How High Should Your Tree Stand Be for Bow Hunting

Pick a Height That Hides You Without Killing Your Shot

I hang most bowhunting stands 17 to 22 feet high.

That window keeps me above a deer’s normal line of sight, but not so high that my shot angle gets steep and ugly.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I killed my 156-inch typical from a stand that was right at 19 feet to the platform.

I had a cold front, a steady wind, and a clean quartering-away shot that felt like cheating.

Decide What You Want More, Concealment Or A Better Blood Trail

If you go higher, you get more cover from eyes and noses, but your arrow angle gets steeper.

If you stay lower, your shot is flatter and you get better exits, but deer pick you off easier.

I learned the hard way that too steep of an angle can turn a good hit into a bad recovery.

In 2007 I gut shot a doe and pushed her too early, and I still think about it every season.

That miss was mostly patience, but it also taught me I want shots that punch through both sides when I can get them.

My Default Height For Most Midwest Timber Sits

Here is what I do on my Pike County lease if I have a straight tree and decent cover.

I set the platform at 18 feet, and I try to have my head around 22 feet when I stand.

That height has killed a pile of deer for me, and it keeps my 20-yard pin honest.

If I am hunting a tight pinch with deer at 12 to 18 yards, I’ll drop to 15 to 17 feet to keep the angle flat.

Use Deer Distance To Pick Your Height, Not Your Ego

If your best shot lane is 12 to 15 yards, hanging 25 feet up is just making it harder.

If your best shot lane is 25 to 30 yards, you can cheat higher because the angle flattens out.

Here is what I do before I ever hang a stand.

I range the dirt where I think the deer will actually stop, not where I wish they stop.

When I am trying to time deer movement, I check feeding times first.

That tells me if I should plan for an early 12-yard ambush or a last-light 28-yard shot.

Tradeoff In The Missouri Ozarks, Cover Is Thick But Trees Are Crooked

On public ground in the Missouri Ozarks, I’m often in short oaks with branches everywhere.

If I try to force 22 feet in those trees, I end up on the wrong side of cover with no shot.

Here is what I do in that thick stuff.

I hunt 12 to 16 feet and use the trunk and limbs to break my outline.

I learned the hard way that “higher is always better” is a lie on big public timber.

I’ve watched does in Mark Twain National Forest stare holes through guys 25 feet up because they were skylined and moving.

Cold Weather And Snow Country Means You Can Go Lower

Back in 2013 in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I sat in hill country with snow on the ground and bare trees.

That is the one time I actually like a bit more height, but only if I have cover behind me.

If the woods are wide open, I would rather be 14 to 16 feet and tight to the trunk.

In the Upper Peninsula Michigan style big woods, a deer can spot movement from a long way off, even if you are 25 feet up.

Wind Is A Height Decision, Not Just A Scent Decision

If the wind is steady at 8 to 12 mph, I like being a little higher because my scent stream stays off the main trail longer.

If the wind is swirling in a hollow, going higher does not fix it, it just spreads your stink more.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer move in the wind.

Here is what I do on a windy Ozarks ridge.

I set up lower and closer to cover, and I pick a tree that blocks wind from my back, even if it costs me a few feet of height.

Don’t Let Stand Height Force A Bad Shot Angle On Close Deer

Most “mystery lost deer” stories start with a steep angle at 8 to 12 yards.

You hit high, the arrow stays in one side, and the blood trail is a joke.

If you want a clean kill and a short track, flat beats steep.

For shot placement, I lean on what I wrote about where to shoot a deer and I practice those angles from my stand.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If your best shot is under 18 yards, hang 15 to 18 feet high.

If you see deer staring up and circling downwind, expect them to pick off your movement and scent stream before they commit.

If conditions change to swirling winds or bare trees after leaves drop, switch to a lower height and tighter cover, even if it means a 20-yard max shot.

Use The Tree And Background, Or Height Won’t Save You

A stand at 22 feet in the wrong tree is worse than 14 feet in the right tree.

If you are skylined, you are done.

Here is what I do every time I hang a set.

