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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Wannabe1 on February 24, 2010, 10:15:00 PM
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I have never hunted from a tree stand before as I usually prefer to be on the ground moving around. Well, there is this area that is just an interstate of deer tracks but, the only problem is the wind swirls around in there like the water in a washing machine! :( A buddy of mine and I talked it over and came to the conclusion that to have any success, we would need to get above the currents. Well, I got a stand but, I'm having reservations about sitting 20 or so feet above the ground with such a little platform. Can any of you stand hunters give some pointers on getting used to being that high up and remaining calm? :scared:
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I hunted my first bowhunt in 2005. Like you, I was hesitant about going "up". I started mid-season, that year. My advice....get your stand early, and practice.
I've been up well over 300X (280+ in a climber), since then. I feel MUCH more secure in my climber (than a lock-on). I also feel more confident.
Good luck.
I tether to the tree when I get 8-12' up....and I unhook when I step off the platform.
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My suggestions:
First, get a good safety harness that gives you a sense of security from falling.
Second, start small. If it is a hang on stand or climber, then place it on a tree 3 or 4 feet above the ground and practice from it. Once you are comfortable at that height, then go a little higher. Repeat the process until you are comfortable at the height you want to hunt at. Again, always wear your safety harness.
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First off, safety. Attached at all times, setting up-climbing-and sitting.Do a search about 100% contact. If you are already nervous about it, then the chance for a missed step or slip increases.
Only thing that works for me is just doing it. Im not scared of heights either, but there is a level of discomfort that diminishes after the first few sits.
Another option would be to change your stand type. Ladder stands are generally bigger. Climbers are generally more comfortable(to me). It may be that one type or the other makes you more comfortable, and that will help you relax a bit.
Hope it helps. And good luck with that spot.
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I almost always hunt out of a treestand. Like has been mentioned earlier, get a harness. I use a Locon Windwalker 95% of the time. They are small stands but they keep you tight to the tree which eliminates a big mass hanging off the side of a tree, therefore reducing the chances of being spotted.
I try to get some cover between me and the ground, between me and the sky, and only a little to the sides. This lets you have a larger area to move your bow, i shoot a 66" LB. Remember, higher is not always better, wind is funneled through trees, and just because a tree offers more shot opportunities don't mean that it's the "killin' tree".
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Can any of you stand hunters give some pointers on getting used to being that high up and remaining calm?
Crown Royal?... JUST KIDDING! I am afraid of heights and found wearing a safety vest gave me a much more "secure" feeling although I am still careful in my climber.
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the only thing that i would say about being high and getting rid of gitters is practice from a stand that is about 1 foot high. Move around on the stand, lean out, do EVERYTHING that you might need to do when hunting. If you have enough balance and location awareness to do it when your low you CAN do it when your high.
i used to work construction on these tall buildings. We built the forms for the slabs to be poured so we were always on the very top of the building. When I first started walking those "I" beams with nothing else around, i got nervous. Some of those buildingd were over 200' high. The beams were just as wide as a curb on the sidewalk. I knew i could walk the curbs without falling, so I just had to make myself realize that those beams were no different. If you can stand hunt low, the only thing in your way of hunting high is your mind.
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Safety harness, not just for those TV hunters.
set it up about 3 feet off the ground, put on a safety harness and ware a blindfold. just stand and move slowly turning then sitting. do this a few time to help you get the feel of the stand.
Now with that said. do you know if there is a lot of fox or coon in that area? if so, use cover scent. If this hunt is for Next hunting season. start now to get the deer used to that scent. You can also hang a shirt that you have worn and spray with the cover scent and then hang it in that area.
Change the shirt and location in the area so the deer will get used to the smells. Where I used to live and hunted I did a lot of work cleaning up the woods on the land I hunted. I would hang a shirt that was dripping with sweat and sprayed it down with fox scent. When the winds when good or bad I had deer all around me.
