By Jeff Matura
In most situations hunting deer from a tree stand will offer the bow hunter the greatest chance of success. Unlike hunting deer with a weapon that is capable of taking a deer up to a couple hundred yards a bow hunter is looking for that shot of 40 yards or less. This means the bow hunter needs to position themselves very close to an area deer are using without being detected. Being elevated in a tree a stand helps the hunter reduce the chance of being seen or smelled by the keen senses of a whitetail. However, successful bow hunting involves much more than simply hanging a stand in any randomly picked tree.
Learning how to improving your odds is what successful bow hunting is all about. The more elements of deer hunting you can put in your favor the better off you'll be.
Scouting is critical to the success of any deer hunter. Even if you master every other element of bow hunting you'll simply never bag a deer if you never have the opportunity to draw your bow. Before deer season begins try to spend as much time as possible in the woods you plan to hunt learning the areas and trails deer are using. Bedding areas, feeding areas and the trails connecting these areas should all be identified. Preferred food sources of whitetail deer include corn fields, bean fields, alfalfa, apple trees, and acorns. Trails and terrain that funnel deer between bedding and feeding areas are worth consideration when determining tree stand locations.
When choosing a tree to hang your stand on don't waste time finding trying to find the perfect tree. You're simply looking for a tree that will offer you a 10-25 yard shot at a deer. Next the tree selected should be large enough to support your weight and wide enough to conceal the silhouette of your body.
Putting the wind in your favor is very important when hunting as deer have a very keen sense of smell. Even if your stand is 15 - 25 feet in the air don't take the chance of a deer winding you. Always try to set up your stand down wind of approaching deer. Many deer hunters hunt mock or real scrapes and simply hunt the tree near by that gives them the best shooting lane. But most deer will approach a scrape from the down wind direction. Taking this into consideration a better place to hunt scrape would be downwind of it.
Many hunters never consider that fact that deer do look up in the woods. Even if a deer doesn't look up consider the fact that deer just as humans do have peripheral vision which can detect the slightest of movements. Choosing a tree that offers good cover to help conceal small movements is always a good idea. Even dressed in full camo your movements should always be kept to a minimum.
Stand height is a frequently asked question from bow hunters just starting out. Typically 12 to 25 feet up in a tree is adequate. Most hunters prefer a height of approximately 16 to 18 feet.
Staying quiet in stand is very important as whitetail deer have very sensitive hearing. Even if you 30 foot in the air a whitetail will be able to hone in on your position if your making noise. Before season make sure to set up your stand and check for squeaks or noises while shifting you weight on it. Also take the time to secure any chains or loose meal surfaces before heading out into the woods.
Even while your hunting you should never stop scouting. Take note of areas or trails that deer are using and be flexible enough to move your stand to these areas if needed. There's no sense in staying on a trail that's not producing deer.
When traveling to your stands consider ground odor that you may be producing. Rubber boots should always be worn versus leather pack boots. Also try to avoid walking on deer trails to your stand or touching anything with your bare hands. Scent control sprays should also be considered.
While sticking it out on stand can get awful boring at times you simply are not going to bag a big buck sitting at home watching the hunting channel. Learn to stick it out and use your perch to keep scouting for areas that may offer more opportunity.
Learning how to improving your odds is what successful bow hunting is all about. The more elements of deer hunting you can put in your favor the better off you'll be.
Scouting is critical to the success of any deer hunter. Even if you master every other element of bow hunting you'll simply never bag a deer if you never have the opportunity to draw your bow. Before deer season begins try to spend as much time as possible in the woods you plan to hunt learning the areas and trails deer are using. Bedding areas, feeding areas and the trails connecting these areas should all be identified. Preferred food sources of whitetail deer include corn fields, bean fields, alfalfa, apple trees, and acorns. Trails and terrain that funnel deer between bedding and feeding areas are worth consideration when determining tree stand locations.
When choosing a tree to hang your stand on don't waste time finding trying to find the perfect tree. You're simply looking for a tree that will offer you a 10-25 yard shot at a deer. Next the tree selected should be large enough to support your weight and wide enough to conceal the silhouette of your body.
Putting the wind in your favor is very important when hunting as deer have a very keen sense of smell. Even if your stand is 15 - 25 feet in the air don't take the chance of a deer winding you. Always try to set up your stand down wind of approaching deer. Many deer hunters hunt mock or real scrapes and simply hunt the tree near by that gives them the best shooting lane. But most deer will approach a scrape from the down wind direction. Taking this into consideration a better place to hunt scrape would be downwind of it.
Many hunters never consider that fact that deer do look up in the woods. Even if a deer doesn't look up consider the fact that deer just as humans do have peripheral vision which can detect the slightest of movements. Choosing a tree that offers good cover to help conceal small movements is always a good idea. Even dressed in full camo your movements should always be kept to a minimum.
Stand height is a frequently asked question from bow hunters just starting out. Typically 12 to 25 feet up in a tree is adequate. Most hunters prefer a height of approximately 16 to 18 feet.
Staying quiet in stand is very important as whitetail deer have very sensitive hearing. Even if you 30 foot in the air a whitetail will be able to hone in on your position if your making noise. Before season make sure to set up your stand and check for squeaks or noises while shifting you weight on it. Also take the time to secure any chains or loose meal surfaces before heading out into the woods.
Even while your hunting you should never stop scouting. Take note of areas or trails that deer are using and be flexible enough to move your stand to these areas if needed. There's no sense in staying on a trail that's not producing deer.
When traveling to your stands consider ground odor that you may be producing. Rubber boots should always be worn versus leather pack boots. Also try to avoid walking on deer trails to your stand or touching anything with your bare hands. Scent control sprays should also be considered.
While sticking it out on stand can get awful boring at times you simply are not going to bag a big buck sitting at home watching the hunting channel. Learn to stick it out and use your perch to keep scouting for areas that may offer more opportunity.
Jeff Matura has been an avid outdoorsman for over twenty years hunting deer, ducks, and geese through out the Midwest including the states of Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
Visit his latest website tree stands for less for best deals on a tree stand including climbing tree stands.
Visit his latest website tree stands for less for best deals on a tree stand including climbing tree stands.
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