I was taught a long time ago to always pick out the tree to climb that you don't see. When you find a good spot, the first obvious tree you see to climb may not be the best one. Try to find one in the back ground that's more hidden.

Also, I try not to hang a stand in the tree that they are feeding under.

If I am hunting a food plot and have to cross it to get to my stand I never walk the edge. I'll plan a path through the middle that will stop a deer where I want it to stop.

Get some old carpet and cut out a square for your platform. Zip tie it down. Will help with the noise big time.

I keep a roll of paracord in my truck for pull up ropes and anything else I made need it for. Sportsmans Guide sells it at a pretty good price. Can't have too many pull up ropes.

This is great advice.

Old carpet stanks when it gets wet. I have a rubber mat that I got at Sears in the tool department that is great for tree stand mats. One mat will do 3 or 4 stands. They top side of the mat has a diamond tread pattern on it for traction. I think they are $29 each, maybe $19.

When I cut limbs to either get higher or clear for a shot, I try to hang the limbs in a tree that is close and I never touch anything with my bare hand. I cut some limbs and dropped them under the tree years ago. I had no gloves on and i was sweating from the hike in. At daylight a young buck walked under my tree and turned a flip. Human sweat or odor on those limbs. Never again.

When everyone gets your sights set and you keep pounding that little dot on the target butt, I recommend:
- you get a 12" square piece of carpet with no holes or dots to aim at
- place that square on the butt and then aim for the center of the square.

Aiming on a small dot is easier than holding a pin in the middle of a large area with nothing to aim at. Not so much at 20 but it gets progressivly harder the farther out you go. The large area simulates aiming at a deers cavity.

Wear your safety harness so you don't fall out of your treestand and break your neck. It'll put an early end to your season. Been there, done that and it sucked.

Probably the best advice anyone can get. I have been guilty of not wearing one many times. I just bought a new Rescue One, and I'm trying to work up the nerve to give it a test drop.

my list of tricks.


get in there early
get all my crap together and try to not slam the tailgate
spray down good
walk to my tree stand
forget something in the truck
walk back to the truck
search truck for 30-min to an hr (this is critical)
find important item
walk half way back to the tree
go back to the truck.
then forget why you came back to the truck
go back to the tree and get in the stand
remember why you went back the 2nd time but dont worry about it
let your cell phone ring then put it on silent
shoot a squirrel so he will quit barking at you
sweat to death and take a scent killer shower in the stand.
drop all but 1 arrow out of the tree.
drop several unnecessary items

now its 1hr before dark.

shoot deer and go home happy.

it works for me.

Amen brother, quilty as charged. I spent 11 days in the hospital many years ago because I was stupid/lazy. And then 3.5 months on crutches while my femur healed. It does suck.

i always inspect my stands and straps to make sure they are in good condition, after i hang stands i like to cut the limbs only half way through so that they hang around me and provide more cover...also if i have to trim up limbs below my stand i make sure that i cut them flush with the tree so that is doesnt leave a sharp point that if i were to fall and slam into the tree i wont puncture a lung or somthing.

Be aware of what colors your eyes can see when it get's near dark. (for me) Red disappears first so I put that color at 40. Green goes next so that is 30 and yellow is last so I make that my 20 yard pin color.

After getting all my gear in the tree. I always pull my bow back to full draw with an arrow as if I was about to shoot and focus on my form several times & in several different shooting positions (standing, sitting, etc).

Hunt hard all season, and don't miss!