Great information. How often do you draw a tag and what weapon do you use out of your tree stands?
Great questions.
I've been awarded one (1) late season permit in the last 10 years. I accompanied another hunter this past year (2019) that had only put in twice, and secured a coveted late season permit that takes 10+ years to secure. So...go figure! Not only am I envious of his luck, I also respect and admire his singular accomplishment in killing a very respectable migrating/rutting buck from one of my tree stand locations. See photo of his 2019 buck laying in the back of his truck.
The tree stand Brad killed his permit buck from is one of several I have observed migrating and rutting bucks from during the past 10 years. Just because I don't have a late season permit in hand does not mean I can't sit in these locations and learn something every November-December.
I'm not the type to be awarded a late season permit and then scurry around for several months trying to figure out a hunting strategy. Rather, instead of "re-inventing the wheel" I'd prefer to KNOW exactly where and when to hunt, and maximize my chances of killing a trophy buck once awarded one of those coveted permits. That's simply how I go about it.
I use a battered (36 year) old Winchester model 94 in .30-30 caliber to hunt deer from my tree stands. I purchased this rifle new at a Coast to Coast store in 1984. See photo of 2015 buck killed during an October general season.