Treestand strategy and wind

[LostArra]

I'm posting this here because our encounters with deer are up close making treestand placement is so much more critical than a rifle hunter.

How much thought goes into entry and exit routes to your stands?
I struggle with this because some of my stand locations are limited by property boundaries or open farmland fields.

I know getting to a stand requires you give up something since you do have to actually get to the stand. Mornings seem to be worse when it's easier to inadvertently bump deer.
In fact, I'm thinking of quitting a stand in the mornings that is along a wheat field because I'm sure I'm bumping deer just parking my truck.

I've got one stand that is at a regular deer travel intersection.
They could come from any direction on any given day and some directions will probably get me busted.
I've killed deer there but usually young and stupid ones.
I'm getting to think my stand strategies, or lack of, are keeping me in the dink and runt club.

Do you have any guidelines for entry and exit to and from your stands?
Do you always approach your stands into the wind?
What makes a stand a morning or evening stand?
Do you worry about bumping deer in the dark (am or pm)?

 

[bonecrusher1]

When I was hunting in MN, I always checked the terrain and avoid the bedding areas find the quickest, quietest way in. If I did bump a deer I would just keep moving and get settled in and let it calm back down.

 

[Shrek]

You are right about stand entry and exit keeping you in the dink club. Wind rules all . If I can't get to a stand without staying down wind at all times I don't hunt it. I also take my stand in and out with me every time. I hunt in South Georgia on small property and it can be frustrating to say the least. I also park farther away than most other club members and walk farther.

 

[marc]

Good to see that you are concerned and taking this seriously! For your morning stand you should be back away from the fields and closer to bedding areas but not so close that you cannot get out after the morning hunt. Plan a route that keeps you away from the feeding area or you might as well sleep in! I have killed way more dear on morning sits than I have in the evening even though I hunt more evenings.

I personally roll with one stand and set of sticks, both lone wolf, and never leave them in the woods. This allows me to always set up properly for the conditions and not hunt an area when it isn't perfect just because that is where the stand is. If the wind in bad for all of my spots I will usually head into a different area or a different property (public) so I don't screw anything up. Would rather sit in a bad spot and not see anything than let the buck I am hunting smell me and blow him out.

If you plan your entry and exits you will not bump many deer unless they are moving really early.

 

[Shrek]

Another thing to look at is hunting midday on scapes near bedding areas. I have killed several mature bucks 11:00 to 3:00 as they slipped out to check scrapes. Find scapes with cover and sit on them during the middle of the day. I usually don't see a lot of deer but if I do it's a hot doe or a big buck. If a hot doe does visit and pees you better get ready. There will be a buck there shortly . You need to set up a little different because the buck is likely bedded close by and is monitoring the scape. I try to set up so that my scent doesn't reach the bedding area by setting up parallel to the scrape not directly down wind. These days I use a ghost blind ( mirror type not a tent ) on the ground for this so I can get into thick cover areas without climbable trees. Usually small 4 to 7 year old pines . Usually the push rows will have small bushes and oaks that the bucks scape under. I quietly as possible slip in and sit down and set the blind up. Usually a dark shady spot with my back to a bush. I can sit these spots comfortably all day. I like to hunt a travel or food stand morning and evening and a tight ground blind during the day. Sometimes I doze off in the middle of the day and I may miss some but I have a much better chance of killing something in the woods than I do hanging out at camp. I never leave any blinds in the woods that I expect to shoot a mature buck from.