hanging stands

[buckjohn]

i just bought a new stand and i was woundering when the best time to find a place to hang it was?

[buckfever]

Depends on when you're planning on hunting out of it and whether you plan on leaving it as a permanent stand site or a mobile stand.

I've got some stands that I simply leave as permanent stands in certain spots, b/c I know that the deer will use or travel through those areas next year. I've got a bunch of other stands that I move around depending on where/what the deer are doing at different times of the season.

If I only had one stand, I wouldn't ever hang it until I knew exactly where I wanted to hunt and that would be based on the time of the season. Heck, I'm not afraid hang stands and hunt them immediately, especially when I find a hot spot (white oak dropping acorns with deer droppings or a scrape/rub line close to what I think is a buck's core area during the rut)

IMO, you never want to hang a stand anytime before the late summer for a couple of reasons. First, trees will grow all summer and I've lost more than one attachment strap b/c I couldn't loosen the belt after leaving it on the tree for too long. Second, somebody might steal it. Third, the places you're seeing deer sign now is not necessarily where you'll find deer when you're actually hunting, and if you hang an early bow season stand now over a heavily used trail, you'll probably end up finding that the deer are just not using the same trails in September that they were in February. You'll end up wasting valuable hunting time rehanging your stands.

Right now is a perfect time to find heavily used deer trails and rub/scrap lines from this year, but mark these areas with flagging tape, not by hanging stands. Although the deer may very well use these areas again at certain times next year, you're flagging tape will help you to remember those locations. Take a notebook with you if it'll help you remember. IMO, now is the time to find potential spots, flag the sign, mark the best trees and cut shooting lanes. This will minimize your intrusion when you do want to hang and hunt at that location.

If I was only rifle hunting during the rut, I'd probably hang my stand sometime in the middle to late October or early November once I knew a little about where the does were hanging and whether the bucks were using the same rub lines / scrape areas that I flagged this March.

If you plan on bowhunting the early season, I would starting scout the fields in early/mid July to determine where the bucks are feeding in the evenings. I would focus on beans/clover/alfalfa fields. Once I find a buck I'd like to take, I'll scout that field exclusively in the hope that I can determine the trail he likes to use when he enters the field in the evening. I'd scout and hang my early season stand right in the middle of the day at least a week or two before the season, and I'd do my best to minimize my human scent contamination.

[keith meador]

what he ^^^^^^said....i don't use hang ons anymore, i just use a climber and hunt where i want to on the farm based on deer activity. i agree with buckfever on hanging stands now, if you do hang them, chain and lock them, and do not tighten the straps until you climb in to hunt them in the fall.

[HalfBass]

I use ladder stands, I just feel more safe in one for some reason. If I'm gonna hang a new stand or change my stand location I do it by the end of July. Gives deer time to get used to it, I don't know if it really makes a difference or not.

[deadaim]

Depends on when you're planning on hunting out of it and whether you plan on leaving it as a permanent stand site or a mobile stand.

I've got some stands that I simply leave as permanent stands in certain spots, b/c I know that the deer will use or travel through those areas next year. I've got a bunch of other stands that I move around depending on where/what the deer are doing at different times of the season.

If I only had one stand, I wouldn't ever hang it until I knew exactly where I wanted to hunt and that would be based on the time of the season. Heck, I'm not afraid hang stands and hunt them immediately, especially when I find a hot spot (white oak dropping acorns with deer droppings or a scrape/rub line close to what I think is a buck's core area during the rut)

IMO, you never want to hang a stand anytime before the late summer for a couple of reasons. First, trees will grow all summer and I've lost more than one attachment strap b/c I couldn't loosen the belt after leaving it on the tree for too long. Second, somebody might steal it. Third, the places you're seeing deer sign now is not necessarily where you'll find deer when you're actually hunting, and if you hang an early bow season stand now over a heavily used trail, you'll probably end up finding that the deer are just not using the same trails in September that they were in February. You'll end up wasting valuable hunting time rehanging your stands.

Right now is a perfect time to find heavily used deer trails and rub/scrap lines from this year, but mark these areas with flagging tape, not by hanging stands. Although the deer may very well use these areas again at certain times next year, you're flagging tape will help you to remember those locations. Take a notebook with you if it'll help you remember. IMO, now is the time to find potential spots, flag the sign, mark the best trees and cut shooting lanes. This will minimize your intrusion when you do want to hang and hunt at that location.

If I was only rifle hunting during the rut, I'd probably hang my stand sometime in the middle to late October or early November once I knew a little about where the does were hanging and whether the bucks were using the same rub lines / scrape areas that I flagged this March.

If you plan on bowhunting the early season, I would starting scout the fields in early/mid July to determine where the bucks are feeding in the evenings. I would focus on beans/clover/alfalfa fields. Once I find a buck I'd like to take, I'll scout that field exclusively in the hope that I can determine the trail he likes to use when he enters the field in the evening. I'd scout and hang my early season stand right in the middle of the day at least a week or two before the season, and I'd do my best to minimize my human scent contamination.

What he said.........I usually have all but one hung in June on spots I have marked in feb-March scouting trips. And then I save a stand for if I get lucky enough to pattern a buck in August....................

[ducknbuckhunter]

well depends on the hunting pressure, and ppl around ur farm. i went to take my stands down the weeknd after bow went out and one of my stands werent there. got a pretty good idea who did it though. just be cuatious of your neighbors and keep an eye out on them

[150PandY]

I have three of the cheap lock on stands that I am going to place on some trials that I know deer use pretty much year around. I am also going to place some on some white oak patched using the prevailing westwardly wind. That way I dont have to pack my climber in every time. I can move around if the wind changes with little to know disturbance. I also have two climbers and killed a buck and a doe this year both of them on the first day i used the set. I like the suprise factor of a climbing stand to go into a spot and hang it well before daylight and ambush them. I also like the idea of having a lock on in a natural travel corrador or funnel.

[bowhunter08]

I am going out tomorrow to do some shed hunting, and get some new ideas for my stands. Not a big climber fan, always use lock on stands. I will have mine up where i want them no later than June. I always keep two extra stands, just incase i wanna move to a diffent area, where i didn't expect them to be or incase i get a pattern on a nice buck.

[NonTyp]

BF gave some very good advice. Now is the time to do the scouting for this fall's season. Finding old rubs and scrapes now will help you unravel the mystery with less scouting when season gets here.
If you hang a stand and leave it for a long time check the attachment strap when it comes time to hunt. Tree growth can damage the strap or buckle. Once I had a squrriel chew on a strap!

[littlebear]

Buckfever is correct with his post .That is about the same way I do things.My best advice on top of Buckfever's post would be to be flexible with your setups.If you can have some perm. stands and also a climber or a stand that you can move quick to a hot spot you have located is the way to go

[OUTBACK]

I agree with what everyone said and have a little to add. Then main thing I will pass on is not to rush your stand placement. Depending on how much free time you have available can help you determine how quickly and when you need to set up your stands. I try to do as much scouting as I can after season and then during the off season but I do most of mine when crops are out to get an idea of where the deer are moving back and forth between feeding and bedding. I focus on water holes and especially if they are located close to a feeding area. I had to do a lot of rush set ups last year because my time was limited and some were in good locations others weren't. I usually even set up a stand just in a random spot that I haven't scouted but maybe a few times to see what kind of activity may be produced from it.