Doing this in the off season helps to keep the deer calm when the start of the season comes around. Now I'm not saying this will work for everyone or every area, but it worked for me in more then one area.
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A ladderstand might help...I feel secure in mine...Something about it reaching all the way to the ground.. :help: LOL
I also have a hang on stand that took a little getting used to...A good harness helps ease the jitters and now it doesn't bother me at all..Just have to get used to it is all..
I plan to do a lot of tree stand sitting in April when spring bear opens..
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As already mentioned, a quality safety harness is your first consideration along with a system that allows you to be tethered every time your feet leave the ground. It takes more planning and a small amount of time to set up, but doing so will give you the complete confidence you need to hunt in the trees.
That being said, being above them does not prevent a deer from smelling you with swirling winds. Air currents swirl down as well, and while being in a tree stand can help, it might not work the way you are hoping.
Your scent travels out from your body in a cone shape - the farther away it gets the wider the "cone". And that can include going down, so if the animal is some distance away from you they will still have a very good chance of catching your scent. Actually, your scent has a better chance of traveling over the top of them when they are very close or underneath you. But then the ground scent you leave when you walk in can be a problem.
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i am a ground hugger i leave the trees for the birds :biglaugh: but if ya must safety is a big must i sure as hell would not climb one without it. but after saying that i did climb a ladder stand it was 12 foot high and i felt safe after a while.but loved the fact that i had something to hold on to all the way to the ground oh yeah got to love that ground!!! :biglaugh:
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TREE SADDLE! For the money you are going to spend on a stand and a safety harness, you will come out cheaper and be better off with the Trophyline Tree saddle (IMO). You are attached to the tree from the time you leave the ground and you can't fall out of it! You can also shoot just about 360 degrees as well as straight down. You can wear it in and out so it can't get stolen. I don't like heights but I LOVE my saddle. Heck, you can even take a nap in it if ya want to! Try that (Please don't!) with any other stand. Check out their website.
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Thanks for all the great advise here. :thumbsup: I definitely will not be up a tree without a harness of some sort. I think I need to step back and soak all this information in, and then plan my next move. This weekend I'll play around with the stand about 3-4 feet off the ground and see how that goes.
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Wannabe1,
just take your time in the stand. If you don't feel 100% safe standing or moving in the stand even being a few feet off the ground. It would be worse 10,15 or even 20 feet up.
Now you didn't say what kind of stand. Is it a climber or a lok-on stand?
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I am scared to death of heights. I bought a ladder stand almost 10 years ago and never used it until 2006. I climbed up it a few times before that in the summer but could not get comfortable. Finally I bought a safety harness vest and that did the trick. I started hunting out of it and took a buck and a bear both with my bow. The stand is only 10 feet to the seat so not very high. Once I got used to it I started using climbers as well. Never do I go up without the safety vest. I am 275lbs. and no problems. Everytime I climb up it takes a few minutes to calm down but I do. Good luck and give it time.
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Originally posted by Whip:
That being said, being above them does not prevent a deer from smelling you with swirling winds. Air currents swirl down as well, and while being in a tree stand can help, it might not work the way you are hoping.
Your scent travels out from your body in a cone shape - the farther away it gets the wider the "cone". And that can include going down, so if the animal is some distance away from you they will still have a very good chance of catching your scent. Actually, your scent has a better chance of traveling over the top of them when they are very close or underneath you. But then the ground scent you leave when you walk in can be a problem.
That's very well said Joe...I agree 100%!
A lot of people think that by getting off the ground, their scent will just stay above their quarry...not so!
Being up in a tree is hardly any different than being on the ground as far as scent is concerned. You still have to take every precaution as you would on the ground as far a scent..... down wind is still the only sure way to not get "winded".
Being up off the ground might help a little, but it's not "automatic" by any means....
The biggest advantage's you'll see being in a tree is the ability to not get picked off as easy when shooting and better visibility(sometimes)around you. I always seem to get away with a lot more movement when in a tree stand.
