How do you determine where and how many shooting lanes you want? I usually go up in the stand and determine the spot I like best (I'm usually near a large "clear" spot). I try to avoid cutting anything - but if necessary will trim back some branches. My stand last year only allowed 20 yard max shots - but that is my comfort zone.
I like to just touch up on whatever lanes are naturally present, and try to keep them as small as possible Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I usually only cut a lane that gives me about a 5 yard window to shoot if I know or can see where deer are coming (deer trail). If I am hunting over a field I like to give myself as much shooting area as possible because deer might feed in different areas each time they come out.
mine are about 6 feet across and most deer will walk across them no problem, but some will stop before committing. My most memorable buck made me wait 45 minutes with only his nose in the lane. It was shotgun hunting, but my arms were jelly trying to hold it up that long. Finally he licked his nose and took that fatal step. Extremely fun hunt.
Err on the side of caution. What seems like a slight trim in early season can turn out to be a hack job later that leaves you totally exposed.
BTW... did you know there is a Pink Pony Pub in Gulf Shores AL? http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ASbmgI&usg=AFQjCNFzEJLZ0nNjVojsqJ-oWTn50xiGEw Thought of you when I was down there a couple weeks ago.
I've ruined to many good spots by trimming to much! Less is more now. as long as i have one decent 3-5 foot window im good!
I have discovered there are always way more lanes than you see initially. I mostly just trim away small limbs that my bow would hit.
Exactly why I choose, and clear, stand sights during winter. Then I just touch the lanes up in late summer. What seemed like a tree with good cover in summer can prove to be painfully inadequate when the leaves drop. I much prefer several small shooting lanes in several different directions over wide lanes in only two or three directions. Tying branches whenever possible is huge, it opens shooting lanes while also keeping the area thick.
I did not know that. I may just have to buy a shirt just because! But dang, that burger looks good. I'm starving!
Yea well, I wish I'd listen to myself last year. I let a twig the size of a toothpick, 4' from my stand deflect my arrow from a 150 inch 8 point. I saw it when I set up but couldn't reach it and since it was the only thing near me I just let it go. I didn't see it however, when I went to shoot. Talk about feeling STUPID. lol
That place is awesome. Oysters are great and the Bushwhackers are amazing. Back to original topic, I agree with the touch up stuff, less is more sometimes.
I cut down two saplings I hope I didn't screw every thing up they were some what in the way. I wish this was posted two weeks ago.
Personally I go at it from a different direction. If I find a trail or something I want to hunt over I will walk parallel to it until I find a tree that would work, then I go back and forth and figure out what branches might be in the way. Then trim and go from there. The view is always different from the ground and the tree. I like to look from the ground first, because then you can see what kind of backdrop you will have. Before I used to just find a tree that was in the right area and cut branches from there. Couldn't figure out why I got busted a few times until I looked at my setup from the ground and saw I was skylined through a hole in the canopy.
The majority of my time I am on Pa state land and cutting lanes is illegal. I either try to tie them back if I can reach them, or just deal with it. I have shot from some weird positions to avoid having my arrow clip a branch on its arc to the deer LOL.
