Hunting is an extremely safe activity. According to the National Safety Council, far more people per 100,000 participants are injured while bicycling or playing baseball than while hunting. Further statistics show that while around 100 die in nationwide while hunting each year, more than 1,500 die in swimming-related accidents.
But, there are dangers. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t become a statistic.
Hunting is an extremely safe activity. According to the National Safety Council, far more people per 100,000 participants are injured while bicycling or playing baseball than while hunting. Further statistics show that while around 100 die in nationwide while hunting each year, more than 1,500 die in swimming-related accidents.
But, there are dangers. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t become a statistic.
Use a Safety Harness. By far, falls from treestands are the most reported hunting accident. A fall can be a tragic event, or a nonevent, depending on if you’re wearing a good safety harness. Summit’s Seat-O-the-Pants harness is a five-point harness that’s easy to get into and out of and can save your life. Summit even makes a Cub version for youngsters.
Heart attack! Another killer of hunters is the stress caused on the heart when killing or dragging out a deer or other large game animal. Take some time prior to the season to get in shape. Walking with a backpack weighted down with a few books is a good, low-impact way to start. When dragging out game, take your time, and get help. Never stress yourself to the point of exhaustion.
Mistaken for game. This is a phrase that is often seen in accident reports. When hunting with others, always know where they are, and don’t shoot if you can’t account for each of your party. This also is a basis of gun handling – know your target. Never shoot at something you “think” is game.
Decoy danger. This one is related to the one above. If you see someone sneaking your decoy(s), whether it’s turkey dekes, a deer decoy or your spread of waterfowl decoys, alert them by yelling, never by waving. The sudden movement of a wave when someone’s engrossed in the sneak can trigger him into whipping out a quick shot. When turkey hunting, place your decoys at least 20 yards out and off to one side. Never place your deer decoy where it can be seen from a road.
The Critters Themselves. Animal attacks are extremely rare, but Tularemia (rabbit fever) and Arboviruses (viruses transmitted to humans through mosquitoes, such as the West Nile virus) can be serious. Take care cleaning any animal, even so far as wearing surgical gloves. As far as the Arboviruses go, wear a bug spray when you can, and try Thermacell unit. These handy devices are awesome for keeping the little buggers away.
There are roughly 8,000 poisonous snake bites per year, and since we’re hunting where the snakes live, that ups the odds of a snake encounter. Snake-bite-proof boots and/or chaps help, but most bites still are the result of a hunter messing around with a snake. Best is to back away from the snake and leave the area.
Tips To Ensure Your Tree Stand is as Safe as Possible
It was the opener of the 2007 Iowa shotgun season, early December, and a front blew through the night before. In fact, at 6 a.m. it was still dumping sleet and snow on our little piece of south-central Iowa heaven. To call it a weather system was akin to calling Hurricane Katrina a cloudburst.
The hunter approached the ladder stand in the pale blue light of very early morning and looked up at the sleet- and ice-encrusted steps. He shook his head and found a spot to sit on the ground. It was the right decision.
A slight majority of tree stand accidents occur not because a hunter fell asleep and took a tumble, but before that – when climbing into or out of the tree stand. Falls from the seat itself do occur, but even ladder stands, which often are thought of as “safer” tree stands, pose threats to careless hunters who are not securely attached to a safety harness on their way up into and down out of a tree stand.
It was the opener of the 2007 Iowa shotgun season, early December, and a front blew through the night before. In fact, at 6 a.m. it was still dumping sleet and snow on our little piece of south-central Iowa heaven. To call it a weather system was akin to calling Hurricane Katrina a cloudburst.
The hunter approached the ladder stand in the pale blue light of very early morning and looked up at the sleet- and ice-encrusted steps. He shook his head and found a spot to sit on the ground. It was the right decision.
A slight majority of tree stand accidents occur not because a hunter fell asleep and took a tumble, but before that – when climbing into or out of the tree stand. Falls from the seat itself do occur, but even ladder stands, which often are thought of as “safer” tree stands, pose threats to careless hunters who are not securely attached to a safety harness on their way up into and down out of a tree stand.
