When it comes to tree stands I tend to go a little bit overboard. Some people may call me crazy, but it’s those little things that really make a tree stand effective.
When it comes to preparing tree stands getting them in the right spot and setting them up you need to pay attention to details. It’s alright to be a little anal retentive when getting everything setup.
Scouting during the offseason is all good and grand, but what good is it if you don’t know how to properly setup your stand. You go through all this scouting to find the perfect spot to put your stand. Ok that’s awesome, now what should you do next?
It’s All About Setting The Trap
Remember that you’re basically just setting up an elaborate trip to lure deer your way. What you can actually do is going to vary by state law and where you’re hunting, but it always follows one basic philosophy.
Guide them where you want them to go by making them comfortable. You can cut down trees and pile brush up. Maybe you just plant a food plot or add a water source during the spring. Mock scrapes and mineral licks aren’t going to hurt either.
Planning out your hunt early in the season is going to give more options. Every year I plant a food plot(I use Antler Kings No Till Mix) and setup my deer feeder in the spring.
Check Out My Post on How Using a Deer Feeder
Improving Your Deer Hunting Tree Stand
So you’ve setup your tree stand and found the perfect spot. Big bucks are funneling right in front of your nose during the offseason. You’ve done your homework and setup trail cams trying to take all the guesswork out of hunting.
You’ve done everything you needed to do during the offseason. Don’t just call it a day after you’ve setup your stand. Do whatever you possibly can to make your hunting spot better. Within reason of course.
Doesn’t Matter if You’re Hunting Public Land
You can’t just go around doing whatever you want on public land, but you’d be surprised how much you can actually get away with. Blockading trails is one of the easiest things you can do on public land.
I’m not talking about going around cutting down trees with a chainsaw. Anything that you see that has fallen can be moved to improve your hunting position. Just go around grabbing fallen down junk and plugging trails to lead those bucks right towards you.
Just think about your stand and find quick and easy ways to improve it. Maybe your stand position is an 8/10. Try and find away to just bump it up and over that edge making it great.
Once you’re up in the stand chop down those branches that obstruct your view. Breaking off a few leaves and tossing them off to the side really isn’t a big deal.
Cut Shooting Lanes
Once your stands up in the air you need to make sure you can get off a good shot. Cutting shooting lanes is one of the most important things you can do. One of the worst feelings is seeing a big buck right on the other side of a branch and you can’t get off a shot.
Trim down a few limbs to open up your lanes while remembering not to overdo it. Cutting a couple branches is cool, killing a whole tree is not.
Accessorize Your Stand
When it comes to your actual stand do what you can to accessorize it. Always look for ways to improve your comfort and functionality. It’s the little things that really make a big difference.
Probably seems stupid, but I can’t hunt without these cheap screw in drink holders. Without it my thermos of coffee is on the ground within ten minutes.
Bring lots of screw in bow and gear holders. I always have two or three screw in holders with me to hold all my random gear. Those screw in bow and gear holders are cheap so you might as well bring a bunch. I bought a 20 pack of these years ago and I’m still using the same ones today.
It’s all about making your life easier up in the stand. When that deer is coming you want to quickly and smoothly grab your bow to get off a shot. That means no fumbling around with gear and spooking him off.
When that big buck or doe is setup behind you, you don’t want to have to dig around in your pack to get out your call. Everything you could possibly need should be within arms reach at all times.
Setup a Bow Rope
Always put a pull up bow rope (like this one) up in every single stand. You can just leave it there and once you climb up in your stand and get situated pull up all your gear. Just hook up your pack and bow and hoist it on up it’s that simple.
Create Entry and Exit Cover
Getting into your stand without drawing attention is extremely important. If you’re hunting private land setup your tree stand a month early so that it starts to blend.
Practice getting to your stand undetected before the hunting season even begins. Find a way in and out of your stand that isn’t going to draw attention. You don’t want to scare away the deer before you even get into your stand.
Use natural formations like ravines and creeks to silently sneak in. If you don’t have natural just make some by planting your own or moving brush. Even if you’re not a farmer you can plant some wheat or corn. It’s the perfect cover, it grows tall and naturally attracts deer.
Make Your Treestand Quiet
If you’re making all kinds of noise climbing up into your stand you’re doing it wrong. try to make your tree stand as quiet as you possibly can.
You can even add some grip tape or felt minimize noisy contact points. Getting their eyes and ears off you could just save your hunt. A few rolls of this McNett Tactical Camo wrap is all you need.
Plus soundproofing your stand will give you a little more confidence when you get up to take your shot. You won’t have to worry about all those little squeaks cost for metal on metal contact.
Get a Comfortable Seat
Place your old beat-up stand with a new one the comes with a comfortable seat. It’s nearly impossible set all day I’m one of those old school bench seats.
Find something that’s a little more comfortable, you’d be surprised just how nice modern treestands are. I recently switched to this Millenium Ladder Stand next to my cornfield and it’s like sitting in a lawn chair. I can sit in it all day unlike my old bench style stands.
Leaning Stands are More Comfortable
Don’t hang your tree stand so that it’s sitting perfectly level or even worse leaning forward. You want to hang your stand so that it’s leaning back a little bit.
A few degrees off center is all you really need. Believe me, after a few hours in the stand your back will be thanking me.
Setup at The Right Height
Finding the right stand height comes all comes down to placement and preference. When bow hunting I personally like to go up about 20-25 feet.
You’re definitely not going to be able to hang every stand at that height. Something will likely get in the way, trees, limbs, Leaves . There are all kinds of things that could get in your way.
It’s a good idea to check your view as your climbing up the tree. Who knows maybe 18 feet will give you a better vantage point. But remember as you go up your stealthier, but it’s also a harder shot.
Check Out My Post on Finding The Right Tree Stand Height
Remember Safety First
Remember that you always need to be putting Safety First. This means using both a lifeline and a safety vest.
I use the Hunter Safety System Lifeline System and I absolutely love it. I tried pricing out all the gear on my own and I couldn’t come close to the price. Not only that it’s easy to use and really high quality. This rope could just save your life one day.
Hunter safety vests are another piece of gear that you definitely need up in a tree stand. There are a ton of different brands out there, but again I went with the Hunter Safety System X-1 Hunters Harness. It’s the cheapest vest currently in their lineup and it’s surprisingly comfortable.