Over my 20+ years of bow hunting, I've used pretty much an assortment of hang on stands. My yearly ritual included scouting in the late winter and early spring. Then on into summer if I could tolerate the heat and the skeeters. Finally, that last bit of pre-season scouting told me where to install sky hooks or screw in steps. Then come each hunt I would carry in a light weight (under 10 lb) hang on and hunt whatever spot I chose for that hunt. That formula worked. I've killed some pretty good sized bucks over the years.
The past 2 years though, I've had trouble getting close to big bucks. I've had them within 40 yds or so, but couldn't get them close enough to seal the deal. And I've been getting picked off by deer looking skyward. It was also at this time that I went from using hang ons, to using a climber. Now I'm not blaming the climber for not being able to get closer, but let me explain.
With Hang ons, I didn't worry about how straight the tree was. If there was a straight enough spot on the trunk to hang one, and it was the right tree in the right spot, I put a stand in it. It seems as though with the climber, I'm not trying to find the best spot to ambush a buck. Instead I seem to be looking for a straight tree, no matter if it's in the best spot or not. And looking for straight trees doesn't lead to good scouting. All you find are straight trees. I think the climber turned me into a lazy hunter. My climber has a much bigger footprint against the background and is much easier for a deer to pick up visually vs. the smaller print of a hang on. I'm sure that led to me being picked off by a couple of deer this year. That didn't happen with a hang on hidden between the branches.
Yesterday I took a walk in the woods and I came to a big ole ash tree that I used to hang a stand in and I killed one of my biggest bucks out of that tree. I looked 10 yds north of that stand and there remained the buck trail that I saw bucks on almost every hunt this past year. Except when I saw them, I was in the wrong spot. I either got winded or spotted. But I was in the only spot on that trail where I could use my climber. So I stood there next to that tree and vowed that next year I would return to hunting the best spot for an ambush and to hell with how straight the tree is.
Anyone else have thoughts on this???
Otto i have a climber to, and you answered your own question. the problem with climbers is that thier is no cover ,and you stick out.Now early season is diffrent lots of leaves.I believe in using hang ons for most of my hunting.And pick the right tree not the straight limbless tree.
Ive hunted from both for years. I think w/ a compound the climber was a better choice for me because your stand placement could be a little less critical. This coming season will be my first tradtional one, I believe I will go back to hunting from some ground blinds and my hang on stand. I probabley did get busted a little more in the climber. I did make an effort to always try to get about 20 feet. I bet you could use the climber early and switch when the leaves are mostly off.
I absolutely could never figure out how climbers became so popular. I own a climber but never use it. Hang-ons are the way to go for my style of hunting.
The one thing I like about climbers is it's fairly easy to get really high up if you need to. Otherwise I totally agree with you, you end up in trees that are less than optimum, either they're not where you need them or you stick out like a sore thumb.
I put a lot of hang ons in trees with "junk" and splits and I think it helps tremendously, a climber's not even an option for those.
I am with VTer, I own 8 hangons and 1 climber and havent used the climber in 4 years, then only a couple of times, I guess some places such as the south east that have alot of straight pines then a climber is just as good if not better than a hang on since ya can get higher if needed and a climbers seat is fully heigth adjustable, but around here, a hang on is the way to go. I always try and set up with cover and that is usually from limbs and limbs and climbers dont go together. Plus a climber is usually a little noiser setting up.
I would sooner have cover than height. The higher you get the more problems you encounter with shot angles; not to mention the more difficult the landing if you fall :confused:
I rarely use any stands, but I would opt for a hang-on in a cluster of trees where you can blend in better....and no more than 15 feet high.
I think climbers are so popular because sitting in one is as comfy as being on your couch. I'd much rather sit in my Summit climber than any hang on. With that said, I only use the climber if I can put it in the best spot.
i like the climbers vs. hang-on's because of the more options available to relocate quickly if the deer patterns change. To solve that lack of cover problem, a 3'x8' piece of camo netting will ziptie easily to the stand. to make it more convient dont use the ties the normal way, put the tail through the lock backwards. this allows you to remove them easily so you can roll up the camo. Of the 2 climbers i have had, i prefer the old summits with the metal arm that went around the tree. I have had problems with the newer ones (cables) because they do not "bite" into the tree and are DANGEROUS on ice covered tree.
pintail....in the open, even a camoflauge cover will stick-out like a shark in a punch bowl.. *^).
