Climbing Stands

[BIGJACK]

A trick that I failed to mention earlier with the pop up is to break up the outline with "native" brush and limbs. Here in alabama we have a lot of ever greens like pine, cedar and others and once I set the pop up up I gather some branches and lay them on the top. I also will get some longer ones and stand them up at the corners. This seems to make it a little less noticeable to the deer.

By the way. Deer are color blind in that they see colors differently than do humans. It has been proven that the camo that is hardest to see for a deer is the blaze orange, grey and black stuff. I saw pictures once of different camos laid over patches of brush in natural color as compared to the color spectrum that deer have and it was amazing. Most comercial camos are strickly for "people" looks and stand out like a sore thumb to animals. EVen the human eye can assatain that very few of the modern day camos even contain the more natural colors of the forest. When one looks out through the forest one sees a distinct change from the forest floor,( which is more the color of the old "brown" work coveralls) and the tree portion (which is more the color of the ole original pine bark grey and black camo.) Neither of these are very pretty to the human eye so modern camos do not use them. PRETTY SALES!

I think for hunting from a tree stand you are much better off wearing the old grey and black random square patterns found in earlier camos. From shooting houses and pop ups wear your tux, they will never know the difference.

 

[Selfdfenz]

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.

Excellent point

My comments revolved around using a blind on private lease and having my son along so climbers and trees stands in general are N/A in my case.

I'm a total fan of anything that keeps me safe. Before BO became law here I was like a lot of guys that wore red during deer hunting season. Better options exist now for sure.

By the same token some of this is relative. One year in this state we had 2 guys killed falling out of tree stands and none by gunfire. Thank G-- I've never been shot at but I'll freely admit I have dozed off on my ladder stand more than once.

I aways figure the greatest risk of being shot in the areas I hunt comes from my moving around on foot during the day or on the way into or out of my stand area.

Thinking back over the years and the numbers I've been equally successful hunting on the ground vs tree stands. The whole tent thing is just something new I'm exploring.

Best,

S-

 

[BIGJACK]

You would probaly be in no more dangerous a situation inside the tent than you would walking around in the woods.

IF you are gonna climb you should have a "pull up" line attached to the stand to pull your weapon up after you are settled into the location that you want. I wrap a piece of colored electricians tape around my pull up line at 5 foot intervals from the stand and that way I know exactly how high I am. I climb a minimum of 20 feet. once you get up in the tree the surrounding terrain might make your actual height seem higher or lower than it is. It is a proven fact that the higher you are the less likely a deer is to see you.

 

[countertop]

I wrap a piece of colored electricians tape around my pull up line at 5 foot intervals from the stand and that way I know exactly how high I am.

Excellent idea. Like measuring knots on an old sailing ship.

How long does it take to get a climbing stand 20 feet up?

 

[danurve]

I have been considering a climber for some time. After having a ladder stand stolen (heavy duty chain, heavy duty lock, no way it was going aywhere unless you cut the tree down, or used bolt cutters like those scumbag theives did) I picked up a Summit trophy chair. Ok granted it's not a climber but it is one comfortable deal, and has no legs.
Now a good climber is going to cost you. But it is your butt up there after all. The idea of carrying all that extra weight is a turn off, add 1+' off snow and you get the idea. Thought about getting a game cart to help haul the stand in. Sounds lazy I know. Then I spent a few minutes on the tree lounger site and see that you can convert the stand into a game cart. Well now I may have to rethink the idea. Providing too of course I pick a spot that isn't to much a problem getting all this gear into.
Never ends I tell ya.

 

[redneck2]

I see that you can convert the stand into a game cart. Well now I may have to rethink the idea.

While this looks great, there's way too much underbrush in the areas I hunt. If you're in far enough to get the deer, there's no way you're gonna pull a cart IMO.

How long does it take to get a climbing stand 20 feet up?

You ought to watch the video of Margaret climbing. She's probably 60+ years and made it in a minute or two. Once the stand is set up climbing is exceptionally easy. She typically goes up 25-30 feet. Doesn't sound like a lot until you're hanging off the side of a tree 30 feet in the air.

 

[Roadkill]

I use snap links and short sections of nylon rope for equipment tie off. The rope is smooth nylon braided and I have a snap link on each end. Great for hanging stuff off out of the way. Another item I always bring is a small hand size pair of pruning shears. I also use a snap link to hook to rifle and equip. bags. Slip the link through the straps and snap back on to rope. I use a paint roller wire insert (10" long, elongated basket the roller fits on) to roll my pull up line on. Tangles suck. I have a small 4" pulley attached to a snaplink that hooks to the front top guard rail. It makes pulling up a rifle (always keep it cased) binoculars, flashlight, water, food, book, extra clothes, facemask, gloves, coffee, toilet paper (yup. I've done it - plastic coffee can w/tight lid)) ect a lot easier. Bring extra things that are easy to drop. I always bring at least three pairs of gloves, and extra face mask, small flaskhlight, pocket knife. I have also on occasion brought a thick wool blanket up. I got two umbrellas at Walmart that have a tree attachment screw and are cut with a slot that goes up against the tree with tie down straps. Really work well on rainy days.

