Advice on stand placement needed.

[zeus1gdsm]

So my 1/4 acre plot has 3inch growth and I'm super excited about that. We are close to decision time on stand placement.

I have a tree I initially picked out. Downwind of the usual wind. Which is also down wind of the plot. It's about 25 yards from the edge of the plot. And I cleared a shooting lane for it. And I would have some visibility coverage for a deer looking my way from the plot.

But now as I'm only comfortable with a 30yard bow shot currently I'm rethinking it. As I'd only have a 5-10 yard range into the plot. And would have to pass on anything in the other 90% of the plot.

There is another tree literally at the edge of the plot that would allow me to shoot the entire length of the plot. Also downwind and on the same trail as the initial spot I picked. Just closer

Where do you guys place yours on small plots? Right on the edge or back off a bit.

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[ATbuckhunter]

You'd probably be better off backing off a bit so you don't spook deer out of the plot and don't force them to hit the plot at night. Its better to be 25 yards off the edge. 

[sweet old bill]

back off the field edge . you will see less but have more shots of the deer as they come into the field and or off...

[dbHunterNY]

depends on a lot.  if it's a plot enroute to a bigger destination plot the deer will just graze and pass on through.  I'd be at the edge as long as I had the cover in the tree and a good back ground to break up my outline.  otherwise I think staying off the edge is good.  don't want to be right out there for all the deer to see while they hangout and feed until after dark.  I hope you get to the stand and leave it with deer remaining in the plot in that case.

[moog5050]

Obviously you need to be downwind(your access and stand) of where you think deer will come from.  That said, you can't kill them if you don't have a shot.  On the one little plot we have (about 80yds by 30yds) we have a stand on the far east edge (predominant sw and w winds) only 10yds off the plot, but that tree has great back cover and a window to shoot through covering 90% of the plot.  We also have a stand on the NW corner 15yds off for those odd winds but much more narrow window to shoot.  Killed deer from both stands. 

Edited August 18, 2016 by moog5050

[fasteddie]

I would be leery about being right on the edge of the plot . Remember , there may be some cover with the vegetation now but come October 1st the leaves could be gone and you might stick out . Apparently you are limited to 2 choices . My past experience has been that the deer feed in a plot or field but prefer to travel along the edge near a woods or hedge row . I would go with the farther tree . 

[Buckmaster7600]

What about a blind? I don't hunt blinds very often but small food plots are where they shine in my opinion.


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[zeus1gdsm]

Thanks for the responses. We had a tree fall blocking my buddies stand in another area so I will be in there this weekend removing it.

I haven't been in a month or so. So I'll be reassessing distances with a range finder. As well as pulling cards. I'll take this advice into account.

I do have a pop up and was planning on putting it in for gun. Covering a larger area and still being able to see into the plot. About 50-60 yards from plot.

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[zeus1gdsm]

So it turns out the tree I had a hard on for ends up being 30 from the center of the plot. Perfect!

Picked a tree for rifle near my buddy's stand and it ended up being a nice 55 yards.

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