumble into one of my flags. so flags might not work for you, but they work great for me.
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Old 01-11-2004 | 02:26 AM
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Fork Horn
 
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

I use a GPS

flagging tape & tacks are not allowed on the public land I hunt
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Old 01-11-2004 | 03:16 PM
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

i use tacks and a pecie of orange flagging where i enter the woods
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Old 01-11-2004 | 04:50 PM
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Fork Horn
 
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Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

I use a GPS, but there is no substitute for knowing the area that you will be hunting. Even with a GPS, I've still managed to get turned around when trying to find a stand in a new area. I used to use orange tape, but someone decided they needed my stand more than I did so I quit using it.
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Old 01-11-2004 | 05:13 PM
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From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma USA
Default RE: How do you locate your deer or elk stand early in the morning?

I use my GPS since it takes me right to my stands. If your unit can save a previous track, you can follow the very best route back to your stand. But, you still need to be familiar with your hunting area in the dark because batteries can go down when you least expect it, or the unit itself could get damaged . The GPS is a help but don't put all your eggs in that basket, they might fall out in the dark.
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