How high?

[zinndl]

Up till last season I hunted deer using my compound as high as I could get in the tree which very seldom offered clean broad sides because of the steep angle. This year I plan to use my long bow but I still want to hunt from a tree stand. How high do you folks like to go when using trad bows?

[sweet old bill]

It depends on what type of site you plan on hunting. In the eastern areas a lot of tree stand do not require more than 12 feet off the ground to provide the hunter with a good shot. Once the leaves are down some may go higher in a tree. I have set them up as low as 8 feet in a heavy brushy area.

Bill

[Pat B]

I usually don't go over 10' or 12' in a tree stand. I have found with good cover, thats all you need. For some reason after I turned 50(a few years ago) I started thinking more about the sudden stop at the end of a fall...and I wear a safety harness.     Pat

[Blackhawk]

My limited experience using tree stands has shown that optimum height is approximately 15'.

[zinndl]

I always went high to avoid being busted by their nose, with my compound a perfect broadside was not so critical but being new to traditional I thought maybe a perfect broadside was more critical to avoid a wounded lost animal, I guess I just don't know what limitations may be there when using trad bows that I did not have before, aside from distance of the shot.

[MYSTIKBOW]

I have never gone over 15' when I decide to use my tree stand. Good broad side shots are not a problem at that height providing you set your tree stand up properly for the shot.

[frassettor]

I only go as high as I can shoot comfortably  since I dont care for heights. Its usually 14-15 ft high.

[Jedimaster]

I like to be at least 10 feet.  I don't like to be over 15 feet.  Shot angle is one reason.  I don't like being tossed around with the wind up high either.  I can't say that I've ever needed to be higher.  When I was younger I'd take a rifle up higher but I don't think I ever benefitted.  A guy I used to hunt with was a little scared of heights and wouldn't ever go above 10 feet, usually stayed at 8.  Now that is a little low but he got more deer than I did.

[SuperK]

I think the cover; or lack of it, is a big factor on how high you should go.  With climbing stands you have to use a bare tree as opposed to ladders and hang-ons.  I have been picked off more using climbing stands than any other type.  My favorite setup is a 15 ladder stand with lots of background cover and limbs that are lower than the stands platform.

[Mike Burch]

I use to go 30' up a tree. You could get away with a lot from up there.

Now due to the steep angle like you said, I go 20' or so. Having cover is real important, but I like to be at least 15'... I usually end up 20ft. or so now.

Mike

[Shawn Leonard]

I may go as high as 30ft. and as low as 3ft. It all depends on the cover the site offers ya. I have hunted hedgerows and have a few satnds only 3ft. off the ground. It all depends on the amount of cover. Shawn

[Fletcher]

I'll hunt as low as cover will allow, and available cover is a prime consideration in choosing my tree.  Normally I end up somewhere between 12 and 16 feet.  Height also helps with scent.  Once I get over about 15 feet, shot angle gets crappy fast and the double lung kill zone gets really narrow.

[Gordon martiniuk]

12 to 14 feet is my comfort range but have tacken several deer off a 8 ft ladder stand I have      

[longbowben]

18 to 20 feet is where i hunt with my longbow..I use 20 foot bow rope tied to the top of my stand,when its off the ground thats where its hung.

[portugeejn]

About 5 feet from the ground to my arrow shelf!  Heights and me don't get along well:-(

Ron