 

[redneck2]

The snap link thing is simple but I never thought of it. I always just tie a knot, but you wonder if it's gonna hold. It makes enough noise going up the tree once. Going up and down a few times to retrieve something you dropped is a pain and pretty much screws up your hunt.

The thing about pruners is a good idea. I use small scissor type ones and also have a small folding saw for bigger limbs. I keep all my stuff in a pack and pull it up with the rope.

Also, have several extra rubber coated screw hooks to hang your bow, pack, etc out of the way. Smaller diameter is easier to screw into the tree. I haven't done the coffee cup thing, but I take an empty Gatoraid bottle to whee in. Kinda stupid to have deer scent out and then whizz over the top of it.

I mark my tree with surveyor's tape, or you can use those little bright eye reflectors.

 

[Roadkill]

Wrap the snap links ect with electrical tape. Really helps with the noise. If you have to trim limbs throw them away from the tree. That way they don't get caught in your pull up rope.

 

[countertop]

Snap link????

What do you mean? What wrong with sticking things (rifle included in a backpack) and just hauling it all up the tree via a rope and carabeaner??

 

[Roadkill]

Snap link / carabiner same thing.

rk

 

[countertop]

Danka

 

[BIGJACK]

DAM roadkill, you must look like the local junk man going through the woods with all that stuff. You need a come-along to pull all that up a tree. What do you do with it once you get it up there?

I have a friend who I hunt with that carries all that stuff with him. He uses all means to cover his scent and then sets up in the tree eating and drinking odiverous stuff like cokes and cookies, maybe even a hamburger with onions and pickles.

As for the p bottle. I read an article a few years ago, I believe it was in "Outdoor Life" written by some wildlife biologist and they had tested the effects of urine odor on deer in a pen and found them to be only mildly curious about it. They then tried it in the woods on wild deer and found the same results. As I recall, they placed urine in and near a known trail and observed the deer as they came upon it. They said that some deer completely ignored it while most would stop and sniff it curiously and then continue on. NONE PANICED OR SHIED AWAY. Interesting hu?

 

[swampdog]

I've always been told that human urine spooks deer. I usually double up a zip lock bag or use an empty, plastic soda bottle. There are lots of water filled ditches were I hunt and I've been known to use them, too.
I agree with BIGJACK, though, that it sounds like you're moving in, Roadkill. I've always gone with the minimist approach. I use knots for rigging. I know my knots won't come untied, they don't make noise and I trust them more than the buckles that come with the strap type safety harnesses. I agree that you need more than one pair of gloves and I usually have an extra mask.
I hunt way back in the woods frequently. Every ounce I can save is a big help. Except for emergency gear, I use everything I take, everytime. If I find myself not using a piece of gear I'm carrying, it stays in the truck, next time.
The pruning shears you mentioned are a good idea. I've carried a pair for many years. It's a trade off with these. The heavier ones cut better than the lighter ones. I have a couple of pairs. When I'm setting up stands, preseason, the heavier ones go. During the season and when I'm still hunting I carry a fold up, lightweight, leatherman style pair. I have one of those fold up saws, but I rarely use it after preseason.
Everyone has different styles. I have a buddy who takes an Alice pack's worth of gear everytime we go. Need a gantry? He's got one. Come-a-long to pull a deer up in a tree? Ditto. It's his back.

38 more days

 

[Anthony T.]

Hek, just mix the P up in your coffee thermos, it'll give it a little kick!

 

[S&Wfan]

TWO REASONS TO OWN A GOOD CLIMBER:

1. There's an old saying that's pretty darn true . . . the best time to hunt a stand is the first time it is hunted!!! Climbers allow you to get where you need to be after scouting a nice buck!

2. Also . . . many leases prohibit hunters nailing stands to trees or even erecting any stand that attaches to a tree.

AVOID . . .
Avoid heavy, noisy, clunky climbers that take a long time to assemble around the tree. Many hunters who use climbers have at least one like this that they made a mistake in buying. They make great climbers to assemble on a hot tree a month BEFORE the season. No hunters will want to steal it or use it . . . and you can sneak into that prime spot later in the season and have a good chance to nail "Bubba."

A great climber is light, silent (relatively), fast to lock on, and COMFORTABLE!

With that in mind . . .

The Viper is a great climber.

I also love a climber made not far from where I live, the super-light and super-fast to erect "Tomcat I."

I always take a padded cushion to use with my Tomcat I, and have taken lots of deer from it. They are so easy to use, but not the most comfortable.

GROUND BLINDS . . .
Some love 'em . . . but I'd rather be off the ground. Lots of hunters get shot on the ground. Heck, then again, quite a few fall out of ladder stands or from climbers too!

 

[BIGJACK]

Far more fall from trees than are shot on the ground. I have never heard of anyone being shot while in a pop up.