Hunt deer not trees, hunt the wind, clear lanes early, strap yourself ALL excellent points.  Along with take a few shots from stand once set.

I like to set up on blind spots on runs. In trees that have evergreens grown around them or near them that cover me and cut shooting lanes. I shoot off my deck everyday which is 10ft high so thats how high I hang my stands because im used to that and will not have a steep angle shot.

Carry an extra arrow to shoot at the beginning of an afternoon hunt and the end of a morning hunt out of your tree stand so you know how your bow shoots at different distances or where you would anticipate a deer to walk thru.

Comfort and safety is a must! Use a good quality stand with a good cushion and you'll hunt longer!
I also like a good bow holder that keeps by bow readily accessible. Allows me to keep my hands warm and what not.

2x^^^ this.

Remember to pull your bow up the tree and not leave it resting comfortably on the ground.............

...a good reason for a hook on the end of your permanently attached pull up cord.   

Pat what kind and size of a hook are you referring too?

Always Always Always, use a Life Line when ascending or descending...

Even though I hunt 100% from the ground, all 45 set stands set are equipped with Life Lines.

Scott... is up early this am....tried to call. 

Kenneth, I've used a coated wire that is stiff enough to hold the weight of whatever you may drop from your stand or forget to bring up. The hook isn't something you would use all the time but nice to have if necessary. Tying a small stick, like a toggle, will work for some items if it has an appropriate catch area like the tip of the limb where the string meets the tip or a strap on a day pack or quiver. The hook or stick would be added to the haul up string if needed.

Not to hijack the thread, but what are folks using to hang their bow in the tree? I have a cheap strap-around with a plastic hook, but concerned that the bow will get wedged with that between the string and limb. Suggestions?

Always take extra glove/tab, gloves, head/face covering, etc. I can't count the times I have dropped something without a backup and had to climb down to retrieve it. I also take a pee bottle. I'm older now and just can't stay in the stand all morning without taking a leak.

Around twenty years ago I started setting up with a tree in front of me. This has been extremely effective helping me get the shots I want at unalarmed deer. All kinds of benefits to this and I do it automatically now when picking trees.

Agree with Ryan. My stands are getting lower all the time and it's not because I'm afraid of heights. It's because of the better shot angles etc. just makes it so much easier to make the shot.

I often take a practice shot before getting down.

Quote from: Ryan Rothhaar on August 18, 2020, 09:11:55 PM
Hunt in the right spot, dont hunt for the "perfect" tree.  12 feet high and 20 yards away beats 20 feet high and 12 feet away every day and twice on sunday

R

I like this!!!

Sam,...
I hunted out of baker stands.... safety wasn't a 'tip 

Quote from: Orion on August 18, 2020, 10:31:50 PM
In addition to what's already been said, set up so you have the best clearance/mobility in the direction from which you expect the deer to come/pass.

Like this too!!!  You should know in which direction they are coming/going/traveling....if not you didn't do enough homework

Ok... read everyone's post...tips... good stuff

Stand as long as you can and hold your bow in hand with arrow nocked.  #1 Tip. Gotta be in position when the ball is snapped.

Both are serious advantages due to hidden silhouette and unnecessary movement.   Not only did these two most important tips cause me to drop the wheels years ago, but also were big factors on killing 3 deer in 13 minutes Oct 17th 91.

I'm older now and can't stand as long as I use to...but I play the moon and stand accordingly.... also I now try to use a back drop much more than I never did. Yes, never did.... hogs n bears don't  care,(I don't bait)but deer do and sitting casts a larger blob silhouette and the need to stand on occasion I have found caused the need to have more back cover.

I LOVE these kind of threads!!!  I love learning!

I'm constantly being reminded by deer that Trad stand sites are very different from compound sites.  Im attempting to set up to maximizes Opportunities for quartering away shots once they pass my stand.  Which is tough because have to be undetected on approach need cover front back or both.  Hard to draw at stickbow range with deer broadside.  I use lone wolf hand climber set up to allow a quarter seated position almost standing and have bow with arrow nocked and ready.  No limb clearance issues With hand climber because no rails, but safety harness is nonnegotiable.  Peeing from stand is a basic joy of life, and seems to have no affect on deer behavior.  One of my new favorite setups is split trunked white oak.  Gives less human shaped tumor on side of tree effect. 

Enough from me now we need to hear from the Wensels they are consistently killing mature bucks at low elevations at point blank range I'm sure it's no surprise to the folks on this sight they are the authorities on this subject.