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All stands are not created equal! I've spent most of my life hunting out of tree stands, and some are just too small for a secure feeling hunt. What stand do you have?
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If you have a hang one use a multi section climbing stick tree ladder. That will give you the best grip on things to climb. Get a good harness. I would also recommend on of the rope safety lines so you can be connected from ground to stand. After that just get in the thing and set there. I hunt a lot from trees. The first couple sits each year I always feel a little confined and hesitant about moving around. After a few early season hunts I settle down. By the time I get hunting serious I feel like the thing is huge, and I move around freely without worrying much about anything. Off season it is best to shoot from it a lot if you have a spot to hang it in your yard.
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I don't like heigths either, but 15 feet I can handle and that seems to be enough as long as wind, approach, cover, etc. are in order. Good luck.
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No one needs to be twenty feet up in a tree. Do you really know how far twenty feet is? Maybe twelve to fifteen tops if you choose the right tree. Anyway, you would probably stick out like poop in a punch bowl at that height.
Being in a tree will not help you much in swirling winds; those type winds confuse the deer as much as not and you may be better off on the ground in a decent blind. A fear of being in a stand will take your mind off of making a good shot when the time arrives, and your focus needs to be a hundred percent on that shot....not staying on a platform.
There are two types of people who use tree stands; the ones who have fallen, and the ones who will, so if you are going to do it, get a good harness that will protect you.
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I agree,Safety harness and practice!
Set it up throughout the summer and actually shoot your Bow from different positions.
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If it is possible,I wouldn't go as high as 20'.The shot angle gets difficult anyway and of course the higher you go the scarier it gets.14' is usually plenty.12 may even work.
Keep in mind that in the first couple hours of morning and the last hour and a half of evening,the cooler air id drifting down anyway.Wind floaters can help you see what is going on from a treestand.You may be surprised what the wind currents are really doing.I think Guru has a How To in that forum on making them.
Swirly wind places are tough.Some may be onhuntable most of the time.In this country,the calmest time is usually early morning.Afternoons can be bad.
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The climbing stands with a bar enclosure on the top part make one feel much more secure. Taking an extra ratchet strap to secure your stand to the tree once you get to your desired hight also makes you feel secure.
A tether type safety harness(full body) that you attach to the tree on the ground and keep attached to the tree as you climb is the best thing you can use for piece of mind.
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Sorry,didn't read page 2 before writing.Didn't mean to copycat George but do agree.
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I like stands with bigger foot platforms better and feel safer in them. I also put a stand up in the yard and pratice geeting in and out and shooting from it.
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You might think about not going so high. I've been using tree stands for years and don't have much of a fear of heights, but I feel a lot more comfortable with my feet about 12 feet off the ground than I do when they're 20 feet off the ground. That's one of the reasons I seldom go much higher than 12 feet. That, and you get a much better shot angle at the lower elevation. Good luck.
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Lots of great advice about the need for safety harness and hookup going up and down.You need to research what you need to do once you have fallen.The harness will save your life inasmuch as stopping your fall.Then it will proceed to kill you if you have no plan to reach the ground.Always let someone know where you will be hunting.Most harnesses have a loop to place your foot into to stand and allow blood to flow into your legs and return to your heart,some do not.I hate cell phones.If Ted Turner can run a billion dollar enterprise without a cell phone what do I need one for?That being said carry your cellphone and a whistle.I do have a Tracfone(cell phone) that I can activate 90 days at a time foe $21.I always carry it in a pocket I can reach while hanging from a harness.Remember cell phones are unreliable in remote locations.Basically have a plan from ground to stand to ground.Every year someone will die in a fall,be smart,if you don't feel safe in a given situation don't do it.
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Never in my life of hunting since back to 1969 have i ever had to be over 12 feet up to kill a animal, and most have been in my favorite stand called a Ambusher set at eight foot. All about where i put the stand from the trail for me. And more shot from the ground than off the ground. Once i had a bud try to put me in a stand of his, 20 plus foot up. NO way i sat at the base of the tree and arrowed a doe as she walked down the trail. I have sat in some ladder stands that have no more than a foot sq to park my butt on and i never sat long on them, or would own one.
