Stand Placement- Opinions requested

[Lunker]

So I thought I would put this one out to the committee... I have a terrific location on one of the properties I hunt, but am struggling with stand placement. I hunted it last year and saw lots of bucks, including missing a monster during bow season that I eventually killed during rifle season out of a nearby stand. Last year I hunted it with a climber but did not like my stand placement last year. I'm either going to put up a hang on or a ladder...but here's the situation. Awesome funnel between a field/road and a cliff. Think of it kind of an hourglass with woods in both wide point , and all sorts of heavy trails coming through the funnel, with limited stand trees or possibilities. The deer in the morning(when I hunt this spot) travel 90% West to East. I will include a rough drawing(dashed lines are deer trails) and included some numbers to clarify my issues.

Stand spot 1- there is a tree that I could easily use, but it is right in the runway/funnel,and would be about 10 ft from the heaviest trail...and it doesn't have good view of the little slope before the cliff. (I could cut a shooting lane to help somewhat)

Stand site 2-still really close to the main runway but a little farther away,still limited view of the slope, and would be in a short tree so I'd have to hunt max about 10-12 ft up.

Stand site 3- better shooting lanes but again right in the midst of the trails again and wind from the north would be a problem for one of the main trails.

Stand site 4 - would have best visibility but I would have to cross the trails coming in and a north wind would be problematic...

If I push out any farther East/West I would have very limited lanes for shooting and the trails quickly widen out and wouldn't be able to hunt multiple trails effectively...Ground blind would be ineffective because of the terrain...

Any ideas, opinions, etc?

Thanks

[TruthWalleyes]

Ah...If you could only hear my hunting buddy the day before opener go on for 5 hours and then another 2 the next day deciding on where to sit or how to drive a woods. He'll go ON and ON and ON with options and then about how each option has it's downfalls...Eventually i give him a map and a pen and tell him to start putting people into spots and let's go...Can spend all day talking about it, or getting it done.

Go with your gut on this one. In the land that i hunt back home, i've hunted it so many times that you just flat out know how the deer travel. Now that you know where the deer travel, pick you best 1 or 2 spots for different wind as well as ease of stand access without spooking any bedded deer.

Eventually, if you haven't already (You may just be looking for a confidence builder) you'll figure it out via trial and error.

Next year, build a box stand right where you want it.

[Lunker]

No box blind, this is for the bow...but my rifle stand is still within sight of this spot. I will be putting my stand out as soon as my next order of climbing sticks come in, just figure it was something to toss around while I wait...

[Bear55]

I'd go with #2, because you will be hunting low I would take a lot of time and camo up the stand and make sure you have a lot of back cover so you don't stick out like a sore thumb. You might also consider hauling in and placing some brush next to the deer trails, this way you can draw your bow when the deer are behind the brush.

You might also consider going with #1 if you like that tree better, but block the closest deer trail so they don't walk right under you.

Pick the best spot and change what you can to give you the best odds. You might also consider sticking with the climber and setting up based on the wind.

[leech~~]

Put out a cam or two if you have them on each trail with date and timer set. They maybe using higher or lower trails coming and going in the morning and evening. Then setup on that info. Good luck!

[paceman]

Not sure what you have for trees here but I like spot number 4 with a south wind or number 2 with a north wind. I like having everthing in front of me..

[Lunker]

pacemen, that was the way i was leaning also

[nofishfisherman]

I was leaning toward #4 as well assuming the wind is right.

To access spot #4 can you cross the trails further to the east of what you have drawn here? Maybe cross the trails farther to the east well out of shooting range and then come at the stand from the back side by following the cliff line?

That should keep the funnel clear of your scent for those deer moving from the west.