Each deer season I sit shivering in my tree stand braving the elements of the fall weather and fantasize about the perfect deer stand I will build for the next season. I imagine a hunting condo where I can get up in the morning with bed head, have a cup of hot chocolate, and walk upstairs to hunt in shorts and a T-shirt (blaze orange of course). Although this thought keeps my mind off of the rain and cold, I will probably never build my hunting condo because most likely I would sit comfortably without seeing any deer. This is because building one tree stand and hunting it exhaustively would be poor tree stand strategy.
The first step in deciding where to place your stand is to scout the area. No matter where you choose to hunt, you should become familiar with the area. Your chance for success in a familiar area, even though it may have fewer deer, is greater than in an area which is strange to you. Thorough scouting prior to the hunting season will greatly increase your chances of success.
Look for deer tracks, droppings, signs of browsing on plants, buck scrapes along the edge of forest clearings and antler rubs on small trees. Scouting should not be done too far in advance of the season, however, because the deer may change their location and movements as the acorns begin to drop and the breeding season begins.
Once you find an area being used by the deer, the next consideration is wind direction. Wind is definitely your best friend or worst enemy. Ideally, you should have several stands throughout the area you are hunting. This allows you to adjust your hunting depending on wind direction. Many hunters rely upon deer scents or Ascent neutralizers to cover up their smell. Yes, scents can be helpful, but deer have that long snout on them for a reason. They are able to break down separate smells. For example, they can detect your breath, body odor, aftershave, and deer scent has four distinct odors.
The next thing to consider is tree stand safety. The leading cause of hunting accidents in Missouri is falling out of tree stands. When putting up a tree stand be sure it is secure. Be certain your steps are a comfortable distance apart, don't forget you will probably have more clothing on when season starts and you won't be able to get that leg up as high. Tie a rope to your stand so you can hoist your gun or bow and hot chocolate up. This allows you to use both hands when climbing into your stand. Make sure the gun is unloaded and tie the rope onto the stock. Lastly, it goes without saying that when hunting out of a stand you ALWAYS wear a fall arrest system (FAS).
A few things to remember if you are considering putting a tree stand up on a Conservation Area. First only portable tree stands are allowed and only from September 1 through January 31. Second, unattended stands must be plainly labeled on a durable material with full name and address, or Conservation Number. And lastly, use of nails, screw-in steps, and any material or method that would damage a tree is prohibited.
I hope everyone has a safe and successful deer season! If you have questions or comments please call me Conservation Agent Christa Cox at (573)326-0886.