If you’re interested in either hunting deer or just researching and studying them, there’s nothing quite like being close to them in their natural habitat. Your choices are typically either a ground blind or a tree stand.
Most of the time, a tree stand is your better bet. You get a much better view, not only all around, but in terms of how far you can see. You also get up above deer or other animals so you’re harder for them to detect. Keep reading to learn some pointers about using a deer stand.
The first thing about using a deer stand is of course safety. Your tree stand needs to have a lifeline system of some sort. Run your safety rope from the very bottom all the way up to the height of your head when you are standing up in the stand. You need to attach a lifeline to this safety rope as well as a carbineer to the tether of your safety harness. Always attach your carabineer to your lifeline when climbing up, and keep it connected until you’re back on the ground for total protection. Also, keep your harness on all the time too.
Be sure to visit Feedthatgame.com for the Best Deer Stands Reviews and Comparisons. This way you’ll be able to choose the right deer stand design for your circumstances. The three most common designs are climbing, hang-on, and ladder stands. Whichever one you use, do routine maintenance on it. Used stands and older installations can get compromised over time.
Ladder stands are effective if you can hang them early, but they’re also cumbersome to haul in and out of the woods. Climbing stands are more useful for public land, but finding the right tree can be hard to do. Hang-on stands are versatile for most situations, as you can pick your own tree and set them up instantly when need be.
In all stand designs, install them as soon as you can. Deer notice changes in their surroundings, so put your stand up at least a month in advance of your scheduled need, be it hunting or research. It’s better to do even two months or more in advance.
Don’t go too low or high with your tree stand. Anything under 15 feet in height might negate the advantages a tree provides you, and anything over 25 feet shrinks the deer kill zone because of shot angle. 20 feet is a good middle ground.
Don’t overcut the tree. You need the cover in order to remain hidden, and overcutting gives you away to the deer. As a matter of fact, add extra cover around your stand. Coniferous tree limbs are great since they last a while.
Never hang your stand right over a trail. Deer will smell you easily. Stay close to their travel lanes, but not right over them.
Always be aware of your limits, and keep learning and adjusting. Never be settled with what you’ve got to work with. Keep learning about deer behavior, as well as hunting them, if that’s what you need tree stands for. Your deer stand locations and methods will keep getting better if you do too.
