I have tried to explain this to a buddy of mine last year. I totally agree with you on this, I was listening to a saddle guy last night talking about being up 20 foot in the tree trying to keep his climbing stick from falling off and my thought was, how many stick are you running and still have a bunch hanging off your saddle at 20 feet up, I was like what? he didnt mean that , then when he said it agian 2 minutes later , I clicked off his video.. I so agree, I generally carry two sticks, I aider and maybe an extra step, but I would say I average 12 foot or so is my best guess with my string I pull my bow up with. Brother have a blessed week, good luck and keep up the great work sir. Dale
I have only been climbing to about 12 feet the last couple of years. Depending on cover sometimes as low as 6 feet. I use 2 full length LWCG sticks with a 17 inch aider on the bottom stick. I play the wind and have found the best camo is being still.
Jason, good video. It’s always nice to hear someone explain why he does what he does, especially when it’s grounded in common sense. There’s be a lot less wounded deer if more people thought like you do. Thanks for sharing.
I like 10 to 15 ft depending on the tree canopy, here in the oaks you can't get to high because of the branches, you just can't see the higher you go. I shoot a big buck or 2 every season and does , my shot angle is good and I don't get busted. I always hunt the wind, if the wind is wrong don't go in to those spots.
I remember when I was younger reading outdoor life or field and stream , they had an article titled "Shoot'em in the Goozle(spl)". It was about that frontal shot, but I think it was directed towards rifle hunters. Funny how hearing something brings back a memory I'd long forgot about.
I love your videos and all your tips. I am a crossbow hunter, so i have a different perspective. I am NOT disagreeing with anything you said. I personally like to be 20 - 23 feet. I have the advantage of longer distances out to 30 yards with a scope for precise shots. But the 2 reasons i like the higher sit is that when the deer are clide in it is much harder for them to pick up my movement. The other reason is that i kove the view. I can see so much mire from that altitude. It is a hunting advantage to spot an incoming deer from further out, but i just enjoy nature mych more from up there. I am certainly not trying to convince anyone to do it my way. Agaun, your points are great, especualky for traditional bow hunters. Have a great season to all!
I work on a trauma unit. Once you go above 20ft the chances of significant permanent injury, paralysis, and death as a result of a fall increase tremendously. Above 25ft you are in “the death zone”
Not worried at all about the height I hunt from. I have a friend that fell out from 6ft and broke 4 vertebrae in his back and by luck he made full recovery. So no matter how high you fall from major injury and death are a possible outcome. I used to work as an arborist and every day I was climbing to 60-80-100+ft and not once did I do anything different then I did at 8-10ft. Point of this video is about shot angles to kill an animal. If falling out is an issue at all for you maybe ground blinds are the only thing a person hunt out of.
@@pathfinder5804 Jason’s point is you don’t need to go high to kill deer, I’m just pointing out another negative to going high. And I’ve treated plenty of arborists and amateur tree trimmers. Falling out of a tree is not an issue for me as I’ve been hunting from tree stands for over 20 years, but it is the #1 way hunters are hurt.
Agree with you Jason - Very subjective and it depends on where you are hunting and what season/cover is available. I PREFER a stand of 8-12 ft in a heavy cover tree. I hate getting over 20 foot because the likely hood of getting a double lung goes down. If I am hunting in hills with thermals, then I often have to get higher to avoid the thermals. Late season, getting up high often means you are more visible.
This is my first year with elevated hunted. Everyone says 4 sticks. I’d say I’m probably about 15-20 feet pretty easily. After going out twice I’m going to ditch 2 sticks. I’m going to add an aider to one and with 2 sticks I should be able to get at least 10’. Going out a few times this year I found that being that high isn’t very effective in my area. Maybe if you see in afield edge it would be great but it’s so thick where I am that at that height your shot ends up being right under you.
I think this video would have been also helpful with a practice target deer filmed at your house so you can indicate the angles you referred to… just a thought great 👍
Head height if 18-20 feet. Depends on terrain and cover, i have gonecas high as 30. A lot of telephone trees in my area. So this really depends. Read your terrain, read your cover.
