Hunting from a tree stand vs. from ground...
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 221

Most will hunt from the tree stand but certain areas I prefer to shoot from the ground.
What's your preference guys? I personally think both is about equal in terms of success.I even prefer to be on the ground when air temp is cooling down, as cold air current pushes your scent to ground level making being in a tree stand a disadvantage.
When you do use a tree stand, how high do you go?
I prefer about 15ft. and no higher so I can get a sure shot at the heart or get to shoot double lungs.
OK let's hear it from the experts down here.
What's your preference guys? I personally think both is about equal in terms of success.I even prefer to be on the ground when air temp is cooling down, as cold air current pushes your scent to ground level making being in a tree stand a disadvantage.
When you do use a tree stand, how high do you go?
I prefer about 15ft. and no higher so I can get a sure shot at the heart or get to shoot double lungs.
OK let's hear it from the experts down here.
#2

I hunt both ground blinds and climbers and it depends on the situation.
Ground blind
Pros- easy to get in and out of,
can sleep without worrying about falling out of tree,
good when the weather is incliment,
and an option when you can't find a tree to climb.
Cons-
restricted field of vision,
wary deer will always know where the blind is and be wary of it regardless of how well you have brushed it in, and how long it has been there,
brush in has to be refreshed periodically.
Climber/tree stand
Pros-Climbers are portable enough that you could hunt several hunt sites in as many days,
less restrictive field of vision and the ability to see over brush and smaller trees to prepare for a shot,
less claustrophobic
Cons-
You have to find a tree that your stand will fit on,
you have to climb the tree,
not as easy to sleep,
not comfortable when raining, snowing, or really cold,
more chance of injurying yourself.
Ground blind
Pros- easy to get in and out of,
can sleep without worrying about falling out of tree,
good when the weather is incliment,
and an option when you can't find a tree to climb.
Cons-
restricted field of vision,
wary deer will always know where the blind is and be wary of it regardless of how well you have brushed it in, and how long it has been there,
brush in has to be refreshed periodically.
Climber/tree stand
Pros-Climbers are portable enough that you could hunt several hunt sites in as many days,
less restrictive field of vision and the ability to see over brush and smaller trees to prepare for a shot,
less claustrophobic
Cons-
You have to find a tree that your stand will fit on,
you have to climb the tree,
not as easy to sleep,
not comfortable when raining, snowing, or really cold,
more chance of injurying yourself.
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Garfield NJ USA
Posts: 3,067

I prefer to hunt from a blind in colder temps and treestands in warmer temps. That being said I find it a lot easier to stay in a tree stand for longer periods when it's warm out. I also like to walk around and still hunt during the midday.
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 974

I hunt both ways actually. My tree stands are set up for wind direction that will be predominate when the foilage is gone, usually November. Earlier in the season the wind will not be right when I can hunt. Thats when I still hunt w/ ghillie. I love to get down on the ground and mix it up with them in their living room, no better feeling, the excitement, heart pounding, adrenalin flowing to the extreme, thats what hunting is all about for me. I can get pretty lazy up in the tree, still hunting keeps my skeeeels sharp, and my senses even sharper. When the leaves fall, you can bet your last dollar I'm in that tree.
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,926

Choosing between the tree stand and the ground was never a personal choice. I had hunted for years in colder climates and was satisfied with ground locations. Especially with all the leaves gone from the trees.
Going south, I noticed that I had to change, regardless. First the heat produced sweat. In areas with leaves on the trees, far later, it made the sweat more noticeable to the deer, in the closer encounters in the forests and woods. With the heat, the sweat, and leaves on trees, close encounters convinced me, tree stands made sense. On the ground, the deer scent of me, beat me.
Going south, I noticed that I had to change, regardless. First the heat produced sweat. In areas with leaves on the trees, far later, it made the sweat more noticeable to the deer, in the closer encounters in the forests and woods. With the heat, the sweat, and leaves on trees, close encounters convinced me, tree stands made sense. On the ground, the deer scent of me, beat me.