rgecko23
*Supporting Member*
I prefer 25-30' always. i havea set up thats less than that right now, but it has a ton of branches that I dont even really need steps. Other than that I prefer to be higher up. Less chance of scent and sky lined
Tree Stand Height
- Thread starter Flatlander
- Start date
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To each their own. I will say this with complete confidence after this season, even from 15-16 ft, I will never shoot a deer at ten yards or less again from a stand. From a higher set, I would extend that range. Deer see movement, I've never had any trouble shooting deer with a bow from the ground! The only advantage a treestand has over hunting on the ground is giving the ability to see over brush. That is the ONLY reason I leave the ground - to see them at greater distance. IMO, of course. The next time I'm up at the farm, I'll snap some pics of my set ups, and you all can decide if height would be an advantage. Obviously, I have my opinion on the matter, I'm just surprised that so many still think it's important to be at nose-bleed levels to kill a deer. I killed 5 with a bow before I ever OWNED a treestand, so that may have something to do with my thoughts on the matter.
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Not that it will change anyone's mind on how important treestands really are, but this is a pic of me and my hunting buddy, Jon. I rattled in and killed this lil buck at 10 yards, from the ground. He never knew we were anywhere around, and he was looking pretty hard for the deer that had made all that noise! BTW, that is the first grunt call to hit the market that I had ever seen. Everyone thought it was a "gimmick", but I gave it a try and it worked like a charm. Brad Harris of Lohman calls made 'em. In fact, I think his creation is what put him in the business. Point being, no one told these two 15 year old kids they needed to be 30 feet up a tree to kill a deer!
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I see what Brock is saying and I think there is merit t both arguments. I am a nose bleed hunter. Always have been. Most times you will catch me around 25 feet.. However this year I have noticed that's not the most important variable. I've seen some of JD sets, hunted a couple. The ones I've hunted while sitting there I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. However the deer never seem to even look my direction.
This year I hung a set about 25 feet up in a black walnut. I thought I was high enough to where it wouldn't matter where the deer were. The problem I had was I was above the secondary canopy that was about 15 feet.. What I noticed was the deer could see me from a long ways off. Almost like a magnet they would look up there. It wasn't until later when I walked out 80 yards and made a half circle around my stand that I saw what the problem was.. The deer could look up through the secondary canopy and see me way better than I could look down through it and see them first. From 80-100 yards away. It's like looking through a small hole.. The closer the hole is the more you can see beyond it. The further it is the less you can see beyond it. So the top of the canopy is maybe 12 feet above the deers head and they're looking through it. It's 80-100 yards from me and I'm trying to look through it. The deer could see me way better than I could see them.
Maybe this will help. The yellow line is the deers line of sight to both sets. The black line is the distance from the deer to the canopy on the high line of site. notice the lower line of site has to go through much more canopy brush. Almost double. SO the deer would see me much further away and have a broader view than me. It should be the other way around. In this instance hunting lower would be an advantage.. The deer will be much closer before I see them. But in the higher set they could see me much further.
This year I hung a set about 25 feet up in a black walnut. I thought I was high enough to where it wouldn't matter where the deer were. The problem I had was I was above the secondary canopy that was about 15 feet.. What I noticed was the deer could see me from a long ways off. Almost like a magnet they would look up there. It wasn't until later when I walked out 80 yards and made a half circle around my stand that I saw what the problem was.. The deer could look up through the secondary canopy and see me way better than I could look down through it and see them first. From 80-100 yards away. It's like looking through a small hole.. The closer the hole is the more you can see beyond it. The further it is the less you can see beyond it. So the top of the canopy is maybe 12 feet above the deers head and they're looking through it. It's 80-100 yards from me and I'm trying to look through it. The deer could see me way better than I could see them.
Maybe this will help. The yellow line is the deers line of sight to both sets. The black line is the distance from the deer to the canopy on the high line of site. notice the lower line of site has to go through much more canopy brush. Almost double. SO the deer would see me much further away and have a broader view than me. It should be the other way around. In this instance hunting lower would be an advantage.. The deer will be much closer before I see them. But in the higher set they could see me much further.