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Stay attached, and just do it. You'll get comfortable. I grew up in climbing stands, since I was 9 anyway, and I still got nervey the first time I hung/sat in a lock on. It's like riding a motorcyle, you're certain you're gonna die at first, then you start having fun.
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20 feet is a long way up (or down). You may only need to go up to the best cover. I spend a lot of time at 15' or less. Second the Trophyline. You will not be nervous regardless of the height.
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I am using a hang on stand. It's some off brand name I can't think of right now. I'll check when I get home from work. Cannot use a climbing stand due to the type of trees and limbs all the way up. A ladder stand can't be used as it is public land and can't be left out as folks would steal it. The area is pretty close to a country highway.
I just tossed 20' out there. Wasn't really sure how high to go. Now I do. Seems like those guys on the hunting videos are pretty high up sometimes. Someone mentioned Lone Wolf climbing sticks in a PM. Think I will give those a try. I really appreciate all the feed back and recommendations.
As far as scent cover goes, I think I do a pretty good job but, am always looking to better that one. We have 'yotes here so, I will leave a rag soaked with scent around the area so that the deer can get used to it. I tell ya though, those blacktails are sometimes hard to fool. :rolleyes:
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I was going to sugest a stand that allows you to face the tree. I had the same feeling that with a small platform Iwas going to topple right off the tiny platform (even with a safety harness). Anyhow the Trophyline treesaddle where you face the tree has made me much more comfortable going higher and feeling more secure. I have a climber that faces the tree I have a equalizer but Summit makes on too. If you cant do climber look at the tree saddle. Starting low and working up is good too.
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20 feet is my norm, I have it marked on my pull up rope. It DOES help with scent contol in that deer right begind you you should not wind you as the scent goes over the top. I have several set ups like this that have proven successful. I am talking about close shots here 5-8 yards, not 20-30 yards out. If on the ground you would have no chance. You must however be very scent free for this to work. It is a gamble but works for some grown over field edges where the deer walk right up the edge.
20 seems to be the height for me that I dont get picked out often. I like a climber & safety harness. I will go higher or lower as directed by the situation, trees & cover. Mike
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Lots of great safety advise here and Safety is job one!!
After you feel safe and secure, are properly secured, be sure to practice shooting from your stand. Sitting or standing shooting from a tree stand is much different than shooting with both feet on the ground.
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My tree stands are set from 12 to 15 ft. 20ft is pretty high. Have you tried a tripod? It might feel a little safer. Also a pop up blind would help hold some of you sent down, not 100% but might be as good or better then being up high.
Good Luck.
Gilbert
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I used to be scared of heights but I practiced goig higher and higher using my summit bushmaster. At each height I stood up, practiced shots and drawing my bow until I felt comfortable and then worked my way higher. I generally go to 15 feet now as I'm most comfortable there and like the shot angles I GET FROM THERE.
As other have said USE A HARNESS. I practiced using my SOP until I felt comfortable sooting and moving around with it.
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Listen to the song Sky Pilot. It gets your ready to climb!!
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Here is the stand. It is a Rivers Edge hang on. It kind of worries me as it only has one nylon strap to secure it to the tree!
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/101_0015.jpg)
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp233/TradNut/101_0016.jpg)
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just get up there and think very hard about how much its gonna hurt if you fall off.lol...jokin tw...i have a stand you can borrow if you want,its huge and is a climber.what i did was climbed up to around 10ft then just sat there a while then moved up some more then more.before you know it you're used to it.its the eyes looking down thats unfamiliar and it triggers endorphins in the brain which cause fear and distress.wear a harness and you'll be good to go bro.i know these things because i stayed at a holliday inn express last night. :readit: :D
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run a backup strap and check them before setting it out everytime, something we all should do regardless of a hang on or climber
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I'm very comfortable in that style stand now, but I wouldn't put a beginner in one. A climber that goes all the way around you would make you feel safer, and you actually would be. They are not as easy to shoot from, but it can be done.
