What do you do in the stand?
- Thread starter Morgoroth
- Start date
About half the time I'm sitting in my stand wondering what kind of damned squirrel convention is going on under me. Saturday morning I swear I had 30 squirrels within sight---some so fat you'd have trouble fitting them into a pot, others this years little ones. Not deer hunting this week, I'm SQUIRREL hunting this week. Take care all, Happy Thanksgiving!
Sixgun
Sixgun
After a while of sitting and getting used to the sounds and sights around me, I sit and play on my phone.
+1 on the squirrels! Saturday afternoon after two hours of sitting and not seeing any deer, I had a squirrel in my crosshairs and almost pulled it just to see what a 30-30 would do to it, but I didn't want to scare off any deer that might be around.
+1 on the squirrels! Saturday afternoon after two hours of sitting and not seeing any deer, I had a squirrel in my crosshairs and almost pulled it just to see what a 30-30 would do to it, but I didn't want to scare off any deer that might be around.
I grew up hunting in NW Wisconsin in often sub-zero conditions. When I was young I drank enough hot chocolate to make me pee every hour up until noon. Now I drink enough coffee when I hunt there on stand to keep me warm and alert that I need to pee every 30 mins, or at least until it all runs out of me by 9am, which is when I normally get out of my stand and start still hunting. Generally the still hunt leads toward the cabin where there is more coffee by 11am or so. At the least the coffee keeps me alert, even if it is smelly.
Some people I've met in the West have given me crap about sitting in a treestand for deer hunting, but I just challenge them to stay still for 10 hours 25 ft above the ground in -10 temps. It's certainly not easy. "Hang" in there.
Some people I've met in the West have given me crap about sitting in a treestand for deer hunting, but I just challenge them to stay still for 10 hours 25 ft above the ground in -10 temps. It's certainly not easy. "Hang" in there.
Treestands are all I hunt from. I'm no stillhunter. Besides, where I live/hunt, the hunter population is so high that I'd be walking in on another hunter at least every three hundred yards or so. That's just the way it's done around this area. Nice comfy stand, sittin' all day, sure sounds easy, but like James H said, try sitting in the tree, high off the ground in the wind/weather in December. That part kinda takes the 'easy' out of it REAL quick. The work is done all year long with the scouting and in my case, the food plots on our land.
When we first leased our land, there were literally no deer on it. It took us several years of food plots and feeders and getting a farmer to plant some of our small fields with corn and such, to get them back on the land. Now, we see lots of deer.
I do almost nothing in my stand, I don't play with my phone, ipod, read. Yes the boredom can be overwhelming, but I don't want any noise/movement from me to be the reason a deer didn't come my way. A buddy of mine from a few years back used to listen to a portable radio with earphones while in his stand. He didn't realize his hearing isn't what it used to be, and you could hear his radio over 50 yards away in a quiet woods.
sixgun
When we first leased our land, there were literally no deer on it. It took us several years of food plots and feeders and getting a farmer to plant some of our small fields with corn and such, to get them back on the land. Now, we see lots of deer.
I do almost nothing in my stand, I don't play with my phone, ipod, read. Yes the boredom can be overwhelming, but I don't want any noise/movement from me to be the reason a deer didn't come my way. A buddy of mine from a few years back used to listen to a portable radio with earphones while in his stand. He didn't realize his hearing isn't what it used to be, and you could hear his radio over 50 yards away in a quiet woods.
sixgun
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I hunt public land almost exclusively, either the National Forest or local WMAs.
I typically read in the treestand. I'm far too high strung and fidgety to sit there staring at the forest (though I do take frequent breaks to do so). If I could get a signal, I'd probably txt message or surf the web. I set my stand between 5' and 10' off the ground depending on the surrounding terrain and other trees (higher on flat ground with few trees right by me). I've been as low as 5' and had deer milling around the stand (does on a buck-only day natch).
As for noise, scent, etc, I too have noticed they have to get you with at least two senses before anything happens. By the end of my yearly deer camp, I smell like a smokey goat, but it doesn't seem to scare them off. When I have deer nearby that I can't shoot, I frequently do things to try and gauge how sensitive they are to my presence. I tap the stand, move around, cough, etc. If they get antsy at all, it's only for a little bit before they settle back down.
The guys I frequently hunt with all smoke, drink, sit around the campfire, etc. They wear the same clothes to hunt each day and don't worry about scent control. It isn't uncommon for us to have 2-4 deer hanging on trees by the end of camp.
Funny story, one year, we had a new guy come to camp. He was a hardcore bow hunter, but only hunted private property. He was super serious about scent control and such. After a few days of not getting and even not seeing anything, the other guys got him liquored up and hanging about the campfire all night. The next morning, hungover and smelling of wood smoke, he crawled out of bed and went hunting. He got a deer.
