heres the situation. just put up a stand by a bunch of hickorys that border a thick field where the deer are going to bed. best tree is a ash that is bear of leaves and i stick out pretty good. it is by far the best placement for this stand as it is by 2 trails leading to the field. i am relying on controlling my movement and using the burnt cork camo. i usually don't use face camo but this is a great spot and i want to do everything i can. any advice on what else i could do to blend in? no doubt i will see deer here.

one option is a "squirels nest" type blind. its a fake tree branche with synthetic leaves and mounts to your stand. Its not a cheap item but works well this time of year. You can aslo try and place your set tot he back side of the tree to use it as some sort of blockage, but sometimes it makes the shots harder. what about a ground set up?

cut some brush and take it up the tree stand with you and somehow fasten it to the stand.  I had to do the same thing and it worked out well so far just not any bucks does, pigs, and turkeys.  I used zip ties to hold them up and will replace them when they turn brown.

Shawn

Go higher in the tree

Jim Hamm (and wingnut) recommend hunting from stand facing the tree.  use the tree as a blind.  I think but don't know for sure that Wingnut and Jim both shoot standing ???

rusty

admtnken-
simple as Dmxshawn said, however you can also use synthetics very cheap by going to a craft store and using the fake leaves that have flexible wires attached for fall decorations.  
You can get even get oak and maple leaves.  Jo-ann fabrics around here, around ten to fifteen bucks to do a stand. aside- is that a fisher in your avatar?

i auctually did face my stand "backwards" to use the tree for cover and wait untill they pass me. think i'll try the zip tie and branches. i'm up about 13-15 feet or as far as 4 sections of ladder steps go, can not get higher. thanks for all the advice and keep it coming! i'll take a picture tomorrow.

yup it a fisher. was not going to trap this year but decieded i want a fisher back quiver and will catch one.

Don't know what your stand looks like so I don't really know what to tell you....you may not need to do anything.

Are you at the base of the forests canopy?

Do you feel like you are sticking out?

Have you ever hunted from a tree stand before?

not a canopy much at all, leaves are all of the hickorys. yes i feel like i'm sticking out but i know the best camo is NO movement. have hunted from stands for a loooooong time.  i pretty much only hunt from stands as i love the view and i am ver adapt at using them. just trying to pick the brains of the fine folks here to see what they do.

I'm going to be in a setup similar tonight.  I'm going to be on the edge of a field where I spotted a nice buck last night.  Wind has me in a stand of small trees that won't break up my outline much at all.  I'm planning on wearing my ghillie and stand as still as possible.

i do %99 of my hunting in the Northern zone where it is THICK and it is easy to blend in while using the canopy and other trees. this set up is in a new area in the Southern zone where things are much more open. the stand is an API, grey in color which i placed on an ash tree blend in.

Can you get your hands on a recent TBM issue (1 or 2 ago)?  There was an article done on Roger Rothar (sorry if I killed it in spelling) where it shows him using a modified ladder stand with some cover built around the "platform".  Excellent picture of what you might consider....

Found it!

It is in the August/September 2008 Issue

i'll try to find one, funny as Rogers book is the one i have been reading on stand latly, leaves are so LOUD i get to enjoy a book.

I would add to the great suggestions already given to use as light a camo as possible since you will be up against the lighter sky.  I love the older predator camo, as I think it breaks up the human form, but both Realtree and Mossy Oak have new lighter colored patterns.  I have removed the seat from my summit climber and stand the whole time leaning against the trunk so I am not a seperate object, or at least hope I am not.

i am wearing a heavy grey sweater that blends in well. i do not wear factory camo, i use a lot of plaid and earth tone color clothes. i too changed seats on my stand, took the factory plastic off and replaced with ply wood.

On cloudy days, go with the original Skyline or a similar camo.  That can be very helpful, especially if you think other suggestions would be too noticeable on short notice on this stand.  Wait for a cloudy/rainy/snowy day, and wear some whitish/gray camo.

Other ideas:  Also, a few days after a big windstorm in the summer, I often go through our woods and there will be these big branches from cottonwoods that will have fallen and the leaves die but stay attached.  I literally drag some of these up into the tree and place them both around my stand AND above and behind me (from the deer's perspective).

On another stand, I actually took some woven wire and wired a bunch of it out in front of me in the shape of a C (bulge pointing outwards) so it helped form a nest.  Originally I was trying to 'train' an already-present wild grape plant into colonizing this wire and making a nice nest for me.  The progress was too slow, so I eventually just gave up and put in some of the fake branches others have talked about here and it works VERY good.

It may sound weird, but I think putting up a tree umbrella just above your head creates some "canopy" and also puts you in the shadows. Being another 2XL sized guy, I always feel like I stick out like a sore thumb even if I'm in a hemlock tree. I feel your pain. Good luck!

I've taken to using a gillie in the tree stand.  Worked great last weekend.

You could make on out of old sweaters.  ..LOL

Mike

Ken, I think your worrying about something you don't need to......sounds like you're right where you need to be,set up on the back side......just be still as possible and hunt it!