Tree stand trad tips?

[Jcarroll611]

What are your best tips for hunting from a tree stand with your trad bow?

[Wudstix]

Watch the lower limb tip clearance. 

[Pat B]

Don't forget the upper limb too.
Bend at the waist.

[Sam McMichael]

Diligence in the use of proper safety harness.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

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

[Wudstix]

Pat, Sam and Ryan all have excellent points.

[Jcarroll611]

These are all good tips.  last year on my first successful recurve hunt , I pulled back , let down, sandwiched a few branches in between the string and my top limb. Panicked around with getting them out as the buck came closer and then double lunged him at 12 yards. Couldn't believe it all worked out.

[Orion]

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. 

[Pat B]

...but be prepared for a deer to come from any side. In some cases you won't have a shot. Use these times to virtually pick a spot.

[JAH518]

1. Practice from the stands you'll be hunting from before taking it to the woods.

2. Pay attention to limb clearances when setting your stand.

3. Remember limb clearance before drawing on game.

4. Don't change your form to shoot down, bend at the waste.

5. Be prepared to not take a shot vs taking a forced or bad shot.

And lastly watch your limb clearance! If you can't tell I've forgotten this one more than once. 

[TwistedHollow]

If you can get a stand with a flip up seat that really makes a difference for the shot and concealment. Your able to move easier with it flipped up.

[Tom]

Bend at the waist, have good background cover, use lifeline, and watch limb tips. All good tips.

[Bowguy67]

All very good answers. Imo one of the most important and Ryan aluded to it it licking the right location. That doesn't mean it's a one pick deal. Either you need to use multiple stands set for different winds and conditions or you need to use a climber which is my preference.
Imagine you're hunting oaks. To make things easy say all have some. You pick hunt actively dropping and used trees,areas. Eventually they deplete. The deer move to another white, that eventually depletes, sooner or later the blacks, etc etc but you need to be mobile otherwise you're often just spending an evening w a view. Think about that.

[blacktailbob]

Good tips above. One they I did on mine was wrap any metal with i/o carpet to lessen any chance of my bow limb bumping it at anytime and making noise.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Have plenty of stands.  I want plenty of set ups and options.  I also want things set up ahead of time to minimize disturbance during season. I've "accumulated" a few stands over the years from here and there.  I put lots of stands in the woods (private ground) for situations I know about, suspect, or think might develop.  In a normal year I might not even sit 1/3 or more of the stands I have out because the situation doesn't develop for one reason or another.

My place in Missouri is 90 acres and I've whittled it down to 10 high probability stands over the 8 years I've owned it.  My new place in Indiana is 95 acres and I have 13 stands up now, and I'm sure I'll put up a couple more at least during the season from observation.  The place I have permission to hunt down the road is about 100 acres and I've got 8-10 stands I'll put up soon, been hunting on there for 20 years.

Last count I had around 50 stands not counting a bunch of ladder stands Dad gave me when he quit using them that are stored in the barn rafters for when I get older.

R

[Ryan Rothhaar]

You might say "Why not use a climber instead of hanging 35 stands?"

I've discussed/debated this with friends before and last time I did the math I had like 28 stands up and you could have gotten a climber on 2-3 of them due to multiple trunks, crooked trees, limbs etc.  All that stuff gives you cover. Telephone pole trees dont.  Also see my first reply...I hunt deer, I dont hunt straight trees!



R

[smokin joe]

Get yourself a heavy-duty, battery-powered pole saw. Cutting shooting lanes in August is pretty easy with one of those. If you use ladder stands, change the ratchet straps -- a few bucks invested in safety beats a serious injury any day.

[smokin joe]

...and, if you can, use ladder stands because getting into them is so quiet and easy. Getting to and into your stand with as little fuss and noise as possible can be important.

My 2 cents worth.

[Bowguy67]

You might say "Why not use a climber instead of hanging 35 stands?"

I've discussed/debated this with friends before and last time I did the math I had like 28 stands up and you could have gotten a climber on 2-3 of them due to multiple trunks, crooked trees, limbs etc.  All that stuff gives you cover. Telephone pole trees dont.  Also see my first reply...I hunt deer, I dont hunt straight trees!



R

Ryan this is another good point. You need a straighter tree when using climbers. I'd def agree w the way you're set up. To the op though a lot depends on tree type in area. No tree allows complete shooting in all directions. If you pick climber trees next to say a leafy sapling or sort of enveloped in a pine of sorts. If you pick a multiple limbed tree or one with another tree growing nearby or almost leaning on yours. Those are some tricks. If you have strictly crooked trees as stated in that situation a hang on might be better.
But even with multiple stand I'd bet you don't have 50 I almost never hit the same tree more than a time or so a year. Stay with your deer either w a climber or hang on. Utilize your cover as well. Very important

[Pat B]

Permanently attach a haul up line to your stand so it's easily accessible and add a simple hook to it in case you drop something. 
On 2 of my stands I had quick disconnects for Kwiki Kwiver. I carry the quiver either on my bow or with a shoulder strap. I mounted the connector So I had access to the arrows while sitting but out of the way of my shooting. Once comfortable in the tree haul up the quiver and mount it, take out 1 arrow and you are ready for action.