Climbing Stands

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countertop

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These may be some dumb questions, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice/guidance/info on climbing stands.

Wanted to pick one up prior to the start of this years deer season and was wondering

  • How they work exactly (and is there any online video of one in action I can check out)
  • What brands I should look at
  • If anyone has any thoughts on this Gorilla climbing stand

Once I get one, I plan on going out and testing it out/scouting with it. Also, how noisy are they when they climb? I assume I should get it in position at least the night before heading out and then getting up to it via some other fashion. Or, is it quite enough that I can get to my tree before the sun comes up and then ratchet myself up without making any noise?


Oh yeah, I will be hunting with a rifle mostly in the thick forests of Northwestern Virginia
 
I have a Summit Viper that I've used and like although the platform on mine is a little small. I've found that alot of the stands are heavy and clunky (noisy)to carry around in the early morning when its dark and I'm only semi-awake. IF you can leave it in the woods at the tree you plan on climbing it might be a good idea depending on how far you have to carry it and security in the area etc... I tend to hunt big woods more than fields and have found myself still hunting more and more. Last year I didn't use my stand at all. I had a Loggy Bayou strap on stand that was very light and easy to set up (not a climber) but I had to carry steps or a ladder. Make sure you practice using it well before hunting season and practice (low to the ground of course) desending without the platform on your feet. Everyone I know has at one time or another had the base slip off and had to shimmy down the tree with only the seat. Obviously a good harness system is a must, I put that on at camp instead of trying fumble with it in the dark.
 
I briefly flirted with treestands (mostly for bowhunting) a few years ago, so my knowledge is going to be entirely out of date on current models - but I can answer some of your questions.

First of all, you can't really put up a climbing treestand and leave it, and get back in it later with a ladder or something. Well... I guess you could, but they aren't designed for that, and I don't think it'd be very safe. Your weight is part of what holds the stand in place once you've got it in position (think of it like a cam, maybe) and that transition when you were climbing into it or out of it would be pretty dangerous.

Second, they don't make much noise when climbing. Most of the surfaces that will come into contact with the tree are padded, so unless the moving parts were rusty or something, I can't see it being all that loud. I guess if you had to cut some limbs down on the way up that might be pretty loud, but that'd be about it.
 
Summit stands seem to work better than the others I've tried. I've never used one like you asked about, but if you get it, make sure to get another set of cable clips. It's very frustrating trying to find one you dropped, in the dark. The summit doesn't use these clips and is the easiest to get up a tree I've ever tried.

The summit is also the least noisey climber I've used. You can get up a tree almost silently, but you have to work at it. I usually have a tree in mind when I take one in the woods. It's best to scout and pick out your tree(s) before hunting season. I like to either set one up a couple of weeks earlier or hunt it "right now". I'll leave one padlocked to the base of a tree, sometimes, but they will disappear like that.

I always preferred the open front archery type stand, even for rifle hunting. Stands with the rail in front, to me, are restricting and it's something else to bang your gear or rifle against. I shoot off my knees when in my treestand and practice by shooting out of a chair at the range. They are also usually several pounds lighter.

All that being said, I don't use my climber very often, anymore. Like the other poster, I tend to still hunt more than anything, now days. I usually carry lag type "tree steps" with me when still hunting and if I find a likely tree, I can be up in it in a few minutes. I'll rig a seat up out of safety harness straps, sit on a limb or in a fork. This gives me mobility but I still have the option to go up a tree. The dozen tree steps I carry weigh 4 1/2 lbs and easily fit in a fanny pack or 2 magazine pouches on my safety belt. Which brings up another point, ALWAYS WEAR A SAFETY BELT!

There's much more to treestand hunting than just climbing a tree and shooting a deer. I had someone "show me the ropes" many years ago. You might want to find someone to get you started, too.

Have fun and be safe
 
Climbing stands: Negative vote

Countertop--here's a different perspective on climbing stands: I HATE 'EM!!!

Friend loaned me one and I used it for a deer season. Every time I climbed up the tree and sat it felt like I was going to fall out. If you even shift your weight a little, the stand shifts on the tree.

You can't turn around in a climbing stand, so if a deer comes up from behind you, the deer is perfectly safe and you are perfectly frustrated. You're limited to about 90° of angle in which you can safely shoot.

It is a big production getting up & down the tree--so don't you dare forget anything, and you WILL need to go to the bathroom, and climb down to do it, and scare off the Jordan Buck.

