Hunting height

[bcsportsman]

I’m from the south la. I grew up in a climber getting minimum 20 ft in a tree with a rifle. Well past few years with saddle I’ve gotten lower and lower. I feel like I don’t need to be over 7-8 ft at my platform. I’ve only hunted a few times at this height. What results have y’all had at these heights?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BCHunter]

I’m from the south la. I grew up in a climber getting minimum 20 ft in a tree with a rifle. Well past few years with saddle I’ve gotten lower and lower. I feel like I don’t need to be over 7-8 ft at my platform. I’ve only hunted a few times at this height. What results have y’all had at these heights?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Depends on the back cover, movement, and if you can get clear shots over brush. I've been anywhere from 6ft to 25ft. You're definitely going to make a lot less noise and movement getting into the tree that low, but there may be trade offs. People will definitely talk about scent dispersal at height, but it also will carry it farther from up there too... so who knows

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

 

[trailblazer75]

Hunt in the cover provided. No need to climb to the canopy if the right tree, over the right sign is there and you have cover. I routinely hunt 15 feet up. Rarely over 20. Last night I had 3 deer walk directly under me and my setup was 25 feet at my shoulders (roughly). I went that high because the nearby trees and the limbs on the tree I was in provided cover on that level. You don't have to go super high unless there's no cover and the height you climb is to get out of line of sight.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I've shot 2 hogs and 3 deer this season. All from less than 12ft off the ground. I have 7 eight-pointers, a nine-pointer, a seven, a five, and a 3 on the wall and every one of them was shot on the ground or maybe 15ft up at the highest.

There are situations where height is a big advantage. But even 8ft up can be plenty to get you just out of line-of-sight and let you move your head to look for deer or draw on one. Many spots I hunt you couldn't get more than 12 feet high without having to do a lot of trimming. I've started thinking maybe spots where I can get 20ft up aren't good places to kill deer because other hunters like those spots too much

 

[Wirrex]

I have transitioned from sky high to 10-15’ a couple of seasons ago. I’ve noticed and maybe it’s just me but it seams easier to climb.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I have transitioned from sky high to 10-15’ a couple of seasons ago. I’ve noticed and maybe it’s just me but it seams easier to climb.

Right? Like it's half as much work or something. No knaiders, swaiders, aiders, belaiders, or hesitaiders needed either.

Another thing I'm digging is better shot angles.

 

[Wirrex]

Right? Like it's half as much work or something. No knaiders, swaiders, aiders, belaiders, or hesitaiders needed either.

Another thing I'm digging is better shot angles.

Agreed. Deer are undeniably deader.

 

[bcsportsman]

I know situations call for different heights and setups. If my only cover isn’t until twenty feet then I’m going that high. But in the past I would avoid a tree with some cover at 8ft to try and find one with cover at 15. Just looking to see what y’all are having more success with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bcsportsman]

I have transitioned from sky high to 10-15’ a couple of seasons ago. I’ve noticed and maybe it’s just me but it seams easier to climb.

This is the type of answers I was looking for. I bought a one stick setup this summer and the more I think about it the more I think I only need one stick and a platform.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nutterbuster]

This is the type of answers I was looking for. I bought a one stick setup this summer and the more I think about it the more I think I only need one stick and a platform.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have hunted successfully with a single stick placed 8ft to the top with a 5 step aider on it, and a Windwalker stand set up next to it. I arrived at that combo as a solution for hog hunting. You could stalk with that combo in your back all day, and quickly get up the tree without any linemans or tether/harness, just high enough to see over the palmettos

 

[Wirrex]

This is the type of answers I was looking for. I bought a one stick setup this summer and the more I think about it the more I think I only need one stick and a platform.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lol. If you’re a platform guy throw the stick to your dog. Just slip an aider on the platform and your hunting in no time. I’ve been doing it for 3 seasons now.

 

[khnc]

One of these days im going to take all the climbing crap that i have to the woods and climb the highest damn tree i can find. Im talking 120' pine trees and stuff. I have like 15 LW 3 step sticks, 11 Wild Edge Steps, A set of Gorilla sticks and some screw in steps. Rappel down. That should get me pretty high. Gonna start a new fad!!! Everyone will be getting down an hour before dark just so they can slide down the rope!

 

[BuffaloBill]

Cody D'acquisto apparently only carries two sticks and some screw in steps. I've never been a huge fan of heights so I've never hunted over probably 15'. My last couple of kills were from the ground or not far from it. Something appealing about just getting high to enough to see over the underbrush. Less sticks to carry and set up.

 

[ketch22]

I think it all depends on cover, up at our cabin I have stands that are 8-10ft up in some hemlocks, plenty of cover. Down by my house is all straight trunked beech trees so I tend to get around 20.

The doe i shot yesterday was off of a ladder stand at 18 feet, she was spooky and staring at me the whole way in, I didn’t move a muscle for close to 20 minutes. She stepped behind a big maple that separated us at 20 yards, I used that as my opportunity to draw. I had to hold for a minute or two but then she stepped out and I sent it. Hunt whatever height works for you.

I honestly think it’s about knowing the deer in your area as well. The deer in the area I hunted yesterday walk right out of neighborhoods and onto public hunting land so they’re a little more forgiving, up at the cabin where they don’t get the human interactions they’re super spooky.