Chris
I typically read in the treestand. I'm far too high strung and fidgety to sit there staring at the forest (though I do take frequent breaks to do so). If I could get a signal, I'd probably txt message or surf the web. I set my stand between 5' and 10' off the ground depending on the surrounding terrain and other trees (higher on flat ground with few trees right by me). I've been as low as 5' and had deer milling around the stand (does on a buck-only day natch).
As for noise, scent, etc, I too have noticed they have to get you with at least two senses before anything happens. By the end of my yearly deer camp, I smell like a smokey goat, but it doesn't seem to scare them off. When I have deer nearby that I can't shoot, I frequently do things to try and gauge how sensitive they are to my presence. I tap the stand, move around, cough, etc. If they get antsy at all, it's only for a little bit before they settle back down.
The guys I frequently hunt with all smoke, drink, sit around the campfire, etc. They wear the same clothes to hunt each day and don't worry about scent control. It isn't uncommon for us to have 2-4 deer hanging on trees by the end of camp.
Funny story, one year, we had a new guy come to camp. He was a hardcore bow hunter, but only hunted private property. He was super serious about scent control and such. After a few days of not getting and even not seeing anything, the other guys got him liquored up and hanging about the campfire all night. The next morning, hungover and smelling of wood smoke, he crawled out of bed and went hunting. He got a deer.
Chris
mmmmm daydreaming is my fav thing to do while waiting...mostly I dream of that 80 acre piece in Northern Michigan my wife said I could buy if I can come up with the money. Unfortunately she said I was NOT allowed to stop paying the bills or her allowance in order to come up with that money LOL.
This daydream started as a result of wasting 6 hours on the 2nd day of firearm season watching 12 other orange guys tramping thru my field of fire/vision, 4 trucks driving out thru the woods, and the local tree service choosing that day to work on trimming the trees back along the road (6 trucks and a million chainsaws). State Land is not the best place to hunt, but your friends hardly ever share their land during the first few days of the season so the DREAM has begun!
I took 4 - 12+ pointers off that 80 acre section during the first day of the dream LOL.
But an MP3 player playing in one ear also helps pass the time.
This daydream started as a result of wasting 6 hours on the 2nd day of firearm season watching 12 other orange guys tramping thru my field of fire/vision, 4 trucks driving out thru the woods, and the local tree service choosing that day to work on trimming the trees back along the road (6 trucks and a million chainsaws). State Land is not the best place to hunt, but your friends hardly ever share their land during the first few days of the season so the DREAM has begun!
I took 4 - 12+ pointers off that 80 acre section during the first day of the dream LOL.
But an MP3 player playing in one ear also helps pass the time.
What do you do in the stand?
I sit still as much possible and watch for deer. I watch mostly for movement of any kind, moving only eyes as much as possible. Move slowly when even just turning your head. Look for out of place lines and stay alert as long as you can. Where I hunt, it is critical to stay put from morning till dark, especially on opening day and the day after. Have fun and don't let killing something be your only goal. I promise you WILL take something awesome with you every time you go to the woods if you have the right frame of mind. Good luck and have a blast!
Joe
I sit still as much possible and watch for deer. I watch mostly for movement of any kind, moving only eyes as much as possible. Move slowly when even just turning your head. Look for out of place lines and stay alert as long as you can. Where I hunt, it is critical to stay put from morning till dark, especially on opening day and the day after. Have fun and don't let killing something be your only goal. I promise you WILL take something awesome with you every time you go to the woods if you have the right frame of mind. Good luck and have a blast!
Joe
When practical, I try to be in the blind and set up well before legal shooting hours begin or end. I sometimes putz around with texting or surfing on my phone during the slow times, yet especially during the 30 minutes each side of sunrise and sunset, I try to have the binocs working.
22-rimfire
New member
It sounds like you just need to be persistant. What you do depends on the stand. I read paper back books sometimes. Suck on hard candy... and sometimes just think about Louann.
When hunting from an open stand, move your body as little as possible and it helps to sit down. Use your eyes and turn your head slowly. Keep hand movement to a minimum but if you move them, try to keep your hands inside your body profile.
If all the deer are always "over there", I would consider moving my stand closer. Then you will see them where your stand was or you walk over there during the day and see fresh tracks under your stand. It never fails.
Maybe you just need to smoke while on your stand. That way at least you can blame evil tobacco.
When hunting from an open stand, move your body as little as possible and it helps to sit down. Use your eyes and turn your head slowly. Keep hand movement to a minimum but if you move them, try to keep your hands inside your body profile.
If all the deer are always "over there", I would consider moving my stand closer. Then you will see them where your stand was or you walk over there during the day and see fresh tracks under your stand. It never fails.
Maybe you just need to smoke while on your stand. That way at least you can blame evil tobacco.
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National forest land in Northern Colorado does not seem to present the same tree stand opportunities,
I'll compare it to ice fishing .Many places have the deluxe shanties.We mostly sit out on buckets.I have seen a few shanties blow by me in wyoming.Folks inside sounded scared as they went by.
