Beyond its location, consider a tree’s age, stability, canopy and ideal wind when determining if it will make a good perch. (Photo courtesy of Realtree)
October 30, 2024
By Alice Jones Webb
I had a miserable first treestand experience. I was just a knobby-kneed kid hunting with my dad when he pointed me toward a crooked, old oak and said, “That’s you!” When I arrived at its base, I looked up to find a rickety piece of plywood wedged between two uneven branches. I climbed a few half-rotten two-by-fours to the slanting, splinter-riddled platform, questioning just how much my father cared about my safety. Somehow, I made it to that plank without falling and spent the evening secretly hoping I wouldn’t see a deer because the recoil of a shot would undoubtedly send me tumbling 20 feet to my death.
The good news is, I didn’t die. I lived to hunt out of more (and much safer) treestands than I can count, and through plenty of trial and error, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. I’ve screwed up a bunch of good hunts with poorly chosen stand locations, but experience is a stern teacher. To save you the heartache and swear words, here are the key things to remember when searching for the perfect tree to set up a stand.
SHIFTING LOCATIONS The best spot for a treestand can change numerous times throughout the season. Factors such as food availability, weather conditions, rut stages and the increasing presence of hunters can have a considerable impact on deer behavior.
Savvy, early-season hunters take advantage of travel corridors to seasonal food sources like agricultural fields, apple trees and fallen acorns. Field edges are hot spots. After crops are harvested and other food sources dry up, activity around feeding sites slows, requiring a change in strategies and setup locations.
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During the pre-rut, treestands near heavily-trafficked deer trails or active scrapes are ideal. As deer activity increases throughout the day, though, so do your chances of accidentally bumping a buck. Repositioning early-season ladder stands to suitable pre-rut locations can be tricky. If you don’t already have something set in a pre-rut nerve center, opting for a tree saddle or climbing stand may be the smarter option.
Your stand location should change again as the rut turns hot and heavy. Rutting bucks can be incredibly unpredictable, which is part of the thrill of hunting that time of year. Ultra-mobile, hang-and-hunt stands become invaluable tools for chasing the action, which can shift from day to day. If you prefer something more permanent, set stands before the season near natural funnels and pinch points that concentrate deer during their travels. Other prime locations include the edges of doe bedding areas. Bucks often check downwind of these areas for estrus does, especially as the rut starts to slow down.
Once the rut wanes, hunters should again turn their focus to food sources. Late-season whitetails can be wary feeders, so it’s a smart strategy to hunt potential staging areas where deer can enjoy some light hors d’oeuvres in the security of cover before moving on to a heartier meal in a cut cornfield or open food plot. They may not move on to the main course until after dark, but you might catch one snacking as daylight fades.
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Tree saddles offer greater mobility and broaden the shooting window to a full 360 degrees, both invaluable benefits during the rut. (Photo courtesy of Tethrd) Of course, setting an effective treestand involves more than just finding a good location. Once you’ve selected the right area, you still have to pick a suitable tree. To accomplish that, you should always consider thermal currents and prevailing wind patterns since you’ll want to hunt downwind or crosswind of where you expect the deer to be. Also take into account the sun’s position, which can make or break a hunt. People don’t like looking into the sun, but neither do deer, so use it to your advantage.
DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS I can’t say why some unknown hunter hung a plywood stand in that tree I climbed into as a kid, but that old oak had a lot of good things going for it. First, mature trees are generally more stable than young ones. Younger trees can make a long sit on a windy day feel like a cheap carnival thrill ride. I’ve sat in a few that made me wish I’d brought some Dramamine. Swaying erratically in a tree isn’t exactly conducive to making a steady shot, either.
Mature trees also have thicker canopies, which will break up your outline. Old oaks, cottonwoods, poplars and cedars with thick trunks generally offer plenty of stability for higher stand placement and a decent limb structure to position a well-hidden stand.
Treestand height is a hotly debated topic. Some hunters firmly believe “the higher, the better.” While the higher you go, the less likely a deer is to wind you, there are disadvantages to going above 20 feet. As elevation increases, so does shot angle, and steep angles often result in single-lung hits and lost deer.
EXIT (AND ENTRY) STRATEGIES You don’t want to spook every deer within a 50-mile radius before the hunt begins, so the way you reach your treestand is just as important as where it is located. When hiking in, be quiet, don’t shuffle your feet and avoid sticks like the plague.
While most hunters spend plenty of time thinking about what the wind will do to their scent once they reach their stand, few consider the consequences of air currents on the way in. You should enter the area by walking into the wind, even if it means taking the long way around.
Keep your hands to yourself on the hikes in and out. Every time you touch something, you leave traces of human scent, so limit the contact to a minimum. Rubber boots will also help prevent you from leaving a wake of your aroma.
ONE LAST LOOK Things look a lot different from the ground than from a tree, even if that tree seems perfect. When choosing stand locations before the season, bring some climbing sticks and get up the tree for a visual from the actual hunting height.
Don’t rush your search for the perfect tree. Each step should be purposely considered before you settle on one. Remember that even small details can make or break a hunt.
GIDDY UP Hop in a saddle for increased adaptability.
(Photo courtesy of Tethrd) Opting for a tree saddle instead of a traditional treestand opens up a host of possibilities in tree selection. Crooked, leaning, thin, fat and oddball timber are all fair game. That gives you added flexibility to get exactly where you need to be to get a good shot. Tethrd (tethrd.com) is a leading brand in the tree-saddle trend. The company offers several innovative models, but its Phantom Saddle Kit is an easy favorite. It is lightweight, durable, surprisingly comfortable and simple to use. Its large lineman loops are easy to find in the dark and easily adjustable, even when you’re wearing gloves. “Comfort Channels” permit one-handed adjustments for leaning trees, and high, medium and low settings let you bolster support wherever you deem it most necessary.
This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
