Location

Before you head out with your high seat, don’t waste time trying to guess where a good location might be, do some homework ahead of time. Trail cams are a perfect source of information; always check your footage ahead of time to see what area the deer frequently visit. Take advantage of natural larder. Deer will readily take all acorns, beechnuts and chestnuts; you should always pay close attention to these areas. It's always best to use nature’s bounty as corn and other feeds can be expensive! As the natural food diminishes, keep an eye on any feed rides and feed bins used by the game shoot. This can be an ace card at times or put your feed bins in place. BUT DON’T OVERSHOOT IT, otherwise it will work against you. You will push the deer away and defeat the purpose of having high seats.

Set Up

When locating your high seats, try to use the biggest tree you can. Stability is the key and a stable shooting platform will increase your chances of a kill ten fold. Once you have decided on your spot a good idea would be to remove any branches that would obscure your view. Do get permission from the landowner before you remove large branches or chopping down any trees. Use between a 3-5 tonne strap to secure the high seat to the tree. Remember, some seats can weigh over 40kg, not including your own weight and the equipment. If possible, have someone come along to help you set up your high seat. Having an extra pair of eyes will help you make sure everything is laid out correctly and that you have a right angle. The last thing you want to do is spend the day erecting your high seat for you to have missed something and start all over again.

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