Why I like being 25-35 ft MINIMUM up a tree

[Hardcorehunter]

I have read where people say that being up this high causes an issue with too steep of an angle on an arrow entry/exit, thus not getting a double lung shot. I can live with that, as I almost ALWAYS take out one lung and the heart, which is as good OR better than two lungs in my experience anyway. I have had fat or tissue somehow plug up a double lung hit on deer, after my arrow has completely blown through them, and have not found them, or had a hard time finding them, due to lack of blood. The arrow exits the opposite side of the deer on these lower treestand height shots, and if the deer bleeds, it is all internally, and very little hits the ground. Since I adopted years back, going always high in my stands, 25-35 ft up, my arrow exits the bottom of the deer, Ray Charles can track them, and I have a heart damaged besides at least one lung. When I take out both lungs, at least my exit hole is low on the deer and I get better blood trails then a exit hole high on a deer. I get away with a lot as far as deer not busting me/seeing me with any noise/movement I or my bow may make while drawing or getting ready to draw, I take pics of deer that I don't want to shoot, and they never see me or hear my camera, and I don't seem to get winded, although, I never hunt in a stand when the wind isn't in my favor. I have had great success over the years hunting high, and Here are some deer kills from this last season and I was 30 ft up each hunt. The bottom pic is a buck that decided to bed down right below my tree and you can see my broadhead in the pic, showing you how close I am. The 1st deer in the pic was killed hours after taking the pics of this sleeping buck, he was roughly shot right where the buck was sleeping.

This doe was shot very close to my tree at a steep angle

These two bucks had to be rolled over for pics as there was a lot of blood that had exited out of the exit hole. Tracking was easy and short on all of these kills.

 

[Liv4Rut]

I just wish I could find a tree that was 25-35ft tall in those Boone River Bottoms I am lucky to get in a tree 20ft and if I am its about Calf thick. I am sure you know what I mean No problems going high for me, just hard to find trees that let me.

 

[DOR]

Id agree pretty much 100%. If 25 ft is good, 35 is better usually.

One huge advantage to hunting higher you failed to mention is the big gain in visibility you achieve.


Here is a typical set up for me early season. Lets just say its up there.

 

[deeraddict]

I read an article by Chuck Adams one time that said if you aren't high enough that a fall from your stand would kill you, your not high enough. I believe he suggested close to the same, 20 to 30 ft up.

 

[Liv4Rut]

I was told you at least have to hunt 2-3 hollers up. A holler is defined by how many times you can holler out before you hit the ground. By the way, DOR's tree looks dead

 

[DOR]

Its not dead. It's "growth challenged".:grin:

Actually, thats the tree growing right next to me.

BTW, do you ever wonder what you would do if your tree started falling when you were in it. Its a day dream I have often during long sits.....I know its about time to leave then.

 

[Liv4Rut]

You know DOR. I think about the very same scenario A Lot!! I always have an action plan. Half the time I am hunting willow trees 20ft up with about 6 inch diameter trunks and it gets a little hairy at times.

Actually the main reason why I always think of the tree falling down is when I was younger my buddies dad went out to hunt this GIANT oak tree. It's the kind that are so big you have to put 2-3 extensions around them to get in them plus a ladder. The tree was full of leaves and dropping acorns.

He got to the tree and realized the wind switched so he went about 100 yards away to his next tree. That night the wind picked up and he heard a thunderous crash from over by his other tree. When he walked out that monster oak had fallen over and his steel treestand was in a 100 pieces. I wouldn't believe it myself but I went there the next day and seen the damage. It was quite scary to think a tree that size could buckle under the wind. All the trees I hunt are 10-15 times smaller than that so I guess you never know.

Let's just say he is a lucky man, he would be dead right now if he would have chosen that tree.

 

[hillrunner]

BTW, do you ever wonder what you would do if your tree started falling when you were in it. Its a day dream I have often during long sits.....I know its about time to leave then.

Oh ya, I always envision myself grabbing onto the branches of the tree next to me and swinging like tarzan!

