What do your setups look like?
- PredatorTC
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What do your setups look like?
This year, my dad saw a lot of my bowhunting setups. He said the same thing every time. He always told me that he thought I was lacking tree branches, tree size, or hight. Meaning he thinks that I stick out like a soar thumb. Then yesterday, we were looking at a spot where some marsh met up with hardwoods. I showed him a tree I picked out and he told me that he thought it was a terrible tree because the deer will be walking at me for about 50 yards and at about 15 yards is where it will turn to go around a deadfall which is where i shot. He told me that as the deer is walking, It will be looking at the woods and I will be busted up in the tree and that there is now way that he will not see me....
Thinking back to his setups, he has unbelivable amounts of cover. You could almost dance in he treestands and the deer would never notice you. So is he being excessive, or do I need to be more careful. Thinking back, I did have a lot of doe pick me off this year. Its hard to find a good tree, I often just find myself making a crummy tree work.
So what do your setups look like and how do you feel about needing a lot of cover. Do you feel like you could hunt out of a naked tree as long as you stood still or what are your thoughts? I would rather hunt a naked tree and feel like im in the right spot I guess.
post up pictures too!
Thinking back to his setups, he has unbelivable amounts of cover. You could almost dance in he treestands and the deer would never notice you. So is he being excessive, or do I need to be more careful. Thinking back, I did have a lot of doe pick me off this year. Its hard to find a good tree, I often just find myself making a crummy tree work.
So what do your setups look like and how do you feel about needing a lot of cover. Do you feel like you could hunt out of a naked tree as long as you stood still or what are your thoughts? I would rather hunt a naked tree and feel like im in the right spot I guess.
post up pictures too!
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Re: What do your setups look like?
I dont have any pictures of my setups.
But I will agree with your dad on cover. I personally love to have as much cover as I can get. The more to cover my outline the better, but I know thats not always presented to you. My bow buck this year was shot out of a tree without a single branch for 20 ft. That was out of the LW climber, and I was pretty exposed in that spot. Never got noticed.
Good queston, eager to see where this thread goes.
But I will agree with your dad on cover. I personally love to have as much cover as I can get. The more to cover my outline the better, but I know thats not always presented to you. My bow buck this year was shot out of a tree without a single branch for 20 ft. That was out of the LW climber, and I was pretty exposed in that spot. Never got noticed.
Good queston, eager to see where this thread goes.
- Stanley
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Re: What do your setups look like?
A lot depends on the weapon of choice. With a gun you can set up less stealth for longer shots. With a bow you are talking close range. I do whatever it takes to knock down the buck. If I need to be higher I do that if I need to be camouflaged better I do that. The heavier the cover the buck is in the less your chances are of getting spotted. A lot of hunters don't take this into consideration. If the ground cover is light and you stick out like a lollipop up in a tree you will get busted. Adjust your set up accordingly. Windy days will get you by with murder. No wind will get you by with nothing. All things to consider.If you are getting picked off get some more cover up in the tree with you. Carry some cut off branches with you if you have to, a couple of lock ties/bungee cords and your good to go.
You can fool some of the bucks, all of the time, and fool all of the bucks, some of the time, however you certainly can't fool all of the bucks, all of the time.
- headgear
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Re: What do your setups look like?
Ideally we would all have tons of cover and perfectly trimmed lanes but most of us hunt outside of those ideal conditions. I want to have as much cover as possible, I look for the best cover when setting up but a lot of the time cover is far below location when I prioritize my setup. Like Dan alwasy says I am hunting deer not trees.
- Spysar
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Re: What do your setups look like?
No matter what, you have to pick the spot before you pick the tree. Sometimes it's ideal, and sometimes not. Everythings a trade off. I do prefer the cover if I can get it. Lots of my stands there is only 1 or 2 spots I can shoot. If the deer dosen't go there, I lose and thats the risk I take. I never pick a spot just because it's wide open and I can shoot everywhere. I pick where I think the deer will be, and go from there.
A buck will see you three times, and hear you twice, but he's only gonna smell you once.
- MOBIGBUCKS
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Re: What do your setups look like?
I try to make the tree work for me. I'll sit higher or lower depending on where the best cover is on the tree. If it's a really straight tree, I will stand up the entire time I hunt the tree. This makes your outline blend in with the straight tree better.
- Dewey
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Re: What do your setups look like?