I have both hangon and climber, the climber is for hunting public land,you canot use a stand that will harm a tree in Wi.and you have to remove them at the end of the day. I know what your talking about being in one tree and looking at the one you should be in.
get a Lone Wolf hang on of you chioce and some lone wolf climbing stick's hunt whare you want and put them up in the dark with VERY LITTLE noise made.
doug77
Personally, I like both in my arsenal:
I usually hunt out of a lock on, especially if I'm leaving a stand up and for tree selection reasons stated:you can put it in any tree that'll hold you. I've got a few different lock on models: may favorites so far are the Gorilla expedition (formerly the ol man terra), Loggy bayou Predator, and lone wolf alpha (after using the other 2, not sure I'd buy another one of these....$$$$!!). Most of the time I use rapid rails, sometimes sky hook treesteps when leaving the stand stationary for long periods of time on public land.
But a bit over a month ago I hunted out of Don Wilson's Summit Viper climber. Dad gummit that's an easy, quiet stand. I was shocked at how quickly I could get to height, climb without sound etc. Much better than my old climber I might use 1 time per year. I just bought one here on tradgang and will get rid of my old one. There are times when I prefer it to a lock on: I literally can sit all day long in it, comfortably and safely...yet still shoot effectively.
Time and a place for both, for me.
I agree with JC. I think being able to use both is a big plus. I did own the LW hangon with the sticks and sold it. Wish I had kept it now. I currently have 2 climbers (API grand slam deluxe and Summit bullet backpacker) and like them both but will sell one and replace it with a good hangon with sticks/rapid rails. The climbers, in my opinion, are faster to set up and offer more comfort (got a bad disc in the L5 and sitting for long periods kills me). But lets face it, sometimes you need a hangon/sticks depending on the situation/surrounding cover. I know with the hangon, I'm only good for a few hours and I have to get down and move around or pay hell. If you can't sit still and pay attention, your odds of being successful drop ten fold. The seat/platform on the climber can be adjusted to take some pressure off the lower back. I will take a climber over the hangon but will keep all options open.
I would add that if your considering climbing any tree with a climber that is covered with ice, you are asking for trouble. Sometimes you have to weigh the risk vs reward properly. If I decide to hunt in icy conditions, I would tend to stay on the ground and use a blind. My family needs comes before my hunting and I don't take unnecessary risks.
JL
I primarily use a climber(Lone Wolf). When using a climber, you need to pick a tree with cover next to/around you. I also usually hunt between 20 - 25 feet and don't have problems with deer seeing me.
I will use a hang on from time to time.
To me, the climber is the safest stand. I use my safety belt from the ground up with the climber. As I get older I find this is safer than using a hang on.
JMHO
I hate heights. My wife jokes me about climbing trees because she knows I hate heights. 15 feet is my limit - period. You aren't going to get me up any higher. That said, I feel most comfortable in my Summit Viper or Grand Ol' Man climbers. Next are my two ladder stands. I don't own a hang on, but my friends own several. I've been told on more than one occasion that I was welcome to hunt in any of their spots, but I just can't get myself into the hang-on. I climb the steps (very carefully and fearfully), and when I get to the "transition" of swinging myself from the steps to the stand, I'm done. Climbing down. My greatest fear is getting in one and not being able to swing myself back OUT of it to climb down - especially in the dark. One of the biggest issues though, is they both are taller than me, so they place their steps further apart, and I have to "reach" to get from one to another. Sucks being short.
All the best,
Glenn
I bought a climber several years ago thinking the ease of use would be worth the expense. When I found a nice straight tree it worked well. But as others have alluded I spent a lot of time walking past really nice spots because I couldn't get my climber into any of the trees. Heck, one of my best spots has got only got one tree I can get a climber into with marginal shooting lanes. With a lock on I could get into more than a dozen trees that are better for the wind, cover, and shooting lanes.
Personally, I feel a good lock on with some climbing sticks gives the most versatility to the hunter. I'd rather spend an extra 10 minutes setting up than watch deer get past me because I couldn't set up where they are.
Chris
I just (last week) sold my Lone Wolf sit and climb climber. That stand made it to the woods three tiems. I got tired of sticking out like a sore thumb. Someone who sits more still than I might have great luck with that stand. It was quiet and fast to put up.
I bought a Lone Wolf alpha and Lone Wolf climbing sticks to replace it. After maybe five uses, I can put that stand and sticks up every bit as quick as I could get the climber up a tree. the weight is almost identical. Both were very quiet. The only disadvantage I can find with the hang on and sticks is that there are more pieces. You have to be a bit more careful at the base of the tree to avoid making noise.
Of course, the huge advantage is that you can go up literally ANY tree. This year I climbed a 20" oak, cut the top out of the cedar growing next to it and buried the hang on stand right in the top of the cedar. Totally invisible unless I stood up and waved. Shot a nice buck and a turkey out of that stand this year.