Summit’s Seat-O-The-Pants (SOP) safety harness is barrier No. 1 to tree stand accidents. Its design allows it to be worn from the ground up when using a climber, and with the additional Treestand Safety Rope, from the ground to the tree stand in hang-ons and ladders. Here’s how it works: The additional safety rope is attached above the tree stand, and the rope hangs to the ground along the steps. When the hunter arrives at the hunting stand, he or she attaches the SOP to the sliding prussic knot on the dangling safety rope. Then, every few steps, the hunter grasps the prussic knot on the safety rope and slides it upward. With this system, the hunter is attached from the ground to the tree stand, especially that critical moment of transition from step to treestand.
Another culprit in tree stand accidents is the homemade, wooden stand. According to the report of hunting accidents in North Carolina in 2006, of the five fatal tree stand accidents that occurred that year, three were from homemade stands. Wood simply doesn’t withstand the weather, insects and abuse of being left out throughout the year, and by the time next season rolls around, can be rotted or so loose that it falls when the slightest weight is applied. One of those fatalities mentioned occurred when the hunter was constructing the treestand. It’s very simple: any time you’re in a tree, you should be attached via a safety harness.
It’s easy to see that there are times, like at the beginning of this article, when climbing into a tree stand is not the smartest action. But it’s not just the extreme of heavy ice that can cause you to slip. Muddy boots also provide a slick surface, and distraction can play a factor. If you’ve taken sinus medication, consider a ground blind.
Safety harnesses do not make you a wimp; they make you smart. If you think you don’t need one, consider your family. Would you want one of them perched 25 feet in a tree with nothing to catch them if they fall? They probably feel the same way about you.
Today’s hunting blinds are tremendous tools for many types of hunting. Whitetail deer hunters who aren’t up high on treestands benefit from the total concealment a hunting blind provides. Turkey hunters quickly realize that blinds are perfect for the woods, as turkeys seem to simply look past them. Those who hunt antelope, elk or mule deer near waterholes also benefit from a well-placed blind. Blinds also help with introducing youngsters to the excitement of hunting because they cover all of the fidgeting and whispering that occurs when hunting with a young person. Those hunters new to blinds should take note of a few tips to help make hunting from a blind more successful.
Turkey Hunting
Hunting blinds are absolutely fantastic for turkey hunting. It is amazing to have a mature bird gobbling its head off not five yards from the hunting blind. It’s like they don’t even see it! It’s true that turkeys seem to look right past a blind, but there are some things a turkey hunter can do to ensure the bird never sees you. Place the blind just inside a tree line instead of out in the open. Bring clippers with you to cut some natural foliage and limbs from nearby and arrange them around the blind. It won’t take much brushing up, but a little does help. Keep movement to a minimum, and keep the back window closed as tightly as possible. No doubt, turkeys will catch movement within the hunting blind. While you may want to crack the back window to keep an eye out in that direction, having it all the way open creates a silhouette and really displays any movement. Try to keep your face back away from the front window. Hunting blinds are perfect for turkey hunting on small plots of land when you won’t be running and gunning. Place the blind and set out several decoys within easy range. It also helps you keep dry when that spring rain comes through.
Whitetail Deer Hunting
Hunting deer with a blind is a good choice for those who don’t use tree stands. With whitetail deer hunting, though, there are more considerations than with turkeys. The first difference is that deer use their sense of smell to detect danger. This is a strength whitetail deer hunters get with hunting blinds, though, which are easily moved from place to place. In a matter of a few minutes a hunter can move a blind from one side of a food plot to the other, or completely break it down and haul it elsewhere if the wind is not right. Deer will notice the blind if it’s not hidden. Place the hunting blind in a thicket or dense area and brush it up heavily. Inside corners, which are so special with any type of hunting, are perfect for whitetail deer hunting blind placement. Again, keep movement to a minimum. Keep from silhouetting yourself and keep your face back from the windows. Clear the leaves from the bottom of the blind so you can position yourself for the shot without making noise. Also, instead of camouflage, try wearing black, including a black facemask.
Hunting at Waterholes
Whether you’re after antelope, mule deer, elk or even whitetails at a waterhole, hunting blinds can help you be more successful. Antelope often are hunted in vast prairies where cover is sparse. The key is to place the hunting blind several weeks prior to hunting so the animals get used to it. Still, a little cover added to the blind will help. The same goes with elk, mule deer and whitetails. Consider the prevalent wind and the rising and setting sun when placing the blind. Try to set the blind up where the wind blows away from the waterhole. Don’t set it where the hunter will be looking directly into the rising and setting sun. If there is a small grove of trees near the waterhole that fits your needs, it’s an excellent spot for the blind and provides sturdy anchors for tying it off for stability.
