How high to climb

[Hoytme2]

This is a very highly debated topic with most bow hunters. It all depends on the tree for me. I usually get about 15-20 ft depending on the setup but I know a few that have to dodge the occassional aircraft. I feel there is a max for height to ensure proper angle of entry for clean kill........ or something like that!

[Thunderflight]

I used to be a firm advocate of halo hunting, but to be honest I've killed just as many deer at 15 feet as I have at 25, but I've been busted more times at 25 feet.

Several factors now decide how high I'm going. Back ground cover, wind direction and strength, am I on a slope, where are the deer coming from and a few other factors decide how high I now hunt.

Typically I'll hunt around 18 feet (+ or - two or three feet).

TF

[rjolenic]

Good call TF. I agree with all of your statements on this issue. I use to go nose bleed high to the point where if a deer would walk underneath me, I would have had no choice but to go straight through the spine ... now come on and let's get real. If I could ground hunt and not get busted, that's the way I would do it. But they seem to bust me just fine from 20 feet up, I couldn't imagine trying to take one from the ground. I can't sit still very well either.


rjo

[george tinkham]

the higher yuh go the farther the shot...i like 12' an bout 10-15 yds from where the deer will be standin to the base of the tree

[Thunderflight]

Ever been busted at 20+ feet on public land? I have several times. The deer in those woods walked around with their eye's in the tree tops.

One day I pulled an old hat and picked the wrong tree to mess with. I only climbed mabye ten feet. I missed a deer an hour later. I've had several friends who have all had the same thing happen.

TF

[george tinkham]

i treat public land no different ,i have had deer on public land directly under my deer stand more times as i can count...many times i have had deer look directly at me,stare at me,then go about their business or start to feed payin no more attention to me...i do not change a think for huntin public from how i hunt private.i kill nice deer on both an have nice deer at shootin dist. on both...too many get this misconception so they are beat before they even get on public land.if you move or make noise any deer will bust you private or public.these are things you have control over.wind,you dont have control where it comes from like people like wensels seem to think you do...

[Buckmaster]

Looks like I split the difference with all you fellas. My typical setup is around 15-18 feet.

[chadwimc]

Since my upper body strength doesn't match my lower body weight anymore... I hunt at the height of the ladder stand I'm using. On public land, I carry a cheap ten foot stand. On my property, I use 15 foot ladder stands. I seem to get shots at deer every year...

[Thunderflight]

Yeah, but George your the acception to the rule.

For one you live in the woods and probably know each deer by his or her first name.

You don't wear camo so the deer think your some hiker carrying a curved stick. The don't think your a threat so they just carry on as if you aren't a threat.

They also know that you only shoot a strick bow so all they have to do is stay about 20 yards away from you and they'll be good to go...:)

George Tinkham is a true mountain man....:D

TF

http://www.greenwichworkshop.com/images/gallery/images/Prints/Bama/1979mntmanfox2.jpg

[lureboy98]

I set up around 15-20 feet as well and its a pretty good deal because the ground levels out about 20 yards in front of me (I'm on a hill) so basically if i shoot its almost a straight shot.

[CritterGitter]

It varies for me. Elevation can greatly increase one's field of view. I usually sit 15 to 20 feet up. However, there are times I have been 25 to 30 feet up. Typically I only go real high to increase my field of view and when I am in hilly terrain and expect to see deer higher up than the base of my tree.

CG

[george tinkham]

many animals are fooled into thinkin i am a animal rights nut...i trick em by feedin em to get their trust an when i get them to the point where they eat out of my hand ...

[Thunderflight]

So the truth comes out....

No wonder you don't get along with Brian Cole.....

TF

[Caribou Dreamer2]

20'-25'

[Q2XL]

preferablly on the ground but if go up in a tree 15 feet high enough

[george tinkham]

arrrrrgggg...brian cole