Observation stands are a powerful tool for deer hunters gathering intel on mature bucks. Observation sits aren’t confined to any season, and they can be beneficial anytime you need to learn more about the deer you’re hunting. (Photo by Matt Love)
August 27, 2024
By John Kirby
Observation stands can be powerful tools. They allow hunters to locate, pinpoint and ambush a target animal and can provide invaluable intelligence. Observation stands have informed me of a buck’s presence that I previously was totally unaware of, and they’ve guided me precisely to a target animal’s final resting place.
I’ve used these stands in the early season, late season and off-season, during both mornings and evenings. I’ve even observed in the middle of the day, from a tree 20 feet up, in a floating boat and under an interstate bridge. But some of my best observations did not happen in a tree stand. Of my top 10 best observation sits, about half were spent in a clump of weeds, hunkered down in a sinkhole or a riverbed. The possibilities for quality observation stand locations are endless.
In fact, some hunters probably use observation stands without even knowing it. After all, every time we spend a couple of hours or more trying to lay eyes on a whitetail we are making observation sits — regardless of whether or not we’re planning to squeeze the trigger. It’s a double misnomer, because each time we hunt, observing takes place, and we don’t always climb a stand while deer hunting or executing observation stands.
Trail cameras have largely taken the place of observation stands, partly because the fast-paced world we reside in makes carving out time to look for deer difficult to justify. However, there is extreme value in observation stands, and implementing them under the right circumstances can be the difference between eating a tag and filling one.
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ALL THINGS OBSERVATION An essential component to effectively using observation stands is remaining undetected, even well after we depart. If deer are spooked during an observation, we undermine our own efforts and likely do more harm than good. That means taking every precaution and maybe even going beyond the typical safeguards we implement when we actually hunt.
Whether it be entry and exit routes, scent dispersion or wind, it all matters. If we want observation intel to remain relevant, we must stay undiscovered.
During the summertime, there’s nearly no better place to observe whitetails than a soybean field. High in digestible energy during late summer, bean fields are magnets for whitetails and often provide hunters with the ability to see and observe long distances. (Photo courtesy of John Kirby) A litany of reasons exists why I am a fan of observation stands. My main reason is that nothing compares to seeing things with my own eyes. One of the biggest bucks that I have seen in the last three years stood less than 15 feet from two different cellular trail cameras and neither captured a photo of the brute. Had I not seen this happen with my own eyes during an observation, it could have been weeks or months until this buck’s presence was known.
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Even if trail cameras never fail, photos of a deer don’t hold the same weight as witnessing actual deer movement, behavior and personality. Even though my love/hate relationship with trail cameras remains, I won’t be retiring their usage any time soon. Trail cameras are powerful tools, but nothing trumps observing whitetails with my own eyes.
Observation stands can be located anywhere, and they work all over the country. Hunters can generally find an area to spy on deer without alerting them to their presence, regardless of the habitat or terrain. Also, irrigation ditches, farm machinery, old barns, food plot screens, berms, hay rolls, rivers and creeks can all be used to travel and hide oneself when tree stands are not an option.
Travel corridors, staging areas and food sources are great places for observation stands — as long as hunters can observe movement and extract themselves without bumping deer. Essentially, my goal is to see as much deer activity as I can while remaining as far away as the terrain allows.
When possible, I will use a climbing stand as my perch; however, many scenarios exist in which getting elevated is not an option. In such situations, be creative and think outside the box. I have shoveled out more than a few foxholes over the years just for the opportunity to spy on deer without my presence being known. I personally owe a big shoutout to my stepdad for not strangling me for digging on his land over the last 30-plus years.
While observation stands ideally reveal the way a mature buck uses an area and allow hunters to intercept him in the coming days, these stands also provide a great deal of other valuable information. Sometimes observation stands uncover the presence of a new buck, or one who doesn’t frequent the areas you have been devoting all your efforts toward.
