This is my first yr. to hunt trad. but with my compound i hunt 20' to 25' depending on location. How high do you hunt in a tree stand with a recurve?

I generally like to be about 15 feet or so up. Of course it depends on the terrain and foliage. But I like the shot angle better at around 15-17 feet also.

How high you hunt isn't dictated by the bow (or gun) used, but by cover, terrain, shot distance and how comfortable you are with heights.  I'll hunt as low as good cover will allow and rarely hunt over about 16 ft.  I like shots inside 15-18 yds and higher stands make for some pretty marginal shot angles.

I've taken a lot of critters sitting in an 8' Tripod.

As low as the cover will allow.I've shot both deer and hogs from 9'up.

I seem to get lower every year.  Most of my hunts are 10 to 12 feet.

Good sage advice here on the gang as usual.... My haul rope is 18 feet and I climb till it is tight most times and every now and then a few feet more or less depending on the tree and cover. Everyone is correct about the shrinking vital zone the higher you climb. Trying to hunt smarter the older I get and pick a better tree or at least try to climb the offside I think the deer will approach from and shoot them going away for a higher percentage shot and have the tree to hide behind, especially in my Guido's web. You don't have to be high as a kite if you be still, pay attention and catch the deer coming to you rather than getting surprised. You will then know when to move for the shot and get ready before the deer get under you. JMHO


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Over fifteen feet and you are getting into very sharp angles on close deer.  When I played in the trees, I liked about ten to twelve feet.  You need good back cover to say low but the shot angles are more acceptable.

In my experiance, the height is dictated by situation and location.  As alrady said cover is a big one.  If you are planning on harvesting an animal in hardwoods standing 20 yards, then you likely should be in the 18' range.  If you can get in a tree with more cover and plan your situation to harvest that animal at 15 yards then 12' will work.  Here in central illinois I have climbed to 18' and took game, and then stood 8-10' in a Hedgetree and had deer feed right under me.  This taught me that in a tree with alot of cover don't have to be higher, but shot's are much more limited.  I Believe that hunting from a lower height will force you to be a better hunter, so you up for the challenge?

I usually hunt the same height with any bow.Standing height around 20ft.This year I am hunting a little lower because of terrain.I am in the 16 to 18ft range and feel low in most stands.Low works but I need more cover and have to watch the wind even more.I hate close shots so the angle is no problem for me.When I pass on a shot it usually is becausde it is closer than I want to take.

10-12' max for me.

I'm with George. My highest tree stand was 12 feet, but usually 10 feet. I hunt on the ground now.

10-15'.  Some places require a bit higher though.  I can't bear to have my platform over 20'.  That puts my bow at 25' and my eyes at almost 26'.  That's my limit.

13-14' for me.  I used to hunt a lot higher.

10 to 15 ft plenty high and gives my a good shot angle

Usually between 12 and 20.  Situations dictate what kind of set-up I will use.

Seems over the years i lowered it down. Started at 20 to 15 to now 8 feet approx. If there isn't enough cover around to hide. Other wise now it's about 24" the height of a folding chair. And since last year i've scored more from the ground than the tree. At yards from five feet to twenty. Brush yourself in and stay clean as possible.

When I switched from compound to trad I had a very hard time shooting instinctively from stands. I finally learned (the hard way) to stay around the 15' level and not the 20'+ I used to hunt at.

Anything more than 15'-16' and I will shoot high. It is an optical illusion for me and I will raise my bow arm everytime.

Practice, practice, practice.

Good luck.