What do you do in the stand?
- Thread starter Morgoroth
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Quickdraw Limpsalot
New member
One thing to remember is that you don't have to be a statue for X amount of hours, you just have to remember HOW to move. Don't make any quick movements that critters might key in on. Ever see a cat stalk his prey? They move or they'd never get in range... they just move very slowly. If you do something while moving that makes noise (knock over your snack or step on a twig) freeze for a few moments, then after scanning the area for eyes on you resume your slow, methodical movements.
I don't do the book/i-pod/etc. stuff... to me that takes away from the reason I'm there (YMMV.) I do space out at times, but any noticeable footsteps or rustling of leaves brings me back into focus. Camouflage is more than the brand of clothing you wear while hunting. You also need to sound, move and (when possible) smell like a native animal.
I don't do the book/i-pod/etc. stuff... to me that takes away from the reason I'm there (YMMV.) I do space out at times, but any noticeable footsteps or rustling of leaves brings me back into focus. Camouflage is more than the brand of clothing you wear while hunting. You also need to sound, move and (when possible) smell like a native animal.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Locating a stand where commonly travelled paths are visible is a help. No point in watching where deer don't generally go. They generally move from a bedding area to a feeding area or vice versa. Helps to read the articles about which is where in the hunting magazines when first getting into the game. 
bamaranger
New member
distances
I think (naw, I know) deer can see movement, especially large quick movement, very easily at distances well over 100 even in woodlands. . A deer can see an upright walking human, in a very large open field quite easily. at distances past 1/4 mile. They see much better in twilight or bad light due to the make up of their eyes, rods and cones.
Those big ears are not for show. I don't know how to quantify it, but deer seem very good at hearing unnatural noises quite well. A squeaking stand, a safety going off, etc.
And their noses.........the eyes and ears are just back up to the nose. You hear accounts of deer getting beat by hunters upwind, but not often, and I don't believe by a big buck hardly ever. I believe big bucks are the wind (not my quote, but I wish I'd said it). I've seen deer wind other hunters at distances of 2-300 yds and sneak off. I've had them blow at me from downwind, me in a tree, clean and showered, care w/ clothes, boots etc from similar distances.
A deer picks you up w/ one sense, and confirms you with another, and they're in survival mode, provided they are not conditioned or ignorant of humans.
I think (naw, I know) deer can see movement, especially large quick movement, very easily at distances well over 100 even in woodlands. . A deer can see an upright walking human, in a very large open field quite easily. at distances past 1/4 mile. They see much better in twilight or bad light due to the make up of their eyes, rods and cones.
Those big ears are not for show. I don't know how to quantify it, but deer seem very good at hearing unnatural noises quite well. A squeaking stand, a safety going off, etc.
And their noses.........the eyes and ears are just back up to the nose. You hear accounts of deer getting beat by hunters upwind, but not often, and I don't believe by a big buck hardly ever. I believe big bucks are the wind (not my quote, but I wish I'd said it). I've seen deer wind other hunters at distances of 2-300 yds and sneak off. I've had them blow at me from downwind, me in a tree, clean and showered, care w/ clothes, boots etc from similar distances.
A deer picks you up w/ one sense, and confirms you with another, and they're in survival mode, provided they are not conditioned or ignorant of humans.
Where I hunt, I'm within a hundred or so yards of homes bordering our property. From my stand, I hear the neighbors heat pump kick in, and would kindly like to mention to him that his fan motor needs lubricated! I also hear the parents griping at their kids and the kids blowing dad's car horn. But, the deer pay absolutely no attention to humans around my stand. I'm near my stand at least every other weekend thruout the year, with food plots and keeping my feeder going, and distributing rock salt. The deer know my scent, so I'm no surprise to them. Saturday evening, I quit hunting about 15 minutes early and rode my 4 wheeler to another spot just to 'nose around' a bit, and after shutting off my engine, walked 30 feet and jumped a deer. So much for being afraid of 4 wheelers, also.
sixgun
sixgun
thunderbird101
New member
I like to use the "boring" moments in a deer stand (99% of the time in the stand?) to get away from the world and to escape to tranquility! It is more or less a time for me to get away from the stresses and burdens of the world and to experience nature! IMO ipods, cell phones, etc. take away from the solace of nature, however....... I must admit there are times in order to stay sane in the long hours spent in the woods alone, an ipod can be your best friend! 
IMO today's society is all too hustle bustle and it is too easy to forget to stop and breathe occasionally!
IMO today's society is all too hustle bustle and it is too easy to forget to stop and breathe occasionally!
