Anybody have a pic? If you have one or used one what did ya think?
Thanks
Forgive me, but my curiosity is getting the better of me -
A crotch stand?!
They wedge in the crotch of a tree(i.e. where a limb grows off of the trunk or the trunk divides). I use to use them in the 70's and 80's and made my own. I probably have a couple I made out in the shed if you're just wanting to see what one looks like. Ben
A crotch stand is a stand that goes in a fork in a tree, or between two trees growing close together, out here we have used them between two quakies growing close together.
Used one when I first started bowhunting........still have it. They are great for packing in to a remote place where it would be a nightmare packing in a regular stand. I found that they are relitively safe, if you sit still. The saftey factor can be greatly increased by using a ratchet strap on each end and go around the tree, pulling the stand into the tree. mine is out in the garage, I will try to post a picture this weekend.
Hope this helps.......
I've got it in my mind now. I knew the gears were turning wrong the first time I read it, thanks for the clarification.
Basic concept was good, final execution left something to be desired.. I much preferred my home made.
I had one and used it a couple of times. It was adjustable for length, and you pushed it down to set it in the crotch and lock in. It also had a carter pin so it would not slip when set. No seat and had to stand, wouldn't use one today because there are too many better stands.
I used to have one... wonder where I left it. Darn, now you got me wondering.
ChuckC
i have one. keep in mind this isnt a stand built for comfort. it is a tool used to hunt a specific spot. i used mine in situations where i was going to pack in a mile or so off the path. light and small enough to strap it to my back pack. i use my tree suit more nowadays though.
I have one out in the shed but no picture for you. Very light, I could just loop my belt through it and carry it without really noticing. Often used it in conjunction with that screw-in seat that Brunner/Eco used to sell. Mine wasn't adjustable, but it worked in specific situations and I killed a deer or two out of it. I never felt completely safe in them and felt the claws/spikes on the ends could have been improved as Earl E alluded to. I'm sure someone could take one and weld on some little extras to make them more stable.
I thought a "crotch stand" was when you tried to cross a fence or log and it doesn't go to well!
:biglaugh:
Was considering making several out of some 1" tube steel. Would love to see some SAFE homemade jobs too.
Actually I had one, I drilled a couple extra holes in it so it could be extended. What I didn't like about it was, in the extended position it was too long and you felt you were on a balancing beam to stand on it.
More importantly the spikes were too close together and it would rock side to side a bit, (Very unstable)
I always thought of removing the studs, drill a series of holes and make new studs out of half inch bolts, so you could adjust the spikes to the tree.
That is where I felt it was getting too busy to be handy and sold it.
I wonder if Will is the one who ended up with it, or someone else got creative with the adjustable thing.
My home-mades used 4 pieces of 1x1 angle and plywood..
Not sure where they all got to..
If you want a simple diagram of them email me and I'll get you a sketch
At 63, I value my crotch too much to use a crotch stand 8^). Sounds like a trip to the Emergency Room....sooner or later.
george , thinking the same thing...mark
Used homemade ones for several years, I would take a 2 X 12 and notch out both ends. It actually works pretty well with the right tree.
Rick
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r76/Timroberts_bucket/P1020471.jpg)
If memory serves me right the first on I used was made at the welding shop I worked at, but as most things I made it was a bit over built and to dang heavy, so I bought one, and this is it.
The "Center Fold" stands Brunner used to sell are the best I've seen.
When I need to be in a certain tree, sometimes that stand is the best option.
I killed the first doe of the season from mine last Fall. I was able to set it in a very small tree that absolutely no other stand would work.
No I like them much better than a tree stand if you find the right Tree. You are not too hign off the ground, you get up in the crotch of teh tree, wedge the thing down in there and I had a nice web rachet tie down that went around both trunks and secured well
I made mine like a ladder too, and the plywood step just laid in there. So I used it to get up, used the web to pull it up, wedged it in, slid the step into place and fastened the tie down. All done. Now I stood on this thing and would rest against the trunks. Gave me a 360 view and shot, a rest (for rifle hunting) against a branch or trunk, etc They are pretty nice.
sam
Who wants to get rid of theirs ? I've looked for one forever. Thanks !
Really?????
I had one and it was great! Does anybody make them anymore?
No they aren't made anymore, don't believe they can pass the TMA Saftey Test.
I have one like that I think it's called a bear creek.The other one I have is older made by rocky mountain and is my favorite and use it the most. These are great stands.<><
Frank,is the one by rocky mountain adjustable? I had one that had a wood platform and was adjustable.
Those would be illegal on public lands here in VT.
Bucky as far as i know. mine also has a wood platform. I love the thing and am always looking at flea markets for them.<><
Thanks for the responses
QuoteOriginally posted by tim roberts:
No they aren't made anymore, don't believe they can pass the TMA Saftey Test.
Mine would never have passed this test either. My buddy had one of these, so I copied it with a piece of 1" oak plank with notches cut in each side. That thing was light and easy. I had forgotten about crotch stands totally!! Maybe I'll dive back into the shop.
Best,
Dave
Actually, I have one of the original "Lawson Tree Wedge" stands. It works pretty well.
I remember one year I tied myself to a Quakie with Parachute Cord and took a nap while sittin' on on about 30 feet off the ground. No something I would reccomend!
Tim--That picture you posted is exactly what I have somewhere. Like Earl E. said, I felt the spikes were a little too close together.
Morning Star, I'd forgotten about the one that Brunner used to sell. If it's of the same quality that the old Screaming Eagle was, it was probably pretty good stuff.
Nowadays, I just like to sit more than stand, and there are some other options that work on crooked trees (and that have seats), so I kinda forgot the crotch stands.
I have one, can be worked loose, and I have a hard time shooting from it as I shoot canted and the two tree trunks get in the way.
Yea I thought the spikes were a little to close myself. That is why I used tie down straps to pull them into the trees. Again not something I'd recomend, but, ahhh those were the good ole days!!! In fact, when I first started bowhunting, the guy I hunted with was using that stand the moring I took my first muley buck. We both shot 2 deer off the same spring with in about a half second of each other.