You can't use your back pockets because you're sitting on them. Even your side pockets are a bit awkward to get into. And if you want to add or subtract clothing during the day, well, forget it, you have to climb down the tree first or risk falling out--too much shifting of weight.

When you attach the stand to the tree, and attach yourself to the tree, there are little worky bits that MUST be worked right for safety. Not a good proposition for someone who is cold and half-awake. For some stands the worky bits unscrew and screw back on--a fine opportunity to drop and lose pieces.

Re your question abt. climing quietly--Well, it's not noisy like a machine or anything, but getting yourself all hitched up, your gear all set on haul lines, the stand climbed up the tree, your safety strap set, your gear hauled up, and everything including yourself arranged properly, all in the dark before sunup, well, you get the idea. In the stealth department, you might as well be a high school marching band.

And say what you will about the climber not hurting the tree, but those saw-teeth or knife-edges can't be doing the tree any good!

Now, someone is going to post that it's me, and my technique is just wrong, and that all the problems I've encountered are surmountable, and climbing tree stands are God's gift to hunters. Mebbe so, but if so, someone else is going to have to discover and exploit that fact. I'm through with climbing tree stands. :barf:
 
While the above advice is true for just about every climber, it is totally incorrect for the Tree Lounge. It's kinda funny, because the list of Smokey Joe's problems is addressed in the Tree Lounge video, and is the reason the guy invented them. They are totally true for about 98% of the climbers on the market.

Climbers sound great until you start to use (most of) them. They're noisy, moderately to exceptionally hard to assemble, and shaky. Shaky takes on a whole new meaning when you're 30' off the ground. Hard to assemble takes on a whole new meaning when it's 20 degrees, there's snow on the ground, it's totally still and pitch dark.

Tree Lounge is exceptionally comfortable, about like an easy chair. It's almost impossible to fall out of and extremely stable. The video shows the owner of the company climbing a straight steel pole and bouncing up and down off the end of the stand. It didn't budge. You can turn around and shoot behind the tree.

As above, pick your tree out ahead of time. The idea of just walking into the woods in the dark, picking out a suitable tree and climbing it is pure BS in most every location I've seen.

I've know several guys that have fallen using climbing steps, so a climber is a good alternative IF you get the right one. If they're cheap, there's a reason they're cheap. Note that the size of the platform shrinks in relation to the height above the ground. A platform that's decent size at ground level shrinks to postage stamp size at 30'.

Also, as above, make sure to get a harness. The step thru ones that have the belts are a royal PITA. I have one I'd sell cheap. Get one of the vest things that have the harness built in. If you get a waist type single belt and fall, you flip upside down and are hanging feet up a few feet below your stand. Picture that alone in the dark at 20 degrees with all your winter clothes on.

Note..also as above, if your stand has any small parts (nuts, t-handles, bolts) get extra and keep them in your pocket.
 
Redneck is right on about this. I do not own a climber, I have a ladder stand, but I have borrowed a tree lounge. I have had climbers in the past, and if you use one regularly you get used to all the small movements when you shift your weight. But since I haven't used a climber for about nine years, I am not used to all the movement from climbing tree stands, so every movement seems magnified. But when I used my friends tree lounge there was none of the problems of the other climbers I have used. I felt completely safe. If I were looking for a climber I would be looking for a tree lounge.:D
 
Two thoughts. If you are thinking of getting one, get the video. You'll be sold. The owner's wife is maybe 55-60 and not in what I would consider excellent shape. Well, she's in shape if you consider round a shape. Anyway, from the time she starts until she's 30' up a tree is something like 2-3 minutes. Getting high is real important for scent control and also for movement without being seen.

Tree Lounge is slightly bulky compared to some other stands, but that's what makes it big enough when you get up the tree. It's super easy to carry as there are straps that go over your shoulders.

After knowing a couple of guys that have fallen, the only thing I'm gonna use is the tree lounge, permanent stand with a ladder, or a ladder stand. HTH
 
Interesting thread

I can't help with the issue of climbing stands as I have always used a ladder till this year.

Hate to kidnap the thread but has anyone used one of the tent-type ground blinds?

They seem to me like an excellent option if you have a kid along. Also seems like a good quality ground blind is about half the price of a ladder stand that will hold 2 people.

Any help much appreciated


S-
 
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I am an avid treestand hunter, but have no experience with climbers. Why? I personally know two people who fell and got hurt pretty badly using climbers. Both experienced hunters.

