I rarely go higher than 15 ft. I base my height on shooting lanes and back cover etc. I continually check my shooting lanes as I climb and stop when I get to the proper height based on each scenario presented at the time. Public land, no trimming allowed and often the trees themselves are a limiting factor as well
My pull rope is 25 ft and I do that because this guy is right most people think they are higher than they really are. Poster you did drop your bow arm the higher you got so that's why you got the higher impacts. Bend at the waist more. PS another factor is you can move more higher. If you hunt high you really need to practice high too. It is different.
Excellent video. I really enjoy thoughtful analysis of gear and tactics. The presenter seemed very bright and the explanation of the pitfalls of shooting at various heights was explained in a manner that was easy to understand. The video compelled me to set up a stand in the backyard later and measure the actual platform height that I am achieving. Thank you for the fine content.
This is my 45th year of bow hunting. I have ALWAYS gone to 20 feet. I have always used 20 foot ladder sticks and my stand platform is always at 20 or even a tad higher. I used to go with 3 or 4 screw-in steps above a 20 foot ladder stick.
I go to 28' when I can, but then again, I hunt with a crossbow. The relative freedom from deer seeing or winding (and hearing, too) me makes the steep shots worthwhile. My pullcord is 30', and attached to my climber seat. Most trees won't let me get this high, but sometimes I come across just the right tulip poplar or white pine. It works best in late season or in a pine plantation where you have some field of view. One time two does walked up within ten yards of my tree. I shot one, then the other one looked around, confused, long enough for me to wind up my bow and shoot her too. I credit my altitude with being able to pull that off.
I tend to hunt swamp and thick cover. Theres not a tree around to get higher than 12-15 feet. I may not be a pro like all you, but i still shoot bucks and many doe. Even ground level.
exactly, his form was terrible and a perfect example of what not to do. would have like to see him try a 10yd shot from 25'. Him saying "i don't know if it's my subconscious doing it"...no, it's the physics.
Most of my “pre-set” stands have always been 15 - 18’. Most ladder stands are 15’. When I use mobile setups I aim for 20’. That’s about all I can get with a stand & 4 sticks. And thats as high as I want with a climber. I have 25’ pull up ropes I attach to the seat portion of the climber. When those ropes start to tighten up I know the platform is about 20’. I’m not goin higher than that. If deer see me or smell me- so be it. Excellent video. 🤙🏻
This is very helpful content. For one ole boy is doing what everyone wonder's but never do. I've always wanted to do something like this is, dragging a target into the woods and moving a target to my shooting lanes. Great video
My personal preference is 18 - 20 ft. On a lower stand, the deer don’t even have to look up, you are right there in their peripheral vision. What stands are you using? I like the size and looks of those platforms.
I aim for the "V-spot" - Ranch Fairy. Its a way better area for a terminal kill. Double lungs will get the job done no doubt, but a heart shot blood trail is ridiculous!
My normal height is 28ft have been higher just because of the scent,drawing bow back,being able to move around a little for comfort ,and it keeps other buddies from wanting to hunt my stands.lol I haven't had any problems killing deer at that highet. Nice video!
I smoke in the stand, and I can tell you the scent thing is a myth. I can see smoke above the trees and on the ground no matter how high I hunt, no pun intended. Keeping others off your stand is real though. I'd hunt on the ground by your tree instead of climbing 28'
The assumption is flat terrain. Ideal height can change with the slope of the ground you’re hunting. But I tend to like 15-17 feet with a good back ground and ideally a little break up right in front of me- branches, etc that don’t impede shooting lanes
Generally, 18-20’ is my preferred platform height. I’ve hunted 35’ sets in hill country late season and 12’ sets in thick stuff early season. For me, it all depends on terrain, cover, and bow setup. I agree with you though, bow shots at a severe downward angle are less than ideal.
Won't your shot always end up higher as you get higher in elevation, due to downward angle?Even when aiming point is the same. Isn't that why there is angle compensation built into the rangefinder? Great video!
A little, but not enough to matter at bow range unless you're shooting straight down. The angle compensation is a much bigger factor for long range rifle shooters.
@@BG-bx4ey oh yeah forsure, but they aren't shooting 20°-30° down. More like 10°-15° up and down, and like 200+yds. I know the rangefinder I use tells me to aim 1-2 yds shorter, 15ft up, at 20yds.
@@justinwright82 my understanding is that gravity only acts on the arrow for the horizontal distance of the shot, so I believe the range finder should compensate at most reasonable heights to tell you to shoot for that horizontal distance vs. the actual distance from your range finder to the target which like you said is maybe a couple yards longer. The angle of the exit will certainly change, but the entry point should be similar. I think part of the reason he is hitting higher is also that he is just moving his arm down vs. hinge at the hips and keeping all else the same. I have made that mistake and missed high on a shorter shot at around 15 feet up because lowering your arm affects the angle you're looking through the site as well which will make it shoot differently than in practice on flat ground. One of the reasons I have enjoyed hunting from a saddle in recent years since you're suspended by your waist so you almost can't help but hinge at the waist.
It's because of form. If you don't bend entirely at the waist and maintain upper body T form, you're lowering your front arm to get on target which makes the sight lower in relation to the peep. (so you hit higher)
Very informative video. I agree that most folks, especially those mobile hunting with saddles or hang ons with 4 mini sticks are almost certainly not getting anywhere near 20'... At least, not without some serious aiders and/or acrobatics lol. I'm 6'7 and could only get maybe 15' With my 4 xop x2 sticks... and that was with me taking huge steps in between sticks and stepping up into my stand. Definitely possible with climbers or presets with 20' sticks/ladders when you can find a tree that allows it... I've gotten my 26' bow rope completely tight one time using my summit climber (so about 20-22' to the platform) and was amazed at both how friggin tiny the deer look at that height, and how clueless they were that i was up there. Being able to get away with tons of movement and not having to worry much about my scent was cool, but I was definitely concerned about shot angles... 14-18' with good cover seems to be the sweetspot here in Pennsylvania.
