Those who think there's not much to treestand hunting will learn otherwise
in Gary Clancy's "Treestand Hunting Strategies".
True to its title, this is the complete guide to hunting deer from
above. Clancy might start with some basics, like types of stands and
safety suggestions, but the basics stop right there.
It might not be the only book on treestand hunting but it's the only
one that I've found has some real, meaty advice that any hunter of any
caliber could use. For someone like myself who spends 70 percent of his
hunting season in a stand, this book will be reread many times.
"The biggest mistake I see hunters make when deer are feeding in a crop
field is that they refuse to quit hunting the field edge stands even after
the big bucks have stopped using the field during shooting light," writes
Clancy.
"It's like they see all these other deer using the field and they just
can't bring themselves to believe that the big boy won't make his
appearance, if not this evening, then surely the next evening.
"Again, field edge stands can produce a big buck during those first
couple of days of the season.
"My advice is to abandon the field edge stands and find the (bucks')
staging area."
"Treestand Hunting Strategies" is an excellent book for those who enjoy
viewing the world from above throughout the hunting season.
David Dirks' outdoors column appears Tuesday in the Times
Herald-Record. Write to him at P.O. Box 87, Westtown 10998, or by e-mail
at dirksoutdoors @ hotmail.com