No background cover in the stand, what would you do?

[Bigb]

After a few years of hunting the land I have access to, I've learned that the deer are tending to stage in an area very close to the bedding area we have. When we would walk out after hunting a few certain stands (evening spots) we would always kick deer up. I'm finally learning that we can't even walk through this area anymore because I don't want to leave any trace of scent and we're kicking up too many deer.

Here is my question, I want to place a stand in this area. Is borders a thick cedar area of about 30 acres that NO ONE ever walks in. There is a small clover (500 sq feet) that the deer seem to stage in and hit before they make it out into the corn/beans after dark. It's also a great funnel between two big stands (400 plus acres each) of trees. The problem is this area has no mature trees in the area I want to place a stand. There are a couple smaller ones that I can get about 16 feet up before the tree gets too narrow but would have no cover behind me but have small trees (30 ft and under) all around me OR should I think of building some sort of platform stand? These deer come from all directions in this spot so I want to be in the air but not if I'm going to get caught. The area would only be hunted a couple times a year since the wind is rarely right but we have so much deer activity in this area I feel like I need to give it a try.

Basically, would you use a climber where you would stick out a bit or try to find some alternative way to set up a stand?

[Zap]

Maybe a ground hide.

[dan]

If its on private and I was thinking of hunting it more than once a year I would consider either making cover by buying an old Christmas tree and nailing the limbs up behind the stand area, and/or putting a manikin or dummy in the stand with a rope attached. Leave the manikin in the tree till you climb to hunt, then lower it and sit in its position.
It will also deter trespassing.

[Brad]

I know they make a lot of brush holders for tree's now, might be an option with ever green branches or Christmas tree branches, any goodwill or St vinny's probably has Christmas tree's pretty cheap this time of year. I have also heard of people wiring up oak or maple leaves because supposedly they don't shed till way later in the season if the branch is cut while the tree is alive, but I have never personally used this method so can't say with certainty. I like Dan's idea of the dummy in the tree too.

[cwoods]

I would hunt lower if I had too.

[Ack]

Predator Fall Gray camo works well in situations like this.

[76chevy]

I would think about nailing up some limbs or get in one of the big cedars. They make awesome hiding spots and you can hunt low or high....

[headgear]

I'd probably hunt low or from the ground, be ready to shoot before he has a chance to see you.

[jonsimoneau]

Dan. I thought I was the first guy to think of that manikin idea! Dang it!

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[GRFox]

Predator Camo would fix that situation.

[ Post made via Android ]

[Bucky]

I rarely hunt over 18ft to platform... 1st sit they should be clueless... I bet you could get away with being 14-16ft up. When I hunted in Manitoba (2yrs) there were not much for mature trees where we were hunting, I would say avg height was 13-15ft to platform and deer had no clue. Just be careful with movement.

[Gibby]

Ive hunted properties with cedar and pine thickets and found that a 15ft ladder stand conceals real well in these areas
If the trees your looking at hunting in this area are hardwoods then something like this might work

[bbvideo=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP4DA4v6O4I[/bbvideo]

[Gibby]

[bbvideo=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4e82Z2uQ0Y&feature=channel&list=UL[/bbvideo]

[Edcyclopedia]

If the trees your looking at hunting in this area are hardwoods then something like this might work

[bbvideo=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP4DA4v6O4I[/bbvideo]

Thanks for sharing - good vids!

[fredhill]

Predator Fall Gray camo works well in situations like this.

also the original Skyline camo. that stuff flat works in sparce, skinny trees especially on over cast days