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Preferred tree size?

P

ptaylortx

New Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2026
Messages
31
What's your ideal tree size for hunting? I've been practicing from two trees in the yard about a 12" diameter. I was doing a little scouting in my hunting area and the tree I'm looking at is an oak about 24". Do you find it more difficult to climb a larger tree? Do you feel a larger tree is better for concealment?
 
This will be my first season in a saddle, so I'm still figuring this out. I've found the larger trees I've tired to climb more difficult. I've mostly just been trying to find trees with good back cover.
 
One main trunk. Large enough to not sway like crazy in the wind. Small enough to easily pass a rope around for climbing sticks or tether.

Hunting from small trees that sway in the wind will give you sea legs and get you picked off.

Hunting from giant trees makes it hard to climb and attach sticks / platform.
 
I like a 12' to 14" trunk. I often hunt smaller trees, but as they get smaller, they're harder to hide in, especially when it's calm. Just a little weight shift in the saddle shakes the whole tree.

I do love clusters of trees. Just be careful if they're too close together. Speaking from experience, don't get stuck in the middle where it's too hard to move your weapon.
 
I suggest practicing in every kind of tree imaginable. There’s going to be lots of situations when the tree you have to be in isn’t your ideal size, shape, etc.. if you get it in your head that you need a 1&” diameter strait trunk hardwood that is next to a small conifer that provides back cover, you will find that you subconsciously start setting up in the right tree instead of the right location.
 
What's your current climbing method? I climb 2TC primarily and I prefer a tree about basket ball diameter to 22+/- inches. Small trees are doable as well as are large trees. It just depends on your climbing method, your agility, and your determination.

Almost any tree can be climbed if it will support our weight. Some trees are easier, some trees need specialized methods, like rope access, but are doable.
 
I try not to climb trees that are super thick because it's a lot harder and I don't feel it is as safe. My favorite trees are about the size of my two arms when making a basket shape with them with my fingertips touching. But the skinnier probably the safer. If the stuff really hits the fan, I like knowing that I could theoretically slide down it, instead of a super thickie where I would just peel off like an old bandaid.
 
I prefer large trees if I can get an SRT/DSRT preset in before season.
If I am running and gunning hitch climbing I prefer a cluster but almost never find one where I need to be. In that case I look for a tree chest width to allow me to hide behind the tree.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
What's your current climbing method? I climb 2TC primarily and I prefer a tree about basket ball diameter to 22+/- inches. Small trees are doable as well as are large trees. It just depends on your climbing method, your agility, and your determination.

Almost any tree can be climbed if it will support our weight. Some trees are easier, some trees need specialized methods, like rope access, but are doable.
Click to expand...
I'm using an XOP set up with their platform and X2 sticks. I've also got the dyneema daisy chain on my sticks
 
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While basketball sized trees seem to be the best and easiest to climb. As long as my fingers touch wrapping them around the tree I will climb it with my one stick if it gives me the best shooting opportunity.
 
Since a saddle I’m totally non discriminatory, when I had my climber that was part of the nightmare lol and I always had to find pines or sweet gum bc I don’t have the a** to get my stand to bite as good in hardwoods lol
 
I try and avoid mature cherry trees. The bark can be insanely noisey and because big plates of bark break and crush it can be a challenge to get a safe and reliable girth hitch or strap purchase. Black birches have similar issues but you can often work around the bark plates.
 
Ideally volleyball-basketball size. But cover is way more important, huge trees require some strategy depending on climbing method. I hunted a tree in the marsh 2 years ago that was about as big around as my arm but had cover. Gotta hunt where they are , not hunting trees…….
 
NMSbowhunter said:
What's your current climbing method? I climb 2TC primarily and I prefer a tree about basket ball diameter to 22+/- inches. Small trees are doable as well as are large trees. It just depends on your climbing method, your agility, and your determination.

Almost any tree can be climbed if it will support our weight. Some trees are easier, some trees need specialized methods, like rope access, but are doable.
Click to expand...
I think this is a big part of why I havent cozied up to 2TC despite some honest effort.

Most of my trees are quite large. Seems the larger they are, the harder it is to advance a tether.
 
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