I take 3 sticks and shoot a compound but my range is 35 years. I climb to the cover and get as low as possible. Sometimes it’s challenging to find the right tree but that’s woodsmanship.
Great video. Never liked to hunt above 10-12'. That was 20 yrs ago. Since I hunt exclusively from the ground. I love close the challenge is Huge and the Rush is incredible. No afraid of heights. I work from 200' to 700' daily. But trad hunting i like low n close. Not knocking anyone that's ethical. To me it's more about woodsmanship vs just killing a Big antlered deer. Each to his own. Be safe all.
Made the mistake of hauling my twelve pound crossbow up the tree with me the other day, saddle hunting. I got a doe, but holding that thing steady was really hard. Compound only from here on out from the saddle lol
@@SeasonalObsession i saddle hunt with a crossbow. Keeping it steady can be a real challenge. I always bring 2 tethers with me. Sometimes the second one can be used on an a limb to really lock me in to a position to give me a stable shot and/or the taut tether can be uses as a shooting rest. It might reduce my maneuverability but it is a trade off. Congrats on your doe!
@SamkoTradBow I love them though. They were my introduction to archery. Crossbows got me interested in compounds. Now I'm looking to get into traditional. Thank you for all the knowledge you share!
I started hunting in the early 80’s. No internet just magazine articles to read about how to deer hunt. None of my family had ever deer hunted because they grew up in the 50’s-60’s hunting rabbits and squirrels as there were no deer to speak of in north AL. Therefore, i relied on outdoor magazines and my own mistakes for hunting info (including a lot of boots on the ground scouting time). At that time the idea was to get in your stand 2 hours before daylight and sit there without moving at all until 2 hours after dark and climb as high as humanly possible. I would do this for days on end climbing no less than 25’ preferably 30’-40’. Now i climb 10’-18’ and never sit more than 4 hours and kill more deer than i ever did. Those early days of hunting were torture and not very productive.
You never sit more then 4 hours? Wow I wouldn’t of guessed that. As someone just getting into hunting I thought deer hunters sat in their tree stand for 6-10 hours or more.
@@SamkoTradBow - you gotta get down at some point to take a leak….wouldn’t that scent scare away any nearby deer? How does using the bathroom when your hunting work exactly?
I'm only 5'6. With the 3 fullsize sticks and an aider on the bottom I can get 16-17 if I really stretch. 4 I can get 21 22. The only thing is. I don't have to go that high. I mainly find myself 12 to 15 foot high because like I learned from jason. Find the nest. Cover is always better and the shot angles aren't as crazy. Not to mention the crazy people that don't tie off and go 30 foot up. Here in kentucky, especially in my area, I get cover year round from beech and oaks.
Problem is i get picked off at 10’. NYS public. If deer is within 12 yards they see you. Have killed them off the ground but there is more cover. Not a trad guy tho (yet). Can sit lower in tree only if more cover, no cover then no bueno
I hunted when i was younger 20,30,40ft high ive killed more deer and better quality bucks at 10ft. Also My balance isnt as good as most folks so i go up to first cover and make my movements slow. As far as scent goes ive smelled people smoking in the tree 30ft up 100yds away and tracked them and found they were trespassing on my property lol.
I carry a Lone Wolf/Novix stand with 4 sticks. I set the sticks and place them so i can step up easily on them. Never measured how high i am. I prefer ease of getting into the stand safely vs measuring my height with all the UA-cam guys. What these dudes dont understand is back in the day, dudes didn’t measure their height. They climbed up and nailed a 2x6 in the first fork in the tree and hunted; and I guarantee they killed more big deer than these nerds arguing height on the internet.
Your assertion that hunting from a height above 20 feet and then not being able to make effective shots when deer are in the range of 5 to 8 yards does not coincide with my experience. I hunt from a height of 22 to 25 feet and have done so for the last 40 years. Of the 232 Whitetail deer I have killed with a bow, probably 90% have been within 10 yards, and many of those were in the 5-8 yard range. I enjoy your videos, but do not agree on this subject.
I have wondered about Eberhart not getting winded. I’m sure his scent regimen works to a degree. But I always wondered how much his 25-30’ft high helps also. Ain’t no way in Hell I’m going 25’ft. No way!