An observation sit doesn’t have to occur in a tree stand. The author often sets up on the ground or in other obscure locations to observe potential target bucks. He says a majority of his best observation sits have occurred on the ground. (Photo courtesy of John Kirby) An often-overlooked aspect of fooling a whitetail buck, for example, is the need for the hunter to deceive all the deer that come before the target deer arrives. One mishap or wind shift can spook a single deer, which in turn, can create a domino effect that greatly reduces the odds of success that day and even in the future.
Observation stands provide a 30,000-foot view, allowing hunters to account for many possible variables they may encounter on hunts. One great perk of observation stands is that it can provide us with the information we need to plan rock-solid exit routes for evening hunts. That level of detail grants us another crack at things if we are unsuccessful on the first hunt.
Reading body language and understanding a target buck’s individual personality is also useful information gleaned from an observation. For example, if I learn the buck that I am after is a very dominant and aggressive animal, I can use that information to possibly entice him by rattling or decoying him closer to November. Conversely, not all mature whitetails are fighters, and some big bucks avoid other deer like the plague. Understanding the loner behavior of some bucks is yet another piece of the puzzle potentially gained via observation stands.
Observation stands provide loads of information. Tangible data, such as uncovering where a giant buck is staging and entering a food source, is critical intelligence. Once I started paying attention to all the small nuggets of information as closely as the obvious, my success rate rose.
In fact, there is so much to be learned during an observation that I highly recommend adding a deer hunting journal to your pack. I often include tidbits of information in my journal that seem inconsequential at the time, but later that information can become a key factor in harvesting a target animal.
Recording all the data, even the seemingly innocuous information, can pay future dividends.
GEAR FOR OBSERVATION SITS To maximize observation sits, consider what gear is essential for extrapolating as much information as possible. First, a quality set of binoculars is a must in my observation stand kit. They don’t have to be top-of-the-line goggles with high magnification, but binoculars are one of those areas where we often get what we pay for.
If you’re hunting terrain is heavily wooded or has limited visibility, a 6- or 8-power binocular will likely be the sweet spot. If spying on deer in large, open expanses like a massive bean field or prairie, having some more magnification can be beneficial. For me, an 8-power binocular with a 42mm objective is best for the places I frequently hunt in the Midwest. An 8-power gives me a nice wide field of view, and the 42mm objective performs pretty well in low-light environments.
The author has some essential tools he takes on each observation sit. These include binoculars based on his situation, a rangefinder and a climbing tree stand if he wants to be elevated. (Photo courtesy of John Kirby) Also, when using ground-dwelling observation stands, having a tripod where I can attach my binoculars can greatly increase my comfort and efficiency. I always have a tripod in my truck because they are handy for many things. Spotting scopes, while not necessary for most whitetail hunters, can prove valuable on those occasions when views stretch out over a half-mile. If you are a traveling whitetailer who frequents many states and new hunting areas, having more than one optic to cover any situation is not a bad idea.
Another tool in my observation stand kit is a rangefinder. This might sound like an odd choice since I rarely even carry my bow during these observatory stands, but the rangefinder tells me how far away I am from my target animal. I can then use it to range potential hunting locations in relation to where the deer travels. This allows me to find an ambush point within bow range of the buck’s travel route.
For example, if a mature buck enters a crop field 400 yards away and skirts between two sinkholes with some standing timber growing within, having the ability to range the animal and surrounding landmarks can give me the distance of a shot opportunity from each perspective location. With this type of intel, I often can eliminate variables, avoid mistakes brought on by guessing yardages and increase my chances of success. While I lack natural superpowers, binoculars and rangefinders are the next best thing.
IN CONCLUSION Observation stands without sightings of a targeted whitetail are also valuable. Part of the equation is eliminating ground, too. Inactivity during an observation stand can warn us of pattern shifts and confirm or eliminate trail camera malfunctions. As whitetail hunters, sometimes silver linings are the best we can hope for. After all, one common denominator of almost every good deer hunter I know is optimism.
Observation stands provide hard, valid and current data about the activity and animal movement on your hunting ground. With all that said, I’m certainly not advocating against trail camera usage. Quite the opposite, actually. I encourage folks to combine the two along with scouting and any other knowledge-gathering tactic that is legal, ethical and moral.