I always try to choose a tree with good background cover. If good cover is not available I will set up really low so any ground brush conceals me but I can still shoot over it. I have been quite surprised how many deer don't even see me set up this low even though sometimes I am only at 5-6 feet.
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- Edcyclopedia
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Re: What do your setups look like?
If you have choices of trees to pick - which is likely NOT the case,
then once your selection has been made,
walk the trails (well before season starts, probably with you spring scouting)
and look from his perspective.
One thing I notice while in a tree stand is how often you pick up on movement, any movement.
If you think about it for a moment this isn't even your living room - it's his...
Mature deer (Bucks and Doe's) will rarely NOT notice something is out of place,
even if you set your stand up in the spring, when sitting in it the blob becomes bigger...
I believe hunters get picked off @ +50 yards more than they think and NEVER know it, especially fidgety hunters...
then once your selection has been made,
walk the trails (well before season starts, probably with you spring scouting)
and look from his perspective.
One thing I notice while in a tree stand is how often you pick up on movement, any movement.
If you think about it for a moment this isn't even your living room - it's his...
Mature deer (Bucks and Doe's) will rarely NOT notice something is out of place,
even if you set your stand up in the spring, when sitting in it the blob becomes bigger...
I believe hunters get picked off @ +50 yards more than they think and NEVER know it, especially fidgety hunters...
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
- headgear
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Re: What do your setups look like?
Dewey wrote:I always try to choose a tree with good background cover. If good cover is not available I will set up really low so any ground brush conceals me but I can still shoot over it. I have been quite surprised how many deer don't even see me set up this low even though sometimes I am only at 5-6 feet.
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I've been hunting this way more and more, at first I was a little sketchy but I have become much more comfortable hunting low.
- PredatorTC
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Re: What do your setups look like?
Dewey wrote:I always try to choose a tree with good background cover. If good cover is not available I will set up really low so any ground brush conceals me but I can still shoot over it. I have been quite surprised how many deer don't even see me set up this low even though sometimes I am only at 5-6 feet.
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When your this low, how far are you from the deer or the trail you expect?
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Re: What do your setups look like?
Your dad is a wise man... deer can see you from a long ways when sitting the edge of a marsh. Once they know you are hunting them I have watched them purposely stand out in the marsh and scan things over before they commit to coming in to high ground to eat.
"When a hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values, with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20 feet closer to God." Fred Bear
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Re: What do your setups look like?
This is the time of year when I really do some tree searches in my hunting areas. I actually was out doing this Saturday on my own property. Knowing where I need to be from my observations + trailcameras + scouting + shed hunting, with ZERO cover in the trees - this is the time to see where you can get away with hunting.
My biggest issue with trees these days are accomidating a cameraguy in a tree. If I'm solo hunting, I'm able to hunt a bunch of different spots that I'd NEVER be able to get 2 stands into place.
Back-drop is EVERYTHING. Higher isn't necessarily better, you just need cover. Cover and Predator camo go along way!
My biggest issue with trees these days are accomidating a cameraguy in a tree. If I'm solo hunting, I'm able to hunt a bunch of different spots that I'd NEVER be able to get 2 stands into place.
Back-drop is EVERYTHING. Higher isn't necessarily better, you just need cover. Cover and Predator camo go along way!
- Dewey
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Re: What do your setups look like?
PredatorTC wrote:Dewey wrote:I always try to choose a tree with good background cover. If good cover is not available I will set up really low so any ground brush conceals me but I can still shoot over it. I have been quite surprised how many deer don't even see me set up this low even though sometimes I am only at 5-6 feet.
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When your this low, how far are you from the deer or the trail you expect?
Usually 15-20 yards depending on cover but will set up on the backside of the tree if needed for more cover if I am closer. Had deer walk by at less than 10 yards and never see me. Good camo makes a difference and I am a huge believer in Predator camo after this past season.
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- Pullintoobs
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Re: What do your setups look like?
Alot of times I will put my stand on the opposite side of the tree the deer are coming from if I feel I am too exposed. (I face the trunk) I spend alot of time standing in this case but I stand most of the time anyway. The trunk really helps conceal. Being right handed I try and pick a tree to the right of the trail I expect them to come out on. Sometimes they come out on a trail where I need to turn around but If you do it slowly, you can get away with it. Then I let them pass my tree before shooting if possible.
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Re: What do your setups look like?
I always find the exact spot where I need to kill the buck at... Then I figure out what the best way to hunt it is. I would rather have great cover, but it won't do you no good if you can't kill the buck from that spot.
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