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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Wannabe1 on August 21, 2010, 04:38:00 PM
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I purchased a little packable stand that weighs like 11 pounds and some climbing sticks. My thoughts are to carry the stand and 1 climbing stick and, if I find an area that looks promising; I'd hang the stand about 5ft off the ground with the one climbing stick. To me this would be a lot easier than trying to tote around 3 sets of climbing sticks plus all my gear.
Anyone ever done this and had success so low to the ground? All suggestions and pointers welcome. :thumbsup:
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I think in the right spot, with good cover and a favorable wind, you could do just fine. People kill game from the ground every year, it is a matter of how you plan it. Good luck.
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I had a climber a few years ago, all I could find in a good location was a tree that split about 8 feet up. I took a nice buck with my stand at that height.
I think you should consider two sticks though.
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I know brushed or blinded in on the ground will work -- I do it for turkey and antelope. I know 14-20' up a tree is also deadly for deer and bear.
It would take a very special situation to cause me to hunt only 5' up a tree. You'd need lots of background cover, the terrain in your shooting windows needs to be level or better yet downhill from you. I'd want the tree to be very "limby" to help break up my outline. I've seen other folks' tree stands (even permanent ones on private land) that were only head-high. In every case I thought these stands only served to position the hunter in a much more visible situation to be caught by their quarry. In some situations the hunter would have been better off to sit on the ground under the stand.
The stackable climbing ladders are so light and compact these days (I love them) they aren't much burden to carry. I like to use 1-2 as my first steps up a tree. Then I use strap-on steps from that point to above my stand so I can climb above it and safely step down into the stand. If I'm concerned someone will hunt my stand (I'm not) I could take the ladder section down and hide it.
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I think 5 feet up would put you in direct line of sight for a whitetail. I would either stay on the ground or go higher.
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Originally posted by Jmatt1957:
I think 5 feet up would put you in direct line of sight for a whitetail. I would either stay on the ground or go higher.
My thoughts exactly. Not worth lugging the extra weight to me.
But it can without a doubt be done...
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I have killed deer from 10' off the ground I think I would carry two sticks. Ty
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I'm 5"6 and a couple years ago found a spot where i could set my treestand where the platform touched my head ,.and used one stick to get into it. Any higher i could not get a good shot off, ended up killing a couple deer in that low stand. Almost as good as gettin one off the ground. it works great as long as you have good cover. I'll be trying that spot again this year. Good luck.
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Thanks for the input so far everyone. :thumbsup: The area I'm looking to do some walking in has a lot of low cover from the trees. I figure if I can find a tree with good shooting lanes, put my stand into the wind I might get lucky and have something meander by. If the wind plays right, I will keep the stand on the uphill side of the trail and at 5' up, the angle should not be too steep.
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If I were really concerned about carrying the sticks I would carry some strap on or screw in steps instead. If I am concerned about mobility I use my climber.
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If you find the right spot it may even be better than a high stand. Each new hunting spot has it's own personality and will dictate stand placement.
I once had a stand at 5 feet in a tree and saw deer every-time out. was seldom busted and when I was it was because of stupidity. That was in a cluster of 3 pine trees.
I agree I would carry 2 climbing sticks for versatility. If you find a branchy tree you may only need one and can climb the rest of the way.
Versatility is key unless you have spots picked out already, even then Versatility is good.
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I probably wouldn't mess with it for 5 feet in most circumstances. But every situation is different. With the right background cover you might be ok.
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I think it would work very well with a gillie suit. Hap
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One of my buddies uses just the top section of a ladder stand, 6 feet tall. He's killed several deer from it, wearing a leafy suit.
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I would think about going 2 sticks and spacing them as far apart as you feel comfortable with and adding a tree step or 2.
I use 3 of the small lone wolf sticks that are only 18 inches long.Its next to nothing to pack in and will get you up reasonably high.I do space em apart further than most guys would though I believe.If your in descent shape its not a problem though.A little flexibility and some strength and your good to go.
On a side note I like the easy up climbing belt sold by Three rivers to install tree sticks,steps and stands.Its fast,easy and doesnt take up alot of room in your fanny pack or backpack.Can be used as a deer drag as well.
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I would stay on the ground if I wasn't going higher than 5 feet.
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If I was only going to hunt 5 feet off the ground...I'd leave the stand at home and hunt off the ground.
Unless of course it was some RARE set up that called for it.
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In the right area, 5 feet is fine. It gets you a downward shot angle which means a found arrow and a lower exit hole. Needs to be thick. I hunt a marsh and there are no trees in most of the marsh. Sitting on top of a 5 or 6 foot tall ladder amongst the dogwoods gets me what I want.
I have a certain tree that I use where I don't use ANY sticks. The stand is about 3 feet high. It gets me above the ground cover and gives me shots. I am on the back side of the tree from the trails that I expect to see deer on and I have seen plenty from that stand.
In the open woods... probably wouldn't work.
ChuckC
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I had a spot that I just used the top part of a ladder stand (about 5 foot). I put on a tree that had brush in front of it. when I was sitting I could see the trail, but when I stood up I had a great view of the trail and deer walked right past me. Only got busted once when a deer walked right up to my stand from behind me.
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It's about all been said. Could be good, bad or ugly.
