Tree Safety - How small is too small?

[MuskieHunterDave]

I was scouting/moving a trail cam on Saturday and came across a very promising spot. It's in a marsh with lots of dead trees and just a few live ones. There is a well used path cutting through some relative cover, and it appears the deer are using it regularly. The issue I would face, should I hunt the spot, is the tree selection. There are only 2 live trees within range of the path. One is directly over the top of it, but it has great cover. The other is about 10 yds off the beaten path, but is still young and pretty skinny. If I went with the smaller one, I would have a good draw window as the deer pass a thick bush right before they go broadside. I'm just not sure how high I could get in the smaller tree as it's not very thick. Pictures of the trees below:
Smaller (for reference my trail cam is hung, you can see it is barely wider than the cam):
08410f1e-035f-49ee-8380-eaa20438561c.jpg
Thicker, but right on deer path:
1627151725526.jpg

Thoughts?

[Jrdeerhuntr]

IMO, how small of tree I hunt largely is based on how windy it is. Even if your safe in the small tree when it blowing 20 mph, taking shot while swaying is tough. Back cover on that smaller tree may also be an issue. I do not think you would have a problem hanging a stand in either.

[Ryan549]

My opinion, the tree is plenty big.

[A5BLASTER]

If it's to small for my climbing stand, it's to small to hunt out of and I'm going to be set up on the ground.

[Ryan549]

I say the tree is plenty big- however, I’m not there, and I’m not you.
I hope I didn’t come off as arrogant, there certainly have been trees that I have not gotten into- or have tried to and found out that I didn’t feel good about it.
Your comfort and safety is far more important that what a guy on a forum tells you. Go with your gut.

[Jackson Marsh]

That tree is big enough, depending on how high you hunt. If you are standing on the deer trail I actually prefer one of these 2 trees and set up low.

08410f1e-035f-49ee-8380-eaa20438561c.jpg

Or setup on ground and kill when they pass you....if there is a shooting lane at ground level.

[Tennhunter3]

Looks big enough to get 10 feet in.
Course I'm a lightweight and only you can make the safest decision.

You can always test and if it starts to bend to much or crack in anyway I'd hurry down.. if your in a saddle sitting would really reduce any lean and be safer then in a stand or leaning away from the tree.

Could start at about 1 stick high and test it before going another stick higher.

[JP BowHunter]

I’d climb either of those trees, just wouldn’t go very high. You could also carry a five gallon bucket on with you so if you didn’t like the looks of things you could just sit on the bucket.

I’ve actually got a little seat that I used to use turkey hunting that has a shoulder strap that makes it easy to carry in. I use it for ground set ups. Keeps me low but off of the ground.

[Dhoff]

[Maverick1]

[dan]

I've pulled 3 trees together to make one strong enough to hold me up... A tree to small is one that wont hold you up.

[greenhorndave]

[MuskieHunterDave]

Thanks for all the replies!
Jackson Marsh, those two trees are actually dead, they just have some smaller brush/trees in the background that makes them look alive. Some of the trees have vines on them which also make them look alive, but in-person it's clear they're dead. Anyone here sit in dead trees? Seems like a bad idea to me.

I will surely have to feel it out. I like the advantage of being up in the tree to see them coming rather than sitting on the ground. I was about 50/50 last year between in a tree vs on the ground. I spooked a lot of deer on the ground, and never got a shot off.

[Jackson Marsh]

[Tennhunter3]