How many times during bow season do you move your stand (stands)around?
I'm always looking for a better spot.
In my neck of the woods I hunt terrain features that funnel or restrict deer movement so instead of moving stands what I do is rotate between stand locations. I have 4 or 5 of these funnels set up throughout my area and I rotate between them depending on wind and conditions.
Same here, I like a lot of stands so I can mix it up and keep from getting patterned myself. But if I see the deer are moving a little different I will definitely move a stand or however many it takes to close the deal. I have noticed over the years that the first time you hunt a stand is the best chance you have for success, so keep the deer guessing.
Every time- always portable. Rarely hunt the same stand twice. Own one stand. Up and down in under ten minutes.
Over the years I have obtained quite a few stands. Some of them never get changed and one or two always seem to have wanderlust. As food sources change so do those moveable stands. Seems like you can't have enough of them and it is always good to have alternative sites if for no other reason than wind direction. Sometimes it seems more prudent to take a ground stand when you find a hot spot that begs to be hunted "now".
I hang about 12 and hunt them when conditions are or at least "feel" right. I've hunted some of the same funnels for 30 years.
When I discover something new that screams "hunt here", I'll usually use a climber to see if the area warrants the hanging of a stand.
Trap
Climber only... too many thieves , and tresspassers arond here!!!!
i have 3 or 4 i keep in place around oak and beech trees, these stands will produce if there is a good mast. i have 2 that i can move quickly with climbing steps and i move them when need be. i use a climber alot and move that any time i find a hot area.
I own three loc on stands, a lem and two spirits. One of them is always on my back when I enter the woods, even if I'm heading to a pre-hung stand. I can set any of these up in any location in under 5 minutes. I also use speed hitch ropes on the stands and on tree steps. With practice this combination is extremely quiet to set up. I've actually had as many as three deer lying within twenty yards of me after setting up.( either I'm really quiet or their really deaf!) I've also been using this set-up since 1980, like I said, practice makes quiet. With these light weight stands you can set up any time or anywhere the signs look right.
I have 8 - 9 stands that stay put all season because the terrain makes them so good. I just wait for the perfect day to hunt those. Others are moved whenever needed. I use a packable stand to hunt quite a bit also. I guess you could say I'm continually on the move. The first or second time hunting a spot is usually the best.
Never hesitate.
Hi All,
Sorry, don't use a stand. I hunt from the ground in naturally occuring "ground blinds".
I like to rotate and move a lot as well. I usually prep 6-8 trees around home in the pre-season and another 4-5 in the northwoods a little later in the fall. I often end up just hunting the trees I initially set up, but I'm always ready to move and have a LW hang-on, sticks, climber, and a tree saddle so I'm pretty much prepared for any situation.
Some stands I leave in the same place all season. I hunt private land and theft hasn't been an issue. Other stands I move each hunting session. At certain times, a hit and run technique pays off where a permanent location wouldn't. It all depends on my mood, the mood of the woods and the time of the season. Pat
I hunt in PA public lands so I use a climber. The few times I have left a hang on out and I had to worry if it would be there in the morning or not. So I gave them away and just use my climber. If I find some private land to hunt I might switch back.
But to answer the question I never hunt the same tree or area twice in a row. I like to mix it up and not get into a pattern.
I probably have over a hundred stands that I've accumulated over the years and my 3 hunting buddies each have that many as well. We put them up in all the likely places and add to them every spring. If we want to hunt a stand in a certain area, there's usually one already there!
The downside is, we sometimes forget some of them for years!
I got industrious a couple of years ago and built a dozen 12' ladder stands from treated wood and screws. My family and I own about 250 acres in a block, and I live on my 50 acre part. I can be in a stand and hunting 10 minutes out the door.
My ladder stands are put in the best locations, and I leave them in place until something changes, or I get busted by the deer I'm hunting. Sometimes I move one just a few yards. For right-now hot spots, I have a portable 12' aluminum ladder stand that I can pack in. It only weighs about 20#, and I can set it up very quickly and quietly.
I don't hunt any of my stands twice in a row, and I take different paths to them when possible. I want to keep the deer guessing!