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You have hit it squarely on the head, Joe. The set that I mentioned earlier (the one that Mason noticed and described me as "nuts"), is a prime example. I had a stand for several years 30 yards from that tree. I saw deer from it nearly every sit and shot quite a few. The problem with that stand was that all my shots were fairly long - 35-40 yds. I wanted to move closer to the trails the deer used, so I did. The old stand was 15ish feet in a maple. The new set up was 30 ft up a maple too, there were three of them together, but not real close and NO limbs or forks to hide in. This area is thick... I only shot one deer from that stand in two seasons...they would see me clear across the woodlot! When I moved the stand, it became apparent what the problem was. After walking over to where I moved the stand and looking back to where it was, 30 ft was "eye level'' above the brush to any deer heading toward it from 100 yds away. Sure, if they are close, high stands are fine to hide in. From a distance, you are right there like a billboard. In hill country, deer cannot see any measureable distance as they can in flat terrain, and I know high stands would likely have a much greater advantage than they would in flat country. Still, I don't think I've ever set my hill-country stands much over 20 feet... I just hide em and therefore myself. I want to see a little better, I don't want to die doing it.
at1010
*Supporting Member*
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I did not get to read every post so I apologize if I am restating others points.
1. I enjoy being 25ft, but depends on all situations.
2. I have stands that are about 12ft, but I am hunting a bench so with the ridge I am actually about 20 ft about the deer.
3. I think brock and Joe were talking about shot angles from higher angles. PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS! I shot a doe this year, and did not think of shot angle at all, I held on her heart, and the arrow clipped her brisket, and she got away. After my shot I realized how steep of a shot it was, stupid ROOKIE mistake.
4. Guys who are hunting these high angles, please wear your vest.
1. I enjoy being 25ft, but depends on all situations.
2. I have stands that are about 12ft, but I am hunting a bench so with the ridge I am actually about 20 ft about the deer.
3. I think brock and Joe were talking about shot angles from higher angles. PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS! I shot a doe this year, and did not think of shot angle at all, I held on her heart, and the arrow clipped her brisket, and she got away. After my shot I realized how steep of a shot it was, stupid ROOKIE mistake.
4. Guys who are hunting these high angles, please wear your vest.
Fullbore
Senior Member
24'-26' is my desired height. Although as most of you have said, depends on location and terrain.
Gordo
Senior Member
Im anywhere from 12-20ft. So many variables, especially down here in the hills.
Visibility and cover being the most important.
I will say its riduculous the amount of times ive been in stands, that lookin back, where not good sets.
No cover, well below the canopy, sticking out like a sore thumb, and have had deer come in from the worst directions possible, and never detect me.
Sometimes i just want to start to do jumping jacks and see if they'd notice.
Visibility and cover being the most important.
I will say its riduculous the amount of times ive been in stands, that lookin back, where not good sets.
No cover, well below the canopy, sticking out like a sore thumb, and have had deer come in from the worst directions possible, and never detect me.
Sometimes i just want to start to do jumping jacks and see if they'd notice.
I TOO believe the cover, terrain and location sets the stage for a perfect set up. I've probably made 5-7 bad sets to 1 good one. But at least I know what will NOT work in my situation...That's how ya learn I guess. I have one set that is only 12' up in a Mulberry tree and it is perfect! Hick's called it the Strata-Lounger Stand. Comfy and is just in the perfect location......5 OBB's have been killed from a set up which includes a free stand and a home-made climbing stick!
I'm a 16-20 ft'er. The problem with being higher up ( for me ) is that when I have a # 2'er coming on, I wanna get down as quickly as possible....lol
Johnch
Member
Have not used any of them this year
But I have stands from 8' up to 25'
It all depends on the tree and cover
And the stand 8' up
It is my #1 doe stand
Never see any decent bucks there , but a lot of doe's have hit the ground from it
John
But I have stands from 8' up to 25'
It all depends on the tree and cover
And the stand 8' up
It is my #1 doe stand
Never see any decent bucks there , but a lot of doe's have hit the ground from it
John