I am dying to hang stands now!! I have chose one tree and I think it is a great spot. The closest shot will be around 13yd off the trail and the farthest shot from their trail will be about 35yd. My mineral station is about 18-20yd from the tree. I am wondering if I should go ahead and cut shooting lanes now or wait a little while. I plan on cutting 5 lanes from this one tree. 4 will be out to the trail and 1 will be to the mineral station. I will hang another stand farther down the trail. If I have to cut any lanes it will be only 1 or 2. I was thinking go ahead and do it now so that when the deer are more on edge closer to season opening it will not effect travel. My other 2 spots will not need much trimming if any at all. The trail looks like it has been used for years. It has dip in the middle and is very noticeable. My mineral station is very active. it has only been there about a month and they have already wore a path through the leaves from the trail to the station. I believe this to be my best spot for the upcoming season. So is it to early for the shooting lanes to be cut??? I will probably wait to hang my stand unless you guys think it is as good a time as any.
Go ahead and hang the stands. It's never too early to get them in the woods. It gives the deer a chance to get used to it there and the smell to go away. As far as cutting lanes, I cut a few lanes already but for the most part I'd hold off until everything is leafy. Remember tree branches have some spring to them and a branch that looks good now may be square in the way when full of leaves. Plus you could potentially use the leafy branch as added cover.
Everything around here is pretty green and leafy already so if it were me, I'd go ahead a do the major trimming now. Then once the season gets close you can do some fine tuning. As far as hanging the stands, personally I wouldn't do it yet because I don't want my stand sitting out in the weather for the next 4 months.
I would go ahead and hang them now if you are ready. Just be careful not to trim too many branches. I have learned in a short time that less is more when it comes to shooting lanes. My first year deer hunting I had lanes that a semi could drive down. Now a few years later I pick my spots carefully and let my scouting do the work.
Here is my thoughts on making my shooting lanes. I am thinking about using a string and a steak. Put the steak in the ground a few feet on the opposite side of the trail from my stand. take the other end of the string and tie it close to shoulder height on the tree after hanging my stand then trimming about a 3' wide path all the way down the string for a shooting lane. Maybe a little wider. I will have a good view of the trail from about 100yd out through the woods to see them coming in either direction. I will have to be paying close attention to see them that far out but, it is possible. I even thought about marking the string to measured distance of the shots and practice out of another stand about the same height. Not sure all of this is necessary but, I really want to be as prepared as I can. I missed 2 last year and don't want a repeat. Is this a little much??
My stands have been moved and reset back up in early March , got 4 cams set up and my feeder .....got my trees all picked out for my climbers also , i'll do my trimming in afew weeks
