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Out of all the many strategies to hunt, deer stand hunting is
perhaps the most productive. It stands to reason for the stand
hunter is sitting motionless and thus is avoiding detection
through movement.
If the stand hunter has played his or her cards right they will
be scent free, and this makes the stand hunter a most lethal
hunter when it comes to whitetail deer.
Playing the wind for the stand hunter will be a huge factor in
his success. It goes without saying that a downwind or crosswind
location is custom made for a stand hunter in avoiding detection
of the deer’s sensitive nose.
Location is everything, and good locations are primary food
sources, trails, funnels, saddles, edge habitat and benches.
Each has its own advantage and set of rules for hunting the
location successfully.
PRIMARY FOOD SOURCES
Pre-scout these areas and find the fields where the deer are
feeding. There is a trail that leads from the bedding area to
the food source.
The best evening stand would be near the field while the best
morning stand will be near the bedding area. One note of caution
do not hunt in the bedding area or frequent the stand too much
as you may risk completely moving the deer out of the bedding
area. Remember the bedding area is an area where the deer think
they are safe.
TRAILS
Playing the wind on trails is a big factor. Bends in the trails
are great places to ambush whitetails. Pick the side of the
trail where the wind is in your favor and be sure to have lanes
cut so you can clearly and cleanly get a shot off.
FUNNELS
Funnels are bottlenecks that are formed where open fields,
lakes, rivers and other obstacles force deer into a narrow area
of cover. Set up your stand to over look these areas. Funnels
are very active areas for whitetails during hunting season.
Hunting pressure can keep deer moving all throughout the day
through these areas giving the hunter many possible
opportunities for a shot. Resist the temptation to leave your
stand favoring staying on stand all day.
EDGE HABITAT
The whitetail is an edge animal in that he inhabits the edges of
cover. It may be the edge between a forest and a field. These
are prime areas for whitetail to move along and also to set up
scrape areas.
For and evening hunt set your stand up on the edge of fields
where deer may be feeding. IF you are hunting in the middle of
the day or morning, set your stand up near the deer’s bedding
area, but not too close. Remember a deer’s bedding area is where
he feels safe, you do not want to bump him too many times near
the area where he feels secure or he may move from the area all
together.
SADDLES
Saddles are great areas to ambush deer because they like to
travel between ridges on the easiest route there is while still
utilizing cover. Set up over a saddle and you may well catch
several deer using it as an escape route during times of heavy
hunting pressure. Saddles are hot places to hunt on opening day
of firearm deer season especially.
BENCHES
These shelves that lie just below a ridge top are prime areas
for deer to bed, feed and make scrapes. These areas are also
used as travel routes. Pay attention how wind currents are in
these areas when you hunt them. These areas are also good when
there is a lot of hunting pressure in the woods.
STAND HUNTING TIPS-
Always play the wind staying downwind or cross wind of your
quarry .
Camo your face in dark shades and stay in areas where you are
silhouetted
Always have clear shooting lanes prepared prior to your hunt
When on the ground keep the immediate area clean of leaves and
twigs to avoid making undue noise.
Never over hunt your stand. Give the stand times of rest in
between hunts. Two days ideally is the maximum amount of time
you should be hunting from a stand before letting it rest.
Stay on stand as long as possible, with all day being a goal. If
you simply cannot sit all day pay close attention when leaving
and approaching your stand that you do not let the deer pattern
your movements.
Never hunt an elevated stand without a harness that is safe and
rated for your weight.
This article courtesy of http://huntingg.com.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in
your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author
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