Youth Hunting
Hunting blinds are the best advancement for introducing youngsters to hunting. They allow the new hunter to move around, whisper and do all of the things kids do, without being seen. What you bring with you is important, and blinds allow for all of the extras kids need. A comfortable lawn chair for each of you is the first ingredient, and a sack of candy, gum or other snacks and drinks is a good idea. A blind allows you to point out all of the birds and other wildlife that will keep the youngster interested. Above all, have fun.
It’s likely that at some time during your hunting career you’ve said to yourself, “I’d love to hunt that spot, but there’s just no way.” The problem could be a lack of suitable trees for hunting stands. It might be the tall CRP grass and scrub brush that forms an 8-foot carpet over the spot. Or, it might be a huge short-grass pasture the buck crosses on his way to dinner. Regardless of the hurdle, today’s treestand manufacturers are likely to have a solution that will allow you to get on that buck and hunt the unhuntable.
It’s likely that at some time during your hunting career you’ve said to yourself, “I’d love to hunt that spot, but there’s just no way.” The problem could be a lack of suitable trees for hunting stands. It might be the tall CRP grass and scrub brush that forms an 8-foot carpet over the spot. Or, it might be a huge short-grass pasture the buck crosses on his way to dinner. Regardless of the hurdle, today’s treestand manufacturers are likely to have a solution that will allow you to get on that buck and hunt the unhuntable.
Climbing tree stands, hang on tree stands and ladder tree stands cover about 80 percent of the hunting needs of today’s outdoorsmen. Climbing tree stands, such as the OpenShot Deluxe, allow the hunter to backpack the stand anywhere but require a straight tree with no, or few, limbs at hunting height. Climber stands are mobile stands intended to be placed and removed each trip.
Ladder tree stands are often used as stationary stands, placed and hunted from season to season. While ladder stands should be pulled after each season, many hunters leave them up year round. A thorough inspection of all cables, straps and screws should be done periodically to ensure the ladder tree stand is still in tip-top shape. Hang on tree stands are versatile and can be hung just about anywhere - you don’t even need a straight tree anymore.
But it’s the remaining 20 percent of situations that require some thought. One treestand style that solves many problems is the tripod hunting stand. The tripod hunting stand does not need a tree; it stands on its own three or four legs and seat heights run from just 6 feet on up to the clouds. One style rifle hunters are finding extremely effective is the short tripod such as the Summit Predator Pod or the Summit X-Pod. The Predator Pod’s seat sits at about 6 feet off the ground, high enough to provide a nice perch over the tall grass but not enough to put a hunter up into the canopy. This style of tripod stand is perfect for overgrown fencerows, the edges of brushy ravines and just inside a fence bordering a food plot. Hunters in areas where there is a lot of mesquite find the Predator Pod perfect because the height of the stand places the hunter just at the bottom of the canopy where he can see long distances, yet still be somewhat concealed. The Summit X-Pod, on the other hand, is 11 feet tall, for times when you need tree-like height.
Another option for these short hunting tripod stands is placing them in shallow water. You may not be able to cover an entire area from the bank, but what about putting on the waders and placing the tripod in the water? How’s the view now?
Another option many dedicated deer hunters miss is a ground hunting blind, either constructed out of limbs and brush found at the area or a manufactured canvas hunting blind. Both have their positives. The blind constructed from available brush provides realistic cover but takes time and sweat to build and does little to conceal the hunter’s scent or movement. The manufactured hunting blind does both, but still needs some cover to help it blend into its surroundings.
Perhaps you’re hesitant to place a hunting blind in that open pasture mentioned earlier. Why not dig down a few feet and “sink” the hunting blind much like a water fowler’s blind? Or, utilize the terrain to provide natural cover to hide the blind. Placing it at the base of a ridge keeps it from being silhouetted. Throw on some brush and grasses and you may have a hard time finding it yourself.
