treestand

A Beginner's Guide to Bowhunting

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:00:00 -0400

Story Leak: Gear for the New Year

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 30 May 2006 17:00:00 -0400

Begin to Spin (Deal of the Month)
An oscillation gear keeps the line evenly spooled, while a special roller reduces tangles. Bottom line: great castability. The rear-drag Solstace makes a good first spinning reel. $50; 949-951-5003; shimano.com

Table of Contents

How To: Set Up a Stand in a Late-Season Oak Flat

fieldandstream-editor — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 04:25:00 -0500

In areas lacking agriculture or sufficient browse, hard-mast crops are the surest draw for post-rut bucks.

An oak "flat"-a reasonably level swath of terrain where two or more ridges connect-typically receives deer movement from several directions, increasing the number of potential stand sites and wind directions favorable for hunting.

Don't ignore this setup during the midday hours on cold, sunny winter days; whitetails will take advantage of the warmer temperatures by feeding then, especially when they're in secluded cover.

HERE'S AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO HOW TO HUNT AN OAK FLAT(CLICK HERE)

How To: Hunt Late-Season Farmland from a Tree Stand

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 04:30:00 -0500

Stand Setup: Farmland Cropfield
Winter bucks in agricultural country concentrate near any fields that have standing crops or sufficient waste grain. But your ability to kill them depends almost entirely on the weather. When temperatures plummet and snow depths mount, bucks begin feeding early. Under moderate conditions, however, even does and fawns may not eat until nightfall.

Click here for four illustrated tips

Wait for frigid conditions and a north or west or northwest wind, then slip along the creekbottom toward the stand. The timbered river bend serves as a perfect staging area for intercepting a buck.

How To: Hunt Late-Season Whitetails from a Tree Stand in Timber

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 04:10:00 -0500

Stand Setup: Big Woods
Big-woods bucks become browsers in winter, and an isolated clear-cut provides easy-to-access food. Hike well off the road to avoid competition on public land, and wait for a wind that won't blow your scent into the bedding area.

Here's how to hunt big timber (click)

The Autumn Vigil

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 05:20:00 -0400

When bucks are on their feet seeking or chasing does, there's no telling when they're going to pass by your stand. It could happen anytime during legal shooting hours. The only thing you can control is whether or not you'll be sitting in that stand when it happens.

The bottom line during the rut is that the longer you can stay put and remain alert, the better your chances of connecting. And while an all-day vigil is more than most hunters can bear, I can personally attest that the five tips below can help you stay on stand long enough to fill your tag.

[BRACKET "1"] SET A GOAL. Don't let boredom dictate the end of your hunt. Set a quitting-time goal and stick to it. I set a high-noon goal for myself on a morning bowhunt last fall. By 11, I was getting fidgety, but I stuck it out. At 11:30, a heavy-beamed 10-pointer trotted in to my rattling antlers and made the long wait more than worth it.

[BRACKET "2"] CALL. Grunting and rattling can pull in a cruising buck-and they give you something to do. Space your calling sessions at about every half hour or so, and they'll help break up the wait.

[BRACKET "3"] PACK ENTERTAINMENT. My hunting buddy Kent totes a novel and a radio with an earbud into the woods. The radio is for Cornhusker football games; the book is for halftime. And he kills a nice buck every fall.

Sure, these distract you from your surroundings, but if they keep you on stand longer during the rut, use them.

[BRACKET "4"] GET DOWN. When you feel you can't take it for another second, instead of ending the hunt altogether, climb down from your stand and still-hunt for a while or take a nap at the base of the tree. A short break is often all you need to sit for another hour or two, and that can make all the difference.

[BRACKET "5"] EAT WELL. Pack some indulgent treats and a lunch you'll savor if you're planning to stay through the noon hour. Use snacks as a reward for staying longer. Yes, you may gain a few pounds on stand. But you may well burn them off dragging out your buck.