I place a ladder stand this fall along the bottom of a ridge, with a creek bottom behind me.  There is a trail that runs along the bottom of the ridge. In previous years, I have found a  fairly large scrape at the base of this ridge. I am actually about 17 yards from my stand to the trail. There is very little sign on this trail currently.

Last week, I had about 6 deer moving along the top of the ridge towards the field to feed. They were about 60 yards away from me.

Given the time of the year, should I move my stand to the top of the ridge where most of the deer seem to be moving along?

Put a loc-on 1/2 to 2/3 up the ridge and hunt the thermals going down.

If you are not where the deer are, you can't kill them.  Sometimes you gotta gamble.

God Bless,
Nathan

Another option is to have two separate stands in two different locations.

My first rule of thumb is, "Don't move stands in the middle of the season". Second rule of thumb is, "Rule number one gets broken sometimes". If you've lost all confidence in your location then consider moving it. If I absolutely have to move a stand, I like to do it in the rain, or with rain in the near future. I think this helps wash away the scent that you leave behind while trimming shooting lanes, moving the ladder, standing around choosing the right tree, etc.

I will also echo what Night Wing said. Multiple stands in multiple locations.

I moved a stand this past Monday based on defined and consistant deer travel I observed from another stand.Three hours after I had the stand in it's new position, I put my douglas fir shaft through the side of a small buck. It will drive you nuts if you don't move your stand and see deer after deer just out of range.

I would move. Hunting below a ridge can be difficult to hunt due to funky wind currents. Ridges usually have a more consistent wind.

I would have moved to where the deer are as soon as I knew their travel route.

Gatekeeper is right about the wind on the downside of a ridge.

Not sure what you're after deer wise (buck or doe) but I am constantly moving around the 700 acres I hunt. I'm after a particular 14 pointer. My theory is stay with the does where ever they happen to be. The bucks will eventually show themselves.

As mentioned I would add another stand even if it is on the ridge, that way if they bust you you may get another chance at the bottom of the ridge. And as Murphys law if you move it up they will move below.

Move with the deer, I have done it for 30 years of bowhunting and have had great results.

I agree move it get another stand but by all means get to where you make the shot you need.

I had a loc-on on the ridge for about three years but only saw a few does from it. My reasoning for the current placement was I thought the bigger bucks would use this trail, especially once gun-deer hunting started, which is this weekend.

I think I will place another stand adjacent to the trail following the ridge, keeping an eye on the lower trail for signs of increased usage as well.

Appreciate the comments,
Gary

I was just reading an article in the PBS magazine by Gene Wensel saying how you need to know how the deer movements change in your area based on the time ofthe year. He was hunting aspot similar to you and hewas sayingthe deer were moving up on top of the ridge through a field to avod walking through the brush filled with morning dew and to avoid the brush itself in the early season. He said after the cold weather hit and wilted down the brush they would start walking through the bottom of the ridge. That just might be happenning where you are.

I think being mobile is one of the biggest things hunters overlook. Deer adapt every day. You must too. If you have funds, grab another stand. If you dont, move it. If need be, move it again later.