 

[BrewCrew]

Oh ya, I always envision myself grabbing onto the branches of the tree next to me and swinging like tarzan!

I have often thought of the same thing as well guys.. Haha.. I am always safety harnassed in and know I would be screwed.

 

[Daver]

I heard a guy tell a story one time...

that I took as true, but I am not 100% sure.

He hunted in a treestand one morning that was in a tree right on a river bank and then climbed down and went to town for lunch after a few hours. He came back 60-90 minutes later and couldn't find his stand and started to get mad because he thought someone had stolen it in the time he was away at lunch only to discover that the tree itself had fallen into the river in his absence!

He went from being mad to being glad in just a second!

Imagine starting to doze off a bit and you begin to feel like you are falling AND YOU ARE, the whole tree is falling. That would be some scary stuff right there.

 

[Hardcorehunter]

Lol....yea bud...that tree looks more dead than growth challenged Glad it's the one next to you. Yea..I have thought of that too as far as a tree falling while I am in it. I reason thta right before it hits the ground, I jump up and out, and I will be OK. Hope I never have to find out.

I like this guys' post on this same thread on AT.

Do have to agree with you here, its like a drain plug for an oil pan. Will more oil empty from the pan if the plug is located on the side or the bottom of the pan? Every time that I change oil.... the drain plug is always on bottom.

 

[Sligh1]

I never hunt any lower than 20'. I have about 60 stands up that are shared by me and my 2 bros (about 20 a piece) and I think there isn't one lower than 20 and the average is probably 30. No way I'd do it any different for many big reasons.

I've never had ANY issue with hunting really high- no shot problems, etc BUT tons of benefits. The few guys that make fun of me for that are the ones that make fun of me for shooting 150 grains of powder out of my M.L. when it's accurate as can be and crushes deer OR the same guys that made fun of me for blowing big holes in deer in Kansas with my 300 Remington Ultra Mag when they wounded a couple with their .243's. Lastly, same guys that make fun of me for liking fast shooting bows which are flatter shooting. (All of them are always accuracy arguments and in each case I have never had an issue- I think it's just an excuse because they are kinda girly. Ha

 

[River1]

Just so ya guys know when the EMS crew shows up. Above 20' in Iowa, you will ALL qualify for a trauma alert.:grin:

Seriously though.....I've never felt the need to be much above 20'. I do usually stay above 15 though.....unless I got a thick tree to break me up.

Season can't get here soon enough.:way:

 

[nannyslayer]

Man, I only hunt at 16-20 foot. I guess I'm screwed!!

 

[sureshot]

Most of my stands are hung around 20-22 ft up. I have one that is only about 10 feet off of the ground in a huge oak tree. Tons of cover in it and I haven't had trouble. Valid points though above from all of you. What it boils down to is hunt hard and learn what works for you. We all have different reasons for why we choose to hunt different ways. Hunt hard, be confident, and shoot straight! :way:

Skip, you'll like my signature

 

[DWilk]

Man, I only hunt at 16-20 foot. I guess I'm screwed!!

Haha same here!

I try to get above 20 when I can, but in my opinion, its all situational. The perfect tree doesn't always afford you to go 30 foot in the air. Go 30 foot up in a big old oak in a successional/converted pasture timber (a whole lot of Iowa) with pole sized second age class, and you won't be able to see the ground, let alone shoot.

Higher definitely has its advantages, but I rank placement above stand height. Good post though :way:

 

[THA4]

very seldom have i ever exceeded 20 ft and i rarely get busted and i have killed a pile of deer with my bow and gun....

do what gives you confidence i guess

 

[THA4]

heck, both me and my wife have killed deer out of tree stands that are 8'
????

situational

 

[sureshot]

Very situational.....

 

[Gladiator]

Man, I only hunt at 16-20 foot. I guess I'm screwed!!

Me too...oh, and there are 2 of us in the tree!!!

Great discussion, but I'm going to stick to about 15 foot. Not afraid to get higher, just haven't seen the need...

Not to argue, but wouldn't you rather put one in the cage from the sides versus going right through the back??

I guess I haven't had any troubles other than the rage not quite making it through...