For me, the absolute best setup is to get in a multi-trunked tree. I seldom if ever get picked off when I am in a multi trunked tree. If I cannot find this, I then usually try to set up behind a large fork in tree or on top of a large branch come off tree trunk. Back cover is also important.
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The Tree, How High, Concealment
- Thread starter Cuar
- Start date
GBlevins92
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2016
- Messages
- 782
One of my favorite set ups I was about 25' up in a multibase tree that had a sapling next to it the canopy of the sapling stopped just a couple feet below me so I had good back cover and when deer came in real close they couldn't pick me off looking up because of the sapling this was early season when leaves were still on....I had 7 deer in there at the same time none of them busted me I shot my buck at 6 yards and the does stuck around even after I shot him.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's situational. One of those things you learn after being busted many times for many reasons. There's no magic number. I'll even go so far as to say that there are some setups where a saddle isn't the best choice.
For example, on the rare occasion that I sit a food plot, I go as high as I can. I may take my hand climber and go until I hit the first limb of a tall southern pine. I expect multiple deer lingering for long periods, and extreme height keeps me away from multiple eyes and ears. If there's an established stand or shoot house, I stay as far away from it as possible. Deer down here watch those things constantly.
If I'm hunting thick, young woods I hunt lower because the canopy is lower. Deer are usually comfortable in these areas, and you will hear them before you see them, allowing you to set up. In these cases, I usually pivot and draw as soon as I sense a deer. Shots are close and deer are usually moving. I still like to get 20ft if possible.
If I'm hunting a marsh, I usually am doing good to hit 10ft. Just high enough to shoot a runway. Deer/pigs are VERY comfortable in this environment, and may very well be bedded 20 yards from my setup. Even if a high tree is available, I will not get high up in the middle of a marsh, because I believe it is very possible to be spotted by deer bedded nearby. Scent is not a concern because wind is very consistent and fairly strong in these areas. Much like it behaves over open water. I like a hang on stand and usually climb with one lone Wolf stick and an Aider. Right at 10ft, quick, quiet, climb. I usually hunt standing, and can easily pivot to shoot with minimal movement, so concealment isn't an issue.
Rifle vs bow is a factor too. With a rifle I like to hunt high and cover long shooting lanes (fire breaks, utility right-of-ways, etc). I hunt somewhat lower with a bow.
On my lease (120 acres) I try to only hunt presets and set them as high as possible. I am anal about how I access them, and only hunt perfect conditions. Sometimes I will go through in the summer and use a leaf blower to make a trail that I can walk on a bit quieter. If I blow a spot, it's over for the season. I DO NOT want to screw up if I can't relocate.
On public land, which is the majority of what I hunt, I am a little more fast and loose. I have more spots than I have time to hunt. Get in, hunt, move out. I have had good luck with this plan and rarely hunt the same tree twice. Don't usually preset, just take a pair of hand clippers and climb around what I can't cut. Don't like shooting lanes because other hunters key in on them.
For example, on the rare occasion that I sit a food plot, I go as high as I can. I may take my hand climber and go until I hit the first limb of a tall southern pine. I expect multiple deer lingering for long periods, and extreme height keeps me away from multiple eyes and ears. If there's an established stand or shoot house, I stay as far away from it as possible. Deer down here watch those things constantly.
If I'm hunting thick, young woods I hunt lower because the canopy is lower. Deer are usually comfortable in these areas, and you will hear them before you see them, allowing you to set up. In these cases, I usually pivot and draw as soon as I sense a deer. Shots are close and deer are usually moving. I still like to get 20ft if possible.
If I'm hunting a marsh, I usually am doing good to hit 10ft. Just high enough to shoot a runway. Deer/pigs are VERY comfortable in this environment, and may very well be bedded 20 yards from my setup. Even if a high tree is available, I will not get high up in the middle of a marsh, because I believe it is very possible to be spotted by deer bedded nearby. Scent is not a concern because wind is very consistent and fairly strong in these areas. Much like it behaves over open water. I like a hang on stand and usually climb with one lone Wolf stick and an Aider. Right at 10ft, quick, quiet, climb. I usually hunt standing, and can easily pivot to shoot with minimal movement, so concealment isn't an issue.
Rifle vs bow is a factor too. With a rifle I like to hunt high and cover long shooting lanes (fire breaks, utility right-of-ways, etc). I hunt somewhat lower with a bow.
On my lease (120 acres) I try to only hunt presets and set them as high as possible. I am anal about how I access them, and only hunt perfect conditions. Sometimes I will go through in the summer and use a leaf blower to make a trail that I can walk on a bit quieter. If I blow a spot, it's over for the season. I DO NOT want to screw up if I can't relocate.
On public land, which is the majority of what I hunt, I am a little more fast and loose. I have more spots than I have time to hunt. Get in, hunt, move out. I have had good luck with this plan and rarely hunt the same tree twice. Don't usually preset, just take a pair of hand clippers and climb around what I can't cut. Don't like shooting lanes because other hunters key in on them.
It seems to me that deer don't pick me out when saddlehunting compared to a regular stand. The very first time I hunted out of my treesuit I shot two doe within 15 minutes of each other. They never knew I was there. Saddlehunting to me is the best way to hunt and stay undetected.
I tried to start this conversation awhile back but it got derailed.
I look for trees that fork, branch, have multiple trunks, or offer superb back cover. Avoid telephone poles. You'll stick out like a treestander on SH. If you must hunt straight, limbless trees, back/surrounding cover is essential. Sometimes you can pull it off if the topography is in your favor, you're super high, or if the tree Trunk is large and you can hide from approaching game.
Sent from my Galaxy S8.
I look for trees that fork, branch, have multiple trunks, or offer superb back cover. Avoid telephone poles. You'll stick out like a treestander on SH. If you must hunt straight, limbless trees, back/surrounding cover is essential. Sometimes you can pull it off if the topography is in your favor, you're super high, or if the tree Trunk is large and you can hide from approaching game.
Sent from my Galaxy S8.