Whether it’s shivers from a November wind, early season jitters, or an overwhelming urge to see what’s over the next ridge, many hunters find reasons to leave their stands. However, most outfitters will ask you to stay in your stand until you are picked up. I talked with Zeke Espey of Espey Outfitters to learn why clients should listen to their outfitters and grow roots stronger than those of the tree they are perched in. Zeke has a long history of putting big deer on the ground, including a 215” Missouri giant. Here’s what he had to say.
Safety First
The number one reason to stay in your stand until your outfitter picks you up is safety. Espey said, “If a guy gets down out of his stand and starts walking around and something happens to him, he falls and breaks his leg or has a heart attack, then we won’t be able to find him.” It’s also common knowledge that most treestand accidents take place while hunters are getting into or out of their stands. In the unfortunate event that an accident does happen, having someone close by could literally be the difference between life and death.
Success Comes from Staying in Your Stand
You’ve done the research, checked references, and shelled out the money for an outfitted whitetail hunt. Why wouldn’t you trust your outfitter on where and when to hunt? Espey said, “We’ve got [our hunters] in the best spots that we know of and we’ve been studying the deer year-round. We hang the stands and we put out trail cameras and we kind of know where the best places are. If they get out there walking around, the chances of them killing a deer drops probably 60 percent. It’s going to be harder for them to get a kill if they’re down and walking around.” Listen to your outfitter, stay in your stand, and kill a big buck. It’s that simple.
Be a Good Neighbor
Most whitetail outfitters do their best to keep the number of hunters in camp to a level the property can support. That said, you probably won’t be the only hunter on the property. By leaving your stand before you’re supposed to, you’ll not only reduce your chances of killing a buck, you may have a negative impact on another hunter’s hunt. Espey said that a hunter out walking around is “going to be scaring animals for everybody else.” Whitetail outfitters manage their properties with precision and a haphazard walk through a bedding area or sanctuary could affect the hunting for the remainder of the season. Be respectful of your outfitter and your camp-mates and stay in your stand.
Stay in Your Stand for an Easy Recovery
You just shot the biggest buck of your life. Great! The urge to get down and get your hands on him can be almost unbearable, but the smart move is to stay in your stand. Espey said, “Once you get out of the stand, it’s harder to figure out exactly where the deer was standing when you shot it. We tell our guys to pick out a spot that’s close by and call or text us from the stand. It just makes it easier to recover the animal afterwards.” If you made a marginal shot, it’s even more important to stay in your stand. Deer hunting outfitters are experts at tracking and reading blood trails and having your guide along could help you make the right decision on how long to wait before tracking your deer.
By staying in your stand until your outfitter picks you up, you’ll stay safe, have a better chance of success, and recover your trophy quicker. Isn’t that what you want out of your outfitted deer hunt?
To book a hunt with Espey Outfitters contact them at guidefitter.com/espeyoutfitters
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