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Setting tree stands??

Daver

Daver

PMA Member
Just curious how people approach setting tree stands in terms of keeping noise and scent down in a hunting area. How far in advance would you set a stand, clear shooting lanes, etc? Would you drive a truck or 4 wheeler right up to the spot or not?

I prefer to clear brush and trim branches for a stand location in January through April, but will do so now if I have to, etc. What experiences, good and bad, have people had setting stands now or even into the season?

Let's get some good lessons learned out there from the experienced hunters on this site!
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Hello,

I put 8 stands up minus (1) about 4-5 weeks ago--and it doesn't seem to bother them to much-I did all my trimming and stay out till the right time--sometime the curosity gets the best of me checking rub lines by a stand. I approach as early as I can get out of bed in the am and always are back in the stand by 3:00 or 4:00 PM...unless it's the rut-then I stay all day--this is the time I see bucks cruising at noon.
 
I put out a few stands and leave them in spots that I have know will be in good spots. The rest of the year I just try different areas by taking up and down a stand everytime. I never have cut any shooting lanes. It just seems like a waste of time in most cases. There is always a spot to shoot, just pick your holes before you start seeing deer and you should be fine. I am rarely in the stand in the morning before it gets light out. I almost just assume its breaking dawn just a little before I hang a new stand. I tend to walk into an area without ever picking out a tree prior to me hunting there, so I want to make sure Im not ending up in a brush pile. It just seems to work a little easier for me.
 
Just hung my stands last week, I generally try to go the day before I see it is going to rain, I hung the stands friday and we got rain all weekend so hopefully that took care of most of my scent. I actually have 2 left to hang, 1 of which I will probably just carry in and hang the morning or evening I am going to hunt, and the other is going to another farm and I haven't had time to get there. I figure I won't hunt these until late october so their should be plenty of time for things to settle down.

Additionally I usually cut lanes now, and just drag the branches I cut down out of the timber, and through them where I wont be hunting, seems to work fine.
 
Stands have been up since winter, or I carry in with me. I have been using a little bobcat tree seat, (don't think they make them anymore) that fits inside a back pack. Can get in fairly quiet. I only trim and cut this time of year as a must. I don't know if that is over thinking it, but figure new activity this time of year may very well send a 4.5 yr old buck nocturnal or agricultural. It would be difficult to realize If I had made a mistake and had a mature buck re-locate. When I find the need to jump in new areas during season, I get in, trim as little as possible, set and get out.
 
I usually try to have all of my stands (at least fifteen)up by the end of july, first week of august. I am fairly aggressive with my shooting lane clearing at this time, since it is one of the few things I can control. I also mow paths with a Bachtold mower ( the grandfather to the D.R. mower)at this time. It is a lot of hard, hot work but when the season comes I can sneak into my stands like a cat. Also a little bit wider trail really helps control my scent since I don't rub up against any vegetation that might transfer a smell. The only contact made is the bottom of my boots to the dirt trail, and those boots never see any surface except the fields and woods, no gas stations or convienience stores. I am also in my stand well before daylight as I have often had bucks and does come in before daylight and bed down within range of my stand. Had I waited I would have busted them out. I stay till well after dark also. My wide trails eliminate the need for a flashlight and I can hunt my stands more often without burning them out this way. I never ride my four wheeler (noise, exhaust fumes) out to hunt and I park my truck where it is out of sight of the stand and will not block movement for deer to the stand. I will walk a minimum of three to four hundred yards and sometimes as far as a mile. Just carry your heavy layers and try not to sweat. Sometimes shots present themselves on the way in and out. If that is not possible I will sometimes coordinate with a buddy to do a drive by drop of and pick up, only stopping the vehicle long enough to safely exit or enter the vehicle. I really didn't mean to write a book but I wanted to explain that I work hard at the things I CAN control since there are so many elements that I can't.
 
Most of my stands have been in all year long. If they are still up, they have proven themselves.

I have several that I keep at the house for those spots that catch your eye as the season progresses.

Shredder just helped me this past weekend to brush hog timber trails. I was very late in doing the trails this year. We had a great drenching rain that night so I felt good about that.

Talk about making a disturbance!!! Have you ever heard a tractor bashing through the timber? I have four cameras on the trails now just to prove the deer will move right back in and go back to their daily pattern. I'm sure I not only disturbed a big buck, but every darn deer on my property. I do this every year.

The trails will be full of scrapes this weekend.

It all depends on what the deer in your area see as normal activity.

Also, this area won't see much of me until my November vacation.

Can't wait to climb the tree!!!
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Huntcrazy...I see we were typing about the timber trails at the same time!!!

I love them for all the reasons you stated.

Mine are more like mini-logging roads!
 
my dad took the brush-hog around one of my stands a few weeks ago. he thought it would cause a green-up of the vegitation. i think it was too late in the year for that, but as deer like to take the path of least resistance, they will be cruising right past my stand
 
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