@Outdoor Life, you should specify if height is measured to the platform or seat.... Also, it will always feel higher because if measuring from the platform, add another 5 feet 10 on average to get the perceived height from your eyes.
My favorite stand has my feet 6 ft off the ground. I've had deer walk under me. Deer don't see me, don't smell me. See them test the air and still come in.
When younger I ALWAYS hunted 20' if possible. I had my tow rope tied on my TS and my bow lying on ground. Rope stopped me at 20. This was preferred but some situations it was less, never higher. With my pendulum sight I was good 12-20' at about 33-35 yds. The angle was great for a bottom bleed. I'm older now, I use 16' ladder stands and I find very little difference with same set up. Had one walk 5 yards under me on Saturday and never knew I was there, she even crossed my walk in and never paid it attention. I'm guessing 15-20 is perfect for most situations. I had a friend who used to climb 30' - geeze.
Great video! I find that I set my stand where ever the back and surrounding cover is the best. The buck I shot last year I was sitting in a stand that was only 12 feet off the ground. I don't think I have any stands that are set higher than 15 feet.....I hunt pretty thick woods and swamps and where I hunt the heavier back cover is lower and does a better job of concealing my movement.
I've definitely noticed a significant difference in being picked off/winded when moving from 20 ft. To 25-35 ft. Shot angle definitely takes some getting used to
1) I set stands according to the wind. 2) Height depends on surrounding terrain, time of year / foliage / tree canopy. 3) 18-25 has always been average for me because it fits most cases and helps keep human scent to a minimum in ascending and descending thermals.
I use 4 climbing sticks and I use a 25 ft retractable dog leash as a gear hoist - I think you are right on with hunting height - I put my stand about where my last stick ends so its easy to step onto and at that height I generally don't have much slack left on my leash (im guessing I am always around 20 ft up) - I rarely get wind or visually busted at this height so it has become my standard - I think that its pretty natural to adjust for shooting angle at this height as well
It seems that the difference in trade offs is scent masking for high stands and visual backdrop for lower stands. Better scent control high, better cover low. In the past, ive been skylined a lot in higher stands, especially in later season. Not a lot of winding though. It might be better to control for scent though, since deer see their world with their nose first
Good JOb. I agree with you that most of those who say they hunt 25 or even 30 must be measuring from eye level. I have hunted for over 40 years and I don't think I have ever seen a stand over 25. I always measure to the platform because in MN we used to have a maximum legal limit of 9 feet high which was then changed to 14.
6’-15’ max for me. Never had any issues with that height. Use back cover, check the wind/thermals. May take a couple messed up hunts to find the right tree. Mornings may have a different effect than evening sits in that tree, so test it out or better yet plan it out. As far as effectiveness of arrow impact, no doubt it comes down to where the arrow connects with the animal. Aim small 👍
You’ll never tell me that 25’-30’ isn’t the best. You have to aim for it. But the blood comes out the bottom of cavity. Not the side. The wind is somewhat on your side. Too many pros and not enough cons to change it.
That's a fair opinion and if this works for you, then stick with it! I do have a question though, have you ever actually measured one of your setups with a tape measure, from the platform of the stand to the ground? An honest 25 feet is much higher than I expected. To get to this height comfortably I'd have to use six climbing sticks (I'm about 6' 2"). The standard Hunters Safety System Lifeline we used in the video was not long enough to be used while standing up at 25 feet (even though it says it works up to 30 feet). I had to use a second lifeline system at 25ft. All i'm saying is that 25 feet to the stand platform is a lot higher than I expected, and I don't think it's a good height for most bowhunters when shooting at 20 yards and in. -Alex Robinson
@@outdoorlife I use three 10ft stick ladders and put stand at the second step from top.I make my own safety rope out of marine dock line to cover the distance
You need to take account that gravity is working on the higher shots. Even at 15 yards, there is some trajectory. So you probably should of held right on the spot at 20 and 25 feet. Great video, though I probably go 18 to 20 feet most of the time. But I use a summit climber, and it feels more secure because of rail around you. I get the tree hugging sensation when I get too high, and every type of treestand has its pros and cons. Very informative video, thanks
Gravity pulls 32f/s² every second the arrow is in flight, so pure distance is the main factor for drop unless you're talking about an extreme angle downward when the drop doesn't apply to the sight line.
I have knots tied on my pull-up ropes at 16 ft. 15ft is the highest I'll go, 10 ft if I have decent cover. I have nothing against the guys that climb higher. They harvest, I harvest. Just preference and sometimes scenarios. I have this one bottom I hunt on the property, if you go to 15-20 ft, the deer bust you coming odwn the opposite side hill. So I only rifle hunt that area. By the time they see me (if they see me), it's too late. Good video. If nothing else, it should make guys think about arrow placement and different heights, and how far out a deer needs to be to get a good angle.
I have 15 ft stands ,being winded is happened more at that height,also being in the deer peripheral vision is definitely a is harder to make moves when they are in close range, 18 is the least i hang a hang on 18-22’ is where i like to at least have it and feel like i have a cushion for movement , sound and scent. I have a stand at 30 ft and have shot 3 bucks outta it . 30 yard shots were fine even at 20 wasn’t to bad ,but the last one was only 6 yards off my tree and was a tough shot, I lowered it to 25’ for this season. Can say i have never been winded in that stand at 30’. Even blowing directly at the deer. Will see how 25’ does this season!
