Come Nov. 1, most deer hunters will climb into some kind of stand from which to hunt. For some, this may be the first time they have been in their stand since last season and for a few, the first time ever. From personal experience, I think this may be a serious error.

Here are a few suggestions about deer stands.

Stands should be placed in locations with wind direction as a major consideration. If you can, keep the wind in your face. Try to place the stand where you do not approach it by walking through the area where deer may be later. Your scent and the scent of your boots last a long time.

I try to back my stand up to a cedar tree to help it blend into the surroundings. Sometimes I cut a couple of cedars and place them in front of the stand.

If you have your stand there for quite a while before deer season starts, deer can get used to anything. I have seen old truck and car bodies used for stands.

For safety sake, I like my stand to be elevated above the area where I will be shooting. This will make any shot go into the ground, not out behind the deer.

I am getting older and really don't like to climb, but even four to six feet off the ground will make a safety difference. It also allows for a little better view of the area. Some stands can be too high for good visibility.

Before the season starts, get the stand ready. First, I set off a bug bomb to kill any wasps, spiders or other critters that may have moved in. Next, I clean up all the trash left behind from last year.

Take the time to test your chair. Make sure it does not squeak and works properly. Adjust the height, and with your actual hunting rifle make sure it is high enough to make comfortable shots. You might even a shot from the stand to make sure you are comfortable.

I use a sand bag to rest the front of my rifle. Part of an old pants leg filled with sand works great.

I have seen people hang a string from the stand's ceiling with a loop on it which is slipped over the end of the scope. This allows the hunter to have the rifle ready to take aim with little or no movement, with the forearm on the window sill and the rear supported. You can do the same thing with a tripod rest like the adjustable Bog-Pog.

Hunters usually take too long to take a shot. Once that deer presents itself for a clean shot, you should be able to take the shot within five seconds.

Movement in the stand can alert deer, so the less you move the better. The noise of getting your rifle up and out the window can be considerable. To help with this, keep your rifle ready, and do not have any back light behind you.

If your stand has windows all around, block off the window behind you. I use curtains made of camouflage burlap material. I just staple it to the stand right above the window, and then I cut it into twoinch strips. I clip it up if it gets in my way.

Also, if the wind is coming from behind your stand, make sure it is not going through your stand and carrying your scent to the hunting area.

When you set up your stand, take along a friend. Put him in the stand and stand off a ways. See if you can see the friend when he is in the shadows inside. This will give you a good idea of what you can get away with while hunting.

The chair is important to me. I like a high-back, comfortable chair because I will be sitting for several hours at a time.

I like one that I can adjust the height with a lever on the side. Those $10 plastic resin chairs are OK, but after three hours they tend to get a little hard. Rollers on chairs are nice, but make sure they don't make much noise. Use indoor outdoor carpet to keep the noise down.

Lastly, if it ever gets cold enough to wear gloves and you plan on shooting with them, practice with them. I cannot feel the trigger well in gloves. I use a mitten/ glove combination -- a glove without finger tips that is covered up with a mitten.

When it is time to shoot, I simply slip off the mitten part, and I'm ready to go.

John Johnston is a retired sergeat detective who served with the Austin Police Department for 25 years and was a licensed gun dealer for 25 years. He now lives in Lampasas County and can be reached via e-mail at olsingleshot@gmail.com.