I climb to hunting height, then I turn and look for my background, not my shooting lanes.

If the only thing behind me is bright sky, I drop 3 to 6 feet or I pick a different tree.

This also ties into how sharp deer are, and I mean sharp, so I keep this page bookmarked on are deer smart.

Climbing Sticks And Stand Choice Change What Height Is Realistic

I’m not a pro staff guy, so I care about what lasts and what I can carry.

I wasted money on $400 ozone scent control that made zero difference, and I should have spent that on better access and quieter gear.

My best cheap investment is still the $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons.

They are not fancy, but they get me to 18 feet fast and quiet, and they already paid for themselves 20 times.

Here Is What I Do For Safety And Quiet At 18 To 22 Feet

I run a full-body harness every sit, clipped in before my feet leave the ground.

I do not “save time” climbing unhooked, because that is how guys get hurt.

I hang my stand so my first step onto the platform is level, not a reach.

Then I set my haul line so my bow comes up without banging sticks and metal.

Shot Angle Practice Is The Missing Piece Most Guys Ignore

Most people practice on flat ground and then wonder why they shoot high from a stand.

Here is what I do starting in August.

I shoot from 10 feet, 15 feet, and 20 feet, at 12 yards, 18 yards, and 25 yards.

I bend at the waist and I pick a hair, because that is what keeps me out of the guts.

Height Changes With The Deer You Are Targeting

If I am hunting does for meat, I care more about a flat, clean shot and an easy recovery.

If I am hunting a mature buck that has been pressured, I lean higher if I can keep cover behind me.

If you are new to this, start with my breakdown of what a male deer is called and what a female deer is called so the rut talk and herd talk makes more sense.

In Pike County, Illinois, old bucks act like they have been shot at, because they have.

Ground Pressure Changes The Height Decision On Public Land

On public land in the Missouri Ozarks, other hunters push deer in weird ways.

Sometimes the best play is not higher, it is farther, and tighter, and quieter.

Here is what I do if I see boot tracks on the main access trail.

I slide 150 yards deeper, set up lower in thicker cover, and I accept a 15-yard kill zone.

My buddy swears by sitting 25 feet up on public to beat noses, but I have found that movement gets you busted more than smell in tight timber.

If I can’t draw without being seen, height is not the fix.

Products I Actually Use To Get To The Right Height

I like Muddy Pro Climbing Sticks for a mid-priced option that does not feel like a soda can under my boots.

I paid $129 for a 4-pack, and after two seasons the straps were still fine, but I replaced them anyway because straps are cheap and funerals are not.

For a hang-on stand, the Millennium M7 Microlite has been solid for me.

It is not cheap at about $199, but it is quiet, the seat is not torture, and it lets me sit all day in November.

Use Deer Behavior In Rain To Decide If Height Even Matters That Day

If it is raining hard, I care more about where deer hole up than whether I am at 16 or 20 feet.

That connects to what I wrote about where deer go when it rains.

Here is what I do on a steady rain sit.

I pick the downwind edge of thick bedding and hunt lower so I can see under wet leaves and limbs.

FAQ

Is 25 feet too high for a bow stand?

It is too high if your main shot is inside 18 yards or you are skylined.

I only go 25 feet if I have cover behind me and my best shot is 25 to 30 yards.

How high should I hang my stand for rut hunting?

I hang 18 to 22 feet if I am on a doe travel route and bucks will cruise with their nose out.

In Southern Iowa style ag edges, I still keep it under 22 feet so my shot stays clean on close cruisers.

What is the best height for kids or new bowhunters?

I keep beginners at 10 to 15 feet and I pick a tree with a big trunk for cover.

I have two kids, and confidence and safety matter more than squeezing out an extra 4 feet.

Should I go higher to beat a deer’s sense of smell?

Higher can help if the wind is steady and you are not in a bowl or hollow.

If the wind is swirling, forget about height and focus on a better wind direction and a quieter entry.

Why do I shoot high from a tall stand?

Most guys forget to bend at the waist and they drop their bow arm instead.

I fix it by practicing at 15 to 20 feet and aiming for a hair, not the whole deer.

