whydotheystink asked:
I have a tree fort that wraps around the whole tree that I use for hunting. Right now it is only about 8 feet high, and it doesn’t seem like it is high enough. I have to stand up to get a shot off and every time i do the deer see me and spook. How high should it be to bow hunt?
thanks
I have a tree fort that wraps around the whole tree that I use for hunting. Right now it is only about 8 feet high, and it doesn’t seem like it is high enough. I have to stand up to get a shot off and every time i do the deer see me and spook. How high should it be to bow hunt?
thanks
Tags: Deer, Hunting, Tree Stand
12 to 15 feet
12 to 15 feet is good, any higher and youll have to make compensations with your aim for the height and thats tricky with to do with buck fever
It was 15 feet to the bottom of my climber tree stand and the deer never smelled me. The deer “did see me” but with camo and me remaining still … the deer was never spooked but just played me off as being something odd and continued on with what it was doing. Just high enough to keep your scent over it’s head is okay. In extremely cold weather when snow is forecast your scent may go toward the ground. If you’ll notice before it snows smoke will go down instead of up. If this is the case then a deer could still smell you with a stand 15 feet in the air. The smell of a human will spook a deer very quickly.
Minimum height should be 15 to 18 Feet Maximum.*
The right height depends on the surrounding area and how to best conceal your spot. If you can place it right in or immediately under branches from the tree you’ll blend in better. Also consider the viewing perspective from the deer’s eyes: are there close trees with branches behind you or are you silhouetted against an open sky when you stand up? Place your stand at the height needed to keep you hidden…that could be 10 feet, could be 30. Remember also that the higher you go the smaller the kill zone is due to shot angle, that’s why it’s good to stay down around 20 feet if possible to stay concealed.
Another option is to install a background screen to keep you from being silhouetted. Those mesh lights everyone puts on their shrubs this time of year are great…when they stop working, pull the bulbs and hang a couple above head height hanging down, and weave a few sticks, leafy vines, or brush into the mesh so you have something behind you when you stand up, and if you’re in direct sunlight use one or two to make a “roof” so you’re in the shadows when you stand and move. Pretty easy to do: tie one end to the tree, and use a few sturdy long sticks to brace the other end out from the tree. If you do this a few weeks before the season starts the new construction will become part of the accepted scenery, just like any other shooting house does. Then again, if you hunt public land like me it may be less of an option, in which case you need to find trees that do this for you with their own canopy.
depends on cover surrounding area if out in opening higher up lessens visual sight range, if hunting brush high hunt edge from tripod set back, in few feet , one that used to enjoy was in wide open took 10 ft tripod brushed up early sept with elm and hackberry cuts had few higher than swivel boat seat and head all leaned out to accomidate recurve on lap took 3 from it and blunted several more looked like sumac bush from distance from your plat form drape invisi blind or netting then get a tall bar stool to sit on thats tall enough to shoot off sitting from side avoid standing its either noise on standing or something getting their attention to your location brush up head high in couple spot break up outline even above you by hangin
It all depends on your terrain, cover, and safety. Eight feet is pretty low, but I have stands that are only six feet off the ground. This works because of the foliage in that area. i also have stands that are 16 to 20 feet high. As long as you are safe and can get a good shot, then place your stand at the height you feel is necessary.
I would imagine you need to camouflage your movements better. Try to put some brush around your stand or maybe some camo material. Also stand up when you first see the deer, before they are close enough to detect your movements. If that is not possible, learn to shoot from a seated position, if your stand allows it.
Basically your imagination is the only thing preventing you from making this 8 foot stand work.
professionals recommend that a bow stand be 17-21 feet up in a tree