Anyone drive to their stand?

[FTG-05]

I'm +62 years old, arthritic knees, it's pretty difficult to walk around. I walk to and from my shop, but that's about it. If I need to go somewhere on my little slice of heaven, I take the RTV. On top of that, my house is on top of a hill/ridge.

Yep, you guessed it: I plan to re-install my Taj Mahal Upgrade down at the bottom of my hill this fall.

Some pics to show the lay of the land and how downhill the TMU will eventually be relocated:

Pic of my hill from my deck:

Pic of my Taj Mahal where it was originally located vs. my house. The TMU will be relocated to the right of that nearest tree in this pic.

Another pic of the TM; you have to look closely to see it:

Bottom line: I can't walk the hill, and certainly not take a deer back up the hill on foot. Hence, I plan to get to the TMU via my noisy and loud RTV, can't be helped. So what are some of the ways I can mitigate the intrusiveness of using and driving the RTV to the TMU this season.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

Killed this buck with 4wheeler parked under tripod.Killed many setting in stand while I can still see my ride. I don't do it very much, but people will tell you that you can't kill a deer that way & thats just not true at all.

 

[Bow Hunter]

I drive to my shooting house and park my 4 wheeler right behind it and have killed many of deer.

 

[Jmed]

not anything gas powered. too noisy and stinky. But I wouldn't hesitate to on a bad boy buggy or electric golf cart. one of my hunting buddies has the bad boy and I am amazed at the deer and turkeys we have drove right up on. all you here is the leaves crunching. In fact when I get old, Ill probably just use an electric cart with some camo netting and never mess with a stand..

 

[landman]

Now that's how to Turkey Hunt
AR, Call and a Cold One

 

[Mike Belt]

I've seen both ends of the spectrum. I driven within feet of standing deer and have parked my ATV under my tower stand and killed deer. I've also been on stand extra early and seen watched deer run out of the county well ahead of approaching ATVs. I suppose it all depends on the area and how much pressure the area has had; especially around the field or area of the stand. In my opinion the ATV needs to be left behind and a silent foot approach be made. If I couldn't walk though I wouldn't hesitate to drive to my stand. If I had to I'd probably try to get there earlier than I typically would by walking in.

 

[FTG-05]

Now that's how to Turkey Hunt
AR, Call and a Cold One

Ha! I just noticed the turkey call!

Actually, if I have my Coyote Rifle, then I'm coyote hunting. I probably had the turkey call there since I hear turkeys all the time and was trying to get one to come in (didn't, I suck at turkey calling).


Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate it!

 

[Powerstroke]

I wouldn't do it myself but that's because I am OCD about being scent free as possible ,but I have friends who park their ATV behind the tree they are setting in and kill deer on a regular basis out of the stand year after year ...If my health gets to where I have to ride to my stand to hunt them that's what I will do ....

 

[huntintn]

Done it every time I hunted year before last, killed 14, 2 mature bucks.

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[poorhunter]

I've always wondered myself as I don't own one, but constantly hear and see most hunters drive one at least nearer than stand from where they park their truck. I always thought to myself that there's no way they can kill a deer smelling like gas fumes and exhaust. Yet there I sit seeing nothing and hearing their gunshots lol

 

[Hunter 257W]

I shot one buck from the bed of my pickup shooting off a table with bags a couple years ago. I was back against a fencerow watching a big field where you can get shots too far to ethically make on game so any rifle rest you can get is justified..

 

[TNGunhunter]

I typically park approximately 500 yards away and walk the rest of the way, but have driven alll the way in depending on the wind that day.

 

[foodplot]

I will guarantee you can drive an ATV closer to a deer than you can walk to it.....
my son and i hunt a spot on my neighbors property that isn't very accessible by foot.... whichever of us isn't hunting that spot the other will drop them off at the stand with an ATV..... i remember one morning i dropped him off and before i got off the property i heard the ol 7mm mag bark..... he killed a deer not 5 minutes after i pulled out...

 

[knightrider]

I would camo net around the bottom of the stand base and park behind it, I would just get there a little earlier, much better than not hunting at all

 

[red_top_ridge]

Many years ago, I hunted a power line ROW from the back of an ATV many times. I'd pull up in the middle of the very wide open ROW and just sit on the ATV. I've harvested multiple deer that way and have also had them as close as 10 yards away. On the other hand, I've had one spook from seeing/smelling my ATV when it was parked under my stand one day, but he was within 5-10 yards of it. As it appears you use the RTV quite often on the property, they are likely more accustomed to the sound and smell of it anyway.

 

[Simpleman.2]

I've seen both ends of the spectrum. I driven within feet of standing deer and have parked my ATV under my tower stand and killed deer. I've also been on stand extra early and seen watched deer run out of the county well ahead of approaching ATVs. I suppose it all depends on the area and how much pressure the area has had; especially around the field or area of the stand. In my opinion the ATV needs to be left behind and a silent foot approach be made. If I couldn't walk though I wouldn't hesitate to drive to my stand. If I had to I'd probably try to get there earlier than I typically would by walking in.

My exact thoughts


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[FTG-05]

I would camo net around the bottom of the stand base and park behind it, I would just get there a little earlier, much better than not hunting at all

I'm currently building my shooting house. I plan to put it up at least 8'. I think I'll make a little "garage" for my RTV.

Thanks for the suggestion!