Stand placement is probably just as important as remembering your ammunition. I have heard so many stories with "if my stand would have been" or "if he'd just come in from over" I felt like I should cover stand placement. There are several things you need to keep in mind when you are placing your stand or stands. I am going to try and name some; are deer traveling through the area, which way does the wind normally blow, will I stand out, where are my shooting lanes, is an edge of a field better then in the woods, is there food or cover nearby, how am I going to get my deer out of here. I think that is good, but that is not all.
Scouting is extremly important when placing a stand. You have to know which direction the deer are moving and where they are moving to and from. Something, that may just bother me, is to check and see which way the sun is setting and rising. There is nothing worse than having to stare into the sun for a hour. You will also want to stay away from placing your stand in the middle of a hill. While you are way above anything that comes in below you, you are right at eye level with anything that comes in above you. Your goal should be to try and cut the deer off between where they eat at night and where they sleep during the day. Find a tree that is big enough to cover you while you are in your stand and point your stand in a direction you will be able to swing your gun in the most desired area. If you are right handed you will want the deer in front of you or to your left. Just the oppisite if you are left handed. Picking a tree that is downwind of where you think the deer will be moving is ideal. I know you will not know which direction the wind will be blowing before the day you are going to hunt, but you can determine which way the wind usually blows. If it is not right on the day you are hunting that is when it is good to have more than one stand. You should always adjust to the weather. Don't just hang your stand before bow season. Spend some time in it looking around to make sure you are going to have shooting lanes. Are you going to be covered when the leaves fall off? Are you planning on moving your stand as the food sorces move? Trail camera's are another good thing to try. They have come down in price and take pretty good pictures. Make sure you are not so far out that you can't drag a deer out or get an atv to it. Their are some lucky people out their who can just sit down and harvest a deer, but most of your big deer are taken by hunters who have put their time into their hunt. Please remember to wear your safty harness and ask the questions above before you hang your stand and you will have a better hunt. |