Trad Gang

I hate to admit this, but all my hunting life I've been a sucker for a great tree. If I spy a tree that has lots of cover, easy to climb (with well-placed steps or ladder sections), in a pretty "deery" spot, I just have to hunt it.

Some times there are better spots to hunt but "the tree" calls to me.

I've had such stands in 5 states (white-tails): "The Elm", "Crows Nest", "Fence Hole Cedar", "Hackberry Wolf", "Carmichael Cedar", "Cedar Road",you get the idea...

Do any of you sometimes focus too much on the tree instead of the sign?

Yeah I hear you bud, sometime a certain tree just talks to yea.

Absolutely. In fact, when I'm scouting with my brother he will point and say, "Hey, that tree has your name all over it." I love me a good pine with lots of branches and some lower trees/shrubs around it. If I'm close enough to deer sign I figure I can help them find my spot by blocking runways, mock scrapes, and dragging scent past THAT tree.

No, I haven't. I have nearly fallen several times, once hanging from the bottom of the platform ( as it collapsed ) while climbing up and grabbing the stand for balance. Not to mention the stand was 20 plus feet high!

I recently purchased a safety system called the Fall Guy. It connects you from the ground, as you climb, until you come back down. Money well spent!

Since I'm afraid of height, I like to hunt "at ground level".

longbow fanatic,
Either you are messing with me (touche if you are) or I should have been less cutesy with the title of this post?

I'm like Owlbait. Certain trees seem to have been growing all for years just so I can perch in them.

The only time a tree talked to me was when I was thinking of a new bow!   :laughing:

I bought 2 new stands to try this year and just couldn't get my butt up off the ground.  

I usually pick a 20ydx20yd spot that's near the exact spot I think I'm going to shoot a deer and then I find the best tree in that square. I look for a comfortable tree!

Does your wife know about this.   :laughing:   I must be a cedar pimp. I like them all

Bowwild,

I am still laughing at myself. I misread your title, then posted what I thought you were asking w/o reading your post.

Back to the original question, I usually find the active trails and then search for the perfect tree ( usually w/o success ). On those rare occasions that I have a perfect tree and good deer trails, I do swear the tree is talking to me. You can almost look at the tree and envision how many great deer encounters are to come!

I have ..ONE"  about 20years ago .. I seen this maple tree that had the branches in just the right place. Easy to climb good cover.. It was on a nice funnel too. But ...heres why its so special. It was almost end of Oct. The leaves were all yellow and red.. I felt a stiff breeze and all of a sudden all the leaves on the maple let go..... ! I mean all of them. It was raining leaves.. SO ALLSOME. So much color against the pure blue sky..."GODS ART" Yep very special tree to me !!! Never ever seen that again !!!

Whoa, now there's a tree screaming at ya.

I figured you read it pretty quick longbow...! Funny.  :biglaugh:

:biglaugh:    :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:  Bowwild!