Open your mind to all of the possibilities out there and you’ll find that there really are no “unhuntable” areas. If you’re perplexed about a situation, plenty of outdoor websites offer community forums where you can post a message and ask what other experienced hunters would do. Contact tree stand manufacturers and ask them. Someone, somewhere has probably encountered a similar problem and can provide a solution.
Used to be, you set your stand before the season. If that spot failed to pay off, you either watched the leaves die or hunted from the ground in a different area. Not anymore. With climbing stands and today’s lightweight hang-ons, hunters should never feel confined to one spot throughout the season.
The bare essence of climbing stands is the mobility they provide. Hunters can hunt different locations morning and evening, day after day, as long as there are appropriate straight trees for attachment.
But only in recent years have hang-ons become so lightweight and easy to hang that they, too, can be moved every time you head to the woods
Used to be, you set your stand before the season. If that spot failed to pay off, you either watched the leaves die or hunted from the ground in a different area. Not anymore. With climbing stands and today’s lightweight hang-ons, hunters should never feel confined to one spot throughout the season.
The bare essence of climbing stands is the mobility they provide. Hunters can hunt different locations morning and evening, day after day, as long as there are appropriate straight trees for attachment.
But only in recent years have hang-ons become so lightweight and easy to hang that they, too, can be moved every time you head to the woods.
This newfound mobility has liberated the trophy buck hunter into an effective killing machine that can show up anywhere. It’s also given rise to “Power Scouting,” or “Speed Scouting” during the season to precisely intercept a buck that may have altered its trails.
Famous competition turkey contest caller Chris Parrish and Knight & Hale Ultimate Hunting Team member film for Summit Treestand’s hunting program, Summit’s High Places, and often have little time to scout the areas where they hope to harvest a trophy on camera.
“We had an opportunity in 2006 to hunt a place called Langham Outfitters in Illinois,” Wahlig said, “and we had very little time to scout. – just a couple of weeks. We had to scout fast.”
Unlike many hunting programs that simply head to a well-kept lodge and hunt stands hung months, and many times years, in advance, Summit’s hunters and cameramen use their own knowledge and experience to locate trophy bucks, hang their own stands and harvest their trophies.
“When you’re power scouting,” Wahlig said, “the first and foremost thing you’ve got to do is obtain a topographic and aerial map of the area. One thing to look for is an area where two large blocks of timber are joined by a narrow area of timber.”
Parrish agreed, noting that during the rut bucks will use this area routinely as they head back and forth looking for ready does.
“We looked at aerial photos of the area prior to heading to the land to scout,” said Parrish. “Aerial photos are the key when looking at a new hunting spot.”
Aerial and topographic maps will give you a lot of info to direct you to those funnel areas that naturally pinch deer down to smaller areas.
“Key to killing big bucks is first hunting where big bucks live,” Parrish said, “but you’re never going to get on them in those big blocks of timber unless you get in a funnel area.”
Of course, locating a funnel doesn’t guarantee a slam dunk big buck. Locating a likely funnel is the first step. Pinpointing exactly where the bucks will travel is the next one.
But, you’re dealing with an animal – one that habitually uses the same trails – but an animal nonetheless. Bucks will change the trails they use for various reasons, including changing food sources, hunter pressure, possibly even wind direction and moon phase, not to mention the rut, when locating does can make even well-worn trails lonely for company.
Hunters also need to pay heed to prevalent wind direction, and if possible, hang two stands in a funnel area, one to hunt when the wind is out of the south-southeast and one for a north-northwest stand. With today’s lightweight hang ons, a hunter easily can move a single stand if there’s an unexpected wind shift.
So, you’ve located a funnel on an aerial map. Now check to see if there are any other characteristics that will help you identify the perfect spot to ambush a buck. Is there a creek winding through the area? Look for very thick areas nearby that might serve as bedding areas. Where are the potential food sources? See if you can predict the path a buck will take as it heads from bed to food, and vice versa for morning hunts.
Whitetail deer are creatures of edges, but while you’ll often see does and young deer on the open side of an edge such as a timberline, mature bucks will be farther into the woods, at least during the day. Anything that creates an edge can help dictate where a buck will make his trail, a creek, fenceline, powerline right-of-ways, abrupt topographic changes such as cliffs or drop-offs, and areas such as saddles and ravines in mountainous or hilly terrain.