Interesting analysis. Growing up, I would go as high as possible, 30-35 feet in a couple cases. Now, I do what helps me kill deer. Absolute height really doesn’t matter much. You put your stand wherever the most amount of cover exists on the tree. On that tree id probably put the stand right above the fork in the tree, but it’s a pretty wide open tree. I might look for a different option.
For me , hunting height depends on the terrain, leaf /tree canopy , what height the surrounding tree limbs are. In tall pines i might go 30 ft , just depends
I prefer 20 to 22’ to stay hidden for shots 8yds to 25yds. But I have 15’ even an 8’ that is very effective. The 8’ high has awesome cover 16’ high all around except the 5’ wide shooting hole. I had one stand 30’ high because it was on a slope and I was 15’ higher than the trail 12yds away. So it depends on the situation. But 20’ to 22’ is typical on level ground.
I found that most hunters say 20 ft but they never measure so they don't really know. 20 ft is very high, most people probably are only at 15 and just think it's 20
Most stands are about 12 to 14. My guess is they are around 16. And saying there 20. For every 20 foot stand at the store. There is 25 in the lower range. Iv got a 20 of the side of a river bottom. When looking down. Your about 70 foot to ground. I get headaches sitting in it sometimes. Tree stands are all about background cover.
inconclusive data is that 20feet to bottom of tree stand or at actual shooting height? if 20 feet to bottom of stand that means atleast 5'8"- 6 foot to shooting height depending on the person so technically shooting at 25+feet
When I started hunting, all of my stands were at about 14 to 15 ft. That was just where I could reach with my 12 ft Baker Tree Ladder. Only you well seasoned hunters will reckognize that product. Thats back when you called people like Paul Bruner to order a Screaming Eagle stand or called Roger Rothaar to order original Rothaar Snuffers.
I used to set my tree stands 20 to 25 feet and it was fine but in eearly bow season, it was tough b/c there was so much vegetation vbetween me and the target.
I don't pay attention to wind when I wear scentlok the carbon kills any orders. 18 to 20 is good hunting height unless I've got good heavy cover, I'll go to 15ft. Deer has good vision.
I'm sure my stands are in the 15-20' range. I did hunt one year on a stand that was closer to 25' at a friends property and it was really high, to the point of being sketchy if the slightest breeze came through. What are the climbing sticks used?
One thing I learned from doing this ... when it starts to feel sketchy, I don't shoot very well. These were aluminum, 30-inch Summit climbing sticks (bit.ly/3Y4zWIm).
I use climbing stands a summit and 2 are home made bow hunt only 2 spots out of 8 1 in pines get up 25 to 30 foot pull rope is 30 other 15 to 20 in cypress swamp i get the job done if hurricane would stop coming in during bow season
Its always situational, but yeah. 25' is way higher than people think. Our 30' high treestand, 45 yard bow shot, 450 yard rifle shot, 310 yard golf drive, 8"... well you get it. Us guys are all the same. My wife on the other hand... no concept or size or distamce.
I get busted if I'm under 28 ft. 28 to 35 takes a lot of stress away. I think getting busted feels worse than missing. At least when missing you're able to get the deer close and draw without them noticing. Being busted feels like a total failure and ruins confidence sitting there again.
When I first started bow hunting public land I would climb 30 plus feet. I think it shrinks the kill zone. So I shortened my bow pull up rope so I can’t climb higher than the mid 20s. If I have cover I like to be at about 20 feet high.
Being up 30-plus feet and shooting at a deer 20 yards or closer would definitely make it more difficult to get a good double-lung shot. Not impossible, just much less margin for error.
I'll be commenting twice, once prior to watching beyond the introduction. The second comment will be after reviewing the video. For the first, let me share that I did a three year study on different stand heights. The primary question was at what height am I noticed most by whitetails. I quickly learned that a height of eight to twelve feet to the bottom of the platform was when I was noticed least. I think it had to do with back cover. Two caveats: sixteen or seventeen feet was the highest tested; all tests were from a platform, so no saddle hunting was tested. Hanging low worked best for me.
I have 7 stands set up, they're anywhere from 10 to 15 feet at the platform. I hunt oak bottoms and ridges and the trees are not tall enough in most places to go higher. There's some tall trees but the canopy over all you can't see if you go higher. At 10 feet I have deer walk right by at 10 to 15 yards and never get busted. I know how the deer travel and set the stands for the travel and wind direction. I also have 2 10 ft tripods I place in cedars and don't get busted. I think as long as you have the wind right height isn't that important 🤔
It sounds like your stand locations provide lots of cover. Wind is obviously an incredibly important factor, but arguably, cover is just as important. Height of the stands does matter, but there are lots of ways to avoid getting busted at any height.
I was looking for this point - climbing higher than the local canopy makes no sense. It’s different forest to forest. Do what looks and feels right in your environment.
when you cant sit still as well as you used to. height is your friend. you get used to sway from sitting trees a lot. you can get away with a lot at 20 feet even smoking some times
I use to get up 20 to 25 feet. I no this because how many sticks i use. My sticks are 4’ long and i have used 6 before wich should put my stand about 24’. Now that im older i like about 17-18 ft
iuse a retractable pull up string and its 20 ft,, i usually go till that starts pulling on my belt then i drop a foot or 2,, i like being around 18 ft unless the site calls for sitting higher or possibly even lower somtimes.. each situation is differant,, properties and terrain are rarly the same
Your video was informative. The wind advantage at a higher position is advantageous but only for a few yards. Should a deer come in from a long distance down wind, well, you will get busted. I do find that I am busted less by sight at a lower height. Being skylighted, especially at a height of eighteen feet or so is more prominent. Most of my hunting is one stick (three foot) high. I can actually reach the platform on many setups from the ground. I do wish you had used milkweed or something that could be tracked. Thanks for the video and safe hunting.
