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Post by bartiks on Jul 31, 2021 9:11:04 GMT -5
Need some feedback here. It's got me thinking about a shot at a doe I had last year, first year I've hunting a ladder stand in a LOOOONG time. Heard her coming up behind me and I had to reposition myself to get a shot, I've always been used to hunting from the ground so in my mind i'm moving like i'm on the ground. Wait until she looks away, waiting for sound to cover my sound. By the time I got in position to fire she was almost out of range (brush, limbs etc). I know that deer primarily focus on the ground level and don't really look up unless they have a reason to. Thoughts.
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Post by Russ Koon on Jul 31, 2021 10:22:15 GMT -5
It depends a lot on the location, the history, and the height.
I've been picked off when hunting at fifteen feet in a climber, and killed a good buck when at ten feet up in a skinny little tree, when the buck was distracted by the doe he was following, even though the rut was still a couple weeks away.
I hunted a few times at 25+ feet with a climber, and had does right under my stand and after a while I tried to get their attention without making any noise, and couldn't do it, even by standing up, waving my arms waving my bow around. It got very uncomfortable being that high when the wind picked up, and the shot angles on anything that was in range got pretty steep, so I usually stayed down around 18 feet with the climber as a good compromise between the advantages of being higher and the disadvantages. The height of your stand above the deer's normal line of sight as they approach is another factor.
I think deer pick up on the possibility of people sitting in trees after they've seen them there a few times, so the prior use of the area by hunters in stands is also a factor.
Most of my time in a tree has been in climbers. I've always suspected that there is less evidence of something strange in the area when there is no ladder or steps that smell like people down there at their nose level, but I can't prove it. Probably becomes a normal part of their familiar trail after a couple weeks of being there, though.
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Post by esshup on Jul 31, 2021 10:38:09 GMT -5
Like Russ said, somewhere between the top and the bottom one. Deer will see you if you move and they are looking your way. You have more leeway than on the ground, but I still try and move like I am on the ground.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Jul 31, 2021 12:00:02 GMT -5
Climber on the side of a tree with no extra cover, gotta be careful moving.
I've got more permanent stand tucked tightly into cover (limbs, split trunks, etc.) and I can get away with a lot more movement in those stands.
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Post by firstwd on Jul 31, 2021 12:16:12 GMT -5
Everything above holds true. I spent the vast majority of my life 25 feet or higher and got away with quite a bit of movement. Since my replacement parts I use 15 foot ladder stands as ladders and hunt from hang-on stands next to them. My movement has to be calculated, slow, and minimal. I am lucky enough to have a woods filled with young beach trees and I am notorious for hanging my stands in poplar trees next to the beach to have as much cover as possible. The downside being the beach limbs simetimes get in the way. My normal plan B is in or next to maple trees to have the extra cover.
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Post by greghopper on Jul 31, 2021 12:21:24 GMT -5
When hunting early season with leaves still on you can move somewhat more but once leaves fall beware if they are moving vs feeding! I hunt from a climber only or ground.
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Post by bartiks on Aug 1, 2021 6:52:26 GMT -5
Thanks for all the input fella's, I bought an 18 foot ladder stand as such with life things always come up. Got it around 1/2 put together in the garage right now. Looking forward to putting it up in a location where there has been minimal/no pressure. Set my camera out there around a week ago looking forward to see what is trolling thru the area. Only downside to it is have to walk thru a field and skirt their bedding area. Straight 200 yd shot from the road but will probably have to walk closer to 500 yd to get into the stand.
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Post by steiny on Aug 1, 2021 9:55:07 GMT -5
I primarily use ladder stands. Whenever possible I set them up in multi-trunked trees to better conceal myself and the stand. Much better than setting up on a single trunk tree.
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Post by chewbacca on Aug 2, 2021 7:16:51 GMT -5
I primarily use ladder stands. Whenever possible I set them up in multi-trunked trees to better conceal myself and the stand. Much better than setting up on a single trunk tree. That's exactly what I do on nearly all my ladder stand setups. Makes a big difference in concealment. |
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Post by Mack Apiary Bees on Aug 2, 2021 7:36:55 GMT -5
When you pick your spot make sure your stand in not in the sight path of the deer. Try to put parallel of the trails. One more little help. Try to find cedar or big wide trees for the ladder stand. Try to find one where the tree trunk is as wide as your are. That way your movement is just a squirrel on the trunk of the tree.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 2, 2021 9:12:23 GMT -5
I primarily use ladder stands. Whenever possible I set them up in multi-trunked trees to better conceal myself and the stand. Much better than setting up on a single trunk tree. That's exactly what I do on nearly all my ladder stand setups. Makes a big difference in concealment. My favorite stand is in a tri trunk tree. I’m nestled in pretty good and it’s rare that a deer picks me out in it. Being in a multi trunk stand you have watch for clearances. I didn’t once and my crossbow limb made contact with the tree trunk. That sent my arrow 10 foot up a tree halfway to the buck. He stood there ALMOST long enough for me to cock my crossbow. Rookie mistake … |
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Post by bartiks on Aug 2, 2021 14:05:21 GMT -5
I plan on putting my ladder stand around 5-10 yards back from a trail that overlooks a ravine that is around 50 yards wide or so with a huge intersection of trails in the area of that intersection and off to my left around 40 yards is a pretty good bedding area.
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