I like to have at least 5 stands set up on the couple of properties I hunt. I wait until Dick's has a sale on their $39 plain-old chain-on treestand, and snatch one or two up almost every year. Those, coupled with either screw-in treesteps or (much better) strap on tree-ladders, make for a quiet, safe, and cost efficient way to hunt from above.

I've also used ladder stands in the past with great luck, but like the higher concealment factor of a hang-on type stand.

Another reccomendation I have is the Hunter Safety System vest, no matter what kind of stand you decide on. I used a safety belt for years, then tried a very confusing couple of harnesses. I finally settled on this thing. It's as easy as slipping on a vest and much safer.

Good luck.
 
What draws me to climbing stands is the ability to puchase one and move it around as I move around. Also, my experience with solitary tree stands is that getting them fairly high into a tree is rather difficult with the materials you can afford to carry on your backpack.

If anyone has any advice on how to operate one better, or can direct me to a good video/web page on the subject, that might be helpful too.
 
Google is your friend....www.treelounge.com
I am an avid treestand hunter, but have no experience with climbers. Why? I personally know two people who fell and got hurt pretty badly using climbers. Both experienced hunters.
Click to expand...
This is what I was talking about. Most tree stands are an accident waiting to happen. One guy was in a "permanent" hanging stand. Heard a noise behind him and stepped to the edge of the stand. It shifted just a little. Since he was leaning, just a little was enough to send him 23 feet to the ground.

He landed between his arrow that had stuck in the ground and a log that had a broken branch sticking straight up. All he ended up with was a broken leg and broken ribs IIRC.

I had a real hard time parting with the $$$ for the Tree Lounge. I was talking with a guy that has one. He says "so, what's your life worth? Must be less than $300" .

I now have the tree lounge. I gave away my 3 fixed stands to friends. Kept the ladder stand for areas that the Tree Lounge won't work.

Get the archer's platform for the end. Makes it easy to stand up.

I used the screw in steps for years. Trying to climb frozen pegs in the dark and worm your way around the stand trying not to fall off and get in place with all your gear is more fun than I want anymore.

As a note to guys that use fixed stands and steps/pegs....some of the screw in steps that are coming from overseas have very questionable manufacturing. Our local store had several break when used by bigger guys. Having one snap off 20' in the air would make for an interesting hunt.

HTH
 
tree lounge

I looked into these several years ago. What kept me from getting one is the weight. From their FAQ:

Q: How much does the Tree-Lounge weigh?
A: 18.6 pounds

Q: How much does the Foot Climber weigh?
A: 7.3 pounds

Q: How Much does the Bow Hunting Adapter Weigh?
A: 5.65 pounds

Not exactly portable. My summit weighs 17lbs. Granted, it's an archery, open front stand. I find it to be very stable, but I weigh 175lbs and have worked up in the air (or under the water) most of my life. Climbers aren't for everyone. I had a guy that worked for me a couple of years ago who bought one, took it up a tree and froze. He wouldn't come down. He was only about 12' off the ground. I ended up getting him down with a ladder. If you are scared of heights, don't bother.
Buy a nice stand. That tree lounge looks nice, if you can stand the weight. I really don't see how it climbs differently than any other stand, though. Your weight keeps the stand "dug in", just like any other. It does look very comfortable, though, and safe.
Read the directions completely, and follow them.
Practice climbing trees with your stand before hunting season. If you don't like it in your yard, you aren't going to like it in the woods.
Wear a safety belt, or harness/vest at all times.
Enjoy your venision.

Climbing stands aren't that dangerous, if you follow directions. If they were, the makers would have been sued out of existance a long time ago. Those extra straps and bungies aren't extra. You always want to attach the seat to the platform. Failure to do so can be "embarassing".

Last but not least, any climber you see for sale at Walmart is not worth wasting your money on. The stand I mentioned above, the one my buddy froze in, came from Walmart. POS

I bought my summit 7 years ago. They no longer make that particular model. FWIW, these are similar:
http://www.summitstands.com/catalog.aspx?catid=OpenShot
http://www.summitstands.com/catalog.aspx?catid=Broadhead

Two alternatives for use with lag-type steps:
http://www.trophylineusa.com/stealth.htm
http://www.newtribe.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=32

I've been improvising these for years. Maybe I'll breakdown and get a "store bought" this year.

Have Fun and Be Safe
 
Part of the trade-off with the Tree Lounge is the size and weight. Something that's 2'x2' is real easy to carry into the woods, but too small to use. In the showroom the lighter and smaller the better. 20' in the air, it's a different program.