But there is only so much one can glean from an aerial and topo map. Take that knowledge and head to the area for first-hand scouting.
The rut makes certain topographic characteristics more important than others. Hunting the early season, the topographic characteristics of creeks, fencelines and basically the “easy route” to and from bedding to feeding areas are more important. As the rut peaks, bucks roam farther and spend a lot of time checking on does, making saddles and narrow areas between bigger blocks most important. If you’ve set up on a buck during the early season on a path heading from the bedding area to the feeding area, as the rut nears a move should be in order.
As does come into estrous, push bedding areas and feeding areas to the second place and put first travel routes between two areas.
The very first does of the season were coming into estrous when Wahlig and Parrish headed to Illinois and Langham’s Outdoors. As this occurs, does will first attempt to get away from the trailing buck, which can take them anywhere, but normally still inside cover. So funnels, those narrow areas that force deer to travel a certain path, become prime locations as the rut cooks up.
One spot that had piqued Parrish’s interest was a small, narrow 13-acre block of timber bordered by cropland that connected two massive blocks of timber. The narrow area had a creek running the length of it. It also featured a fenceline and crossfence.
“I always look for an inside corner, and the creek running through the area plus the intersection of the two fences created a nice inside corner for us, inside a funnel,” Parrish said. “We also saw some buck sign nearby and felt that this would be the place.”
The pair went into the area in the afternoon and hung two stands, positioned to take advantage of the predicted prevalent southeastern wind.
“We were using two Summit Copperhead hang-ons,” Wahlig said. “We were in and out of there in less than 30 minutes. From the photos we knew the general area we wanted, and just went in, saw what we wanted, hung the stands, sprayed everything down with Code Blue EliminX odor neutralizer and got out of there.”
The pair hunted the stands the following morning. With the unpredictable nature of bucks chasing does, they sprayed themselves down with EliminX prior to getting into the stand and again after they’d taken a break for an early lunch at 10 a.m., just in case a doe led a buck into their scent stream.
“We had a full moon that night and I’ve killed more big bucks in the middle of the day after a full moon than any other time,” Parrish said, explaining why they were back in the stand at 11 a.m. that day.
The action started almost immediately after they got back into the stand. A doe just coming into estrous crossed nearby with a big 160-class buck right on her tail, but the pair passed just out of range.
“Not 15 minutes later, another doe passed through with a big buck on her tail,” Parrish said. “He made the mistake of stopping broadside at 15 yards and Keith put one through the breadbasket.”
Some hunters scoff at moving stands during the season, but it’s done effectively all the time, and it’s really a necessity if you’re hunting the same tract of land the entire season or are bent on killing the biggest buck in the woods.
“Through aerial and topo maps, you can learn a lot about the land before you even step foot on it,” Wahlig said. “When you power scout, use as much scent control as you can, on everything from the stands you hang to your gear to yourself. Also, talk to the land owner to find out where he sees not only bucks, but as the peak of the rut nears, where he sees does as well.”
Moves are necessary, whether it be across the creek or across the county to a different area. Luckily, todays lightweight and easy-to-hang treestands make moving a snap. And with effective power scouting, one move can mean the difference between blanking and big bucking.
MODEL 87010 -
Our biggest portable ground blind. At 6’x9’x 74” tall, the new Mega Blind Run-N-Gun is so roomy and spacious you might be tempted to move into it. Oversized, quiet and super-stable, it sets up in an incredible ten seconds — and breaks down in five. With removable, “Shoot Through,” adjustable side mesh window flaps, a vented roof, brush loops and sturdy tie down straps, the Run-N-Gun Mega Blind is simply the ultimate multiple-hunter ground blind.
The Run-N-Gun Mega Blind features window flaps that adjust silently and removable “shoot through” mesh screens.
MODEL 82058
Designed for elevated hunting in thick brush, sparse vegetation or anywhere else you can’t hang a stand. Our sturdy new Tripod is an impressive 10’ high at the platform, yet provides rock-solid stability for both security and comfort. Built from powder-coated steel with a spacious steel mesh platform and integral ladder, the comfortable swivel seat allows a 360-degree view. Camouflage railing pads serve as gun rests while dampening sound. The new Tripod is also very easy to assemble in the field.