Treestands, like any gear worth having, require practice to become technically proficient.
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Kevin: Running a back up strap is a good idea. I'll see if I can find a metal buckle and some nylon strapping and make a second strap for the lower portion. :thumbsup:
Bear: I can't afford one of those types of stands right now. I got this one for $50.00 and it has never been used. I will be trying it out and see if I can get used to it over the spring/summer before using it in the field.
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I've been hunting more and more on the ground. I'm scared of heights. I do hunt from stands when I feel it's necessary. Years ago in NY,I killed 4 deer in four years from a stand that was 8 feet high.I rarely hang my stands above 12 feet and always wear a safety harness.
I always pick a tree that has a good sized branch near the seat. It makes me feel more secure.
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get a chain and "S" link rated for 300#. set the chain first then the 2 strapes.
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Sal, can that be locked somehow to prevent theft? Should probably do that too. :D Didn't think of it 'til you mentioned the chain.
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most of my stands are a minimum of 15 feet if not 20 due to the very steepness of the terrain I hunt. If I only put some of them at 15th I end up looking in their eye as they passme on the uphill trail!! That being said I use 2 back up rachet straps per stand AND A safty line all the way up. I Still get a little nervous the first few times every season, but i have never knock on wood had a close call personaly.
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Use the strap that came with it only to hang it in position long enough to put 2 ratchet type straps on it!!!! I repeat DO NOT USE the strap that came with it to secure it to the tree for hunting purposes!!!!! I've never really used a tree stand until I moved here to IN. Having permission to hunt several hundred acres but only 3 acres being woods and the rest being corn or soy bean fields I had no choice but to buy a tree stand. I put my stand about 10yds into the woods from the crop field and 32' up the tree. I know it's high but the area I hunt has a lot of pressure and in the late season when the leaves are down the deer in the field can pick you off pretty easily. I ALWAYS use the supplied strap to hang my stand and then I use 2 camo ratchet straps I got at Walmart to secure it to the tree. I painted the ratchet parts OD green to cover the shiny parts and I crank them down tight and loop and tie the extra strap so it doesn't flop in the wind. When I got my first stand and tested it in the yard to learn how to use it. I used the supplied strap and tried to sit in the stand about 5' off the ground when I felt my a$$bone hit my neckbone!!!! I have a rivers edge and a big dog, both are cheap stands but work well if you get some ratchet straps to secure them!
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Originally posted by Wannabe1:
Sal, can that be locked somehow to prevent theft? Should probably do that too. :D Didn't think of it 'til you mentioned the chain.
Yes, You can just use a lock with the chain. Tomorrow I'll take a pic of my hang on stand that has a chain on it. and How I attach the 2 ratchet straps.
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((Use the strap that came with it only to hang it in position long enough to put 2 ratchet type straps on it!!!! I repeat DO NOT USE the strap that came with it to secure it to the tree for hunting purposes!!!!!)) Kenneth is right! And believe me Squirrels for some reason love straps around their tree. NOT.
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yeah, two ratchet straps are a must!
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Thanks guys. I think I have 3 ratchet straps somewhere in my utility room. I'll dig around for them tomorrow.
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I've just been using the one strap provided. But you guys are right, think I'll add a backup.
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i use 3 straps and ill only go 12 feet
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I would also learn to shoot sitting down. You will feel much more stable doing so v.s. standing up on that little platform.
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try mounting it about 2 feet off the ground and then just step up onto it and stand and sit on it, move around on it and stand on the edges of it and get used to the sensation of being on the platform. Also, practice sitting and standing up, as well as mounting the stand to the tree,and taking it down.
Then , when you mount it way up in a tree, it's not your first time doing it and you will be more comfortable doing it.