Doodlebugger45
New member
Interesting stuff in this thread. Around here we don't use stands, or at least I haven't heard of it. We mostly walk around and look for deer and elk. Sometimes I will sit for a spell and listen though. It sounds like it could be kind of relaxing sitting in a stand. But then it sounds like it would be pretty boring too. Kinda like fishing. And I hate fishing. I reckon I'll just keep walking and sit when I'm tired.
Mike Irwin
Staff
I tend to sing opera. I find that the deer around here really love Rigoletto, and come right in.
sc outdoorsman
New member
I usually sit, watch and enjoy being alone, just relax. When I am with my son I usually get to enjoy the serenity. When my son can't go he texts me twice or thrice to see what's going on. I do the same with him though so I can't complain. It's not envy between us . It's more that we hope the trip is eventful.
sc928porsche
New member
The closest thing I use to a "stand" is rock outcropping and cliff edges.
Countertop
New member
I spent today perched 35 feet above the ground in a climbing stand.
As someone else said, I read alot. I also look around - watch the squirrels and hawks, and all the other creatures in the forest. With the advent of iphones, I even surfed the web - and I got a lot of work done. Sent 50 emails and dialed in to a conference call (I didn't speak, just listened). Played some scrabble. Had some coffee. Read a report from one of our economists.
Of yeah, and took a shot at a 10 point buck (and missed!!!!
) Dam tree branch I never saw.
As someone else said, I read alot. I also look around - watch the squirrels and hawks, and all the other creatures in the forest. With the advent of iphones, I even surfed the web - and I got a lot of work done. Sent 50 emails and dialed in to a conference call (I didn't speak, just listened). Played some scrabble. Had some coffee. Read a report from one of our economists.
Of yeah, and took a shot at a 10 point buck (and missed!!!!
) Dam tree branch I never saw.Littlehoov
New member
In my experience the warmer and more comfortable you are, the easier it is to sit still.
I like to dress as warm as I absolutely can and still shoot well and easily. Then once Ive shot a deer I usually strip off a few layers so I can deal with it easier.
Same thing with your actual stand being comfortable, my stand is a homemade ladder stand build from treated lumber, with only a 2x12 for a seat but its extrememly comfortable to me. It has armrests and I can lean back and practically fall asleep, makes it super easy to sit still. Not so easy to sit still with part of that tree in the small of your back, or your stand seat making your butt go numb,etc, etc...so try to make your stand as comfortable as you can to sit in, and as warm as you can. An investment Ive always thought about making is in a large blanket of some kind, preferably camo or dark colored. Would help you stay warm, especially your legs and feet.
I used to read also when I first started out, I found small pocket sized books to be best, fumbling with large pages of a magazine or something like that can really add a lot of unnecessary movement.
Like has already been mentioned, slow deliberate movements are much better than quick ones. I move my head deliberately slow (im thinking about moving it slow as Im moving it) and then I use my eyes to scan back and forth wherever my head is pointing....deer are good, but I really dont think they can detect eye movement at 100 yds away.
anymore I dont like the thought of keeping either my ears or eyes occupied with anything other than the woods around me. Sometimes it only takes seconds for a deer to appear, present a shot, and then disappear....if youre using these seconds to dig into your favorite Twilight novel...youll go home empty handed.
With the ears, if you can hear a deer walking it usually very close by and you need to be very cautious. They make other sounds too, which can be beneficial to hear, grunting, fighting, snorting alarms, etc....all of this you miss out on by having your Ipod cranked up. Not too mention the other sounds you miss out on.
As for smoking I had a late uncle that constantly had a cigarette in his mouth, hunted on the ground, and I dont think ever had an unsuccessful hunt.
In recap, for me personally the biggest elements of being able to sit still are being warm and comfortable, if either of those is unfulfilled I really have issues sitting still.
I like to dress as warm as I absolutely can and still shoot well and easily. Then once Ive shot a deer I usually strip off a few layers so I can deal with it easier.
Same thing with your actual stand being comfortable, my stand is a homemade ladder stand build from treated lumber, with only a 2x12 for a seat but its extrememly comfortable to me. It has armrests and I can lean back and practically fall asleep, makes it super easy to sit still. Not so easy to sit still with part of that tree in the small of your back, or your stand seat making your butt go numb,etc, etc...so try to make your stand as comfortable as you can to sit in, and as warm as you can. An investment Ive always thought about making is in a large blanket of some kind, preferably camo or dark colored. Would help you stay warm, especially your legs and feet.
I used to read also when I first started out, I found small pocket sized books to be best, fumbling with large pages of a magazine or something like that can really add a lot of unnecessary movement.