MODEL 87011 -
Developed specifically for varmint hunters, our innovative new Predator is compact, lightweight, and sets up quickly. Ideal for hunting coyotes, fox and bobcats — the open front design gives you a commanding view while you to blend in to the camouflaged shell behind you. Mesh windows on each side provide 180-degree visibility without compromising concealment. Made from rugged, lightweight nylon fabric and steady fiberglass poles, the Predator is so slick, it might even make you a better caller!
MODEL 82062
Our new Hunter Seat is a lightweight, portable seat designed for spot-and-stalk hunts, quick set-ups for turkey, or just taking a break from scouting. Built from powder-coated steel with a padded camouflage seat, it’s designed to lean up against a tree where it’s stabilized by a sturdy “Y” brace — and then anchored in the ground with a three-pronged point. The Hunter Seat then allows you to sit in a normal position (not crouched) with your back comfortably against the tree. Weighs 4 lbs. for easy carrying and includes a supplied shoulder strap.
MODEL 81097
With all of the performance features and creature comforts of our popular Razor, the new Dagger™ open-front climbing stand folds flat for compact convenience during storage, or when you’re on the move. The comfortable padded seat is fully adjustable and the spacious platform provides plenty of room for long haul hunting.
MODEL 81098
Our engineers made a good thing even better when they designed a collapsible version of our best-selling Viper climbing stand. The new Switchblade™ folds flat for easy storage or transportation in the back of a truck or SUV. Lightweight, quiet, roomy and comfortable, the Switchblade features a padded seat that can be raised or lowered when hunting with bow or gun. Its solid front bar makes climbing easy while doubling as a gun rest.
Hunting is an extremely safe activity. According to the National Safety Council, far more people per 100,000 participants are injured while bicycling or playing baseball than while hunting. Further statistics show that while around 100 die in nationwide while hunting each year, more than 1,500 die in swimming-related accidents.
But, there are dangers. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t become a statistic.
Hunting is an extremely safe activity. According to the National Safety Council, far more people per 100,000 participants are injured while bicycling or playing baseball than while hunting. Further statistics show that while around 100 die in nationwide while hunting each year, more than 1,500 die in swimming-related accidents.
But, there are dangers. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t become a statistic.
Use a Safety Harness. By far, falls from treestands are the most reported hunting accident. A fall can be a tragic event, or a nonevent, depending on if you’re wearing a good safety harness. Summit’s Seat-O-the-Pants harness is a five-point harness that’s easy to get into and out of and can save your life. Summit even makes a Cub version for youngsters.
Heart attack! Another killer of hunters is the stress caused on the heart when killing or dragging out a deer or other large game animal. Take some time prior to the season to get in shape. Walking with a backpack weighted down with a few books is a good, low-impact way to start. When dragging out game, take your time, and get help. Never stress yourself to the point of exhaustion.
Mistaken for game. This is a phrase that is often seen in accident reports. When hunting with others, always know where they are, and don’t shoot if you can’t account for each of your party. This also is a basis of gun handling – know your target. Never shoot at something you “think” is game.
Decoy danger. This one is related to the one above. If you see someone sneaking your decoy(s), whether it’s turkey dekes, a deer decoy or your spread of waterfowl decoys, alert them by yelling, never by waving. The sudden movement of a wave when someone’s engrossed in the sneak can trigger him into whipping out a quick shot. When turkey hunting, place your decoys at least 20 yards out and off to one side. Never place your deer decoy where it can be seen from a road.
The Critters Themselves. Animal attacks are extremely rare, but Tularemia (rabbit fever) and Arboviruses (viruses transmitted to humans through mosquitoes, such as the West Nile virus) can be serious. Take care cleaning any animal, even so far as wearing surgical gloves. As far as the Arboviruses go, wear a bug spray when you can, and try Thermacell unit. These handy devices are awesome for keeping the little buggers away.
There are roughly 8,000 poisonous snake bites per year, and since we’re hunting where the snakes live, that ups the odds of a snake encounter. Snake-bite-proof boots and/or chaps help, but most bites still are the result of a hunter messing around with a snake. Best is to back away from the snake and leave the area.
