If you're not above 15 feet, you might as well be on the ground. I go with 18' and up, been in a 33', scared the sh!t out of me. 20-25 makes for easy sneaky draws and high scent path, so it's most effective without being ridiculously high. If worried about angles, think "aim for the exit". If you think about where the vitals are in the deer (study their anatomy), where your arrow will go in, and where it will come out, and can make a mental transect of where that all fits together in the deer's cavity, you will make very deadly shots.

But screw all that. I quit the trees thing mostly these days. I still do it sometimes, but I am hell bent for the most challenging hunt I can get my hands on, when it comes to deer.

I prefer 15 to 20 feet. No slick barked trees for me. Pine is my preference.

I have a 25' rope that I use to pull my bow/gun up. I usually climb until the rope is tight so roughly 25' most of the time. I prefer pines but I'll climb anything I think the stand will hang in.

Pine is the best tree to clime, I prefer anywhere from 30 to 40 feet.

Clay,
Was there a hole in the tree? usually yellow jackets don't build nests in trees.

Archery hunters should go no higher than 20 feet. The angle of your shot greatly reduces your kill zone after 20 feet.

There are very few pines in Kansas. Wild cherry, oak, locust, hedge and hickory are the choices. I like to use my climber on a nice tall cherry oak or hickory.

Usually 20 to 24 ft will do. Haven't had any problems killing deer with rage 2 blade broadheads.

I have a 25 foot cord i strap to my climber and my bow. When it gets taught or lifts my bow off the ground, i'm at my height. I'll climb whatever is somewhat straight with a bit of cover.

I disagree with the " less than 15', you might as well be on the ground". I have come across many situations where 15' is impossible, and a ground blind is not going to get the job done, so I have to hang between 10 and 15 feet. Its MUCH more effective than a ground blind as long as you are in the right tree with the right amount of cover and right wind. Don't get me wrong, I love a high perch, but sometimes it can't happen.

I prefer 15-20 feet. Anything above that I generally feel is unnecessary although some circumstances may call for it. 20 is great because you're up fairly high and yet not too high to wet your pants :) I'd also like to note my dad hunts from a 10' tree stand and has great success as well. He just won't go any higher. I guess it's all up to preference.

I hunt 15 - 25 and mostly use cedar trees, the limbs make for easy climbing and climbing up causes busted bark = cover scent.