Thanks for the comments. Yeah you make a really good point. Not getting busted by sight has a lot more to do with backcover and knowing when to move (or not move) than it does stand height.
Unless you are in very thick cover, under 20' is suicide. If you're hunting steep slopes, 20' is 40' on the low side, but on the high side, you'd be better off on the ground unless you have cover. There's no simple answer, but in mynexperience, 25' on flat ground is perfect. Any other variables require adjustment.
My experience is that the folks who get super high in a tree kill very few deer. It’s just not conducive to actually hunting anything much less hitting when you actually shoot.
I like to stay low because I have less branches in the way which affords me more shooting lanes, besides if your standing ten ft up and your six ft tall I guess your sixteen ft high.
If your using an expandable it's still a kill at 25 , also if the deer was at 40 to 50 yards that would even out , that shot would lower out ! Always going for the heart shot is not always the best , I myself & many others have prob shot to far forwards & missed everything !! Being high gives you a chance to hit more things like arteries ,lung ,heart , plus you have more blood drainage having the shot lower on the body , sum called it gravity to help drain the blood ! Plus scent going farther over their head ! JUST DONT FALL !!
I prefer 25 ft. I’ve also noticed in this video ( not criticizing you ). That you not bending at the waist and also not compensating for the angle of the shot. I’ve shot many of deer from 25 foot with heart and lung shots. As a treestand hunter i sight my bow in FROM the treestand cause your aiming points are are different. And also are anchor points. Redo this video with proper form and angle compensation and you will see VERY noticeable difference in impact spots on the target. From angles that great ya aim shorter then it is from the ground !! Test it out and you’ll see !!! Happy hunting and straight shooting !!
I agree that you sometimes want to aim low if it feels like a deer is going to jump the string (I've interviewed a bunch of experts about this and it's not quite as simple as "always low." Story link here: www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/deer-jumping-string-bowhunting/). But for this video I wanted to show good entry and exit points, and I was pretty sure my 3D target wasn't going to jump the string. You can see illustrated in the video that at 25 feet, hitting lower on the target would result in a single lung hit.
Never hung my stand no higher than 8ft.and had good results in bagging a deer.No reason to go sky high,if you have a stroke or a heart attack your screwed, big time.Safety comes first.
@@michaelcolthart4006 is unfortunately correct here @jconusn. The high hits have to do more with my shooting than a difference in yardage. With my bow setup, a difference in one or two yards (at 18 to 20 yards) is negligible. Depending on your setup, it might be the same for you. You can test it by doing this: Shoot three arrows at a bullseye from 20 yards, don't pull them, back up to 22 yards, aim for the exact same spot and shoot three more arrows. If you're shooting 60-plus pounds and a medium-weight arrow, all six arrows will likely be in one tight group. -Alex Robinson
15 feet gets me nowhere, I use my climber and max out my 30’ rope for my bow. That allows me to see over so much more cover and shoot into cattails that would be unreachable from a 15-20ft stand
Us guys are known for exaggerating our lengths ya know 😂😂😂 most of these guys are just guessing and are more than likey10ft lower than what they claim 25-30ft is just crazy for making a shot with a bow
You’re not comfortable with your anchor because you’re dropping your left arm to aim down. That changes the distance from your hand to your face forcing you to change your anchor or struggle to align your peep and scope.
I rarely go higher than 15 ft. I base my height on shooting lanes and back cover etc. I continually check my shooting lanes as I climb and stop when I get to the proper height based on each scenario presented at the time. Public land, no trimming allowed and often the trees themselves are a limiting factor as well
That makes real good sense. Gotta be much more adaptive when hunting public.
My pull rope is 25 ft and I do that because this guy is right most people think they are higher than they really are. Poster you did drop your bow arm the higher you got so that's why you got the higher impacts. Bend at the waist more. PS another factor is you can move more higher. If you hunt high you really need to practice high too. It is different.
Excellent video. I really enjoy thoughtful analysis of gear and tactics. The presenter seemed very bright and the explanation of the pitfalls of shooting at various heights was explained in a manner that was easy to understand. The video compelled me to set up a stand in the backyard later and measure the actual platform height that I am achieving. Thank you for the fine content.
Hey, thanks for watching and commenting!
This is my 45th year of bow hunting. I have ALWAYS gone to 20 feet. I have always used 20 foot ladder sticks and my stand platform is always at 20 or even a tad higher. I used to go with 3 or 4 screw-in steps above a 20 foot ladder stick.
If you only do the same thing over and over again for 45 years, how do you know that your method is the best?
I go to 28' when I can, but then again, I hunt with a crossbow. The relative freedom from deer seeing or winding (and hearing, too) me makes the steep shots worthwhile. My pullcord is 30', and attached to my climber seat. Most trees won't let me get this high, but sometimes I come across just the right tulip poplar or white pine. It works best in late season or in a pine plantation where you have some field of view.
One time two does walked up within ten yards of my tree. I shot one, then the other one looked around, confused, long enough for me to wind up my bow and shoot her too. I credit my altitude with being able to pull that off.
I tend to hunt swamp and thick cover. Theres not a tree around to get higher than 12-15 feet. I may not be a pro like all you, but i still shoot bucks and many doe. Even ground level.
The reason you were shooting high is you were not bending at your hip. You were using your arms to get your angle and not keeping square.
exactly, his form was terrible and a perfect example of what not to do. would have like to see him try a 10yd shot from 25'. Him saying "i don't know if it's my subconscious doing it"...no, it's the physics.
