Early season: Stands placed on or near prime food sources are good choices.
The lull: Because bucks typically move less during this phase, stands placed close to bedding areas and covering routes to feeding areas can be big producers.
Peak scraping: Placing stands near heavily used scrapes, located in areas where bucks feel safe, is an excellent choice for this phase.
Chase: Although there’s a risk factor, stands set in the thickest family group bedding areas are tough to beat.
The peak of the rut: Good options include the downwind edges of family group bedding areas, funnels separating doe groups, and inside corners of open food sources 15 to 20 yards inside the woods.
The second rut: Assuming getting in and out of an area without being detected is possible, hunting the edge of the food source where bucks enter is a good choice. It allows for natural buck movement and for does to lead bucks past the stand site. In the southern regions, where the second rut tends to blend in with the first, regular rut stands are also still good.
Late season: The trails that mature bucks use to access prime food sources are tough to beat. Setting up far enough away from the food source to allow undetected entry and exit is a must!