Newbie here: Need stand placement advice (long)!

[Greg2345]

Long time lurker here- thanks everyone for all the great info. I've just gotten into deer hunting and am learning a lot. I have the opportunity to bowhunt a small (30 acre) tract of land that would qualify as "suburban" with several houses along the edge of the property. The other edge of the property is bordered by a road. Owners tell me there is no shortage of deer running through. I have 3 areas in mind to set my climber stand at:

1. Creek running through the middle of the property lined with trees/scrub, surrounded by grass fields- there is one main crossing I've seen tracks at, and I've jumped bedded deer in this area. It basically splits the property in two.

2. Large oak growing by this creek with a small area of grass around it- not a huge crop of acorns this year but enough.

3. Large lake in the middle of the property (that feeds the creek) and basically creates a funnel point from pastures to the fenceline- they have to run along a narrow strip of open grass between this lake and the fenceline to get places (other side of the lake has two houses and a barn). Few spotty trees around it.

I'm thinking of setting up around the acorn tree or anywhere in the treeline along the creek looking for them to come into one of the fields. It would be a little harder to set up a tree stand along the lake, so I would probably have to hunt from the ground at this pinch point, but there is some good low cover to sit in. I can easily see the road from this creek, but have counted about 20 deer hit by cars on this road in front of their property in the last 10 years...

Thanks for any/all advice y'all have. I've never shot a deer and have a week over thanksgiving and basically about 20 days during mid-late december to stay out there and hopefully get my first. Don't care if its a doe- just need some meat and hopefully figure out what I'm doing.

 

[stringtalker]

The easiest way i tell people to pick a stand location if they just want to kill a deer, (buck or doe), is to make it simple. Look for old deer crap and fresh deer crap in the same area and place your stand there. This tells you that deer are there and they have been there for awhile!!!

 

[catman529]

Creek crossing! One of my favorite places to set up when I'm not sure where else.

Keep in mind the wind and enter from a direction that won't spook deer off the bed

 

[Mike Belt]

What's on the other side of the road?

 

[smalljawbasser]

I'd hang one on the northeastern side about 100yds into the woods to take advantage of a west/south west wind and another one on the south for a north wind.

To me, stand placement is all about wind once I've found the terrain feature I want to hunt. On 30 acres with a lake in the middle, they pretty much have to walk by you.

The other thing is, don't get too caught up in finding the perfect spot. Pick somewhere for those two wind directions, and move it later if you have to. A climber would be ideal to me in your situation.

 

[Crosshairy]

I echo the comments about considering wind direction. That easily dictates 50% of my spot selection for some areas.

I'd also be mindful of how quickly deer will figure out they are being hunted. Do your best to avoid walking in their travel routes unnecessarily, and if you notice a drop-off in sightings, that's likely because they have changed their movements to avoid you.

I'd hunt the oak now, and hunt the travel corridors as soon as the rut gets rolling in your area (should be soon, I think, for you).

 

[Greg2345]

Thanks everyone- I figured I would probably be moving to several different spots due to the wind. Just got a new climber and looking forward to getting in a tree!

Across the road there is very large horse pasture (50+ acres) that is surrounded by long narrow tracts of hardwood. Pretty much the whole area looks like that (gotta love Williamson Co). And if it makes any difference this property is split down the middle with a driveway- So I'm assuming they may be a little more accustomed to people/scent/etc.

The neighbors want deer removed due to farming concerns, so I may end up asking them if I can hunt a small square of hardwoods on the adjacent property overlooking a field.

Thanks again everyone, I'm learning a lot!

 

[Hunter0678]

If your new to hunting and just got you a climber make sure you have a safety harness on before you even start climbing, this will help assure many more years of enjoyable hunting for you and good luck on getting you a deer.

 

[Atchman2]

I'll echo about how soon the deer are being hunted. Some places I have they just vanish after I've hunted them once. These are small areas though.