There is no perfect tree stand height, but most public land hunters find success between 15 and 20 feet. That range keeps you above a deer’s direct line of sight while still allowing controlled shots. Going higher can improve scent dispersion, but it also increases movement visibility and makes shots steeper, which can reduce your effective range.
Use cover more than height. A stand hidden in limbs at 15 feet is often better than a stand at 25 feet with no cover. Wind direction and access matter more than an extra five feet of elevation. If you cannot climb silently or safely, the height is not worth it.
Adjust height based on terrain. On a steep slope, you might only need to be 12 feet up because the deer are already below you. In flat timber with open trunks, 18 to 20 feet helps break up your outline. Let concealment, shot quality, and safe access guide the decision.
On public land, the details that seem small add up fast. Mark the conditions you saw, how deer reacted, and how other hunters used the area. Those notes let you build a repeatable plan instead of relying on luck. If a spot produced but access was marginal, adjust your route next time. The goal is to learn faster than the pressure changes, and to stack small improvements over the season. That mindset keeps you ahead of the average hunter and in sync with how deer adapt.