Most of my “pre-set” stands have always been 15 - 18’. Most ladder stands are 15’. When I use mobile setups I aim for 20’. That’s about all I can get with a stand & 4 sticks. And thats as high as I want with a climber. I have 25’ pull up ropes I attach to the seat portion of the climber. When those ropes start to tighten up I know the platform is about 20’. I’m not goin higher than that. If deer see me or smell me- so be it. Excellent video. 🤙🏻
This is very helpful content. For one ole boy is doing what everyone wonder's but never do. I've always wanted to do something like this is, dragging a target into the woods and moving a target to my shooting lanes. Great video
The shot at 10:20 was not a bad shot. That was a very good shot, it was a double lung shot.
I don't have a set height. I let the tree, cover and setup dictate where I sit.
My personal preference is 18 - 20 ft. On a lower stand, the deer don’t even have to look up, you are right there in their peripheral vision. What stands are you using? I like the size and looks of those platforms.
I aim for the "V-spot" - Ranch Fairy.
Its a way better area for a terminal kill. Double lungs will get the job done no doubt, but a heart shot blood trail is ridiculous!
Ez v
My normal height is 28ft have been higher just because of the scent,drawing bow back,being able to move around a little for comfort ,and it keeps other buddies from wanting to hunt my stands.lol I haven't had any problems killing deer at that highet. Nice video!
I smoke in the stand, and I can tell you the scent thing is a myth. I can see smoke above the trees and on the ground no matter how high I hunt, no pun intended. Keeping others off your stand is real though. I'd hunt on the ground by your tree instead of climbing 28'
The assumption is flat terrain. Ideal height can change with the slope of the ground you’re hunting. But I tend to like 15-17 feet with a good back ground and ideally a little break up right in front of me- branches, etc that don’t impede shooting lanes
Generally, 18-20’ is my preferred platform height. I’ve hunted 35’ sets in hill country late season and 12’ sets in thick stuff early season. For me, it all depends on terrain, cover, and bow setup. I agree with you though, bow shots at a severe downward angle are less than ideal.
Won't your shot always end up higher as you get higher in elevation, due to downward angle?Even when aiming point is the same. Isn't that why there is angle compensation built into the rangefinder? Great video!
A little, but not enough to matter at bow range unless you're shooting straight down. The angle compensation is a much bigger factor for long range rifle shooters.
@@BG-bx4ey oh yeah forsure, but they aren't shooting 20°-30° down. More like 10°-15° up and down, and like 200+yds. I know the rangefinder I use tells me to aim 1-2 yds shorter, 15ft up, at 20yds.
@@justinwright82 my understanding is that gravity only acts on the arrow for the horizontal distance of the shot, so I believe the range finder should compensate at most reasonable heights to tell you to shoot for that horizontal distance vs. the actual distance from your range finder to the target which like you said is maybe a couple yards longer. The angle of the exit will certainly change, but the entry point should be similar. I think part of the reason he is hitting higher is also that he is just moving his arm down vs. hinge at the hips and keeping all else the same. I have made that mistake and missed high on a shorter shot at around 15 feet up because lowering your arm affects the angle you're looking through the site as well which will make it shoot differently than in practice on flat ground. One of the reasons I have enjoyed hunting from a saddle in recent years since you're suspended by your waist so you almost can't help but hinge at the waist.
It's because of form. If you don't bend entirely at the waist and maintain upper body T form, you're lowering your front arm to get on target which makes the sight lower in relation to the peep. (so you hit higher)
Very informative video. I agree that most folks, especially those mobile hunting with saddles or hang ons with 4 mini sticks are almost certainly not getting anywhere near 20'... At least, not without some serious aiders and/or acrobatics lol. I'm 6'7 and could only get maybe 15' With my 4 xop x2 sticks... and that was with me taking huge steps in between sticks and stepping up into my stand. Definitely possible with climbers or presets with 20' sticks/ladders when you can find a tree that allows it... I've gotten my 26' bow rope completely tight one time using my summit climber (so about 20-22' to the platform) and was amazed at both how friggin tiny the deer look at that height, and how clueless they were that i was up there. Being able to get away with tons of movement and not having to worry much about my scent was cool, but I was definitely concerned about shot angles... 14-18' with good cover seems to be the sweetspot here in Pennsylvania.
@Outdoor Life, you should specify if height is measured to the platform or seat.... Also, it will always feel higher because if measuring from the platform, add another 5 feet 10 on average to get the perceived height from your eyes.
Really good point. We should have mentioned this in the video: We measured from the platform of the stand to the ground.
My favorite stand has my feet 6 ft off the ground. I've had deer walk under me. Deer don't see me, don't smell me. See them test the air and still come in.
When younger I ALWAYS hunted 20' if possible. I had my tow rope tied on my TS and my bow lying on ground. Rope stopped me at 20. This was preferred but some situations it was less, never higher. With my pendulum sight I was good 12-20' at about 33-35 yds. The angle was great for a bottom bleed. I'm older now, I use 16' ladder stands and I find very little difference with same set up. Had one walk 5 yards under me on Saturday and never knew I was there, she even crossed my walk in and never paid it attention. I'm guessing 15-20 is perfect for most situations. I had a friend who used to climb 30' - geeze.
Great video! I find that I set my stand where ever the back and surrounding cover is the best. The buck I shot last year I was sitting in a stand that was only 12 feet off the ground. I don't think I have any stands that are set higher than 15 feet.....I hunt pretty thick woods and swamps and where I hunt the heavier back cover is lower and does a better job of concealing my movement.
Loved this video!!
thanks for putting it together.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I've definitely noticed a significant difference in being picked off/winded when moving from 20 ft. To 25-35 ft. Shot angle definitely takes some getting used to
Great video. Truth for sure. Back drop is everything, not height. And only hunting spots when the wind is right.
1) I set stands according to the wind.
2) Height depends on surrounding terrain, time of year / foliage / tree canopy.
3) 18-25 has always been average for me because it fits most cases and helps keep human scent to a minimum in ascending and descending thermals.