I did have a natural tree blind years ago that was right at fingertip height with your arms srtaight up. Had four does and a six point walk directly under me. I was in between two eight inch trees on a blowdown trunk. Took the six point at three feet from the tree. It's about the situation at hand.
I have also used a hang on stand to keep me out of 8-10" of water. Technically a tree stand. Realistically a ground blind.
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When my kids outgrew their gym set, we removed the slide, pole, rope and anything hanging out too far. It wasn't easy, but we carried it to a spot on our camp land so we could see above some laurel. There has been a number of deer killed there, (gun) at very close range. It can be done, but I always feel exposed there.
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The first buck I ever killed was from a stand that had my feet about 6 ft off the ground. I regularly hunt from 10 to 12 ft ladders. I even have two 7 ft. aluminum tri-pods I use in heavy cover. Of course, as Terry says, it all depends on the circumstances. Try it, you'll like it.
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...just sit on the ground five foot up a hill side at a funnel !. save carring in extra ###
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Have used a low stand like that twice with success...in NC swamps where the brush was so thick that you would have to crawl in and no tall trees. At ground level you couldnt see 6 ft but 5 ft up put you high enough to see the deer moving and find shooting lanes. Same situation in the mountain laural in western MD.
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I did just that last season. I would guess to say I was at 8-10' I had a buck come out just as I was about to get down due to low light conditions. This buck was so curious as to what I was, he came up the tree like a dog would when it trees it's prey. He just stood there leaning against the tree looking at me for about 20 seconds. I almost started to laugh, but I held it together. I moved a little to fast to get the shot and that's when he jumped but only about 15-20 yds. Too dark to see any branches around him, so I just watched until he left.
I carry two lone wolf three step section's with me and a lone wolf alpha stand (it's very light) I stalk for awhile before I decide if or where I'll go up into a tree, I say trying it is the only way you'll find out. I would figure out how high the canopy is, and go just above it. Over here it's about 8-12 feet high.
Good luck
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I have a stand in my bud's woods that's 6 ft to the platform. It's not in a stand of trees, is in a single trunk tree with no branches until way up.
It's about 5 yds in inside the fence.
Along the fence a big tree fell, and on the other side there's a crop field.
I used the stand to set up behind some of the fallen tree. A little better visibility to see when the deer are coming into the field, have passed on several small bucks there.
Never knew I was around.
The tree is wide enough to cover most of my silhouette.
Think that sometimes more important than stand height.
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With the stand on the uphill side of the trail I'm looking at, 5' off the ground gives me good cover and a downhill shot that is not to extreme. Shooting from the ground does not provide very good shooting lanes due to the height of the brush. With 5-6 feet up, it will put me above the underlying brush. The tree I'm looking to put the stand in, is only approx. 12yds from the trail. I think blending will be ok but, it's the movement of bringing the bow up that worries me.
I'm assuming that broadside might not be the best shot opportunity? Does quartering away as the deer passes sound best?
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If your going to do it ,make sure you have a good backdrop and good cover scent. I won't go below 15' but usaually I'm at 20'. Good hunting
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I like 15-18 ft for trad bows, higher for gun or compounds.
But sometimes it's just not needed (or doable).
Must say, I'd rather be 5 or 6 ft off the ground than stuck inside a tent type of blind.
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I would not bother getting up less than 12'. unless you have a multi trunk trees or other cover to slip into. I think you are better off to get a leafy suite to go with it if setting low. Maybe set it near the ground. That makes a nice seat, and quiet foot movement. I have done that when I didn't want to pack climbing stuff or had a tree that would work.
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I have to disagree with some of you. Several years ago I set up my lone wolf in the dark one morning about four feet off the ground, just enough to get me above the undergrowth. Killed two does that morning and all I had on was a black and green plaid shirt. Camo means nothing if you move at the wrong time.
Oh, and this was a single trunk tree on the edge of a small beaver pond, both does were in the same group, shot the first one on the opposit side of the pond and when the other does ran around the pond to my side, I shot the second.
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That's what I was looking for! My stand will just put me above the undergrowth also and as I stated, should have an easy downhill shot. I will be putting my scenario to the test possibly this Saturday before heading to my main hunting area to hunt a trail I have been watching all summer.
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Each spot that you hunt requires a different setup. I have hunted in spots that have deep gulleys where my stand is only there to keep my feet out of the leaves so I can turn quietly. I have also had spots where I had to be 30' in order to get proper placement. You always have to consider cover, wind, line of sight and ability to get a shot off. Every time.
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I killed a black bear in Ontario hunting an area that had been clear cut. The biggest trees were about 5-6" at 6 feet above the ground. I put my stand in a spruce about 6 feet high. The first night I heard something below me and looked down to see a bear straight below, looking up at me. I held still, and he started toward the bait. I took the shot at about 12 feet,,and the bear went about 30 yards before going down. So I think 5-6' is sufficient with good cover.
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bornagainbowhunter: You are absolutely correct and that's why the main trail I intend to hunt, my stand will be about 15ft up. :thumbsup:
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If you have cover and can position it in the rite spot you can.No different from being on foot.Just have to make sure you have the appropriate cover and be still.If you stand up and can align your body with the tree they won't make out your shape.