bow hunting from stand -- tips or tricks?
03-14-2003, 10:01 PM
#11
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Goodyear AZ US
Posts: 215
RE: bow hunting from stand -- tips or tricks?
Tips:
I use a Lone Wolf Alpha Hand climber. The build in bow rest in the platform of the stand takes care of my bow when I' m sitting. I alternate sitting with my elbows on my knees and that puts the string of my bow at my fingertips, after that gets old I slowly lean back and rest my back against the tree and lean the bow back against my leg for easy access, my arrow is always knocked. At peak movement times I stand leaning back against the tree straddling my seat and rest the bottom cam of my bow on the seat.
For stand height I stay consistent by making my pull rope my desired height (25ft for me). Even when it' s dark I can climb until I feel my bow being pulled off the ground and know I' m at the desired height. I always hunt from that height and practice from that height as well to give some consistency to my shots, the few I get.
I try to get cover above and behind me so I blend in to the sky a little better. My favorite setup is to find a three masted tree in the right area and climb on the middle tree, nestling in between the other two. I get good cover and feel a little more comfortable moving my feet around to get into position for a shot so that if I loose balance I always have something to lean on or brace against (of course I have a harness but who wants to test it out). It also gives me some good places to hang my stuff.
I take my quiver off the bow and hang it to my right off the tree leaving the closest arrow on that side hanging by one grommet so I can remove it easily if required for a second shot. I also have a camel back that I strap to the tree and keep the drinking tube close to my shoulder so I can drink now and then. My True Talker grunt call hangs from my seat by a lanyard on one corner and my Primo' s Can hangs from the other corner, both in easy reach and held high enough off the stand so they dont make any noise when I let go of them.
Biggest Tip: Practice from a treestand and evaluate your shots based on the anatomy of the animal you' re hunting and the angle of the arrow going in. You dont always aim just behind the shoulder.
no tricks
Cargo
I use a Lone Wolf Alpha Hand climber. The build in bow rest in the platform of the stand takes care of my bow when I' m sitting. I alternate sitting with my elbows on my knees and that puts the string of my bow at my fingertips, after that gets old I slowly lean back and rest my back against the tree and lean the bow back against my leg for easy access, my arrow is always knocked. At peak movement times I stand leaning back against the tree straddling my seat and rest the bottom cam of my bow on the seat.
For stand height I stay consistent by making my pull rope my desired height (25ft for me). Even when it' s dark I can climb until I feel my bow being pulled off the ground and know I' m at the desired height. I always hunt from that height and practice from that height as well to give some consistency to my shots, the few I get.
I try to get cover above and behind me so I blend in to the sky a little better. My favorite setup is to find a three masted tree in the right area and climb on the middle tree, nestling in between the other two. I get good cover and feel a little more comfortable moving my feet around to get into position for a shot so that if I loose balance I always have something to lean on or brace against (of course I have a harness but who wants to test it out). It also gives me some good places to hang my stuff.
I take my quiver off the bow and hang it to my right off the tree leaving the closest arrow on that side hanging by one grommet so I can remove it easily if required for a second shot. I also have a camel back that I strap to the tree and keep the drinking tube close to my shoulder so I can drink now and then. My True Talker grunt call hangs from my seat by a lanyard on one corner and my Primo' s Can hangs from the other corner, both in easy reach and held high enough off the stand so they dont make any noise when I let go of them.
Biggest Tip: Practice from a treestand and evaluate your shots based on the anatomy of the animal you' re hunting and the angle of the arrow going in. You dont always aim just behind the shoulder.
no tricks
Cargo
03-14-2003, 11:27 PM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY
Posts: 4,668
RE: bow hunting from stand -- tips or tricks?
Don' t wait until you are in the woods in the morning to figure out what you have to do with your equipment.
You won' t believe how long it can take you to get situated and up a tree if you are not used to doing it. Take your stand out in the woods and climb a tree or two of different shapes to practice and get more efficient.
Choosing a tree is VERY important. If you pick the wrong tree you will be pissed at yourself all day. Make it solid so if the wind picks up you don' t feel like a kite in the breeze. You will also be surprised at how much you have to angle your platform on some trees. If you don' t angle it to match the taper of the trunk you will have a leaning forward platform that feels unsafe and uncomfortable.
Climbing can also be done very quietly or very loudly depending on your skill level. If you take your time and know what you are doing you can get up a tree making very little noise..........which never hurts.
You won' t believe how long it can take you to get situated and up a tree if you are not used to doing it. Take your stand out in the woods and climb a tree or two of different shapes to practice and get more efficient.
Choosing a tree is VERY important. If you pick the wrong tree you will be pissed at yourself all day. Make it solid so if the wind picks up you don' t feel like a kite in the breeze. You will also be surprised at how much you have to angle your platform on some trees. If you don' t angle it to match the taper of the trunk you will have a leaning forward platform that feels unsafe and uncomfortable.
Climbing can also be done very quietly or very loudly depending on your skill level. If you take your time and know what you are doing you can get up a tree making very little noise..........which never hurts.
03-17-2003, 04:10 PM
#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Sweet Valley Pa. USA
Posts: 532
RE: bow hunting from stand -- tips or tricks?
I would suggest using a safety belt first. I try to sit as much as possible because I can stay motionless much better seated then standing. It is vital that you practice practice and practice from a tree stand. Practice from the standing and sitting positions. Make sure you bend at the waist and do not drop your arm when shooting. And always remember that your target angles are different from above then on the ground and you must adjust your shot to make up for this.