I use 4 climbing sticks and I use a 25 ft retractable dog leash as a gear hoist - I think you are right on with hunting height - I put my stand about where my last stick ends so its easy to step onto and at that height I generally don't have much slack left on my leash (im guessing I am always around 20 ft up) - I rarely get wind or visually busted at this height so it has become my standard - I think that its pretty natural to adjust for shooting angle at this height as well
It seems that the difference in trade offs is scent masking for high stands and visual backdrop for lower stands. Better scent control high, better cover low.
In the past, ive been skylined a lot in higher stands, especially in later season. Not a lot of winding though.
It might be better to control for scent though, since deer see their world with their nose first
Good JOb. I agree with you that most of those who say they hunt 25 or even 30 must be measuring from eye level. I have hunted for over 40 years and I don't think I have ever seen a stand over 25. I always measure to the platform because in MN we used to have a maximum legal limit of 9 feet high which was then changed to 14.
6’-15’ max for me. Never had any issues with that height. Use back cover, check the wind/thermals. May take a couple messed up hunts to find the right tree. Mornings may have a different effect than evening sits in that tree, so test it out or better yet plan it out. As far as effectiveness of arrow impact, no doubt it comes down to where the arrow connects with the animal. Aim small 👍
You’ll never tell me that 25’-30’ isn’t the best. You have to aim for it. But the blood comes out the bottom of cavity. Not the side. The wind is somewhat on your side. Too many pros and not enough cons to change it.
That's a fair opinion and if this works for you, then stick with it! I do have a question though, have you ever actually measured one of your setups with a tape measure, from the platform of the stand to the ground?
An honest 25 feet is much higher than I expected. To get to this height comfortably I'd have to use six climbing sticks (I'm about 6' 2"). The standard Hunters Safety System Lifeline we used in the video was not long enough to be used while standing up at 25 feet (even though it says it works up to 30 feet). I had to use a second lifeline system at 25ft. All i'm saying is that 25 feet to the stand platform is a lot higher than I expected, and I don't think it's a good height for most bowhunters when shooting at 20 yards and in. -Alex Robinson
@@outdoorlife I use three 10ft stick ladders and put stand at the second step from top.I make my own safety rope out of marine dock line to cover the distance
@@bowhunter4893 Fair enough!
@outdoorlife I single stick with a 45 foot rope that regularly dangles from the ground. 35 feet is my preferred height.
@@PainTrainOutdoor that is crazy, and bad ass. If it works for ya, then by all means stick with it.
You need to take account that gravity is working on the higher shots. Even at 15 yards, there is some trajectory. So you probably should of held right on the spot at 20 and 25 feet.
Great video, though I probably go 18 to 20 feet most of the time. But I use a summit climber, and it feels more secure because of rail around you. I get the tree hugging sensation when I get too high, and every type of treestand has its pros and cons.
Very informative video, thanks
Gravity pulls 32f/s² every second the arrow is in flight, so pure distance is the main factor for drop unless you're talking about an extreme angle downward when the drop doesn't apply to the sight line.
When measuring the stand height are you measuring to the stand (your feet)bor to your shoulders (the bow)?
I have knots tied on my pull-up ropes at 16 ft. 15ft is the highest I'll go, 10 ft if I have decent cover. I have nothing against the guys that climb higher. They harvest, I harvest. Just preference and sometimes scenarios. I have this one bottom I hunt on the property, if you go to 15-20 ft, the deer bust you coming odwn the opposite side hill. So I only rifle hunt that area. By the time they see me (if they see me), it's too late. Good video. If nothing else, it should make guys think about arrow placement and different heights, and how far out a deer needs to be to get a good angle.
I have 15 ft stands ,being winded is happened more at that height,also being in the deer peripheral vision is definitely a is harder to make moves when they are in close range, 18 is the least i hang a hang on 18-22’ is where i like to at least have it and feel like i have a cushion for movement , sound and scent. I have a stand at 30 ft and have shot 3 bucks outta it . 30 yard shots were fine even at 20 wasn’t to bad ,but the last one was only 6 yards off my tree and was a tough shot, I lowered it to 25’ for this season. Can say i have never been winded in that stand at 30’. Even blowing directly at the deer. Will see how 25’ does this season!
Interesting analysis. Growing up, I would go as high as possible, 30-35 feet in a couple cases. Now, I do what helps me kill deer. Absolute height really doesn’t matter much. You put your stand wherever the most amount of cover exists on the tree. On that tree id probably put the stand right above the fork in the tree, but it’s a pretty wide open tree. I might look for a different option.
With rifle or bow I've hunted from 8' to 30'. Never had a problem. Think exit and aim accordingly.
Almost every wood stand we made back home was well over 25’ and I’ve never had one blow at anything but me walking in lol
For me , hunting height depends on the terrain, leaf /tree canopy , what height the surrounding tree limbs are. In tall pines i might go 30 ft , just depends
I prefer 20 to 22’ to stay hidden for shots 8yds to 25yds. But I have 15’ even an 8’ that is very effective. The 8’ high has awesome cover 16’ high all around except the 5’ wide shooting hole. I had one stand 30’ high because it was on a slope and I was 15’ higher than the trail 12yds away. So it depends on the situation. But 20’ to 22’ is typical on level ground.
20' is my ideal stand height but I have16' stands and even a 12' stand. You need very good cover for a 12' stand in Michigan.
I found that most hunters say 20 ft but they never measure so they don't really know. 20 ft is very high, most people probably are only at 15 and just think it's 20
Probably true. If your sticks are 20’ and your platform is a foot or two higher that top step. That’s 20’ for sure.
20 would scare most 😂
Most stands are about 12 to 14. My guess is they are around 16. And saying there 20. For every 20 foot stand at the store. There is 25 in the lower range. Iv got a 20 of the side of a river bottom. When looking down. Your about 70 foot to ground. I get headaches sitting in it sometimes. Tree stands are all about background cover.
