by Laura Massa

Created on: November 13, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2008

You may be considering setting up a deer stand this year and spending your time waiting for that big buck to come to you. One thing you should consider is whether you really want a permanent deer stand. Many people find that they do not like sitting for so long in one location, and may bore quickly with the wait. If you do not think that you will miss the activity of the stalk, there are other things you may want to consider and plan before jumping into this project.

Scope the area out for a few weeks, you want to set your stand up in an area that has regular traffic, and making sure you set your stand upwind of the most populated traffic areas. Looking for paths, dropping and markings on the trees are all ways to assess the deer traffic.

Consider treating the area with lime well before hunting season. There is nothing more unpleasant that sitting in your stand and finding out that you have just situated yourself in a massive nest of ticks. Trust me, it is far more unpleasant than you can imagine if you have never experienced it, and having to hike out a few miles with ticks crawling all over you is just maddening.

Make sure to choose a tree that has many clear lines of view. This may seem obvious, and while it is, when you set up your stand envisioning that trophy buck walking through that little clearing in front of you, and instead they are always 20 feet to the right of that giant limb it is disappointing. There is nothing more frustrating than putting the effort to set up your stand only to find you can't actually shoot anything.

Keep in mind it will be windier in your stand, that means that you should be prepared for a colder temperature, little shelter from weather conditions, and perhaps even gusty winds. Dressing warmer than you would for walking is important, and using extra care while standing, particularly on windy days is a necessity.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, check to make sure that you are not setting up your stand on someone's private property, or on any property it may be illegal to hunt on. It is hard work to set up your stand, and I have seen many friends have to suffer the disappointment of tearing down a well planned and solid stand because they did not confirm that it was legal for them to hunt on the property they set up on.

If you do your homework, and take your time planning, you will find that the best stand is the one that you have considered from all angles. Good luck and happy hunting.

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