I will eventually order one more set of hang on and sticks, just to give myself more options on nights where I am running late getting to the woods.
Otto: You did pretty much answer your own questions. As others have said, no need to limit yourself to one or the other. Use whichever is appropriate for the location. Regardless of the type stand I use, I try to use it in clumps of trees or in a popple backed up into an evergreen, etc. In a single tree with nothing around you, you're skylined very easily. Also, over the years, you and other hunters in the area just might have educated the deer to look up a little more.
I used a climber from the get go, mostly because I always hunted areas where leaving a stand in the woods meant that would be the last time you saw it. Back then there were no easy to hang hang ons. Now I use both. I have a climber that I still use often, but added a easy hanging loggy hangon, and a set of LW stix. I still hate carrying everything in and out. Boy do I envy people who can hang a stand and leave it. Consider yourselves so fortunate.
i hear what you are saying about finding the right tree for a climber vs. hunting in the right spot with a hang on. i've done both quite a bit. I feel a heck of a lot safer in my climber than scaling the side of a tree with steps or strap-on ladders. I can go above 20 ft with my climber and forget the wind....
but, i will tell you, i've passed on hunting the "right spot" and elected to find the right which probably isn't the most productive thing to do...
I have 2 climbers and 4 hang ons. Several of the hang ons stay up the whole season on my property with ladders to them. I haven't used the climbers in 3 years. I can get in any tree with my LOc on and rapid rails. But now i'm using a tree saddle a lot and don't even carry the stands. There are trees that the saddle won't work in however and then the locon goes up.
Rappstar you said forget the wind, It doesnt matter how high you go your wind will get you every time when hunting mature bucks.
I've had both a hang on and now a Lone Wolf climber. I do like the climber, even with it's limitations. I can see your point of needing just the right tree to use a climber. To save a few $$, why not get a set of sticks (or whatever type of steps you use) and use the climber in the same manner as the hangon? It would seem you could have the best of both worlds, and if you currently have a climber, at less than half the cost. Does this sound reasonable?
Yes it does.I do use climber to check out new areas, but most of my stands are put in in july.
Climber for public land or checkout new areas on the go (Summit). Lock-ons (or ladder stands)with sticks for private land. Only thing I add to a lot of loc-ons is a foot rest (bought or made) to aid in comfort. A lot of loc-ons are small and the extra leg room makes a lot of difference.
Lone Wolf hang on... Smoked chicken... Cloverdale '08.... Randall Knives... Campfire educations... Good Friends... Good Times...Nuff said. :archer:
I hunted out of climbers exclusively until this year,hung up 3 hang ons and hunted them a few times, cannot sit all day due to a sore butt or back etc. Ive never had much trouble getting picked off by deer in a climber, not saying never but just not often. Have seen a ton of big bucks and shot a couple, with a climber you have to get at least 18 ft. or higher, which alot of guys dont like, as far as being harder to hit the killzone never been a problem with getting passthroughs or doublelung shots. Like anything else you have to practice the shots, really close shots under 5 yds are very hard at this height but I just wait till they walk a little farther out or pass the shot.For me a climber is a better option as the woods I hunt have alot of tall straight poplar trees in good areas.
Cajuntec,
You might try one of those retractable safety lines that go all the way to the ground so you are safely hooked the whole time you climb up. I hook in to a loop with a carbiner. I don't unhook it until I have gone from the seat to the climbing sticks. That is the time you are most likely to make a mistake and fall.
I have both, Lone Wolf Alpha, Lone Wolf sit & climb.
I haven't taken the climber out of the box yet, I do have six Lone Wolf climbing sticks, I will only keep 4, and the other two, a Trad ganger has spoken for them. I am leading towards keeping only the climbing sticks and the Alpha hang on.
I guess I really have to take it out of the box if I want to try out the climber, but I know the hassle of one of my friends having to pick out a tree, and settling for less then the best in one spot that he used his climber.
I probably won't take the climber back to the store, because I got it at a reasonable price I would probably offer it on the classifieds here for $285, but I guess I should try it out, because quite a few of you said " you feel safer in the climber, and you are more comfortable on long hunting times. But I have hunted in the hang-on's,. stayed in the hang-on's for five hours and didn't have trouble.
I have a lineman's belt & HSS, the trouble is I have been spoiled, for the last six weeks I've been hunting private land of a friend, it's 47 acres dedicated to deer, and has 17 stands with connecting climbing sticks. He takes me to a tree and says that your stand, I hunt for five hours, and we go home, I've passed up on some nice deer (maybe a mistake) but it's been fun. And now I can hunt the private land next to his. So, I have 130 acres to hunt, that's why I have the Alpha hang on and climbing sticks, and the Alpha sit in the climb, I gotta make a decision and get this over with.