@@SamkoTradBow I’m afraid at 25’ft high all I’d be doing is Bear hugging the tree scared to death the entire hunt. I’m ok to a certain height point, but after that I’m just too scared now.
Your moral compass and thinking you have the right to tell somebody that your choice in “ethical shot angles” determines whether they have the right to be in the woods is pretty cocky. Pretty shitty take here if you ask me.
I have tried to explain this to a buddy of mine last year. I totally agree with you on this, I was listening to a saddle guy last night talking about being up 20 foot in the tree trying to keep his climbing stick from falling off and my thought was, how many stick are you running and still have a bunch hanging off your saddle at 20 feet up, I was like what? he didnt mean that , then when he said it agian 2 minutes later , I clicked off his video.. I so agree, I generally carry two sticks, I aider and maybe an extra step, but I would say I average 12 foot or so is my best guess with my string I pull my bow up with. Brother have a blessed week, good luck and keep up the great work sir.
Dale
Four sticks with 3-step aiders, 20ft+ is totally doable.
Sound wisdom! What a wealth bowhunting comon sense! Thank you Jason.
@@adkbuck thanks
I have only been climbing to about 12 feet the last couple of years. Depending on cover sometimes as low as 6 feet. I use 2 full length LWCG sticks with a 17 inch aider on the bottom stick. I play the wind and have found the best camo is being still.
Perfect
Incredible, I never figured that high angle could be bad . Thanks,you make a lot of us beeing ethical hunters. Really good advice
@@danielbeaudoin6799 glad you enjoyed it
Jason, good video. It’s always nice to hear someone explain why he does what he does, especially when it’s grounded in common sense. There’s be a lot less wounded deer if more people thought like you do. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it
18” is perfect for me. That’s about the height of my pack seat 😂
@@JBs-Trad4Critters perfect
I like 10 to 15 ft depending on the tree canopy, here in the oaks you can't get to high because of the branches, you just can't see the higher you go. I shoot a big buck or 2 every season and does , my shot angle is good and I don't get busted. I always hunt the wind, if the wind is wrong don't go in to those spots.
@@SuperDave-pe1zw well said
Good ethics. I’ve had some bad experiences that made me quit hunting for a few years. Love the videos 😊
I remember when I was younger reading outdoor life or field and stream , they had an article titled "Shoot'em in the Goozle(spl)". It was about that frontal shot, but I think it was directed towards rifle hunters. Funny how hearing something brings back a memory I'd long forgot about.
I learn something from every one of your videos! Thanks for explaining that tree stand heights above 20 feet is are not for trad bow hunting!
Just discovered you this season. Your videos and knowledge are so helpful, thank you!
Thanks. Glad you are enjoying them
I love your videos and all your tips. I am a crossbow hunter, so i have a different perspective. I am NOT disagreeing with anything you said. I personally like to be 20 - 23 feet. I have the advantage of longer distances out to 30 yards with a scope for precise shots. But the 2 reasons i like the higher sit is that when the deer are clide in it is much harder for them to pick up my movement. The other reason is that i kove the view. I can see so much mire from that altitude. It is a hunting advantage to spot an incoming deer from further out, but i just enjoy nature mych more from up there. I am certainly not trying to convince anyone to do it my way. Agaun, your points are great, especualky for traditional bow hunters. Have a great season to all!
Perfect. And love that you are planning for 30 and under with a crossbow!
I work on a trauma unit. Once you go above 20ft the chances of significant permanent injury, paralysis, and death as a result of a fall increase tremendously. Above 25ft you are in “the death zone”
Not worried at all about the height I hunt from. I have a friend that fell out from 6ft and broke 4 vertebrae in his back and by luck he made full recovery. So no matter how high you fall from major injury and death are a possible outcome. I used to work as an arborist and every day I was climbing to 60-80-100+ft and not once did I do anything different then I did at 8-10ft. Point of this video is about shot angles to kill an animal. If falling out is an issue at all for you maybe ground blinds are the only thing a person hunt out of.
