Tree stand setup

[JohnFitzgerald]

I\'m setting up two trees stands side-by-side(father& son). I have a choice to set them on the north side of the tree which will keep me more covered but I won\'t be able to see as far. Or the west side of the tree which we give me better vision but I\'ll be less covered. My son is 13 years old and can get fidgety sometimes. Any advice?

 

[iccyman001]

JF.....

bring us more into the picture.


How high?
Are you in the bottom of a hill or draw?
Is it relatively flat?
What are you sitting over?

 

[mtnmutt]

Are they for use in morning or evening? For evening, won\'t you have the sun in your eyes if setup on the West Side? Or will the sun be down behind a ridge by then?

 

[Swede]

Other factors can be more important than natural cover in some areas. You can even make some cover. I like the west side, so I can get some warm sun in the morning, but avoid the heat in the afternoon. Do you have an idea where the elk are most likely to come from? I prefer to have the elk pass by in front of me if possible. As Dan suggests terrain plays an important factor also. If you are in a basin or the elk come in from above, tree stand height takes on an increasing importance. It is very rare that I am seen, when I am up a tree at 25 feet. Off hand I would say it only happens when the elk come in from above your tree stand height.
One thing I have observed is, the perfect tree to put a stand in is very rare. Prepare to compromise.

 

[cnelk]

When I set up a tree stand I use the following 3 factors

Where I expect the elk to come from
I am right handed and position the stand accordingly
Sunlight in morning and evening.

 

[VTHOKEE]

Brad hit the nail on the head. I have set stands up that would have favored a left handed shooter better, been on wrong side of where game was coming from and the worse is probably sunrise and sunset. The cover will fade as the seasons change but if you are up high enough and do your part and keep movements to a minimum you will be good.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

JF.....

bring us more into the picture.


How high?
Are you in the bottom of a hill or draw?
Is it relatively flat?
What are you sitting over?

Game trail runs south to north along a ridge.
Tree stand is on the north end.
I can see 100 yards to the south and 30 yards to the north.
Game trail is on the west side of the tree about 10 yards away.
I\'m up about 16\' in the tree.
Bedding is everywhere.
If I face north I will have no sun. If I face west I will have a little sun in the morning.
Fairly limited on where I can put my stand. This is really the only good spot. Trees are either too large or set 50 yards away from the game trail.
Lots of small foliage off to either side of the ridge but a highway on the top.

 

[Swede]

Brad and Alan bring up an interesting point. I have a left handed friend that complains about right handed stands. No one else in our group seems to care. I have shot elk that came in on the right and on the left, all from the same stand. It really does not matter to me. If they come in from the left, I stand just a little farther out on the platform, and have no issue drawing the bow. The fellow I mention says he can\'t draw because the tree trunk is in the way.
I would practice from a stand set near the ground, and see for yourself if it is an issue.
Another note, in fairly steep areas, elk can see you ,if you are not high enough above them, even in decent cover. Oly can tell you all about it. The sun was shining on him and he stood out one morning like a light bulb in the dark. :wave: bye elk

 

[VTHOKEE]

John, you say that you are looking about 16\' up in the tree. Is there any chance that the elk will come in above you? Reason I ask is I had a great evening stand back home in VA and it was at the bottom of the ridge leading to a hay field. Game trails on both sides but I learned quickly that the mature animals will pick you out if you are not high enough and they come from above you.

 

[VTHOKEE]

Swede, I didn\'t see your last little paragraph. I basically piggyback on what you said.

 

[iccyman001]

One thing you can remember too JF is just because you hang it in one spot means it can be used to overlook one spot.

For example. Last year I had my tree stand facing directly at the waterhole/mud hole that I wanted the elk to use. My back was into the tree and I just would wait for movement and then proceed to attack.
WELL, if I wanted to change it up, I could just stand up and face the opposite direction.
Yes, I had a tree directly in front of me, but I also had direct site for both the trails coming into my spot. I didn\'t have to move at all, I could scan both lanes with just my eyes and had plenty of time for prep. Because if I saw them, I would just use the tree to shield my movement and prepare for the attack

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

John, you say that you are looking about 16\' up in the tree. Is there any chance that the elk will come in above you? Reason I ask is I had a great evening stand back home in VA and it was at the bottom of the ridge leading to a hay field. Game trails on both sides but I learned quickly that the mature animals will pick you out if you are not high enough and they come from above you.

They will not come from above. I\'m at the highest point of the ridge.

If I set my stands on the north side of the tree, everything we\'ll shoot is to our left. Being a right handed shooter, if I set my stands on the west side I could possible have animals come in on my right side which I will then have to completely pivot my body to shoot.

 

[bowhunter]

I would face North. I like to shoot sitting if I can to minimize movement.

No matter which direction you face remember if you have to stand and turn MOVE YOUR FEET. I have tried the twist and missed. Your muscle control and form are way off. Stand square to the target like at the range and BEND AT THE WAIST too.

 

[elkmtngear]

John, if you need a little extra cover for your Son, you can easily adapt your SLIP System as shown to provide it.

In the photo, I used a short piece of PVC as a spacer, a fender washer on top of the stand, and screwed it tight underneath with the rife adaptor.

You can easily and silently swivel this setup for approaching game, and notice the camera adaptor on top...you could mount your video cam there if desired.

Just another way to use the System. :wave:

 

[cohunter14]

I\'m beginning to think the only thing the Slip System can\'t do is shoot the animal for you! Very cool use of it there Jeff :upthumb:

 

[Stringunner]

I want to sit on the side of the tree that presents me with the most shot opportunities as possible. Sometimes this requires sitting on the uphill side of the tree which like Swede said, creats greater opportunity for the animal to see you. I always hope I can see or hear the animal coming in with time enough to stand and be ready thus eliminating the amount of movement required when the animal is in the \"shooting\" vicinity. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn\'t. I haven\'t had any elk sneak in on me yet, whether alone or in groups they are noisy or noisier than deer. I have had several bucks come in without me knowing and thus I haven\'t been ready to shoot when needed.

I like to set my stands so when shooting I can be standing sideways to my primary shooting spot, for me this tends to be water. I don\'t want my stand facing the water hole directly. I find this to cause some issues with drawing back and hitting the tree with my draw arm and/or problems with my rope tether. I say primary target because animals can come in from anywhere and may present you with multiple shot opportunities while coming in. It\'s never perfect. The bull I shot a couple a years ago came in from the opposite direction thus forcing me to turn and literally face the tree while shooting, this created a brief tangle with my tether. He was standing directly under me aswell causing me to not only have to face the tree but to lean out over my stand to gain shooting clearance so as to not put the arrow in the grate your are standing on. Someone should build those with shoot through holes for instances like this!

Take Swedes advice, stick it on a tree low to the ground and play around to find what you are comfortable with prior to climbing the tree.