I do take stands a few hours at a time,a blowdown or some rocks ,whatever presents itself.Improvement means moving the lumps under my butt and breaking off the twig in my face.I have a German surplus sleeping pad,thin closed cell foam,that folds up like a map.It weighs nothing.It will fit easily in a small pack .Nice buttpad folded,and opened,i can sit on snow,warm and dry.
An old,worn,limp poncho liner goes in,too.I drape it over the top of me.Rifle is outside,available with minimal movement.Movement of my hands,legs ,feet,etc is concealed under the poncho liner.I wear those wool fingerless polka-dot palm gloves.also.My hands flash less.
I can scratch,grab a cookie,whatever,without showing any motion.
Repackage food so all that crackling and ripping,tearing noise is not there.
A fisherman must have faith,believe the fish are there,to wait for a bite.
In your mind,see the deer /elk you can't see.Realize,no matter what you plan,likely the critter will appear when you don't expect it,or from a direction other than the one you selected.(The whole elk herd is quietly slipping by 50 yds up the hill behind you)
Listen.Very intently listen.That shot you just heard,700 yds away,assume the elk are traveling now,how will they come to you?Did you hear that?
Maybe even,we radiate out thoughts a bit.Circles go out.A magpie knows,somehow,if you have a 22 or a shovel in your hand.Be at peace.
I'll compare it to ice fishing .Many places have the deluxe shanties.We mostly sit out on buckets.I have seen a few shanties blow by me in wyoming.Folks inside sounded scared as they went by.
I do take stands a few hours at a time,a blowdown or some rocks ,whatever presents itself.Improvement means moving the lumps under my butt and breaking off the twig in my face.I have a German surplus sleeping pad,thin closed cell foam,that folds up like a map.It weighs nothing.It will fit easily in a small pack .Nice buttpad folded,and opened,i can sit on snow,warm and dry.
An old,worn,limp poncho liner goes in,too.I drape it over the top of me.Rifle is outside,available with minimal movement.Movement of my hands,legs ,feet,etc is concealed under the poncho liner.I wear those wool fingerless polka-dot palm gloves.also.My hands flash less.
I can scratch,grab a cookie,whatever,without showing any motion.
Repackage food so all that crackling and ripping,tearing noise is not there.
A fisherman must have faith,believe the fish are there,to wait for a bite.
In your mind,see the deer /elk you can't see.Realize,no matter what you plan,likely the critter will appear when you don't expect it,or from a direction other than the one you selected.(The whole elk herd is quietly slipping by 50 yds up the hill behind you)
Listen.Very intently listen.That shot you just heard,700 yds away,assume the elk are traveling now,how will they come to you?Did you hear that?
Maybe even,we radiate out thoughts a bit.Circles go out.A magpie knows,somehow,if you have a 22 or a shovel in your hand.Be at peace.
When hunting I enjoy the show going on around me. The sounds of silence. The birds or woodpeckers or squirrels. I don't want to be distracted by a book or IPOD. Stay alert. I act like a sniper is hunting for me & looking to kill me. That sniper is the deer and he could be anywhere. Watching & waiting for you to betray your presence. You must see him first & take the first good shot you get (hopefully with a rest).
The prey is always being hunted and knows in order to survive must move slowly, be quiet and stay hidden. It is watching, smelling and listening like it's life depends on it, because it does.
The prey is always being hunted and knows in order to survive must move slowly, be quiet and stay hidden. It is watching, smelling and listening like it's life depends on it, because it does.
My grandkids are old enough now to hunt, and often they will hunt with me on my land. They normally place their stands along the treeline by a 12 acre field, I'm normally along the same treeline. I say all of this because I can no longer enjoy my time on the stand as I did in olden days. My granddaughter said, after an unusually cold December hunt last year, that from the sounds that she heard she could tell that the cold did not interfer with my sleep.
I suppose that I will have to stay awake and actually watch the deer now. What a bother.
I suppose that I will have to stay awake and actually watch the deer now. What a bother.waterfowler
New member
A deer's peripheral vision is about 18 ft up , so set up higher than that if possible.
Wow Waterfowler, I did not know that.
I have two places set up.
One at the front of the property where there is a blind and it is pretty dense, longest distance to shoot is probably 20yrds, but there is a timed feeder at the end of the 20yrds on the left.
The other is at the back of the property and it is probably 15 or so feet up with a lane that is about 30yrds, but no feeder.
we have jumped a bunch walking around, but the only one we have gotten is one my buddy got in the "blind."
I should say, the blind is a plastic bag and a butt pad between two trees.
I have two places set up.
One at the front of the property where there is a blind and it is pretty dense, longest distance to shoot is probably 20yrds, but there is a timed feeder at the end of the 20yrds on the left.
The other is at the back of the property and it is probably 15 or so feet up with a lane that is about 30yrds, but no feeder.
we have jumped a bunch walking around, but the only one we have gotten is one my buddy got in the "blind."
I should say, the blind is a plastic bag and a butt pad between two trees.