What to consider when placing your Deer Stand.?
These are a few of things to consider, which I will try to briefly explain; wind, background coverage, water hole, bedding area, food source, buck trail, doe trail, scrap line, spoke wheel, stand height, and community scrap. As you become more experienced you will add to this list.
How Does The Wind Affect The Placement Of Your Deer Stands?
Wind is very important, but the terrain needs to be consider also. If your terrain is relatively flat then consider what direction the wind typically blows from, Northwest? If so you want to place your stand on the Southeast side of your trials.
However, if you have hills and valleys, then this becomes a much different scenario, as the wind swirls in all directions. I like to be on the ridge where my scent is carrier over the top of anything moving below me, and to have any trials on the same latitude to my West. But this depends on the layout of the hills and valleys, so you will need to study it to find the best areas in this case.
Using Background Coverage For Your Deer Stands.
Background coverage is huge. You can be 15 feet up into a tree and still be picked out if you do not have any background coverage. You can also be 4 feet off the ground and have great coverage and never be seen. Here are a few pictures from one of my stands, just to give you an idea of the coverage. The first picture of each set is looking at the stand, then looking out into the shooting lane.
Pick trees that have a lot of branches and preferably keep their leaves the longest. Oaks are very good for this, where elm is not. I have also found on the edge of the woods and a field works well, for both high and low stands. I have a spot where I’m up only 5 feet, in a hickory tree, with a large Oak to my right. However, I have a dark surface on my back and to my immediate right, with a bright field behind me.
Another good approach is to find a tree where there are 3 trees in one, close enough to each other where the stand may hit one of the other trees or trunks, if not positioned just right.
How To Understand the Deer Route; Bedding, Water, Food.
Understanding the Deer routes and their cycles are very beneficial. So where are the water holes, bedding areas, and food sources? Figure these out and set yourself between the bedding and either the water or food source. If your food source is an Apple Orchard, you will want to be in the woods a ways, as they may hold up until dark. If you are hunting a corn field try to find an Oak tree where the Acorns have dropped into the corn rows and over look this. But try to stay away from their bedding area, as you do not want to push them out.
Are There Buck and Doe Deer Trails?
There are both Buck and Doe trails and yes there are differences. This post will cover the trails and ground scraps.
What Height Should A Deer stand be?
Your Deer Stand height varies depending on your background coverage and wind. I found if you’re just above the 15 ft mark, with your feet, you’re good. It seems that the 10 to 15 foot area is easier for the deer to pick you out. Again, I have a couple of stands only 4 to 5 feet up and they work great, but one is on a hill side and the other is on the edge of a field looking into the woods, with a large Oak butted up to a hickory tree.