What is the best height for a deer stand?

You should be at least 10 feet off the ground when hunting deer from a tree stand. The higher you go, the easier it will be for you to remain unnoticed by approaching deer. Terrain will always dictate how high you can go.

Gun hunters

On food plot edges or open fields, a higher stand is generally better. This will give you a larger field of view so you can spot deer sooner. So for most gun hunters that are taking longer shots 15-25ft up is a normal height. Being around 20ft up will help disperse your scent and most deer are not looking up that high as they approach. This will keep you from being busted by a deer moving in behind you if you are sitting still and doing your part.

bow hunters

Typically bow hunters are hunting more dense areas. Being higher in a tree will often limit your field of view. When I set a tree stand I want my feet to be above the leaves of the lowest branches and limbs. This provides better background cover if a deer is looking at you. Instead of blending in to a tree trunk you are blending in to leaves and branches.

Finding the best field of view in a tree stand

In most areas with mature trees there is a clearly defined field of view. Being too low you will not be able to see over the underbrush and forest floor foliage. If you get up too high you will be looking into other treetops and will only have an open shot if looking at a 45 degree downward angle. By finding a tree with branches starting at or below the average height of your surroundings you can then set you stand to where you feet are at the same level as the lowest branches. This will give you plenty of background coverage for camouflage and also allow you to see a good ways into the surrounding areas UNDER the lowest limbs of the surrounding trees.

Calculate the best position for a bowhunting tree stand

If you’re like me you have probably decided that 40 yards is your max distance to take a shot on an animal. Once you have a tree targeted for a stand walk out 40 yards in your pre-determined shooting directions and mark it. This can be accomplished with small marking flags or just digging up a small dirt marker. You can then climb the tree with your stand and see how high you can get while still being able to make a shot to your maximum distance.

You may find that in order to have good camouflage coverage you need to climb higher in your stand. This may make it impossible to see 40 yards depending on how thick the surrounding tree coverage is. Conversely you may find that you can go higher and still see the markers easily. My suggestion is that you go as high as possible without limiting your shot distances.

Scouting for a good tree stand location

If you’re a newer hunter you may need help finding a suitable tree. Maybe you want to know how to scout an area to find the best location for a tree stand. Check out my article on scouting tips and get your questions answered.

If you’re looking for a fantastic budget friendly tree stand check out x-stands. They have very comfortable climbing stands that are sturdy and quiet. X-stands also has very affordable hang on stands that will give you a great fixed option.

When it comes to hunting deer from an elevated blind, the best height is somewhere between 10 and 15 feet to balance both effectiveness and safety. Deer have over 30 million scent receptor sites, so it's probably best to go as high possible... within reason of course. 

So, let's dive into the question many deer hunters are asking every deer hunting season: How high should my deer blind or be?

A Story

But, first, let me start off with a little deer hunting story. Some deer are big, and some are small, and you need to adjust your blind hunting strategy accordingly to ensure that you have the best chance of successfully taking one.

I’ve been deer hunting in Minnesota since I was 10 years old and have hunted all over the country, too. Growing up in northern Minnesota where there are not only 10,000 Lakes. But where there is plenty of dense forest land to deer hunt. I'd head out to deer hunt on the weekends. We lived near state public hunting land where we could legally hunt deer.

So, I would drive up to a small gas station and fill up on gas, then I would drive up to the state land entrance heading to my pre-scouted deer hunting location. So, on this particular evening of deer hunting. I was hunting an area where my buddy and I had scouted that has a nice buck with a beautiful rack. He looked to be about 5 or 6 years old.

I had gotten to my blind a little bit ahead of schedule and had only really been settled in for about 45 minutes; when I heard a rustling in the bushes. I slowly turned to see a beautiful buck walking towards my stand. It was literally the buck of my dreams, and it was just a few yards away. I raised my bow and took careful aim...I slowly pressed the trigger on my bow release and the arrow shot out like a rocket. Then Poof! I couldn't believe it when I saw my arrow deflect off of a small tree limb and the buck of my dreams jumps up and runs away! I was so close to getting my first real trophy whitetail. But I guess this hunting season it just wasn't meant to be.

When hunting from a blind you not only have to be aware of how high off the ground you should be. but you also need to be aware of your shooting lanes. Shooting lanes are the paths that your arrow or bullet will travel when you take a shot. You want to make sure that there is nothing in the way, like small branches or leaves, which could deflect your arrow or interfere with the path of your bullet and cause you to miss your target.

I was only 15 feet off the ground when I was hunting from my blind, but if I was any higher, my arrow would have had a better chance of hitting my dream buck. When hunting from a blind, you want to make sure that your shooting lanes are clear, so you don't miss your trophy buck.

It's important to remember that when hunting, you are not only higher off the ground, but you are also in a different position and angle than when you are standing on the ground.

My top six deer blind hunting tips are below. I have compiled this list of deer hunting tips that will help you improve your deer hunting experience. It is important that you use these hunting tips and stay focused. Be alert while hunting from a blind to remain safe.

Deer Blind Hunting Tips

If you are hunting large game animals like whitetail deer, you will need to be higher up in the air and off the ground in order to stay out of their eyesight and to make an effective kill shot.

If you're hunting in a heavily forested area with lots of underbrush, you will want to be higher up in the tree than if you're hunting in an open meadow. Younger deer are likely to be easier to take down from a lower blind position rather than older hunt-wise deer.

When deer hunting from a blind, you want to be as high off the ground as possible while still being safe. However, you don't want to be so high that you can't see the deer clearly and make an effective kill shot. It's important to find the right balance so that you can get an accurate shot.

There are many different types of deer blinds available, so you can choose the one that best suits your hunting conditions. Some are portable and easy to set up, while others are more permanent and require more assembly. Whichever type of blind you choose, make sure it is sturdy and won't wobble when you climb up into it.

It's also important to practice using your blind before hunting season begins. This will help you become comfortable with it and ensure that you can safely climb into and out of it.

When deer hunting from a blind, always remember to stay alert. You never know when a deer might walk underneath you, or when the wind direction might change. Be prepared to take the shot when the opportunity arises.

Bonus Deer Blind Tip

Always be sure to wear a safety harness when hunting from a treestand or elevated deer hunting blind. This will help keep you safe and secure in the event that you slip, fall, or fall asleep (this happens more often than not).

If you're new to deer hunting from a blind, it's important to do your research and learn as much as you can about this type of hunting. There are many helpful resources available online, so take advantage of them.

Is 10 feet high enough for a deer stand?

Does scent matter in a tree stand?

Where is the best place to put a deer stand?

How do you leave the stand if deer are around?