How much is too much?

[loneranger]

Just one more question, to all you hunters here, with your vast pool of experiences. I know your time is valuable. I posted this question on the "TECH" site, but was advised to post it here. Near and during the rut, you are told to put in as much stand time, as you can. Yet we are advised that too much time in a stand contaminates the area. I have two stands, put up on my 40 acreslast April, that I plan to use.I know there are many variables, wind conditions,hollows, VS, hills. But how many sits is too many for a typical stand, around Nov.? I also read 20' is the min for height for a tree stand. Mine are more like 14 and 16, are they too low?I know being up above their nose is what counts. Thank you again, very much. The loneranger.

 

[Fletch]

You're right, there are a lot of variables to consider. I know hunters that hunt one or two stands the entire season and are successful. A lot depends on how apt deer are to discover you. I use to have a stand where I could approach through a deep drainage, drop into a creek, wade about fifty yards, step out and climb up my tree. Deer never crossed my trail, and as long as I hunted only when the wind was right, the stand never burned out. On the other hand if you have to cross a number of deer trails to get to, or exit from, your stand, or deer can frequently cross down wind of you - they will eventually pattern you.

As far as height, a lot of deer have been taken from stands only 10 or 12 feet off the ground. If you are concealed by background cover, play the wind and watch your movement you can get away with a lower stand. I feel a lot more secure around 20 foot though. Good luck.

 

[Two Beards]

All but one of our stands are hung between 16' and 22', the lone exception is a stand we have located in a bald pine tree about 27'. I believe two things to consider with stand height are the amount of cover available on the tree you are using, and what the terrain is like on the downwind side.
A couple of my bowhunting partners are a bit skittish about hunting from high stands....if it were just me, I'd never hunt a stand below 18'-20'. Shot angle is much better from lower heights, but concealment of movement and scent is at the top of the list also.

You'll probably get varied opinions on how often to hunt one particular stand. I am of the belief that the first time you hunt a stand your odds of success are highest, each hunt thereafter the odds go down a little each time. There are however, those rare stands that can be hunted repeatedly with the perfect wind. Those in which you have a foolproof entry/exit from. All that said, we rarely hunt a stand more than 1/2 dz. times during the season, and never more than 2 days in a row. We also always save our best locations for November.

 

[Guest]

I know that I am getting help from this one.Thanks Guys.

 

[jdavis]

I would guess that most of the deer on your 40 are traveling through especialy during rut. So, "burning" out your stand would be hard to do. Remember, IF YOU NOT IN IT, YOU CAN'T KILL IT!!!!
play the wind.