Optimal Tree Stand Placement During Every Deer Rut Phase
Sometimes it’s easy. Take an Oklahoma high-school teacher whose early morning commute took him past a farm he had permission to hunt. One morning several years ago, he glanced over and there it was - the buck of his dreams. The next morning about the same time the big buck was there again, and by the third morning the teacher had a tree picked out. On the fourth, he collected his buck.Normally, it’s not that way. Few of us live at our deer hunting area, or get to drive past every morning. And since a buck’s travel route changes throughout the deer hunting season, the tree stand that is red-hot in October can be cold-dead in November. Here are just a few tree stand locations to take you through all phases of the rut.
Sometimes it’s easy. Take an Oklahoma high-school teacher whose early morning commute took him past a farm he had permission to hunt. One morning several years ago, he glanced over and there it was - the buck of his dreams. The next morning about the same time the big buck was there again, and by the third morning the teacher had a tree picked out. On the fourth, he collected his buck.Normally, it’s not that way. Few of us live at our deer hunting area, or get to drive past every morning. And since a buck’s travel route changes throughout the deer hunting season, the tree stand that is red-hot in October can be cold-dead in November. Here are just a few tree stand locations to take you through all phases of the rut.
An aerial image of your deer hunting land is the most useful tool (except past experience) to selecting stand locations. Internet sites such as Google Earth or terraserver can give you the shortcut you need. You may discover spots you hadn’t considered.
Pre-rut (evening hunts)
It’s all about food during the early season, and if you’ve patterned a buck from a distance, it’s up to you to either screw it up or take advantage. You’ve watched a buck enter a soybean field from the backside for three evenings in a row, but it always seems to enter from a different trail. During the heat of the day, get as scent-free as possible and head to the most central trail. Touching as little as possible, walk the trail to locate a staging area. It could be a spot of open woods or an area with some grass to munch on. Look for old rubs on trees because staging areas often remain the same and this year’s bucks aren’t yet hot enough to provide much visual sign. There may be some scat, but that’s about it. Set several stands at the edge of the staging area to allow you to hunt it under various wind directions. Then, hunt it sparingly. Another option is to hunt the field edge itself, but with the buck entering from different trails each evening, getting it within bow-range can be a problem. The solution may be to surprise the buck with a deer decoy set 30- or 40-yards out from your position. While prime decoying time is still more than a month away, a buck decoy can bring in the big boy for a closer investigation. Spray the decoy with scent elimination spray, add some buck urine to the ground around it and sit back and watch the show.
Late Pre-Rut (morning hunt)
The food focus is getting a little fuzzy. Bucks are starting to feel perky and will begin to roam a little more. They’ll check out the girls, but it’s not too serious yet. The bachelor groups are dispersed and bucks have staked out their turfs. A few rubbed trees are showing up. This time of the season allows you to position at intersections between bedding and feeding areas. Move to a spot where two draws or major trails connect bedding areas to a major food source or two. Set two stands to cover different wind directions.
Peak Rut (all day hunt)
Using an aerial photograph of your hunting land, take a step back and identify three main buck travel areas, then look closer and locate the funnels within those travel areas. The funnel may be the thin strip of woods between two larger blocks of timber, a ridgetop with a pond at its base that forces deer around it, or a creek crossing. Also consider an area that provides a shortcut from two doe bedding areas. Every year hunters see trophy bucks trotting across open pastures, and often these bucks are simply taking a shortcut. The trail the buck normally would take during any other time of the year might be around the inside of the woodline bordering an open pasture, but during the peak of the rut the buck’s urge to breed is too strong and it simply takes off across the pasture. This is a good secondary location, especially during the lock-down phase when bucks disappear because they’re holed up with does. One doe is bred and slips away, and it’s time for that buck to find another doe – quick.
Post-Rut (midday)
By the time all of the breeding is done, a big buck is tired and hungry. And if the temperatures are very cold, it’s time to spend the middle of the day at your feeder or foodplot. Deer must feed more often in very cold temperatures, and post-rut bucks need to regain some of the weight lost from the last thee weeks of activity, making the foodplot or feeder tactic perfect.
Here’s the perfect scenario:
A strong cold front moves through your area for two days, dumping snow and ice. Deer will be holed up during the storm, but feeding resumes double-time as soon as the weather clears. Catch the final throes of the weather system from the tree stand and you should see immediate deer activity as it clears out. As always, hang two tree stands to cover different wind directions.
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