Unfortunately, statistics have shown that tree stand accidents are currently the number one cause of hunter-related injury every season. In fact, it’s estimated that one out of every three deer hunters who hunt from elevated stands are likely to experience a fall at some point in their lives that will result in serious injury. In order to avoid these senseless and often tragic accidents, follow these important safety tips when hanging, climbing, hunting or descending from a tree stand this fall. Remember, always follow your tree stand's owners manual before taking your tree stand into the woods.
As diehard bowhunters, we understand the importance of proper and ethical shot placement. A few inches can basically be the difference between a buck in the back of the truck and a wounded deer or missed shot. Let’s face it; blood trails that go cold and clean misses are extremely painful and hauntingly devastating. If you want to avoid the agony of that infamous gut-punched feeling this season, then remember to use these helpful elevated shooting pointers before your next big shot.
It’s important to remember that being close only counts when you’re throwing horseshoes or hand grenades. In fact, “almost” and “close” are two words that basically lead to unfilled tags, empty freezers and extra wall space. With that being said, let’s breakdown some cutting-edge tree stand placement tactics that will generate consistent shot opportunities throughout the fall. Follow these high-impact tips and you’ll find yourself sitting above an antler-rich environment a lot more than usual this season.
Currently, hunters can choose from a wide variety of styles, makes and models when purchasing a tree stand. With all of the different selections, how do you make sure you're buying a tree stand that will match your hunting style and meet all the required standards that you expect? In order to get the most bang for your buck, you'll need to address and answer the following questions before buying your next stand.
Tree stands have made vast advances in terms of safety, comfort, and ease of use. Most are lightweight for quick transportation and require little or no assembly. With all of the options now available, it can be challenging to decide which tree stand will suit you best. By knowing the answers to the following questions, you'll feel secure in the knowledge that your tree stand will support you through many successful hunting seasons.
The votes have been tallied and Game & Fish readers have chosen the Summit Viper SD as the number one climbing stand in the 2013 Game & Fish Sportsman Readers' Choice Awards. Tree stands were just 1 of the 18 categories of new-gear in the survey conducted over a six week period earlier this year. The rules require that entries must have been introduced in the last three years to be considered for the awards. After product submissions were received, Game &Fish then queried subscribers and e-newsletter recipients to determine their favorite gear.
Considering how much time, effort and machinery (chain saws, bolt cutters, ATVs) stealing someone else's hunting tree stand requires, it's amazing these people bother. It's a common problem: You take the time to find a great stand, find a great spot, and put up a great hunting tree stand, and then someone comes along and steals it! We've talked with Glenn Wheeler, a retired law-enforcement officer who now makes a living as a fantastic outdoor photographer and writer, to get some tips on how to prevent tree stand theft and how to recover the stand and prosecute the hunting tree stand thief.
You're not going to be sitting in it for another month, but your hunting tree stand should be on your mind now. Here are some things you can do now to prepare for when that big buck saunters into bow range.
Sometimes it's easy. Take an Oklahoma high-school teacher whose early morning commute took him past a farm he had permission to hunt. One morning several years ago, he glanced over and there it was - the buck of his dreams. The next morning about the same time the big buck was there again, and by the third morning the teacher had a tree picked out. On the fourth, he collected his buck. Normally, it's not that way. Few of us live at our deer hunting area, or get to drive past every morning. And since a buck's travel route changes throughout the deer hunting season, the tree stand that is red-hot in October can be cold-dead in November. Here are just a few tree stand locations to take you through all phases of the rut.