A couple months ago, I setup a feeder and stand for a good friend who is "shooter challenged" when it comes to hitting deer with a rifle. Now I'm second guessing the distance between the stand and feeder as being a little too close (40 yards).

What is the minimum distance that you would put between a stand and feeder for rifle shots?

Thanks.

100 yards.

I've seen lots of them at 60 yards but I think for your friend 40 yards might be just fine, if he can sit still. If he can't and he also can't shoot well, I'm not sure I would want him hunting.

Our stands now are 85-110 yards.

My old stand I hunted out of for 10+ years on our last lease was 32 yards from the front of my stand to the center of the feeder. You have to be quiet and you have to be cautious with movements and set the stand/feeder up with your prevalent winds in mind.

We've typically always been at least 100 yards as well. On my FIL's place one of my blinds is right at 150 yards and another is about 60 yards, just due to the lack of an open area. Year by year we clear out more trees and brush and keep pushing it back a little bit at a time.

What ever distance your friend fills comfortable shooting at

The shorter the distance, the more disciplined your friend will need to be about noise, movement, and wind. But I hunted a place for a while that had several at ~60 yds, very doable. When bow hunting I wanted them at 20 yds.

85-175 yards on our place. Very thick south Texas brush country. The couple that are less than 100 yards are in very good areas and only allowed that distance due to creek drainage on either side of the stands/feed pens. Most of ours average 125 yards. I'd like 150-200 on all of them, but not everyone is comfortable (or capable of) shooting deer at those distances. Plus, we take a good many kids who are just learning about deer hunting. The shorter yardage stands work great for them.

I've shot deer from a tree stand with a rifle at 10 yards, at 40 yards and at 100.

I like being 150+ just so I don't have to worry about being too quiet.

Mind is 185 away. I like the distance so the quite part isn't a big issue.

Last place was 192 yards. Current place is 70 yards due to being in the forest and wanting to be able to see it.

He shared with me that he once shot at a doe that was about 100 yards away, and a doe some distance behind her dropped from the hit. I was able to get him to join me for a trip to the range by saying I would pay our range fees and supply the ammo. It was a very good and eye-opening experience for him.

While such poor shooting skills may be rare or even non-existent for those who visit this site, I'm not sure the same is true for the entire deer hunting community. If you ask anyone who mounts scopes and sights in rifles at any of the gun ranges, I'm sure they would tell you they see customers all the time who plan to take their new rifle and scope to the woods without ever having fired a shot.

Mine are right around 100 yards because that's one of the distances the range by my house has. Makes it easy to zero the rifle and practice the shot we will see in the field. When my kids were first starting out, I had the stand at 75 yards to be a little closer.

My two are ~85 and ~120 yards simply because the layout seemed right. I would not want to be 40 yards because I'm not that stealthfull. But if it works then I see no issue.

I don't believe there is a minimum distance. It comes down to ability and preferences. Some people like them close for the challenge, and some farther to mask movement and noise.

7

Thanks again for all the feedback.

We added some burlap netting around the rails of this tripod, which should help conceal his movement.

The guy is 99% meat hunter, meaning having to take mature and wary buck is not at all important to him. If he can get two does for the freezer, he'll be a happy camper.

I should add that IMO, the minimum distance question was a good one to ask and share feedback.

We have setups from 60-200 yrds. The beauty of the 200 yrd stands is that you can be as loud as you want and it isn't likely to bother the deer.

40 yards is fine as long as he can sit still.

100-200 yards.

I have a box blind on the ground at 35 yards and a tree stand at 140. Wish it was switched but that is the best blind location for each spot

I like mine at least 100 yds, but I have a very bad back and am unable to set still very long without having to move.

I'm beginning to sense that many of you guys need to try hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun. It is sure to make you better at being still and easing into a shot. For that reason, I'm good with being as close as 30-40 yards given I have good and more natural cover that gives the element of surprise. But if I'm hunting a stand that's more out in the open, I want at least 75 yards, but no more than 150 yards between me and the deer. I don't consider myself skilled well enough to make shots beyond 150 yards.

Having more than 1 stand to allow for wind from different directions will allow you to set feeders and stands closer. Only hunt stands that the wind is correct on.