But I keep reading these threads, and getting confused about what's best and what's not. So I'm just going to make a decision. And now let you guys know.
Pastor Carl
My best advice. Don't fall out
Never hear of someone doing that ? in a climber !
I have quite a few stands,3 LW Alphas,1 LW Assault,2 Loggy Bayou Monarch Prostaff,and 3 Big Game Boss XLs,and a few no name hang ons,along with about a dozen LW sticks,2 sets of Rapid Rails,and about 4 other sets of cheaper ladder type sticks.I also have a ladder stand I keep for youngsters.I also have both of the LW climber models,Sit and Climb and Hand Climber.I keep at least 8 stands set all season,moving and tweaking placement here and there.
I rarely use the climbers anymore,maybe for Public land,but I bought the Assault and sticks to take the place of the climbers on public land.Sometimes I'll use a climber to try and trick the deer,especially a mature doe,by climbing a tree close to one of my hang-ons if she happens to have picked me off in the hang-on..........works like a champ.
Overall I really prefer the hang-ons over the climbers,but like the others have said,there is a time and need for them,even hunting mainly private land where I can leave my stands up indefinately.
Otto - I think you are right on in your thinking. I wouldn't use a climbing stand if they gave them to me. I can't imagine being that handicapped in tree choice. I had this discussion with a friend a couple years ago and went over my stand sites....as I recall you could have gotten a clibing stand into 2 out of around 30 trees I either had a stand in or had cleared out and could hang in quickly. I've looked on and off for an alternative to screw in steps--climbing sticks, ladders, strap on steps, rails etc. and I keep coming back to high quality single fold steps (Ezy climb) and a good hang on stand (Climax stand is my favorite...you can hang on ANY tree with these).
R
Earlier it was stated "I don't know now climbers ever became popular" I agree!
I switched to a LW hang-on this season, and I sure love it. ANY tree is a possibility, and I noticed the tree next to me had a backwards tilt to it, and changed my stand in minutes, as that backwards tilt made that stand into a recliner!
This LW hang-on is the best thing that's happened to my hunting in a long time.
Like most, I hate carrying that stuff in the woods, etc.
I did all my pre-season scouting, hung my stand, put a cable lock on it, and left it. I leave two climbing sticks up high, take two with me.
I walk in before first light, carrying just two climbing sticks, and I'm in my seat within minutes. (my area is lightly hunted, theft isn't much of an issue)
Secure and steady? I could dance a jig on that stand, it doesn't bend, flex, or wiggle.
Over the last two years, I started posts about "what's the best stand?" For me, it's a LW hang-on. Good luck.
They both have their place. The vast majority of the time I prefer hang-on stands and either screw-in steps or sticks. But one of the properties I hunt is perfect for a climber, and today's hot trail is tomorrow's runway for tumbleweeds. So for that place, I like a climber.
I think it all depends what kind and how old the timber is. For my own use, I prefer a climber. I hunt my own property and climb the same trees year after year. Most of them are in a cluster of 3 to 5 which gives plenty of cover. A hunter will be definitely be spotted by mature deer without that cover. Also had 3 stands stolen before using the climber which was a part of the reason for buying it to start with. The other was I'm getting too old and too fat to hang on the side while screwing pegs in trees. :)
Well I think that I made my decision, for me it's for other reasons, I think it's more of justifying having a climber and hang on, and lone wolf climbing sticks. I think I have the best of both options with the hang on, and the lone wolf climbing sticks.
So if you look on the classifieds, under tree stands, you will find a brand-new lone wolf sit & climb, it is a $349.99 climber, that I got a discount on so you will find it on the classifieds for $285.00, I think it will take $10 or $15 to ship it. You can PM if you are interested. Thanks for all the advice and the replies.
Pastor Carl
I have to agree, there are areas in the property that I hunt that I could use a climber. But since I have also the double bull blind I have that option also, I have the T 5 & T 2. I will be hunting Saturday with the T2.
Carl
Carl
I think of it as justifying buying MORE hang ons :)
At last count I had something like 23 :eek: !
Climber about 98% of the time for comfort. I take both, I have a climber on the back of my ATV and a hang on attached to the front. Yes; I know that doesn't sound very traditional but after two major sugeries with one being a kidney transplant I look for the path of least resistance. I go for the shortest walk, ease of setup, and most comfort. Don't kill as many deer as I once did but enough. Just sitting there watching wildlife brings me great pleasure. Passed up some good opportunities this year to sling an arrow but chose to sit tight and watch instead. (Dragging them out is not as fun as it once was!)