I have a climber with a rail that is rock solid and I can get higher faster than my strap on stand. I think it is more psychological than real that I cannot take shots with my recurve or longbow due to the rail. So, looking for any experience shooting trad with a rail.
i use to have one sold it for that exact reason, i couldnt shoot my recurve out of the stand unless it was on the fringe of my comfort zone. i had a summit with the sling seat if i set the top low so i could shoot my knees where at my ears while sitting if you tighten the straps of the seat so it didnt sag so low may work better
Find a climber with a seat on the bottom and you then can lower the rail and have a good shoot.Don't lower the rail to the point you will catch your feet and fall!
I have a summit viper with a rail. I lower the top part of the climber as low as I can get it, about knee height. I have a bow holder on the left side of the rail which puts the handle of my bow about waist height. I don't sit, just stand the whole time. Which in the long run is probably better as the trunk breaks up my outline better than when I am sitting.
Own 2 climbers w/rails. Lean against the rails & hang over to shoot most any direction. Stand up 90% of the time so it's convenient.
I was thinking about posting the same question. I can't shoot out of my stands with a rail as the bottom limb of the bow always seems to hit the rail. I have a stand with no rail on the sitting portion and find that I can shoot through about a 120 degree arc fairly easy.....but, it just doesn't feel as safe. Hanging out over the edge for a shot is unnerving some times. It could just be that I am feeling more mortal as I get older though.
Don't you guys use a full body harness ? If the answer is yes, you can lean without worry because your tied off, unless you get dizzy sometimes.
If your that worried about it that your not enjoying yourself, hunt from the ground. I had a nice buck and doe at about 40 yds. from me this afternoon, they never knew I was there on the ground. Funny thing is they were right under a tree I usually go in.
I've got a treewalker with a solid rail.It's diffrent than most climbers the deck and seat section are long enough that it's never been a issue.Another tough shot with a rail is behind the tree.This is the only climber i've found that will let you get away from the tree.Far enough to make a shot from either side of the stand.About the only shot i guess would give you a problem would be straight down.And thats a single lung shot most of the time anyway.
I use the Summit Titan (yes, it has a rail). I do the smae as "njloco". It also helps that I'm 6'4" and I can lean and reach out.
Regards!
David
I have a couple of stands with rails. I'll lean on them, over them and turn around and sit on them.
Summit Razor with the drop down rail works fine for me when shooting my 60 inch recurve.
I have one, and I did the opposite of others, I place my seat high, then youcan lean against the rail, the bottom limb of the bow is what will hit, by lowering the seat you are putting the rail more in the way.
I usually just lean against the rail to shoot, that way my bow is beyond the rail. Trouble for close shots. AdamH taught me a trick. If you are using a summit style stand and wearing a harness, at least for the first couple of hours and last couple of hours, you can lift the seat section and turn it so it is facing behind the tree. Nothing in your way then.
I have one with the solid rail and I took a hack saw and cut it off on both sides. Then took a six inch long piece of square tube that would fit inside the existing tube I cut,drilled and bolted it in the front piece. Then slid it together and drilled the back pieces inserting a linch pin. All you have to do now is climb the tree, get secured and remove the rail. Wide open shooting while seated.
I have a summit viper. I set the seat straps so its as high up as it can go. I am hesistant to lean to the sides against the rail as the top section of the stand and turn on the tree an cause a fall, even with the strap around the base of it once its set.
I love the stand, although not sure its gonna work all that well with a longbow. My next one will probably be the treewalker.