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When i hang my lock-on treestands i always put a extra strap on the top and on the bottom. Theres no way that stand is going to fall when you put these extra straps on the tree stand.
I have never used one of those ropes you that you hook yourself up to at the bottom of the tree but if you do that theres no way you can fall.
Im 42 yrs old and can still climb like a spider monkey but im sure when i get older i will be using one of those ropes.
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Great advice from Smallwood.
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Yep Smallwood's advice is great! Familiarize yourself with it in your yard just a couple feet off the ground and work your way up a little and get comfortable using it. Also what Mr. Vic said about the squirrels; always check your straps before climbing into the stand. The squirrels chewed up my seat cushion, my pull-up rope, and one of my straps this year. Luckily it was after the season when I went to take the stand down.
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I think four straps are a must. Sometimes five, depending on things. And duct tape too.
ChuckC
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Note: this tree leans and wouldn't be a good tree for a stand, Also very lose bark.
The first thing I do is hook the chain and push down on the stand to make sure it is set in place. The chain should be on a angle from stand going up about 45deg's give or take.
(http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac239/mysticguido/113_1446-1.jpg)
Next I place the top strap,(just for these pix I did it quickly and showing to ways of hooking strap)I normally take the strap over the other side so that the strap is pulling stand in to the tree. Just like the bottom half of the strap is, You can hook them either way.
(http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac239/mysticguido/113_1447-1.jpg)
Last I hook the bottom strap on. See how it is hooked to hold the platform in place and NOT on the bars. this Helps to keep it from moving.
(http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac239/mysticguido/113_1448-1.jpg)
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I have a tree in my yard that I'm going to use to mount the stand a couple of feet off the ground as smallwood stated. The only problem is is the tree is in the front yard and my shooting area is in the back. I can't shoot in my front yard but, I will practice drawing and aiming the bow to get used to maneuverability.
Again, thanks for all the advice and directions here. Everyone's suggestions and opinions mean something to me. :thumbsup:
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Wannabe1, check out my last post on Page 4
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Sal, that's exactly what I was looking for in directions! :thumbsup: Very much appreciate that. Going to give it a whirl this weekend and will let you know how it comes out. I've got to get a safety harness to go along with my stand before I go any higher than a couple of feet. Any particular brand that is above the rest?
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I just got that same stand as you wannabe. I was planing on trying it out for the late season blacktails. Good post lots of info for sure!
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Have you had an opportunity to set it up yet? Interested to know what you think of the stand. This will be my first year using a stand and I want to learn as much as possible to eliminate any mishaps. What part of Oregon are you from?
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I like to use two rachet strps for hanging a stand. Very Quick and Very secure. Watch for squirrel damage though.
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get a spray bottle and make a mix of 1 part hot sauce to 4 parts water. it should be slightly pink in color... Spray the webing down really good. Let dry.. tree rats won't touch it.
As for safety harness, Hunters safety vest is the best out there right now.
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Thanks again Sal. I just got off the phone with my local sports shop, and they suggested the Hunters Safety Vest also. They have it for $140.00 so, gotta figure out a way to come up with that kind of money. It's worth it as you can't put a price on safety when you have a family to think of! :D
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I have never used a tree stand before also, but thought I would give it a try. I have set it up at about 20 feet up I did not do the tie downs like in Sal’s pictures but will do that for sure when I have it up for hunting! The harness it comes with is not very comfortable and with thicker clothes on during late season I am planning on figuring out something more comfortable for the harness.
Shooting from it was not really an issue and didn’t seem to have any affect other then if you do not shoot at angles then you need to practice that.
I am south of you in Springfield
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Here is something I do with My stand. I'll find a tree that has lots of brush around it. I'll set the stand so just my head is over the top of the brush so I can see the trail. Once I see game coming I can stand and get a good shot at the trail.
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You'll get the hang of it. before Ya know it you'll be falling asleep up there. Just takes a little getting use to.
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Ive been arrowing deer all my LIFE with seat at 8ft. (Mostly I hunt on the ground anyway.)
