Tips for Hunting in a Tree Stand

The tree stand is synonymous with deer hunting in the US, and it’s not hard to see why. Hunting in a tree stand has roots going back generations, with modern tree stands first coming around in the late 1940s and hunters perching up in homemade stands long before then. Today, tree stands have become an ideal platform for hunting deer. They are versatile, come in various styles, and can be used in a variety of locations. In this article we’ll dive into some tips on different types of tree stands, their uses for different styles of hunting, safety equipment, tree stand placement, and other considerations to make when hunting in a tree stand.

Advantages of hunting in a tree stand

Hunting in a tree stand has long been a popular hunting tactic, as it offers several advantages. The main advantage is that tree stands give you a height advantage over the deer (or other game animal) you are hunting. This helps you stay out of sight easier, allowing for more movement if you need to adjust yourself, or move your rifle or bow into position for a shot setup. Tree stands can also provide good cover and concealment if they are placed in an area with tree limbs nearby.  

Hunting in a tree stand also provides for good shot angles from an elevated position, which helps provide more opportunities for a quick, clean, and ethical shot. Be careful not to place stands too high, as shots from too high of an angle may be too steep and miss some vital organs. Unlike ground blinds and box blinds, tree stands can provide a much clearer view of your surroundings to detect movement and provide more shot opportunities. Finally, many tree stands also come built in with rails that act as safety devices. These rails can also be used as shooting rests when rifle hunting, providing you with more stability for the shot. 

Types of stands

There are a wide variety of tree stands on the market today, with different designs and heights available. The type of tree stand you select will depend on a few factors, such as whether you are a mobile hunter, the type of property you are hunting, and the type of trees available to you on the property. Here are some common tree stand types:

Hang-on stands

Hang-on stands typically include a small seat and platform to stand on, and they are locked onto the tree via straps or chains with steps or ladders included to climb the tree. They can be carried into the hunt and hung up when you reach your spot, or they can be hung ahead of time and left out for the duration of the season. They can be hung at whatever height you choose and can be advantageous for hunting on properties only allowing temporary stands. The downside to hang-on stands is that some states may not allow you to use steps that bolt or screw into the tree on public property.

Climber stands

Climber stands are similar to hang-on stands in that you can set them as high or low in the tree as you want. However, climber stands are hung each time you head to the woods to hunt. The stand is secured to the tree, and you then climb the tree by moving the seat of the stand up the tree while sliding up the tree with the platform portion strapped to your feet. Climber stands can allow you to be incredibly mobile while hunting and can be used in areas where hang-on or ladder stands may not be an option. However, these stands can be cumbersome to carry long distances, and are more difficult to camouflage due to needing an open area to climb in.

Ladder stands

Ladder stands are the largest tree stands. These stands are best used when you are hunting on private property, or property where you are allowed to leave a stand up for the duration of the hunting season. Ladder stands can also accommodate multiple hunters, making them a good option for taking youth or hunters you are mentoring. They are limited in height compared to climber or hang-on stands, but they are also the most secured stand and easiest to climb in general. Ladder stands generally take 2-3 people to set up and take down and require ratchet straps and cords or ropes to properly secure them to a tree.

Tree Stand Tips

Location

The location and habitat where you are hunting will have a large impact on the type of tree stand you choose. If you are hunting a small, wooded lot, you may choose to hang a ladder stand in a carefully selected spot since moving around the property will not be an option. If you are hunting a large piece of public property or a hunting club, you may opt to choose a stand that allows you to stay mobile like a climber or hang-on stand. No matter the location, hunting in a tree stand requires a tall, mature tree for hanging the stand. Look for mature timber or mature trees along field edges to hang your stand, especially for larger ladder stands.

Scouting

As with most parts of hunting, scouting for good locations is a key part of finding the best location for hanging your stand. Look for notable landscape features, such as travel corridors, edges, and pinch points as places to hang your stand to catch deer moving to and from different areas. Field edges, edges between mature and young stands of timber, creek bottoms, and clear cuts are all good areas to find these features. Also look for food and water sources, such as mast trees, agricultural fields, food plots, ponds, streams, etc. for areas that deer will frequent. If you can find a travel corridor between these food and water sources and a bedding area, then you will have a great location to hang a stand.

