Too Late?

[ShootEm]

In your opinion, is it too close to the start of the season to hang a "permanent" setup? This stand wouldn't be hunted until the weekend of the 12th at the very earliest. This question comes up due to the tree that's prime to be up in is pretty massive and would likely be too big for a climber to get around. The rain yesterday and today would've been the best time to do it for sure, but unfortunately my schedule this week just didn't allow the time to get it done.

[mowin]

Just now, ShootEm said:

In your opinion, is it too close to the start of the season to hang a "permanent" setup? This stand wouldn't be hunted until the weekend of the 12th at the very earliest. This question comes up due to the tree that's prime to be up in is pretty massive and would likely be too big for a climber to get around. The rain yesterday and today would've been the best time to do it for sure, but unfortunately my schedule this week just didn't allow the time to get it done.

I wouldn't hesitate.  If you don't put a stand there, I can guarantee you won't kill a deer from it. 

[Caveman]

I've moved stands mid season and shot deer from them fairly soon after. I wouldn't hesitate. 

[dbHunterNY]

i've hung or prepped stands in the middle of the season. trying to do it before a good rain is always good but not completely necessary. Try not to walk right down deer trails to get there. Coming across your scent and following it are two very different expectations IMO. If it's a permanent setup I assume its in a historically good spot or a natural funnel that works throughout the season. patterns now mean little 3 weeks from now. i like clearing a spot and hunting right away or after quite a while. Getting the drop on them the first time the area is disturbed seems to work out well before they start to figure everything out or skirt that spot.

[LET EM GROW]

You absolutely can, These style stand hangings you eithe rhang them and hunt them til dark (regardless of season) As curiostiy will get them.. Or you hang them and just do your best to not disturb the area incredibly. Remember deer can smell/sense when something has ran through the woods and disturbed leaves/branches/soil etc.. If your going to be cutting down a bunch of stuff, Just prepare for possibly the next week or two to be possibly slow.. But it will eventually slip their minds.. 

But the saying goes, Better late than never.. 

[phade]

1 minute ago, LET EM GROW said:

You absolutely can, These style stand hangings you eithe rhang them and hunt them til dark (regardless of season) As curiostiy will get them.. Or you hang them and just do your best to not disturb the area incredibly. Remember deer can smell/sense when something has ran through the woods and disturbed leaves/branches/soil etc.. If your going to be cutting down a bunch of stuff, Just prepare for possibly the next week or two to be possibly slow.. But it will eventually slip their minds.. 

But the saying goes, Better late than never.. 

I’m pretty aggressive when it comes to moves and “going in” but one thing I do think makes a big difference is the amount of disturbance around cutting, clearing moving limbs etc. I think you can do that reasonably well on field edges but inside thick cover, cutting stuff at deer level can alter deer movement more than most people think sometimes and sometimes it permanent. Learning by mistake I have just seen it happen due to my own fault. Trim what you have to and zero more IMO. Get in and get out, or better yet, hang and hunt.

[Swamp_bucks]

Go in hang stand, cut very little if anything and stay out.  Should be all good to go. If you can get in without crossing deer trails even better.  I think people make the mistake of going back in time and time again. Just make sure you have the time to do it right the 1st time and be done with it. 

[Robhuntandfish]

If it's in a bedding area or safe space I wouldn't, but I wouldn't do that anytime of season..  Otherwise go for it. Suggest doing it midday if possible.  

I've also moved stands mid season and had good luck.  

[lucky118]

I use climbers. I don't  carry them in all the time. I hang it and leave it. I'll hunt maybe twice out of it. Then it gets moved after a short scouting trip, ground hunting for fresh sign. Poop , rubs, scrapes, actual deer sightings. This way your always on fresh sign and deer not hunting a rub line from 3 weeks ago that's not even being used anymore.

[fletchny11]

I find if I move or put in a new stand in season, as long as I try to do it midday and not blow up the area, I have very good luck. Things go bad when you get busted in stand or hunt bad wind from a stand. I also prefer doing it in windy or wet conditions.

[grampy]

Get in with as little disturbance as possible. Trim as little as possible. Get out. And you can successfully hunt it the next day.

[Robhuntandfish]

One year I moved a stand a week before the end of bow.  I shot a doe there the next day, my best buck ever 3 days later and during muzzleloader shot a buck that shed it's horns (thinking it was a doe) then saw an even bigger buck take off.  

[ShootEm]

Great responses everyone, really appreciate the thoughts on this as it can be easy to talk yourself into one way or the other. Sounds like I have some (stealthy) work to do!

[The Back 40]

Talk about getting one in late. I just put in a new stand today. I finished assembling it this morning and went out with the kids and got it up, cleared a path in and then rode the 4 wheelers for a bit. Timing couldn't have been better. It poured rain about 20 minutes after we got back.

[mowin]

Nothing like the first hunt from a newly set stand.