@@pathfinder5804 Jason’s point is you don’t need to go high to kill deer, I’m just pointing out another negative to going high. And I’ve treated plenty of arborists and amateur tree trimmers. Falling out of a tree is not an issue for me as I’ve been hunting from tree stands for over 20 years, but it is the #1 way hunters are hurt.
Good insider info. I surebwould love to get theu a whole season without hearing about people falling and getting hurt.
Some people would prefer death to the alternative.....
Agree with you Jason - Very subjective and it depends on where you are hunting and what season/cover is available. I PREFER a stand of 8-12 ft in a heavy cover tree. I hate getting over 20 foot because the likely hood of getting a double lung goes down. If I am hunting in hills with thermals, then I often have to get higher to avoid the thermals. Late season, getting up high often means you are more visible.
@@davetoms63 great points
This is my first year with elevated hunted. Everyone says 4 sticks. I’d say I’m probably about 15-20 feet pretty easily. After going out twice I’m going to ditch 2 sticks. I’m going to add an aider to one and with 2 sticks I should be able to get at least 10’. Going out a few times this year I found that being that high isn’t very effective in my area. Maybe if you see in afield edge it would be great but it’s so thick where I am that at that height your shot ends up being right under you.
agree and glad you are figuring out your system and what works best for you.
I agree. I don't like to get no higher than pickin' corn and no lower than diggin' taters😂
@@UncleDanBand64 😂😂😂
@@SamkoTradBow There you go Ole Son😃
I live in florida, I prefer hunting from the ground. But 12-15ft is the sweet spot for me. Cover and stillness is everything.
agree 100
I think you are correct. The area will tell you where and how high.
I think this video would have been also helpful with a practice target deer filmed at your house so you can indicate the angles you referred to… just a thought great 👍
@@Coyote5555 have some shot angle vids that cover exactly that in my patreon channel.
@@SamkoTradBow maaaaan i gotta get on that Patreon channel
Great information Thanks Jason!!
@@george2099 thanks
Excellent common sense.
@@jalton9416 thanks
Head height if 18-20 feet. Depends on terrain and cover, i have gonecas high as 30. A lot of telephone trees in my area. So this really depends. Read your terrain, read your cover.
And i love to use snow camo in winter in oaks
Works perfect
Think you're right.
I take 3 sticks and shoot a compound but my range is 35 years. I climb to the cover and get as low as possible. Sometimes it’s challenging to find the right tree but that’s woodsmanship.
Love it
This may be a dumb question but are you referring to your stand height or your head height? Thanks, you have great information.
@@johnt9490 great question! Stand platform height
Excellent points. Keep it up.
@@markhicks1544 thanks
As a compound guy I’m between 12-16. If I have nice coverage I don’t climb as high.
@@definit1on119 agree
O ly climb as high as you need to
Well sed👍👍
Thanks
Great video. Never liked to hunt above 10-12'. That was 20 yrs ago. Since I hunt exclusively from the ground. I love close the challenge is Huge and the Rush is incredible. No afraid of heights. I work from 200' to 700' daily. But trad hunting i like low n close. Not knocking anyone that's ethical. To me it's more about woodsmanship vs just killing a Big antlered deer. Each to his own. Be safe all.
@@kevinmeeske3412 yep lower the better if yoy have the cover
Made the mistake of hauling my twelve pound crossbow up the tree with me the other day, saddle hunting. I got a doe, but holding that thing steady was really hard. Compound only from here on out from the saddle lol
Those things sure are heavy. Like shockingly heavy.
@@SeasonalObsession i saddle hunt with a crossbow. Keeping it steady can be a real challenge. I always bring 2 tethers with me. Sometimes the second one can be used on an a limb to really lock me in to a position to give me a stable shot and/or the taut tether can be uses as a shooting rest. It might reduce my maneuverability but it is a trade off. Congrats on your doe!
@SamkoTradBow I love them though. They were my introduction to archery. Crossbows got me interested in compounds. Now I'm looking to get into traditional. Thank you for all the knowledge you share!