The Summit may work well for what you want to do. I happened to get my Tree Lounge on close-out for about 1/2 price. I'm sure it's not for everybody, but I'm too old and scared to use a regular climber. I had a cheap one. Got maybe 10 feet up and stepped off on a limb. The climber went crashing to the ground. Last time I used it.

Where the Tree Lounge really shines is when you hunt all day. Rather than sitting up, you recline in the lounge chair part. It's about the same as sitting in a Lazy Boy recliner. I'm at the point in life that sitting upright for 8 hours doesn't cut it.
That tree lounge looks nice, if you can stand the weight. I really don't see how it climbs differently than any other stand, though. Your weight keeps the stand "dug in", just like any other. It does look very comfortable, though, and safe.
Click to expand...
The one thing that's different is that you're inside the side rails as you climb. The other is that you're farther from the tree. The leverage from your weight causes the climbing part to actually bite in better

You're totally right about testing it in your yard. I must have set mine up a dozen times in the woods across the road. Trying to figure it out in the dark opening morning is not the program.
 
I'm 54, decent condition, 185 lbs, 5'10. I have used one for the last two years. I have a very solid and relatively heavy locally produced climbing stand. I maintain that thing like my life depends on it. It has a larger platform than most and once set up is very stable. I wear a safety harness. I am careful. The platform has dropped from under me once while about 20' up. The safety lines caught it and I set it back up. I slipped on a wet tree. My safety harness pulled me into the tree and I was able to reconnect the stand. The way they are designed it cannot fall unless you mess up. The foot straps must be tight. You must keep downward and forward pressure on the platforms at all times. The connecting pins must be snug. Once I'm up and the stand is set I have a safety line with which I attach the halves of the stand to a safety strap attached to the tree. That way if the whole thing drops then I'll be caught by the safety harness and the stand won't drop. I also have two snap links I use to connect two additional lines to the top and bottom halves. I scout and find trees before season. I practice climb them and use a hand saw to trim limbs and ground brush. I also clear approaches to the tree and mark them. I mark them with small strips of reflective tape on the side I'll climb. I have practiced so I can set up in the absoulte dark with no noise. I have taped and padded all metal parts. I also have maps I leave at home that have exactly where I'm hunting marked. I leave a notes telling where I'm hunting and when I shopud be back. I also keep a cell phone in a side pants pocket and a knife should I have to cut myself down. They are nothing to play around with.

rk
 
CLIMBERS AND TENTS;

First of all let me say that I recently turned 70 and I use both and have for more years than a lot of you have been around.

The tents are good, especially for turkeys, they just don;t seem to pay them any attention. Deer however, are a different story. The deer will see it actually before you see them in a lot of cases but it does not spook them. If you are down wind they will keep an eye on it but will walk right up to it. You must limit your movement in it, or use see through window covers, no noise or they will spook, they already see it.:cool:

The climbers are better, especially for bow hunting.:) Look for one that is light and quite. To be quite you need one that straps around the tree with a coated cable. I have one, an old API (which I consider to be the best brand) with The metal wrap around and it is noisey as hell but really climbs great so I still use it. I have had deer come to me while I was putting it on the tree, during the rut, guess they heard that tinkity tinkity tink and thought it was a couple of bucks facing off. wHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT CLIMB WITHOUT A SAFETY BELT OF SOME SORT, I PREFER THE SEAT OF THE PANTS BELT---MOST CRITICAL HUNTING ACCIDENTS ARE DUE TO FALLS WHILE CLIMBING WITH OUT A BELT:banghead:

AS for the Gorilla, it is a good stand, no doubt.:rolleyes: I would however suggest that you consider the API Grand Slam Extreme, its lighter and has accessories that the gorilla does not. such as the shooting and foot rest. both of which come in handy on long hunts.:D
 
Thanks BigJack

I tried lock-on type stands for two seasons but found them uncomfortable. Bought one of those old Warren and Sweat tube type ladders the next year and that ended the hang on issue for good. I generally put the ladder up at the start of the season, brushed it up and that was that till season ended.

Over the years I've hunted out of what can only be called a deer shack. Something about the size of a wooden out-house but w/o the hole in th ground thankfully. The longer they have been there the less critters seem to care & some of these had been there many years. They worked great, kept the wind off and were naturally easy to get in and out of. Some are a couple of feet off the ground but most were right on the ground.

