Hunters often emphasize the importance of making the first shot count. Once it is taken, everything changes; you no longer have the element of surprise, confidence is lessening, and prey is on high alert. This is also true with hunting and stands. Your best chance of bagging a trophy is during your first sit, and it’s essential to make it count.

It may be July, but hunting season is on everyone’s mind. Licenses have gone on sale, tags are being selected, and the first day of archery season is growing closer every day. Before long, it will be time to wake up early and take a stand. But will it be successful?

Statistically, most hunters are unlikely to be successful on their first day. Many hunters will sit on the same stand day after day and not fill any tags. While there are many reasons for this to happen, the most common is that they eventually make mistakes and burn the stand –but they keep hunting it, hoping to get lucky. This is unlikely to happen. Like a field after a wildfire, once a stand is burned, it is unlikely to see growth until the following season.

This last season, I bagged a beautiful 8-point within minutes of first light on opening day. Why? Because everything was perfect. Let’s look at what fell into place and made that possible.

STAND LOCATION IS FIRST

The first aspect of any stand being successful is location. If the stand is not where deer are likely to be, then you are simply hoping one wanders into range. Having your stand near a bedding area, food source, game trail, or natural funnel increases your odds of success. If your stand is placed for convenience rather than advantage, it is time to move it.

DO NOT HUNT WHEN CONDITIONS ARE POOR

Even good stands can be burned when they are overhunted, especially when this hunting takes place under poor conditions. Poor wind conditions, going in or out when you are likely to bump into deer, or even checking for signs without taking precautions can kill a stand before a shot is even taken.

The stand I hunted last season was very inviting during the archery season, but the conditions were never right. By skipping my favorite spot and hunting lesser-quality stands during less-than-ideal conditions, I was able to save it for the right time. Opening day was the right time, and it paid off.

DO NOT FORGET OTHER HUNTERS

One factor that is almost impossible to control but is a serious consideration nonetheless is the presence of other hunters. Having other hunters in or near the property you are hunting will, without a doubt, impact how deer react, and you need to take that into account.

Back to last fall. I knew that no one else would be hunting the property I was on. However, I also knew that someone would be hunting the adjacent property and have a stand about 500 yards from my location. Knowing this stand was there and that it would be occupied allowed me to anticipate how deer might reach – how they might move if they detected another hunter, how they would react if that hunter took a shot, and where I might not have a shot due to the hunter’s location. All of these factors allowed me to plan my hunt more effectively.

PLAN TO SIT AS LONG AS NEEDED

Although it was not necessary last year, sitting for long periods has been essential in the past. I always dress and come prepared to sit for the entire day. Leaving after a few hours because you are cold or at lunchtime because you are hungry means missing the mid-day movement that typically occurs during popular hunting days. Be prepared to sit for an extended period and hope to finish earlier than expected.