Are climbing stands safe?

[Andy G]

Got a question for you hunters.

This year Im going to be doing my deer hunting on public/government land,therefore using a ladder stand is out of the question.

This leaves me with 2 options.

1.Use a climbing stand.
2.Hunt from a ground blind.

My buddy has a climber that I can use if I want to but Im not sure I trust it.
I know 2 guys that have fallen because their stand slipped while climbing a tree.

Anyway I just wanted to get some general opinnions on climbing stands and there saftey before I go out and buy one of those niffty pop up blinds.

Thanks
Andy

 

[Robert inOregon]

Yes, climbers are dangerous. But if properly used, its near impossible to get hurt. The harness is suppose to be utilized during ascending and descending trees. Its the most vulnerable time when using these devices and usually when people get hurt.

Ground blinds!?! Well, they suck!

 

[one-shot-one]

see the post here about tree loung stands.
their web site is www.treelounge.com

 

[dakotasin]

i hunted from tree stands for awhile... just didn't feel like i had the mobility i wanted. i hunt from the ground, now (note: that is not ground blinds) and my success has grown by leaps and bounds.

climbing stands require 'special' trees to use successfully (no low branches), and there aren't many of those in these parts.

 

[Kingcreek]

agreed, climbers only work in certain trees.
You should be strapped to the tree from the time your feet leave the ground until they are back on the ground again. Preferably with full a harness type safety system and not just a belt.
I use several stands and have come to prefer the strap-on "stick ladder" steps and a stand like the Gorilla Kong.

 

[Atticus]

Climbers are pretty handy, if you know exactly where your going to put it, and have a tree staked out in advance (with limbs removed for climbing and shooting zones cleared). The two things I'd look out for are:
1) Slick barked trees (slippery when wet). 2) Balancing your weight in the center of the bottom part of the stand (they tip quite easily).
Wear that belt going up and down (even if your buddies make fun of you). Their opinions won't count for much when your riding in your new wheel chair.

 

[Andy G]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input.

I still have to do some scouting of the area Im going to hunt and I'll probly use which ever one looks like it would work best.

Andy

 

[BMWGuru]

Climbing stands are safe as long as you wear a safety harness. You also want to tie a rope between the upper section of the stand and the lower, it's not much fun climbing down the tree with just the upper section.

 

[PawDaddy]

As I was growing up, we always used home-made ladder stands. When my son started asking for a climber, I put him off for a while. Then it hit me; if you have a full harness safety belt and hook up to the tree while still on the ground, you are alot safer than going up a ladder stand.

We bought my son and API stand, but I would say that most of the modern climbers are safe as long as you do your part and wear the safety harness at all times.