SO, here in eastern Colorado, trees are kinda scarce. Trees suitable to a ladder stand or tree stand are even more rare. So, on my property I have a great trail leading from the river bottom to a 1 mile by 1/2 mile orchard on the neighbors property that the deer love but is not open to hunting. To get to his orchard they must cross my property and they always use this little irragation ditch along a pond as a trail and for cover. There is an old abandoned power pole right along the ditch and i'm thinking about putting a ladder or tree stand and hunting out of it. There aren't any leaves for cover and i'm scared i'll stick out like a sore thumb against the blue sky. So what to I do? how can I dress this power pole up to maybe look like tree and add cover? has anyone tried anything like this?
-Sorry, i'm completely new to hunting from stands and am unsure how much deer look up and how much i'd stick out against a little power pole with no leaves or branches to blend into

I have never tried using a telephone pole for a stand before, but I have used branches from artificial Christmas trees to provide back cover in trees before???

I think you might stick out like a sore thumb.  You could give it a shot though.  Sounds like a ground blind or maybe a pit blind may be worth a try.

Try it. Set up the stand facing away from the trail so the pole gives you some cover. That's my best guess. Other, probably better, long term option is to dig a pit blind and brush it real well so you are really low to the ground. This would probably not be seen as a threat to the deer once they got used to it. You would probably be best off building such a thing in the off season though.

Heck ya I would use the power pole...I bet some of those flag mounting brackets that people use to hang flags on their house would work and you could stick branches in them.

Over and under, that's brilliant. That's the advice I was looking for. And if put that up in the off season I bet they'd get alot more used to it alot easier than a ground blind. Plus a ground blind would be hard in this specific area with the terrain and all

Climbing a power pole may be illegal and can really be dangerous if there are live wires.  Even if not, they have no roots and can fall with you in it.

Use a Rancho Safari Ghillie suit, hunt the ground, then post the pix of your deer for us.

ChuckC

No wires it was never used for wires like a normal pole some farmer out it in for idk why but its cemented in around the base and very sturdy

pit blind would work just fine. i would give that a go fer sure from what you have said. good luck

I just wouldn't trust a pole like that, just seems sketchy. Any number of things can go wrong and it doesn't seem worth it because of the risk of serious injury. Dig a pit or set up a semi permanent ground blind.

If you are familiar to the Lon Hagler archery range you have seen that they made some really good landscaping on a bare flat land,adding limbs and branches on the ground so they look like real tree. On the off season you can build something like that to place your blind or find a good position for a gillie set up.

I tested out a climber once on a similar pole. It appeared to be very sturdy, until I got about 8' off the ground. Then I could feel it shaking! I went about another 3', and got very uncomfortable. I quickly reversed directions and thought "better not try that again".  A latter stand might be alright, but I'd be very cautious with a hang on. Ground blinds can be very effective if they are built in the off season, and would likely be a safer option.

I don't think being elevated would be an  advantage in that situation.

I believe the hang-ons and climbers say NOT to use them on poles like that or on slick barked trees. The rough bark of a tree is important to make them more safe.

Why not use a ladder stand on the pole with artificial branches AND make a pit blind.

Bona

During the off season; Put up a tripod stand in the area with the best cover(maybe a couple of little scrub trees near the ditch?) and add some camo netting around it. It should work.

I'd go for a pit blind or some other kind of ground blind.  The power pole idea it clever, but I don't think I'd do it.  Hunting from the ground is so much more exciting anyway...

My first choice would be a little 3 sided ground blind. I've used them in open golden rod fields by grassing in the outside of the blind. Get the wind right! I've never used a double bull type blind but they set those in the open?! That's an option too... if you wanna try the pole go for it and if it fails make your 2nd attempt in another location on that trail. I like to set a spot up for more than one wind direction too, something to consider.Good luck and have fun!

Deer are SO tuned in to their surroundings. I'd think they would pick you off pretty quick out in the open like that.
But who knows, might be worth a try.
I'd probably set up a blind of some kind like the others are saying.
Can't wait to hear how you make out!

Why not get use the pole to make a "teepee" type of ground blind? Then it would appear to be just a brush pile growing around a pole.

I would think that if you put it up early in the year by the time hunting season rolled around they would be used to it. I'd give it a try. If it doesn't work go to play B.