Preparing Tree Stand or Blind Locations

[Swede]

Reading the Aspens thread, got me to wondering what others have done to prepare sites where they want a tree stand. I have dug out a water hole, cleared shooting lanes, felled dangerous snags that I did not want leaning over me, cleared paths so I could access my stand quietly, and even salted sites. I have not found the salt to be very effective, but I have packed a lot of it to my stand locations. A couple other things I do also are clear shooting lanes, and discretely mark distances from my stand, so I don\'t need my range finder when an elk comes around.
I have used a chain saw, shears, hand saw, axe and shovel to get my site ready.

 

[elkmtngear]

Swede, I have done all the above except the salt (illegal in CA and CO)

But, I\'m going to be scouting a new area in Oregon this Season, and I\'m taking a Trophy Rock with me!

 

[cnelk]

I like to have someone along when I set a new stand.
That way I can sit up the stand and look thru the lanes and have them break trees / branches in different locations.
Because believe me, it looks WAAAAYYY different when you are on the ground and trying to determine if a branch/tree is in the way.
Very few of my stand locations have a shot longer than 30 yds. 40 yds would be a long one.

I have also dammed up a wallow so the water doesnt trickle out as fast.

 

[Swede]

Jeff, let me know if I can be of any assistance with your new Oregon location. I am planning a scouting trip over there. I will be gone for a week. I know it is dangerous to leave Brad here without adult supervision, but I am confident even with their busy schedule, WW and AmericanBwana can keep him out of too much trouble.

Brad: You make a great point about having a second person around when setting up a stand. What you said is very true, and it is good as a safety measure too. I have set many up alone, and taken then down again by myself, but I never like it.

 

[elkmtngear]

Swede,

Thanks for the offer to carry the rock :lol:

Not really sure what to expect in that area until I get boots on the ground out there. There may be multiple scouting trips involved before I decide where to put a stand.

Like many of the Oregon areas, there are too many quad roads that provide access. Just hope the spots I\'m looking at hold elk (I have it on good authority that they do).

Not expecting a lot of elk per acre...and it\'s a bull only unit...so stealth mode/ death from above mode might be the best option. Time will tell. :think:

 

[WW]

For you salt users (where legal), Forget the rock thingy. Use ice cream salt. Sometimes called rock salt. Right now is the time to put it out. Deer and elk probably won\'t bother it much until it dissolves into the ground. Then they eat the dirt. I\'ve seen many old salt licks that have a hole eaten in the ground over a food deep. By placing it out early, it allows for a long time for it to work into the ground.