how to enter stand location

[slow reflection]

I am new to whitetail hunting. I have scouted an area and have certain trees picked out for my tree stand depending on wind direction. The quietest way to enter these stand locations are down the deer trail. Am I better off going through the thick woods and making more noise or walking down the deer trail scenting up the trail? How long does my scent linger on the trail disrupting deer travels?

[Shadowhnter]

That is flat out something that cant really be decided unless you are right there on location. Whats your gut say?

[joe munno]

cut trials in the opposite way the deer come if deer come from the north cut trails to stand from south and make sure to hunt the right wind if the deer are coming from north you need a northerly wind good luck set stands stands up on the down wind side of trails

[fmscan]

Joe, great advice and I learned also...

[JimB]

I agree,build your own trail in,so you don't walk on theirs.Trim a minimum of limbs,just enough to move through,quietly.remove any twigs you might step on and you can even remove leaves from the ground,where you will step,to aid in getting in quietly.You don't have to sweep it like a sidewalk but remove leaves in a pattern like stepping stones.The further ahead you do work like this,the better.

[Steelhead]

I think this is all sound advice.A quiet entry and exit is gonna help you keep the stand sight as undisturbed as possible.Deer wise up pretty fast.

Entering from downwind of suspected deer travel is always good.Even if the deer are bedded down.You dont want your scent wafting through thier bedding area.Especially more mature bucks if thats what your after.

Getting thier early if possible is a good idea in the morning or evening.In the morning the cover of darkness and dew on the ground will keep you from being seen or heard.Getting thier early allows you to have more time to enter stealthely.The final approach is gonna be important.Go slowly.Enter your stand quietly.Dont ting your bow against the metal stand,tree steps,climbing sticks etc.

Exit can be just as important as you dont want to alert deer that you have an ambush sight.They are sensitive and you could blow your spot.If your busted you could have an alarm snort festival and foot stomping dance.Never a good thing.If deer are around me at dark.I stay in the stand till they move off.That can be a pain in the arse as they often will be around.Slip out quietly and try and preserve your spot as unmolosted as possible..Dont overhunt it.Hunt when the winds good.

Pruning sheers and a good foldable saw will allow you to remove select things to allow you to approach your stand and also prepare a few shooting lanes in the tree.Or remove branches for limb clearance.You can prepare the tree for a quiet entry as well when climbing or descending it.

A pair of high rubber boots and quiet clothing will help.Make all your gear quiet for entering and exiting your stand.Things can be sound proofed to a degree if your creative and address them.Arrange your pack and gear so its quiet.You dont want sound making things like metal and hard plastics directly next to each other.

[Stump73]

Like said earlier cut trails to for you. Plus deer will start using them also. It could give you more shot opportunities.

[Stump73]

Plus you can cut them to for an easy walk for you and spread ur scent around as much.

But if this is public ground there maybe regulations against cutting trails.

[Whip]

As others have said,  cut your own trails to the stand.  But I add a twist whenever possible.  Don't make a nice straight, easy to walk trail or the deer will simply adopt it as their own.  Downed trees that you have to step over our walk around make it less desirable for the deer.  Ditches,  steep banks,  etc. can do the same thing.  Find a way to keep the trail for your use only as much as possible.

[Shadowhnter]

What do you do if you have 100-200 yards of timber to go through before reaching the stand site?

[Wudstix]

Cut a bit, but focus more on the last 50-75 yards. Critters make noise too, just walk in at a sporatic pace stop, start, paus, stand, step.  sound more like a critter.

[Nantahala Nut]

If there is a chance deer may be in the area I wait til first light to make my final approach. I hunt on the ground though soon can setup quickly. If you are hunting a trail to the beds just get there an hour before light.

[FlintNSteel]

If the woods are thick on the deer trail with lots of overhanging branches or weeds, etc that will touch your clothes on the way in, then I would suggest, as others, to make a separate entrance trail.  One of the most successful bowhunters I know is absolutely meticulous about his entry trails.  

On the other hand, if the woods the deer trail is on is sparse such that walking down it leaves no/little chance of contact with vegetation, I would wear rubber boots sprayed down well with scentshield or other spray and not worry too much.

Net, my experience is that the deer I see usually aren't smelling me on the ground where the bottoms of my rubber boots touched...it's on the brush/weeds where my clothes have touched...even if I spray my clothes.

I also think that how much work you want to go through may be proportional to what "kind" of deer you are happy with.  If you are solely after big mature whitetails, then you can never be cautious enough.  If your goal is to "fill the freezer" then you can probably get by with less caution and still be "successful."

[Wudstix]

FlintNSteel well said.