Finding the right tree is essential for good positioning
To the casual observer, every tree in the deer woods looks the same. Experience quickly trains a person into discovering the little details that make one tree different than all the others though. Why is the selection of a tree so important? The hanging of a tree stand is a process that requires diligence and attention to the small things that some might overlook.
I have spent countless hours staring at trees. I have spent just as many hours studying trails and tracks that meander throughout those trees. Some spots are magical, and others turn out to be total duds. What makes those good spots so special? That is exactly the question that my dad and I were trying to figure out a couple of weeks ago.
We were going to put up a stand on one of my uncle’s farms. There were not a lot of trees to choose from since the farm is mostly agricultural with just a wooded drainage running through it. However, when bowhunting, picking the wrong tree by just a few yards can mean the difference between success and watching deer pass by out of range.
To make this endeavor even more challenging was the fact that we were going to build a homemade stand. Now, normally I am completely against this type of stand. Besides the fact that they are much more dangerous than factory made stands, they also need to be placed in the perfect location because they cannot be moved. Once you build it, there it stays. That is a lot of pressure so location selection becomes even more important. We felt that a homemade stand was the best option though due to potential theft from trespassers. Nobody is going to walk off with this creation.
As we traversed through the drainage, fresh scrapes and rubs from recent buck activity stood out. That is always good to see as you are looking for a stand location. I’m sure we would see deer and maybe even some good ones. But where should we build this thing?
Finally, we spotted two gnarly old hedge trees that were nestled into a corner with multiple trails crossing on all sides. We would also be within range of a fresh winter wheat field as well. That’s a huge plus. So, we started to carry lumber into the woods and start construction.
A few hours later, we had a platform that was quite solid and plenty large enough for two adults to use. We needed to trim some shooting lanes, but by and large, it was a good stand in what I felt was a prime location. Only time would tell.
The next Monday evening my Dad was the first to take to the woods and see what might happen. On my way home from work he called and said, “I think I have one down. Can you help me track it in the dark?” Before long I was in my boots and headed to the farm.
After some walking around I found his arrow. It was completely clean which meant he missed. By looking at the flight path it became quite obvious that the arrow deflected off some brush. Needless to say, he was out the next day clearing those shooting lanes we talked about on Saturday.
On Thursday of that week he again made it out to the woods to try out the new stand. Once again he called me and said, "I know I’ve got one down this time." Sure enough, he was able to take a 7 point buck that was his first with archery equipment. That is a momentous day for any hunter. It is a deer that you will never forget.
What I was even more impressed with was that the new stand had produced two archery shots in the first two times it was utilized! That is something to proud of. The careful selection, the effort of lugging all the lumber out there, and the time of building it, paid off.
Just in case you can’t find me this coming weekend, you’ll know where I’ll be.
