Pennsylvania Game News - August 2019 - 59

some measure of shelter, I've found
the cramped conditions created by a
skirt or enclosure makes drawing and
shooting my compound bow difficult;
your bow limb might strike the skirt or
shooting rail.
Tripod stands also get hunters off
the ground, ostensibly above the deer's
line of sight. They may be harder on
the pocketbook than climbing or ladder
stands, but if you're determined to hunt
open fields, hedgerows, or young forests with insufficient mature trees, they
might be the only solution.
Like ladder stands, most tripods measure 15 to 20 feet from the ground to the
shooting rail. Most also have seats that
rotate 360 degrees, allowing the hunter
to adjust to any approaching buck. Other
than price, their major drawbacks are
their tendency to stick out among their
surroundings and safety rails that might
impede vertical-bow use.
Approaching game also might have
a better chance of detecting careless
hunters on tripods.
For the bowhunter who has deep
pockets, especially older hunters who've
grown tired of "roughing it" and prefer
absolute comfort afield, weather-proof
elevated blinds, constructed of wood,
metal or fiberglass, have become
increasingly popular.
Most are roomy capsules that boast
all the comforts of home, and many
can be accessorized with heating and
cooling units. Most feature 360-degree
shooting coverage that accommodates
any sporting arm.
Many of these models can be mounted
on stairs or towers up to 20 feet or, like
the shooting shacks from which they
evolved, can serve as ground blinds.
Like other tower stands, they can be
effective in open fields or other places
AUGUST 2019	

where other tree stands aren't an option.
The main drawback for these upscale
blinds, other than a sticker price of
$3,000 or more, is their minimal portability.
With rare exception, once you select
the site and place one, it's there to stay.

THE HIGHS AND LOWS
So, how high or low can a stand be
placed and still be effective?
Terrain and topography always play
roles, but there are differences, too,
between hunting from open or concealed stands.
Given the close-range nature of bowhunting, a stand on the ground - where
all movements by the hunter are directly
in a deer's line of sight - generally is
ineffective. Within a blind, however,
a hunter on the ground stands a good
chance at success.
The same holds true with lowhanging stands. Concealment might be
essential at low heights, but it becomes
less of a factor the higher a hunter goes.
Inside or outside of a blind, folks
hunting from the ground or closer to it,
should take care to use masking scents,
full camouflage, and facemasks - especially when wearing glasses that might
reflect sun glare.
The same goes for stand hunters
below 20 feet in elevation. Above that
height, facemasks and full camo become
less critical.
Elevated blinds or stands, coupled
with skirts set at almost any height can
be effective.
But at lower altitudes, cautious
archers still might want to add a heaping helping of masking scent and a
facemask. Otherwise, you just might
find yourself busted when you draw
that bow.
59
Pennsylvania Game News - August 2019

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