I will be bow hunting Saturday from a tree-stand about 20ft high and looking for any tips or pointers on situations I may encounter... Obvious tips such as practice and be still and wear camo to blend in to the tree are not needed.
Tips...
- shoot an inch high or low? I am getting conflicting info. My kill zone is wooded and my farthest shot will be 25 yds.
- safety- I have a vest & lifeline. Should I also wear a tree belt for extra safety or is it redundant?
- gear- bow, release, quiver w/ arrows with broadheads and fixed for deer or hogs, range finder, water, quiet snack, book, pee jug, Thermacell,seat cushion?
- stand up every 30 mins or so (but still stay as still as possible)
- what else???

Best advice I can give you is practice from the height you will be hunting at. When I shoot from a elevated stand, I drop my arm down on my target, whereas you are supposed to bend at the waist. So when I do this, I have to aim lower.
Also, learn to shoot sitting down and at different angles. The only time I stand to shoot is if the deer comes around to my off hand side or directly behind me. If you chose to stand to shoot, just bend at the waist and aim for dead on if the deer is relaxed. If the deer is nervous, aim for the belly line. I shot a buck at 13 yds. I had to mouth grunt him to stop and put him on full alert. I aimed just below the belly line, since I drop my arm and do not bend, and still hit him high. Only got one lung. Just amazing how much they can drop that quick.

Not sure how your stand is, but mine is a little ladder stand that's pretty limited in how much you can move around. I have to shoot much more "looking forward" than I normally shoot my bow standing up. It can be very disorienting drawing a bow and finding the sight from a position you're not used to.

many times, I will take a blunt or field tip arrow and shoot one time when I get to the stand to make sure everything "is on". Can give you a lot of confidence knowing you are going to hit where you are aiming (or let's you know to fix something).

Here is my stand:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=1505717
I will have to get on the apex of my roof to recreate my shot angle. I've shot from my kid's tree fort with good results. I plan on sitting while shooting and have been practicing that way, but if I have to stand, I will. I just don't want the tree stand to "creak" as I do.
I'm on a game trail so I am not sure if the deer will just walk on by or if they'll stop for some corn that I have been tossing out of a bucket feeder. Does grunting almost always get them to stop and look around if they are walking?

99.9% of the time!!! But if you have some corn out, pretty sure they will stop for a nibble. Never seen one that didn't.
Another thing I can add, once you get in your stand, load a arrow and draw your bow back, sitting and standing, in all your shooting directions. This way, you can make sure nothing is hampering your bow while drawing back or at full draw. Nothing worse than having a deer come in only to find out that little branch over your head or just off to the side is going to mess things up.

Great tip. Thanks.

That is a great idea. Thanks. I kept wanting to do some practice shots while I was setting it up, but never got a chance.

The best tip I will give is" dont go up a tree without a safety harness"

Range everything beforehand. That way you're not making noise and movements with a rangefinder when you should be drawing back.

If you don't have a rangefinder, buy one. One with an angle calculator built in.

Don't get in a hurry when climbing up or down. Most accidents occur when entering or exiting the stand, getting in a hurry. Always keep 3 points of contact when climbing (1 hand, 2 feet or vice versa).

Use a hoist rope to raise and lower your gear. I like to have a carabiner on my line, it makes attaching gear so quick and easy. I want to get a hook to put on my line, to retrieve dropped stuff, but always seem to forget one when at the hardware store.

For rangefinding, I mark my hunting area with flagging tape that corresponds to the pin color on my sight. I can tell at a glance where a animal is, and know which pin I need to take the shot with.

Binoculars are a great tool, and keep you entertained while on stand.

Paperback books are a low tech way to pass the time, you may need that phone battery to take trophy pics later!

Apples and nuts are great snacks while on stand, and non offensive to critters.

As stated above, marking distances is worth the time. Range from the base of the tree while standing on the ground to a spot 20 yards away then place a marker. Then to 30 yards and place a marker. Place enough markers so that you can look out in a few different directions where deer may come in and instantly know how far they are. Wooden stakes with spray painted tops work well. Or just use small rock piles.

Also great advice above. Aim low if the deer is alert, especially a skittish doe. Sometimes bucks can come to a feeder and be obvlivious and stand still till the arrow passes through them but, in my experience, a doe never will.

When in a treestand I always sit and try to be as still as possible. This means making sure I am comfortable, my head cover is positioned so I can see well and that I have my bow across my lap with an arrow nicked and my release attached. If you practice sitting still your discipline will improve where you may not need to stand but every hour or more.

Conversely, pop ups are far more comfortable. With mesh in place I sit comfortably, look on my phone, have my bow in a holder next to me, drink water etc. It is much more enjoyable for me to hunt this way.

Finally, wear a tree harness. If you think you might doze off up there I'd also wear a seat belt. It wouldn't be fun waking up as your tree harness catches you in mid fall.

Good luck

Aim low, I always aim for a heart shot or a low lung shot, if the deer drops any you still make a great shot. Never shoot at a nervous deer, they will jump string and a poor is likely. Carry an extra release if you have one just incase you drop yours. Follow thru with your shot. Watch the arrow all the way thru the deer. Be patient and wait for the right shot, don't take iffy shots.

That high you will be an inch or two low at 20 yards anyhow. Aim for the heart and kill them.

make sure when at your spot you clear shooting lanes and I walk off certain trees to know the distances. If you hunt from a mobile stand i would practice setting it up and taking down (especially in the dark)

Be vewy, vewy still.

most important have fun enjoy yourself you don't have to kill a deer to make it a good hunt

Don't try to eat the deer until you've shot it.

don't fall

I alwys keep a plastic bag or two for my rangefinder, night vision monocular and phone.

Don't forget the Slop jar