Tons of us that go 30’ never get busted from the stand. and as a full time ironworker connector I can eyeball that distance all day long lol
Speak for yourself and people you know. Most people I know use a ladder that is 5 4 foot sections. That’s 20ft.
inconclusive data is that 20feet to bottom of tree stand or at actual shooting height? if 20 feet to bottom of stand that means atleast 5'8"- 6 foot to shooting height depending on the person so technically shooting at 25+feet
20-25ft if possible
sometimes lower due to terrain or the tree, sometimes higher due to the terrain or the tree.
concealment is a major consideration.
When I started hunting, all of my stands were at about 14 to 15 ft. That was just where I could reach with my 12 ft Baker Tree Ladder. Only you well seasoned hunters will reckognize that product. Thats back when you called people like Paul Bruner to order a Screaming Eagle stand or called Roger Rothaar to order original Rothaar Snuffers.
I used to set my tree stands 20 to 25 feet and it was fine but in eearly bow season, it was tough b/c there was so much vegetation vbetween me and the target.
I don't pay attention to wind when I wear scentlok the carbon kills any orders. 18 to 20 is good hunting height unless I've got good heavy cover, I'll go to 15ft. Deer has good vision.
Are you measuring from your feet height or bow height when you measure 25 feet.? I put my stand at 15 feet foot height, which puts my bow at 20 feet.
Does the r5 binos work well with the glasses.. i hate to take my glasses off just to hit the binos
I'm sure my stands are in the 15-20' range. I did hunt one year on a stand that was closer to 25' at a friends property and it was really high, to the point of being sketchy if the slightest breeze came through.
What are the climbing sticks used?
One thing I learned from doing this ... when it starts to feel sketchy, I don't shoot very well. These were aluminum, 30-inch Summit climbing sticks (bit.ly/3Y4zWIm).
I use climbing stands a summit and 2 are home made bow hunt only 2 spots out of 8 1 in pines get up 25 to 30 foot pull rope is 30 other 15 to 20 in cypress swamp i get the job done if hurricane would stop coming in during bow season
Those shots were all good
What platform ate you using? Im currently using a cruzer and its a little smaller then i would like.
These are pretty basic Big Foot XL stands: bit.ly/3Bub18g
(Not fancy by any means, but they do have big platforms).
I’m just the opposite, I can’t recall ever having a stand 20’ tall or lower. My starting point is 25’.
What about jumping the string s little 🦌🦌🇱🇷
Its always situational, but yeah. 25' is way higher than people think. Our 30' high treestand, 45 yard bow shot, 450 yard rifle shot, 310 yard golf drive, 8"... well you get it. Us guys are all the same. My wife on the other hand... no concept or size or distamce.
I get busted if I'm under 28 ft. 28 to 35 takes a lot of stress away. I think getting busted feels worse than missing. At least when missing you're able to get the deer close and draw without them noticing. Being busted feels like a total failure and ruins confidence sitting there again.
Great video! Thank you!
whether you shoot on a downward or upward angle you will hit a little higher than aim point
When I first started bow hunting public land I would climb 30 plus feet. I think it shrinks the kill zone. So I shortened my bow pull up rope so I can’t climb higher than the mid 20s. If I have cover I like to be at about 20 feet high.
Being up 30-plus feet and shooting at a deer 20 yards or closer would definitely make it more difficult to get a good double-lung shot. Not impossible, just much less margin for error.
It depends on the terrain but around 20ft is a good avg
Height doesn't matter it's the distance to target that changes the angle.
I'll be commenting twice, once prior to watching beyond the introduction. The second comment will be after reviewing the video. For the first, let me share that I did a three year study on different stand heights. The primary question was at what height am I noticed most by whitetails. I quickly learned that a height of eight to twelve feet to the bottom of the platform was when I was noticed least. I think it had to do with back cover. Two caveats: sixteen or seventeen feet was the highest tested; all tests were from a platform, so no saddle hunting was tested. Hanging low worked best for me.
Cover, at any height, is incredibly important! We hope you enjoyed the video!
I have 7 stands set up, they're anywhere from 10 to 15 feet at the platform. I hunt oak bottoms and ridges and the trees are not tall enough in most places to go higher. There's some tall trees but the canopy over all you can't see if you go higher. At 10 feet I have deer walk right by at 10 to 15 yards and never get busted. I know how the deer travel and set the stands for the travel and wind direction. I also have 2 10 ft tripods I place in cedars and don't get busted. I think as long as you have the wind right height isn't that important 🤔
It sounds like your stand locations provide lots of cover. Wind is obviously an incredibly important factor, but arguably, cover is just as important. Height of the stands does matter, but there are lots of ways to avoid getting busted at any height.
I was looking for this point - climbing higher than the local canopy makes no sense. It’s different forest to forest. Do what looks and feels right in your environment.
@@darthwolverine747 exactly 💯
when you cant sit still as well as you used to. height is your friend. you get used to sway from sitting trees a lot. you can get away with a lot at 20 feet even smoking some times
Without knowing the terrain, discussing proper stand height is absurd. 5:27
Awesome video.
Id you have a 25 to 30 yd shot. Angle is less also.
