First, slowly walk every runway at the location until you are out of the likely shooting area. Look at every potential tree suitable for hunting. Also make mental notes of any deer sign or mast on or close to the ground. Really think things over. The process of selecting the right tree within shooting distance of as much sign as possible usually takes me 15 to 30 minutes. I analyze everything!
My “tree hunting” is done exclusively from a Trophyline Ambush saddle that will accommodate about any tree no matter the size, branches on the way up, or lean. Being able to pick any tree for a specific location is a huge advantage over having to set up on runways that lead to the convergence of sign due to tree restrictions suitable for conventional hang-ons and climbers.
After selecting the tree, grab your hand-saw and pruning shears and again walk every runway. When you get to a spot where the least amount of brush is in the way, and it offers a good shot angle from the tree, clear out everything that’s in the way. And I mean everything, including tall stick-weeds near the shot area that could possibly alter your arrow’s flight. When removing saplings, cut them tight to the ground so that other hunters will not see the stubs sticking up and immediately identify your hunting location.
If the location has fresh or old scrapes — or has the potential of having mast or fruit on the ground — make sure you have a shot to those area as well. You can’t always count on a whitetail following a runway into a destination location.
When clearing lanes you can go to convergence points where sign or runways overlap. This will save time and help to make the area less conspicuous.
Next, go back to the same lanes with the extendable pole saw and cut the branches you couldn’t reach with your hand-saw. You should now have what appears to be a lane cleared to every potential travel route from the location in the tree where you expect to sit.
Make sure each shooting lane is at least 6 feet wide at the shot window. This will allow you to stop the deer and get off a shot. When a shooting lane is finished, there should be nothing left that could possibly deflect an arrow.
If there’s a runway out of range, use your cuttings in an attempt to alter the runway within shooting distance. Drag all other cut brush, trees, and branches away from the location and put them cut-side down into the heaviest cover available.
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