How Long is a Stand Good

[SJU70]

I am new to hunting, and was bowhunting hunting back home in Southeast Wisconsin over thanksgiving, and missed a deer to have about six of them bolt on me. Is the stand still good? will they continue to use that runway, thinking that they are safe due to my sub par shooting or will they have moved it due to my missed shot spooking them?

[Jim Hudson]

A lot of variables in the equation... I would say if the deer have been using this travel corridor for sometime, that you should be fine. But if it was an area that had just concentraited deer recently, they might be extremely leary now because of being spooked.

A lot of deer get spooked by a lot of different things (un-human) along their travel corridors and still continue to use them. Deer are naturally spooky and are always on edge, but they will continue to use these travel routes, especially the good ones (saddles, funnels,etc) because they are the paths of least resistance...

I would say sit on it and you will see.. If they spot you right off the bat, you know its time to switch up your game plan, as they have you pegged.

[harvey lee]

I have had stand locations that I have hunted for the past 10 years. I do not overhunt these spots as in every weekend or three times a week. If you were to have a bigger mature buck come by your stand and either see you or scent you, then that buck will probably not be back again. If the deer you see walk by and never know that you are there then that stand will be good for some time. I would also be very careful about leaving scent to and from the stand area and try not to bump deer on the way in and out. Also, try to avoided bedding areas when coming and going. Lots of factors that decide just how long a stand will be good in one area.

If you have enough stands to put up, then I would place 3-4 stands in different locations next year. I would always change stands every time out and never hunt any of them with a bad wind. This will really help you with deer getting smart to your location.

Over hunting a stand is probably one of the worst things a archer can do. Mix it up and keep um guessing.

[Stratosman]

Patterns can change with the wind too depending on feeding behavior, weather ect. But I'm sure that you didn't spook every deer on the property and if they didn't see or smell you and were simply scared by the sound, you should be in good shape. Give it a rest, sit there a few more times, if nothing is happening, time for a move. But odds are it will be a good spot next year.

[metrojoe]

I tend to believe that a guy can burn out a stand, but I shot 2 deer from the same stand this year just days apart.

I would think that shootng a deer, field dressing it 50 yards from your tree and then dragging the deer right through your stand area with a couple of your hunting buddies would push the deer around that area,(at least for awhile) but like posted above if it's a main travel corridor they'll be back.

You should be alright in your situation, but it wouldn't hurt to pop up another stand somewhere else, just to give the area a break.