I use to get up 20 to 25 feet. I no this because how many sticks i use. My sticks are 4’ long and i have used 6 before wich should put my stand about 24’. Now that im older i like about 17-18 ft
I got an 8 and a 12 and a 16 and I get most of my deer out of the 8
iuse a retractable pull up string and its 20 ft,, i usually go till that starts pulling on my belt then i drop a foot or 2,, i like being around 18 ft unless the site calls for sitting higher or possibly even lower somtimes.. each situation is differant,, properties and terrain are rarly the same
Your video was informative. The wind advantage at a higher position is advantageous but only for a few yards. Should a deer come in from a long distance down wind, well, you will get busted. I do find that I am busted less by sight at a lower height. Being skylighted, especially at a height of eighteen feet or so is more prominent. Most of my hunting is one stick (three foot) high. I can actually reach the platform on many setups from the ground. I do wish you had used milkweed or something that could be tracked. Thanks for the video and safe hunting.
Thanks for the comments. Yeah you make a really good point. Not getting busted by sight has a lot more to do with backcover and knowing when to move (or not move) than it does stand height.
Unless you are in very thick cover, under 20' is suicide. If you're hunting steep slopes, 20' is 40' on the low side, but on the high side, you'd be better off on the ground unless you have cover. There's no simple answer, but in mynexperience, 25' on flat ground is perfect. Any other variables require adjustment.
Great video!
Thank you!
My experience is that the folks who get super high in a tree kill very few deer. It’s just not conducive to actually hunting anything much less hitting when you actually shoot.
🙋 What tree stands are you using in this video?
These are pretty basic Big Foot XL stands: bit.ly/3Bub18g
I like to stay low because I have less branches in the way which affords me more shooting lanes, besides if your standing ten ft up and your six ft tall I guess your sixteen ft high.
Ultra high hunting. That’s 25-30 is magic on those mature bucks who are so spooky.
Can’t smell you, can’t see you. Your the invisible man
20 ft is my average minimum. Yesterday i was at 26ft. I will never be below 20 unless there isnt a tree that high i can get into with my saddle.
I put all my stands at 20ft min.....have one at about 30/35 or more(Only place I could get straps around this monster pine)
If your using an expandable it's still a kill at 25 , also if the deer was at 40 to 50 yards that would even out , that shot would lower out ! Always going for the heart shot is not always the best , I myself & many others have prob shot to far forwards & missed everything !! Being high gives you a chance to hit more things like arteries ,lung ,heart , plus you have more blood drainage having the shot lower on the body , sum called it gravity to help drain the blood ! Plus scent going farther over their head ! JUST DONT FALL !!
Hunting in steep terrain where my property is, it could be 5ft to 30ft, or even higher.
My normal is 20-25'. I prefer closer to 25'
Your form is off at the higher height because your not bending at the waist.
Imagine still using wind powder when milkweed exists lol.
I prefer 25 ft. I’ve also noticed in this video ( not criticizing you ). That you not bending at the waist and also not compensating for the angle of the shot. I’ve shot many of deer from 25 foot with heart and lung shots. As a treestand hunter i sight my bow in FROM the treestand cause your aiming points are are different. And also are anchor points. Redo this video with proper form and angle compensation and you will see VERY noticeable difference in impact spots on the target. From angles that great ya aim shorter then it is from the ground !! Test it out and you’ll see !!! Happy hunting and straight shooting !!
Why would you aim high when bow hunting? Always low. String jump is real and your better aiming for that white line or just behind the elbow.
When shooting downhill you have to aim high lest you risk a brisket or a single lung shot.
I agree that you sometimes want to aim low if it feels like a deer is going to jump the string (I've interviewed a bunch of experts about this and it's not quite as simple as "always low." Story link here: www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/deer-jumping-string-bowhunting/). But for this video I wanted to show good entry and exit points, and I was pretty sure my 3D target wasn't going to jump the string. You can see illustrated in the video that at 25 feet, hitting lower on the target would result in a single lung hit.
i usually climb to that seems about right
30 degrees up hill sucks more then 30 down, in my opinion
Never hung my stand no higher than 8ft.and had good results in bagging a deer.No reason to go sky high,if you have a stroke or a heart attack your screwed, big time.Safety comes first.
+1 . My favorite stand puts my feet 6 feet from the ground.
+1 . My favorite stand puts my feet 6 feet from the ground.
Distance should be decided by environment not a specific height.
During early season I'm sit bout 15ft mid season to late season I'm sit bout 30ft with all the leaves 🍃 all falling off
Kinda freaks me out on 20 plus heights . 😬
Can't forget that with angle you have to compensate for that and take away a couple of yards
Most modern rangefinders also have the ability to compensate angle when providing the yardage too. Something to keep in mind!
@@outdoorlifeBut, it didn't. You shot higher both times from 25. Don't ignore your own proof
@@NonAbidingDudethat is most likely because his didn’t keep his shoulders square to the target…..he dropped his left arm to aim down.
@@michaelcolthart4006 is unfortunately correct here @jconusn. The high hits have to do more with my shooting than a difference in yardage. With my bow setup, a difference in one or two yards (at 18 to 20 yards) is negligible. Depending on your setup, it might be the same for you. You can test it by doing this: Shoot three arrows at a bullseye from 20 yards, don't pull them, back up to 22 yards, aim for the exact same spot and shoot three more arrows. If you're shooting 60-plus pounds and a medium-weight arrow, all six arrows will likely be in one tight group. -Alex Robinson
15 feet gets me nowhere, I use my climber and max out my 30’ rope for my bow. That allows me to see over so much more cover and shoot into cattails that would be unreachable from a 15-20ft stand
Us guys are known for exaggerating our lengths ya know 😂😂😂 most of these guys are just guessing and are more than likey10ft lower than what they claim 25-30ft is just crazy for making a shot with a bow
I hear ya on that one. Sometimes it's better not to measure.
You’re not comfortable with your anchor because you’re dropping your left arm to aim down. That changes the distance from your hand to your face forcing you to change your anchor or struggle to align your peep and scope.
You're right. I noticed that as well while watching the video back.
Im afraid of heights, so 12ft is usually my max 😬
12' is all you need.... Deer are easy
12-15 feet