Stand placement

Where you place your tree stand is a key piece in maximizing its effectiveness. Make sure you don’t place your stand right on top of these areas you have scouted, but rather look for trees that are adjacent to these areas and provide a good shooting angle. The last thing you want to do is to place a stand directly over a bedding area, food source, or water source, and spook the deer you are hunting. Look for the terrain features mentioned earlier that are near these sites and place your stand along travel corridors and pinch points where deer will be moving. 

When placing your stand, be mindful of what direction you are looking for deer to come from and the shooting angles you plan to take. If allowed, cut some predetermined shooting lanes through the branches of nearby trees to provide yourself with better and clearer shot opportunities. Shooting lanes are critical in helping to ensure that your bullet or arrow doesn’t deflect off a stray branch and ruin the perfect shot you have worked hard to achieve. 

For more tree stand placement tips, check out this blog article from The CRUSH with Lee and Tiffany on more tips on getting ready for deer season! 

Accessing your stand

When placing a tree stand, you want to be mindful of your approach. Place stands near areas that will allow you to walk in without being seen or heard. Ridgetops are great stand locations, especially when they are adjacent to drainage ditches or creek bottoms that you can use to sneak in and get set up quietly. You may also choose to set your stand near a windbreak, a patch of cedar trees, or near an unharvested corn field that you can use to conceal your movements as you move towards your stand. Wind direction is also important to consider when placing a stand, as an ideal stand placement will have the wind blowing towards you the majority of the time to avoid being winded by deer before you ever see them. 

Public vs. private property

If you are hunting on private property, you may choose a different stand than when hunting on public land. You will be much more likely to have permission to leave your stand up for longer periods of time on private land, so a ladder stand that is more secure and comfortable may be a preferred choice. On public land where regulations don’t allow for stands to be left up for long periods, a climber or hang-on stand may be preferred. If the public land you are hunting doesn’t allow for steps to be screwed into trees, then a climber stand may be the only option available. 

Tree stand safety

Hunting is one of the safest sports that you can participate in, due in large part to hunter education courses and safety awareness. Hunting in a tree stand does come with some inherent dangers. Falls from tree stands are one of the most common types of hunting accidents. However, the vast majority of these accidents are a result of either not using safety equipment in the stand, or not using the safety equipment in a proper manner. As long as safety precautions are taken by wearing proper safety equipment, observing proper climbing techniques, and being mindful of the condition of your equipment, then hunting from a tree stand can be a very safe and enjoyable experience. Here is some commonly used and recommend safety equipment for hunting in a tree stand:

Fall Arrest System

The Fall Arrest System is a full body harness that attaches your body to a safety line that is attached above your stand to the tree. The system is designed to shorten your fall and keep you close to your tree stand in case you fall out of it, allowing you to recover by climbing back into your tree stand, lowering yourself to the ground with a recovery line, or call for help. The safety line should be taught when you are sitting in your stand, with as little slack as possible to prevent you from falling farther away from your stand. Fall Arrest Systems should be worn at all times while hunting in a tree stand. 

Tethers and belts

Tethers and belts are used to help prevent falls when climbing a tree with a hang-on or climber stand. These systems wrap around the tree, and you slide the rope or strap up the tree as you climb up with your stand. In the event of a fall, tethers and belts are designed to catch you and prevent you from falling to the ground. These systems often hook into your Fall Arrest System and should always be used when ascending or descending a tree. Also, use a haul line tether that attaches to your stand and hangs to the ground to lift up your gear when you get into the stand. Never carry your rifle, bow, backpack, or other equipment with you when climbing up into your tree stand. 

There are several resources available to learn more about tree stand safety. Most hunter education courses teach about tree stand safety in depth to help educate both new and experienced hunters. You can find a class near you through your state fish and wildlife agency’s website, or through the International Hunter Education Association. You can also take a free tree stand safety course online, and find more information on tree stand safety from Tree Stand Safety Awareness.

Hunting in a tree stand can be an effective practice to help increase your chances of success in the woods. While we mainly discussed deer hunting in this article, these tips for tree stands can also be utilized effectively for hunting other big game animals such as elk and bears.

There are several factors that go into not only selecting the right tree stand, but also to effectively using the stand and having a successful hunt. Take some time before the season to scout your local area, draw up a game plan on how you want to hunt in that area, and pick the best tree stand that will suit that area and your hunting style. Make sure you take into account the habitat, terrain features, and local regulations in your area before selecting a site. So, get out and enjoy hunting in a tree stand this fall! Some small adjustments to your strategy may help produce your best hunting season yet.