Guys,,new to the forum..new to Bowhunting. I have gun hunted since I am 16,now I have upgraded. Anyway,,what do you think is the minimum height one should be when hunting Whitetails?
Most guys won't go below 15 feet. However I won't hunt below 20. Usually I'm 25 to 30 feet but that's because I hunt aot of fields
I hunt 8-12 feet and have the opportunity to tag deer every year...usually at 15yds or under. Hunt wherever you're comfortable
There are no given rules. If it's the place to hunt from, then whatever works, works. Deer of all shapes and sizes are taken from ground level to 35 feet up. It all has to do with the terrain you are hunting. The main thing you want to keep in mind is backdrop, you don't want to be sticking out as the only object in the skyline. Climbers are nice for this as you have so much control, go up or down from day to day or even sit on different sides of the tree and use the tree as a block. But the biggest thing to consider is the deers line of site, wind can take their nose away but their eyes are just as keen.
For me it depends on the backdrop, coverage, terrain and shot angle. If I'm on a semi steep hillside with my shot being on the downhill side...I might be 12 feet up. However if I think my shot will be on the uphill side I might go to 25 feet. If I get to high I might nick 1 lung when ideally I want to go for both. So I dont want a super steep shot angle.
I used to hunt around 15ft., because I always used climbing sticks and a hang on, (my sticks were 16ft.) Now I use a climber now and then also, and I like to climb to the first available cover, and sometimes its only 10-12 ft. Occasionally you will find a tree with a tree neighboring tree branch that goes over to my tree, and I climb up into that branch, but I seldom go over 20 ft. as the man said it is right at my comfort zone
i shot my biggest buck at about 12 ft my next biggest at 30. there really is not set rule. you go by the best tree for the job, if the best tree only lets you get up 8 ft, so be it.
What ever level that allows me the best cover and shooting abilities. I think 30 feet or higher is to much. Puts the arrow at to much of an angle. around 15-20 ft is it for me.
17-23 feet for me. The higher you go, the steeper the angle on the shot, though. I feel like 17-23 puts me up out of direct eyesight and allows ME if anything, to FEEL like Im hidden.
Funny, just had this topic at work this week. We all agreed that it has everything to do with the terrain. If you're in an open area (not much cover)...go high. I've used half my ladder stand in really thick cover areas and had great success. I also shot my first deer standing by a tree...
