ADVANTAGES OF HUNTING FROM A
HIGH VANTAGE POINT

Hunting from a high point, whether from a tree or a turret, offers certain advantages to the hunter, making of this still hunting technique a very effective strategy in many situations.

The advantages listed below are valid regardless of the weapon we use, but it is true that they make even more sense in the case of bow hunting, since the limitation of the effective shooting distance with this weapon – and even more so if we use it in the hours of low visibility, at dawn or dusk or even late at night – forces us to position ourselves very close to the animal we are chasing.

So that will be the first big advantage that a high position will offer: the possibility of reducing the distance. It is not uncommon to see hang-on or ladder stands in trees located just fifteen meters from the feeder, the trail or the plot on which we wait for our prey to appear.

The elevated position provides us with a series of advantages that are in turn those that allow us to place ourselves closer than if we were on the ground.

Visibility. Being above the terrain, our angle of vision will be more direct over the hunting area, with our eyes, and therefore also our bullet or arrow, dodging the different natural obstacles that would otherwise prevent us from having a clean line of sight.

This same visual advantage will allow us to detect the movements of the animals as they approach, before they get in range and then follow them and see which direction they head to when they take off. And during the whole hunt, we will have a broader and overall view of the surrounding landscape beyond the first bush.

Reduction of scent and sounds. Being at altitude, the spread of the hunter’s scent is reduced and, although it will continue to be a golden rule to control the wind direction to make sure it does not blow from our back, sitting high will give us some room to avoid being detected by the very fine sense of smell of game.

The same goes for sounds. Being so close, the slightest movement or sound will be very easily detected by the animals so, once again, being several meters above the ground allows us a certain margin, greater than what we would have at ground level where any sound would immediately reach the ears of the animals, always alert.

Better shooting angle. When shooting from an elevated position, the hunter aims at a downward angle that makes it easier to place more accurate shots.

With a bow, accuracy is a vital factor and a mistake of a couple of centimeters can greatly affect the effectiveness of an arrow. In these cases, statistics show that angled trajectories, combined with the proper position of the animal, are much more effective.

Safety. The very fact of shooting from a high angle ensures that the projectile, arrow or bullet will always hit the ground and at close range, avoiding risks derived from stray projectiles. Likewise, although still hunting is usually solitary, in the case of other hunters in the area, being in a tree or elevated position reduces the risk of being seen or detected and reduces the risk of accidents.

Camouflage. The elevated position in a tree can provide better camouflage and concealment, as hunters can use the surrounding branches and vegetation to be less visible to prey.

The advantages are undoubted and numerous, but it is important to note that hunting from a tree also carries risks, such as falls from heights. The use of lifelines and safety harnesses is absolutely essential and we should never leave the ground without being properly tied and remain tied throughout the whole hunt until we are standing on the ground again.