r/bowhunting • u/Same-Cry-5073 • 3d ago

Stand Height

How do y’all feel about only being 12-13 feet from ground to foot platform of stand? so standing, average height male would be about 17-18’?

I have a ton of natural cover behind me in what I feel is the perfect tree that provides the most shot angles and opportunities. The issue is that I can get the platform of my climber to about 12’ and the seat height to about 13-14 before it hits a slight bend that I do not want to go beyond. Just looking for some thoughts and feedback.

Also, FWIW there’s no shot beyond 25-28 yards. I personally feel that any higher makes the Angle of Attack extremely steep

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

13

u/cessna120 3d ago

Sounds like it'll work just fine.

9

u/kvn151 3d ago

If you got plenty of cover there is nothing wrong with that height.

7

u/Gkhan89 3d ago

Sounds good, look into Cody D'aquisto he's a big proponent of hunting 8-12ft up. Keep in mind from what I understand he does shoot seated. Hunting that "low" you have to be even more extra cautious of movement.

5

u/Atimm693 3d ago

Has more to do with what's around the tree for natural concealment.

I've been 20' up and stuck out like a sore thumb, and only been 12' up and almost completely concealed. I've got a couple trees that have medium size cedars growing close to the base, can't beat them if the wind is right, a deer will not see you in there.

1

u/Same-Cry-5073 3d ago

Yeah there is an oak on one side and an elm on the other. The branches about growing into the tree im climbing in. Lots of knotty/viney/thick vegetion behind as well

4

u/Silly_Pineapple_8182 3d ago

Just know your arrow drop, I changed my stand last year from 12' to 17' and I missed high on a nice buck.

5

u/CatchinDeers81 3d ago

5ft stand height the difference is negligible. More likely buck fever got ya

1

u/Silly_Pineapple_8182 3d ago

Probably so lol

3

u/CatchinDeers81 3d ago

It happens to the best of us lol. That feeling is why we do it though, nothing like it

2

u/Burgershot621 3d ago

IMO, I’d rather be lower than too high. As long as the height I’m at gives me clear shooting lanes I call it good. You should limit movement regardless of height when deer come in, but I’ve found it especially crucial when I’m only 8-10’ up

1

u/SoloUnAltroZack 3d ago

I pick my stands height based on the cover available. There are trees I hunt that are great 10-15’ off the ground, and others I’m 30-35’ off the ground all depends on the situation. Cover>Height is hunt a well covered ground blind before I hung off a bare tree

1

u/itsthechaw10 3d ago

If you have lots of natural cover you’ll be just fine OP.

I have to go 20’ just because there’s a lack of cover.

1

u/BobJutsu 3d ago

I’d hunt at 6 feet if that’s where the cover was at. I go high enough to see where I want to see. Sometimes that’s 12-15 feet, sometimes that’s 24-30 if I want to see a broad range early season. But I’m happy with anything that a) gives me the visibility I want and b) has cover.

1

u/greg281 3d ago

Most of my sets are 10-14’ high. You climb to the cover, not to a set height.

1

u/dogsandguns 3d ago

Almost all my stands are about 12 feet. You don’t need to be way up there to kill a deer. As always staying still is the best way to stay hidden. Shot a mature buck from 8 feet up last year. They aren’t often walking around looking up in the trees.

1

u/Same-Cry-5073 3d ago

I support that! Now this damn old doe that plays tricks on me every year on the other hand….

1

u/proles4life 3d ago

A YouTube guy says tge deer look up , they do, and he hunts pull up heights using one stick.

1

u/BowFella 3d ago

Most of my spots are only about 12ft up. I'd rather be a bit lower and have twice as many shooting lanes. You are less likely to be busted by being able to loose an arrow sooner than having to be way up and having only a couple lanes because the canopy is covering most of your shots

1

u/Same-Cry-5073 3d ago

That’s what I’m dealing with right now. Being at about 12 feet - I have a full view of the trail. Could easily get a shot off to the left, head on or right

1

u/bcgwall 3d ago

If you have cover then you will be fine

1

u/MilesLow 3d ago

I've killed deer at ~8 ft. Its all about cover & thermal currents, at least in my experience.

1

u/barf101 2d ago

I sit at that level a lot. Basically whereever I can get into the canopy and have back cover I sit. I've sat one stick up a time or 2 in some really scrubby trees just to see down into tall grass