The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your North Carolina certification.

Hunting from Elevated Stands

Elevated stands place the hunter above ground level. They can be tree stands placed in or against trees, or free-standing structures. They have become increasingly popular in recent years with both firearm and bow hunters. While they offer certain advantages, they also have some drawbacks, including a degree of risk.

Advantages

• Provide a wider field of vision—game is spotted sooner than at ground level
• Allow time to plan for best shot through earlier detection of game
• Position a hunter above the animal’s normal field of vision
• Make a hunter’s scent harder to detect and movement less noticeable
• Make a hunter more visible to other sportsmen so that he or she is less likely to be hit by a stray bullet
• Provide a good backstop for arrows or bullets due to shooting at a downward angle

Disadvantages

• Increase risk of injury resulting from falling
• Can be difficult to carry, especially large, portable stands
• Provide no protection from cold or wind
• Give little room for movement
• Cannot move toward game while hunting

See the next page to view types of elevated stands.

Treestand Overview Video

Launch the video!

To view this video a computer with Macromedia Flash and speakers or headphones is required. Most students will already have Flash installed. If not, follow this link to install the Flash Player.