8ft. may not be high enough for your situation. Try it for a few days, if its not working out for you, back out and wait a week.--than go higher. If it were me Id be inclined to just figure out where there coming from and set up at another spot--likely theres a place with in 100yds, thats just as good, that does not require this high altitude hunting.--which creates such severe shooting angles,--fish in the barrel effective, definitly dimishes the whole experience anyway.IMO
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Originally posted by Smallwood:
try mounting it about 2 feet off the ground and then just step up onto it and stand and sit on it, move around on it and stand on the edges of it and get used to the sensation of being on the platform. Also, practice sitting and standing up, as well as mounting the stand to the tree,and taking it down.
Then , when you mount it way up in a tree, it's not your first time doing it and you will be more comfortable doing it.
This is the perfect time to test and begin to make adjustments to your safety Harness. The line from the harness to tree should be taut when sitting. I can feel a slight upward pull when my line is set correctly.
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My brother and I use a pulley attached to a ratchet strap for lifting stands. We set the pulley/strap about 2 feet above where we want it.
Pull the stand up pulley tie a quick knot on the pull line and you can then set the stand.
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Chuck, I may not have to go as high as 20' but, the trees are thick with branches and I need to be able to see. The problem with setting up where they are coming in from is that there is no way to tell. These black tail deer don't seem to follow the same trails and there are tracks criss crossing in every direction.
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Originally posted by mysticguido:
get a spray bottle and make a mix of 1 part hot sauce to 4 parts water. it should be slightly pink in color... Spray the webing down really good. Let dry.. tree rats won't touch it.
As for safety harness, Hunters safety vest is the best out there right now.
mystic, Great idea for keeping the squirrels away! I'm gonna try that this year.
I also agree with the Hunters Safety System vest, it may be a little heavier than some but it's very easy to use, comfortable, and safe.
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Had a friend that had treerats getting in to his house from the sofet (sp) over hang from roof. Anyway, I made some spray up and sprayed all around the hold to help keep them out till he got the wood to fix it. Since it worked there I tried it on the webing straps and it worked.
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I may put some on my shed to. Them little $#^&%! drug a bunch of pinecones in and chewed up a bunch of my stuff!
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I'll definitely spray my straps down also. We have tree buggers here that will do the same. Good recipe for warding off evil! :biglaugh:
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When I need to use my climber I always use a harness years ago when baker tree stands first hit the market if anyone owned one knows . You took put your life in jeopardy they were made of plywood and aluminum and you didn't get a harness.You could climb a tree by hugging it and lifting your legs until desired height. when caught in freezing rain the platform would be icey before you got out and you could not shift your weight from one foot to the other without the stand shifting with the movement.I shot many deer with that stand but you were at least off the ground that was a big thing those days otherwise you had to build one that someone else could be sitting in when you got there unless you owned the property or hunted from the groung.You could just get comfortable in the tree when it would chatter down about 2-3 feet scaring you to near death. well these Days I get a good piece of climbing rope tie a running boland around the tree attach my climber to the tree ,cilp into a rock climbing saddle w a prussik hitch and a caribiner I slide the hitch up ahead of me and advance the rope so I am fully tied in the whole way up does n't matter how high i go and when i reach my height I can lean off the stand in all directions. When I leave i can just slide the prussik down as I dessend and have the option to leave the climbing rope up in the tree or take it out.I have had 2 hip surgerys on the same hip in two years so I don't need a fall I had a few balance issues at first now I could dance in the stand without a worry if i fall I can slide out using the prussik and leave the stand up in the tree. I was a tree climber before the hip surgery but at 54 and two surgeries I left the trees for the younger guys.
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Check this thread I started awhile ago on 100% tie-in. Being tied in all the time will give you all the confidence you need.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=081814
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Don't go up 20'. 12-15' is plenty high enough most spots. Better shots too.
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Greg: Thanks for the link. Good information and read. :thumbsup: