Sit or Stand?
 

Just curious how many of you sit or stand in your treestands while hunting (or a little of both)?? I admit I sit most of the time and feel like I'm being lazy. Problem is I log A LOT of hours on stand during the season. I also feel like I can remain still a lot better sitting than when I'm standing. I am constantly scanning the woods at a distance to get the earliest detection possible to give me the proper moment where I can stand and get ready, but sometimes (as you all know) it doesnt' always work out perfect. I just can't stay motionless too long while standing. Legs get weary and the back starts to ache and I find myself fidgeting.

However there are situations throughout the years where SURPRISE I wish I was in a ready position. Times where I've been handcuffed and couldn't move because I wasn't up and ready with the bow. Do any of you think standing makes a significant difference? If so how the heck do you do it for an entire lenghty hunt? Or do you decrease the time of your hunts?

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

There is a happy middle you must find.I set in the down time than stand in the best times to see deer.When I am setting if the birds-animals areund me go away or get to looking in one direction I stand up.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I sit or stand depending on how I feel. Sometimes legs cramp up and i have to stand. If you have good stand height and placement you can get away with standing and getting into position in most all instances.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

A little of both[&:]

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

A little of both. I've learned though, when I stand look around completely and stand slowly. There have been a few times when I've stood up only to see a deer standing right behind me. [:@]

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

Both, mostly sit though. All but one deer that ive shot has been while i was sitting, the one i shot standing i saw when he was jumpin a fence and stood up while he was in the trees. Id rather be comfortable sitting down then on edge while standing up, more relaxing to me.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I'm generally an all day hunter depending on my schedule so I'm in stand from dark 'till dark most days of the season. I'll stand from about first light to 10:00 and then sit until about 3:00 when I'll stand up again until dark. I practice shooting while sitting down during the summer, so if a deer were to come by during my 'down' time I would have no problem taking the shot.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I always shoot standing, if possible, but spend most of the time sitting. I stand the first and last hour of the day. Other than that I sit until it becomes uncomfortable. The simple reason is it's easier for me to remain still while sitting. As mentioned before when I stand up and sit down I do so slooooowly.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I usually shoot standing, but not all the time. I usually stand for the first hour of light and the last hour of light.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I do both but I mostly set. Mainly because I feel like I move much less when I am setting. I have been surprised several times but I have always able to stand up and shoot without being detected. You can stand up with deer looking in your direction as long as you do it slowly and in a fluent motion. It's the quick movements that alarm them and allow them to see you. I shoot sitting sitting sometimes also depending on the circumstances. Sitting for me is just more comfortable. I stand up and get the blood circulating every once in a while for 10-30 minutes and then I normally set again for and hour to two hours.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I do both but on average i sit more than stand. The problem for me is not having a bow holder on my stand & after awhile the wrist gets sore.............................I keep forgetting to get one.:)

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I sit, I've never had a problem standing up after I've spotted the deer. I also always hunt at 20ft or higher, which helps with the movement.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

i stand most of the time and sit when i get tired

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

First let me state I hunt where herds come through and they can show up all the time. I believe in the fact that they eat every 4 hours.

Like others have said I always stand first and last hour. To save my arm the weight of the bow, I hunt with an Oneida. The bottom limb slips comfortably into my front pocket if I want to be in the ready to shoot a deer. I put it in my lower leg pocket if i want to be at a rest position. That allows me to cross my hands over the upper bow and keep them warm. I hate wearing gloves. I still can slip to the ready very easily or sit back down with the bow still in the leg pocket. I hate my bibs because they don't have that pocket and I have been thinking about adding one.

Here is my advice on when and how to move. I believe you need to be high in a tree. The higher the better. Deer do look up. Nothing is worst to have a big boy coming in with litlle ones below bust you. Second, alwasy practice grunting in a buck even if you don't want to shoot him. This helps to you gain the effective range of your grunt, not to mention your technique. Last, don't be afraid to move 30,40 50+ yards if you see deer moving on another trail. This is a must if you see Does during the rut being chased by a few bucks. Chances are good another horny one will follow with in 30-50 mins. If you don't move you will just watch. Even if it's not during the rut, don't be afraid to move. You can slide down a tree and get up another one very qiutely if your good. You'll make no more noise then anything else in the woods but you won't just watch them walk buy.

Good luck

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

feildmouse makes good points.

i almost always shoot standing however i always sit in stand until i see the deer coming

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I try & hang my stands so the deer will come in on my left & I can shoot from a seated position. Doesn't always work out right & I stand if I see them coming in the wrong way.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

Both, I stand almost all morning. Then in the afternoon/evening I'll sit until deer thirty, then stand!

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I do a little of both. However, I will stand for awhile right after dawn and usually about an hour before dusk. Or, if the action seems to be hot I'll stand, then sit when everything seems to be calm.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I sit 85% of the time and usually on stand up to stretch. I'm wicked scared of heights. I always shoot sitting because the first time I went to take a shot at a deer I almost feel out of the stand because of the heights thing.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

Most often I will be standing. I have this strange habit when sitting early in the morning. The sun starts to cook off the morning chill and my eyes start to close and that's not good, even with a harness on.[:-] I'll stand until the about 10 and then sit a bit. Nothing wakes me up faster than a momentary nodd off.:eek:

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I do a little of both. I would vebture to say I sit most of the time but I am comfortable shooting while sitting. Durring what I feel are peak times I will stand (last hour of shooting light) but IMO it's easier for me to be motionless when I'm sitting then when I'm standing.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

A little of both for me.

RE: Sit or Stand?
 

I practice so I can shoot sitting or standing. I mostly sit though.