Does stand height matter more for bucks than does?

Mature bucks pick off movement faster, so background cover and being still matters more than raw height.

Does will bust you too, but old bucks in places like Pike County act like they are looking for you.

More content sections are coming after this, because stand height is only half the battle once you start talking entry routes, shot setups, and how I adjust for late season.

Entry Routes Matter More Than Another 3 Feet Of Height

If you blow your entry, your stand height is just a number on a tape measure.

I would rather be 15 feet up with a clean, quiet entry than 22 feet up after busting deer in the dark.

Here is what I do on my Pike County, Illinois lease.

I plan my route so I never cross the trail I expect deer to use, even if it adds 220 yards of walking.

I learned the hard way that “I’ll just sneak in” is a lie I tell myself when I am tired.

Back in November 2016 in the Missouri Ozarks, I cut across an open oak flat to save time and had three does blow at 6.45 a.m. before daylight even broke.

If you are hunting a tight bedding-to-feed setup, forget about perfect height and focus on a silent entry with the wind in your face.

Pick A Side Of The Tree, And Accept The Tradeoff

You can’t cover every direction from one platform without getting busted drawing.

The decision is simple, and most guys avoid it until a deer is under them.

Here is what I do.

I pick my “kill side” before I hang the stand, and I set my platform so my strong-side shots are the ones I expect.

If I need to cover a trail on my weak side, I would rather move the stand 12 yards than try to twist like a pretzel at full draw.

My buddy swears by setting stands to shoot 360 degrees because “deer do deer stuff.”

But I have found the best sits feel boring, because I already know where the shot is supposed to happen.

Use Stand Height To Control Your Draw, Not Just Your Scent

If deer are inside 20 yards, they bust draw movement more than anything else.

Height can help you draw unseen, but only if you also have cover at your level.

Here is what I do if I keep getting picked off at full draw.

I drop the stand 3 to 5 feet and tuck in tighter to the trunk so I can draw in the “shadow line” of the tree.

I also trim one or two branches at chest height, not to open a shooting lane, but to stop leaves from brushing my cam on the draw.

This is also why I keep coming back to deer being sharp, and I still point guys to are deer smart when they think a mature buck is dumb.

Late Season: Go Lower, Go Tighter, And Expect Close Shots

After leaves drop, you lose cover fast, and being 22 feet up can turn you into a silhouette.

The tradeoff is you may need to hunt closer to bedding and accept a smaller window.

Here is what I do after Thanksgiving when it is 28 degrees and the woods look empty.

I hunt 12 to 16 feet, pick a bigger trunk, and I set up where deer have to pass inside 20 yards to get to food.

If you are trying to time those late daylight moves, I start with feeding times and then I pick the closest safe setup to bedding that I can access clean.

I learned the hard way that staying high late season makes me fidget, because I feel exposed and I try to “fix it” by moving.

Moving is what gets you busted, not being two feet too low.

How I Adjust If I Am Getting Winded At The Base Of The Tree

Getting winded at the tree is not a “go higher” problem most of the time.

It is usually an access problem, or a wind reading problem, or both.

Here is what I do if deer keep circling my tree and blowing.

I back out and move 40 to 80 yards so my scent stream crosses a dead area like a creek, a steep cut, or a nasty blowdown edge.

If you are tempted to fix this with scent gadgets, I’m telling you right now I wasted money on ozone scent control and got nothing but a lighter wallet.

I also pay attention to where deer want to travel in bad weather, and that is why I keep where deer go when it rains in my head during late season fronts.

My Last Take On Tree Stand Height For Bow Hunting

I keep most bow stands 17 to 22 feet, and I go lower anytime my best shot is close or my cover is weak.

I have killed deer at 14 feet and I have killed deer at 23 feet, and the common thread was a clean entry and a calm shot.

Back in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri, my first deer was an 8-point buck with a borrowed rifle, and even then I learned the spot matters more than the gear.

That lesson still holds now that I split time between Pike County, Illinois and the Missouri Ozarks, and I’m trying to help you skip the same dumb mistakes I made.