Tree stand fixes

I spend close to 200 hours in trees dur­ing most bear and deer seasons and have learned through trial and error the keys to efficient tree stand placement. Many years, by utilizing these principles even on heavily hunted land, I’m able to harvest eight-pointers and better, always passing on does, spikes, four-pointers, and most six-pointers. Employ these tips and you’ll see more big bucks too. Here are five common mis­takes to avoid. Mistake 1: Convenience Many hunters find an easy place to park, make a short walk to their tree stands, then lament about seeing no deer or only does and small bucks. If you want bigger bucks, forget convenience and concentrate on finding them. They might be in a little pocket of woods overlooked by others. I took two eight-pointers from a stand in such a place a couple of minutes from the Trans-Canada Highway and just outside a town’s limits. Total hunting time on that stand for both bucks was 42 minutes. Getting to that stand, however, necessitates wear­ing chest waders to cross a river, walking around two beaver ponds, climbing a hill of tangled alders, and picking my way through a mossy bog. That stand produced good bucks for me three years in a row, including an 11-pointer. Never discount an area because “you’d never get a deer out of there.” ATVs are excellent for hauling them out. No ATV? No problem. One hunter can pack out a dressed 180-pound buck in two trips. Two hunters can do it in a single trip. For instance, from a 180-pound buck you can leave behind 30 pounds from the body cavity, 16.2 pounds of hide, and 21.06 pounds of bone. Blood makes up a further nine pounds. (Figures from the Pennsylvania State University, Department of Animal Science.) To eliminate more weight, using a sharp knife to make a clean cut, remove the legs at the break joint below the knee. Pack deboned meat into game bags and carry it in a strong knapsack. Mistake 2: The open stand How obvious many hunters make their stands never ceases to amaze me. Some jump out like neon signs. The only things missing are Vegas showgirls dancing the cancan. If a passing hunter can see your stand, imagine how obvious it is to a wary buck. Imitate a ghostlike mountain lion snuggled into a hidden perch. I try to make stands so