I started hunting in the early 80’s. No internet just magazine articles to read about how to deer hunt. None of my family had ever deer hunted because they grew up in the 50’s-60’s hunting rabbits and squirrels as there were no deer to speak of in north AL. Therefore, i relied on outdoor magazines and my own mistakes for hunting info (including a lot of boots on the ground scouting time). At that time the idea was to get in your stand 2 hours before daylight and sit there without moving at all until 2 hours after dark and climb as high as humanly possible. I would do this for days on end climbing no less than 25’ preferably 30’-40’. Now i climb 10’-18’ and never sit more than 4 hours and kill more deer than i ever did. Those early days of hunting were torture and not very productive.
Times sure have changed in the deer woods.
You never sit more then 4 hours? Wow I wouldn’t of guessed that. As someone just getting into hunting I thought deer hunters sat in their tree stand for 6-10 hours or more.
@greeneyesfromohio4103 me personally during the rut I'm in stand all day. Outside of the runt 3-6 hours
@@SamkoTradBow - you gotta get down at some point to take a leak….wouldn’t that scent scare away any nearby deer? How does using the bathroom when your hunting work exactly?
@@greeneyesfromohio4103 I dont get down to take a leak. Just go right from the stand.
I'm only 5'6. With the 3 fullsize sticks and an aider on the bottom I can get 16-17 if I really stretch. 4 I can get 21 22.
The only thing is. I don't have to go that high. I mainly find myself 12 to 15 foot high because like I learned from jason. Find the nest. Cover is always better and the shot angles aren't as crazy. Not to mention the crazy people that don't tie off and go 30 foot up.
Here in kentucky, especially in my area, I get cover year round from beech and oaks.
@@Jits.kid420 agree 100
Problem is i get picked off at 10’. NYS public. If deer is within 12 yards they see you. Have killed them off the ground but there is more cover. Not a trad guy tho (yet). Can sit lower in tree only if more cover, no cover then no bueno
@@northeastathlete2376 got to have cover in the trees for sure
I hunted when i was younger 20,30,40ft high ive killed more deer and better quality bucks at 10ft. Also My balance isnt as good as most folks so i go up to first cover and make my movements slow. As far as scent goes ive smelled people smoking in the tree 30ft up 100yds away and tracked them and found they were trespassing on my property lol.
I like 12ft .
I prefer 12ft. but won't go past 15.
That works perfect
Single lung is my worst nightmare
@@rorynelson7548 agree
Pretty sure all these guys say they go to 20 feet but in reality, probably not
I carry a Lone Wolf/Novix stand with 4 sticks. I set the sticks and place them so i can step up easily on them. Never measured how high i am. I prefer ease of getting into the stand safely vs measuring my height with all the UA-cam guys. What these dudes dont understand is back in the day, dudes didn’t measure their height. They climbed up and nailed a 2x6 in the first fork in the tree and hunted; and I guarantee they killed more big deer than these nerds arguing height on the internet.
Or, just stay on the ground and be mobile.
ua-cam.com/video/vMZMJnSK8WU/v-deo.html n this video the dude took a 40m shot.
Kurt Cobain lol jk not that high
Your assertion that hunting from a height above 20 feet and then not being able to make effective shots when deer are in the range of 5 to 8 yards does not coincide with my experience.
I hunt from a height of 22 to 25 feet and have done so for the last 40 years.
Of the 232 Whitetail deer I have killed with a bow, probably 90% have been within 10 yards, and many of those were in the 5-8 yard range.
I enjoy your videos, but do not agree on this subject.
I have wondered about Eberhart not getting winded. I’m sure his scent regimen works to a degree. But I always wondered how much his 25-30’ft high helps also. Ain’t no way in Hell I’m going 25’ft. No way!
@T-Mak-s7x yep that's way to high for good shots at close distances
@@SamkoTradBow I’m afraid at 25’ft high all I’d be doing is Bear hugging the tree scared to death the entire hunt. I’m ok to a certain height point, but after that I’m just too scared now.
Your moral compass and thinking you have the right to tell somebody that your choice in “ethical shot angles” determines whether they have the right to be in the woods is pretty cocky. Pretty shitty take here if you ask me.
Thats a great tip on calculating how high you want to climb by using your height and fingers 🤌