Based on my succcess using shacks I was thinking one of those tent deals put out a week before season would be just the ticket. The one I'm looking at has shoot thru net windows that can be replaced. This one also claims to block scent.

Thanks for the info.

S-
 
Selfdfenz, where is "small sky country'?

I have several "shooting houses" such as you described on my place and I have rigged up sliding see through blinds to cover the shooting and observation ports. They work really well and are probaly the most popular method in the south.

I bought my "pop up" before they started putting the screens over the ports but I rigged some up for them also, cause like I said the deer really eyeball that sucker. I missed a really nice buck a couple of years ago out of it with my cross bow. Shot under him at 22steps. I left the blind immediately and went back to the camp house and shot a couple of times and my crossbow was shooting all over the place, point of impacts where as much as 2 feet off at 30 yards. Got to checking and the bow was about to fall off the stock. The hold down bolt had loosened up. I tightened it up and she was right on the mark again. But I never saw that buck again. You can bet that since I routinely check all bolts and screws a lot more carefully.
 
BigJack

That sure sounds like deer hunting!
Two years ago in TX [big sky country] I was in one of those houses and that particular one was supposted to have one heck of a big buck walking past every day.

Well he came that day too. Couldn't have been 50 feet away. Him and three other bucks. All of'em behind me and burning an eye ball thru me. Busted. No shot and when I moved they evaporated. He had a massive rack and he was big bodied by TX standards. Thick bases.

I relocated to western NC {home turf} the next summer. We got a ridge here and a ridge there and a ridge at both ends. Since you gotta look up to see blue it's small sky country. I sure do miss that TX sky just before dark in the winter.

S-
 
I've hunted from climbing stands for 10 years and love them. I've used several different ones and highly recommend the summit viper X5, or similar model. All have shortcomings, but they can be overcome. I can't imagine bowhunting without one. I wouldn't preposition your stand on public land and expect it to be there when you return. With practise, you can climb quietly. I recommend a full dress rehearsal in your back yard. Climb up, pull your gear up and figure out how to stow everything, set up your seat etc. The first climb is kind of uncomfortable, (you'd be surprised how high 10-20 feet looks from up there your first trip) but after that you'll get comfy. I also agree with the guy who said to scout and find the tree you want to hunt from before opening day. I'd even take your stand and pre climb it to trim small limbs before game day if needed. It's all opinion, but I feel the climbers add so much to my success in the way of mobility, smell and movement detection prevention, and observation, that I never deer hunt without one............BTW, I'm in Fredericksburg and hunt public land. Saw you were in NOVA.
 
Why I like THR!

:banghead: This is exactly the topic I wanted to discuss. I just bought a climber and am considering using it when I hunt the Il. shotgun season in Nov. I pulled a ticket for the Shawnee but am concerned with the number of hunters using that public land. Desiring no additional ventilation, I bought a climber at Dick's during the spring and recently tried it. I can understand how it could get hairy and as I still haven't purchased a harness (more research) I didn't go higher than 6'. I truly can't justify carrying this weight (18#) and going through these gymnastics when I own a perfectly good three pound popup house that worked so well in the national forests of Michigan. Last year a novice hnter/ friend accompanied me and scored a young buck at 2 hours after opening. He was with me in the blind and the youngster came to see what we were made of. When the 35Rem hit him it passed right through (range 35'). This still doesn't assuage my concerns about ventilation. I will hang orange tape all over the camo blind and let it wave in the wind. What's the point of wearing orange and hiding in a camo blind? As this will be my first exercise with a shotgun (for deer) I have fitted the 870 with a red dot scope and now must go shooting to pick the long barrel with rifled choke (or other choke) or the shorter, smoothbore barrel. I believe either configuration will handle saboted slugs but I need to punch some holes to see which works best. Any ideas on the use of slugs? And forego the "buy a rifled barrel" option as this excursion may be the last if I feel too crowded. I justified the tree stand purchase and may be eating that. Watch ebay for a reasonably priced climber. I can't think it's use on public land will return anything except loss of some magnitude.
 
WOW,

What a great response so far. Know far more than I did before. Gonna hit Dicks tonight to check out the stand selection there before I order the Gorilla.

Will have to start a seperate discussion on safety harnesses soon.

As far as pop up blinds, I just don't think they are safe/practical in the areas I am hunting in. As someone alluded to, whats the point of wearing hunter orange if your going to hide it behind a full camoflouge tent.

Duckjihadi - I'm in McLean. Have a duck blind I will be using with a buddy near Frederiscksburg this winter.
 
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