Like has already been mentioned, slow deliberate movements are much better than quick ones. I move my head deliberately slow (im thinking about moving it slow as Im moving it) and then I use my eyes to scan back and forth wherever my head is pointing....deer are good, but I really dont think they can detect eye movement at 100 yds away.
anymore I dont like the thought of keeping either my ears or eyes occupied with anything other than the woods around me. Sometimes it only takes seconds for a deer to appear, present a shot, and then disappear....if youre using these seconds to dig into your favorite Twilight novel...youll go home empty handed.
With the ears, if you can hear a deer walking it usually very close by and you need to be very cautious. They make other sounds too, which can be beneficial to hear, grunting, fighting, snorting alarms, etc....all of this you miss out on by having your Ipod cranked up. Not too mention the other sounds you miss out on.
As for smoking I had a late uncle that constantly had a cigarette in his mouth, hunted on the ground, and I dont think ever had an unsuccessful hunt.
In recap, for me personally the biggest elements of being able to sit still are being warm and comfortable, if either of those is unfulfilled I really have issues sitting still.
Stand placement is critical...
for success in deer hunting.
Want to be continuosly be successful in at least seeing deer, you have to place your stand close to the travel rts between bedding and feeding areas of the deer. Preferrably, no always downwind(or at least crosswinded) of the trail,foodplot you set up on.
Also, if your hunting from a ground blind, your blind should be set up well in advance of hunting season so the deer will get well acquanted to the blind being there. Gotta remember that those woods your hunting are those deer homes. Any changes and they know. They will tend to shy away from the change until they get used to it.
Its not just good enough to know deer are in an area when placing a stand but you should spend enough time scouting in the area your going to hunt to learn the deers habits(bedding areas, food plots, watering holes and the travel rts between all of them.
for success in deer hunting.
Want to be continuosly be successful in at least seeing deer, you have to place your stand close to the travel rts between bedding and feeding areas of the deer. Preferrably, no always downwind(or at least crosswinded) of the trail,foodplot you set up on.
Also, if your hunting from a ground blind, your blind should be set up well in advance of hunting season so the deer will get well acquanted to the blind being there. Gotta remember that those woods your hunting are those deer homes. Any changes and they know. They will tend to shy away from the change until they get used to it.
Its not just good enough to know deer are in an area when placing a stand but you should spend enough time scouting in the area your going to hunt to learn the deers habits(bedding areas, food plots, watering holes and the travel rts between all of them.
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Up until this season there were always abunch of roundbales to hide in and amongst, so this year we just stood in front of some smallisk oak trees at the edge of a pasture. As far as what I do, I like to remeber past hunts, and try to replay them in my mind,( it pisses my kids off when I start laughing out loud) it bides my time. I used to smoke and never did I once care how it affected the outcome of my hunt, I always seemed to have success one way or another, but I have never killed a booner though,, I'm sure if I would of been more religous about smoking discipline, I may have by now.
Hell just watching wildlife is worth it all to me. 2 years back, I had my youngest up at the area where we hunt and we got to watch a momma bobcat and three little one interact for three or so hours, she climbed up on a roundbale and sunned herself as the three stooges played when they got too close to her or they woke her up, she'd bat them off the bales. That was a memory I will cherish...
Hell just watching wildlife is worth it all to me. 2 years back, I had my youngest up at the area where we hunt and we got to watch a momma bobcat and three little one interact for three or so hours, she climbed up on a roundbale and sunned herself as the three stooges played when they got too close to her or they woke her up, she'd bat them off the bales. That was a memory I will cherish...Thats some funny stuff hooligan.
I once watched an old boar raccoon come up to a cornpile and run a small fourpoint buck away.
It was one of the funniest things you ever saw. The young buck didn't know what to do as the ole coon rose up on his back legs like some kind of grizzley growling at the him. The buck slowly sauntered off looking back over his shoulder at the big bully.
As far as the smoking thing goes, you'll likely never see a Boone and Crocket buck shot by a bowhunter while smoking in the stand. Maybe some taken way out there by a rifle though.
I once watched an old boar raccoon come up to a cornpile and run a small fourpoint buck away.
It was one of the funniest things you ever saw. The young buck didn't know what to do as the ole coon rose up on his back legs like some kind of grizzley growling at the him. The buck slowly sauntered off looking back over his shoulder at the big bully.
As far as the smoking thing goes, you'll likely never see a Boone and Crocket buck shot by a bowhunter while smoking in the stand. Maybe some taken way out there by a rifle though.
When Im in a deer stand, I just sit quietly with my Rifle in my hands ready to be quietly shouldered and fired, watch the area I am hunting, watching for movement, ocasionaly I pick up my binoculars If im not sure what it is.
When I see a Deer, I pick up the rifle, and watch through the scope, It works for me, I have filled both my doe tags, and let some smaller bucks go.
When I see a Deer, I pick up the rifle, and watch through the scope, It works for me, I have filled both my doe tags, and let some smaller bucks go.