At 16 yds, I'd go no higher than 9-10 feet. That height will allow you a good shot angle on the bear's vitals. If you get too high, you risk not getting a double lung hit. Also, the backbone of a bear is very solid and will deflect an arrow no matter how strong of a bow its shot from and if you're too high in your stand, its very easy to inadvertently hit the backbone. By putting your stand up in the 9-10 feet range, you're high enough that a bear can't reach you from the ground if it smells you and becomes curious. Keep that shot angle fairly low and you'll take out both lungs or you'll make a heart/lung shot. Good luck!

Thanks. Sounds like good advise. I'll be using my 30-30. Does that change your answer at all.

No, the shot angle would be the same for a rifle as it would be for archery. Either way you want the path of the bullet/arrow to take out both lungs or the heart/lung area. I've heard that the backbone is tough enough that it can and will deflect some bullets, so be careful of getting up too high in your stand. I would stay below 12 feet if at all possible.

Thanks again.

At 50 yards with a 30/30 i'd be about 10 - 15 feet. no higher...
I was 15 feet for both of mine and it was perfect at 30 yards.

Im about 15 too thats perfect i find

My Factory stand is 15' to the seat. I set it up25 yds from my bait.
A lesson was learned the hard way....a very large bear was sneaking into my bait and i turned my body to the right just abit and moved my right foot about
6 inches.....he was 100 feet away and picked up that slight move and was gone with 2 hops. That is why he is so big... i now dress my stand with a few
spruce branches to break up my profile and i now hold my breath till they get in closer..... ,)

i am from woodstock nb 5 minutes from houlton maine, good luck with the bear hunt. i hunt from about 10 to 12 feet off the ground and i cover my stand with lots of brush. i shot a 250pound plus last spring. he came in within 20 yards, my 10 year old daughter was in my stand with me, two in the stand 10 feet off the ground, bear never saw us, 10 year old not real quiet, cover is MOST important, you do not need to be real high off the ground. good luck !!