When choosing the right place to put a deer stand up before hunting season there are a few key factors to make sure you have a successful season.
- Get out there and scout. Find deer trails, especially well-used ones. Specifically look for ones between bedding and feeding grounds. Make sure to position your stand anywhere between 20 to 30 yards from that trail. Look for white oak trees, they provide a ton of nutrition from acorns that deer love and will be attracted to.
- Wind plays a huge factor in hunting and although we cannot control it, we can use it to our advantage. Position your deer stand off a trail as we mentioned before but also so that the wind is in your face. This will help prevent your scent from reaching deer moving along that path from getting spooked.
- As you are picking out that perfect tree make sure to look at the coverage it provides you. Branches with or without leaves will help breakup your silhouette, keep you hidden and hopefully make you less noticeable to curious deer.
- You have your area picked, there are a few trees that have good coverage and the wind is perfect.Your next step is to make sure the tree is sturdy. Ideally you want your tree stand to be anywhere between 15 to 25 feet. Once your tree stand is placed make sure your have a lifeline set up and always use a safety harness.
- Hopefully you have worked everything out before placing your stand up. Getting to your stand whether early morning or in the afternoon for an evening hunt is key to a successful start. Try not to cross any deer trails and leave your scent and move silently through the woods. Be methodical as you move as to not disturb the deer that could be moving through the area. If you can clean up some ground clutter, leaves, branches or any deadfall before the season starts, this will help make moving in and out of your hunting grounds better.
Hopefully these tips will help prepare you for a successful season so you’re not eating tag soup at the end of it.
