Approaching Treestands Wisely

by Greg Enders

There are tons of great tree stand locations out there, however, getting to that location undetected will always be a challenge. The approach is the most important part of every successful sit and is often overlooked. We have a tendency to be running late, then we get lazy, and then we march straight to the stand. By the time we get there, we are sweating, puffing, and mentally shot. Hunters spend long countless hours searching for the best ambush sights, but often fail to pay close enough attention to how to get in and out of the sweet spot. The buck jolts out of his sanctuary and the game is over before it even started.

To be successful, we need to determine if the location is realistically accessible. Can you make it through the thick brush? Will you make so much noise that you spook the deer? Don't hang a stand in a tough approach location, as you will chase the best deer off your hunting grounds. It is extremely difficult to find the perfect tree in the perfect location on many properties. Certain locations are favorable to morning sits and others, such as field edges or water holes, are best in the evening. The key is to minimize scent and visual danger in and out of the woods. It should be pointed out that spooking a deer here and there doesn't always ruin the entire hunt, but it's extremely important to minimize the disturbance on the property!

When we find the tree that best serves our purpose, we can then map out the best possible entrance and exit. It is often the path that takes more time and work. We may have to circle around the area, wade through a creek or even crawl through CRP to go undetected, but each maximizes our chances. Parking a quarter-mile from your stand minimizes disturbances from doors opening and closing. When hunting in and around active farm sites, don't be afraid to have a buddy drop you off with a tractor or diesel truck and continue right back to the road or farm. On a recent trip to Illinois, the outfitter continually dropped hunters right by their stands and picked them up after dark. The deer were totally relaxed in doing so and the hunters left very little scent during this process. These stands remained fresh all week. On day five, I was lucky enough to harvest a great buck on my third trip to the same stand. Taking my time, minimizing my scent, and hunting only under proper wind direction allowed me this opportunity.

We have all made many mistakes over the years, but learning from our mistakes and striving to improve is what counts. Arriving early allows us to dress lightly, take the correct route to the stand, spray down, and put on our final layers. It also allows the area time to settle down before prime time. Even though we get less sleep, this concept can pay great dividends. The season is so short and you have all winter to sleep and dream about the trophy on the wall!