I will be bowhunting all traditional this year. As a matter of fact my last remaining bow with training wheels will be sold after I get off of work (hopefully). I am wanting climbing treestand because where I hunt you have to move a lot. Sometimes one spot for a morning hunt and another for an evening hunt and I my finances will only let me get one for now. So basically I have narrowed it down to a climber. I have been looking at the Summit Titan and Summit Goliath because I am currently weighing in around 315-320 clothed and there stands are rated for 350#. The only drawback (if any) is I am worried the bar on it will interfere with the drawing of the bow. I will be using my 62" Kota. Also I am not a fan of heights so I won't be that high up thats for sure :) What are yalls opinions? Feel free to recomend other stands as well. Would rather have some expert advice and buy a stand I hate later.
i have the most uncomfortable stand in the world
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Gorilla-Treestands-Expedition-Climber&i=444165&aID=503H13A&merchID=4006
i got it for price and the fact it wasnt comphy i knew i wouldnt fall asleep too easily i can shoot my 68" longbows out of it with very little problem
Check out Lone Wolf wide sit n climb. Rated to 350, very quiet and the climbing bar folds under the seat leaving the front open for the shot.
PM Sent.
Thanks
Kyle
QuoteOriginally posted by Flingblade:
Check out Lone Wolf wide sit n climb. Rated to 350, very quiet and the climbing bar folds under the seat leaving the front open for the shot.
They aren't cheap, but I'd also think hard on getting one.
The lone wold looks good and I like that the bar folds down. I just can't swing $400+ right now. Looking to spend no more than $300 or so. I will have to think about it tho. Very nice looking stand. Thanks for the replies guys.
ericmerg, how do you shoot with that knee-busting bar in front of you. I have the Summit Openshot, which I have no trouble with... and a Treewalker without a front bar and have an issue shooting without hitting my tips on the side bars if the deer is not right in front of the stand. I have to cant the heck out of the bow to shoot out of it, where as the Open shot and all my lock ons, I have no prob with.
Dave
I have a Summit Viper with the bar across the front and have used my 64" recurve with no problems. I just set it so it a little lower than my waist a bit above mid thigh, just have make sure the bow is out side of the bar when a shot oportunity happens.
roundbal: have you used a climber before?
If you don't like heights it might be a good idea to give one a trial run before buying. Or any kind of treestand for that matter. Do you have any friends with a climber?
I think it was Paul Bruner that had a funny quote about climbers.
Summit. Very comfortable. Very affordable.
Yes I used to use a climber before when I hunted with a compound and sold it when I started using a crossbow. I didn't go up very high but it was more efficient than hunting on the ground. But I can very proudly say I do not use training wheels anymore! I just sold my horizontal bow and now am strictly stick and string!
Summit open shot got mine for 215.00 brand new a few years back it has been great
I have been looking at the Summit open shot it's just I am a big guy and I am afraid it won't be big enough for me (5'10" 315lb...fat guy...lol)
No on the open shot only a 250# stand I think. They are great for bowhunters though.
My bad the NEW SD models are rated for 300#s
Why don't you consider a ground blind ?, Or a good gillie suite, hunting from the ground is the way to go, especially if your afraid of heights, and it's very productive once yo get use to it.
If not try an Old Man stand, very comfortable, very safe, open shot in front, even though you have a bar, I have tried many but still go back to my old man stand when needed.
I picked up a summit bushmaster (like the open shot I think) from a fellow Tradganger up here for under $100. It is a great stand. I also use a Summit Viper but always worry about the crossbar and my limbs!
I am still lost. Not sure which way to go. I kind of like the Summit Titan. I wonder if you can't walk out to edge of base and lean over to shoot? I wonder if bow would need to be inside or outside of rail?
Screaming Eagle...made by a traditional archer...Paul Brunner...you can hang a VW bug from them, and they advertised it.
I have a summit viper and the climbing bar gets in the way,,, cost me a deer last year. Yeah, you can shoot around it but for close shots it is difficult. Just bought a summit Razor and the climbing bar folds under the seat,,,, a much better choice for a tradman. If you buy direct from Summit, you might be able to buy a Titan base ( 350 lb.) with a Razor top section. one thing about all climbers,,,, stay cinched to the tree at all times including the climb up amd down,,,, saw an accident year when a cable came loose on the way down,,, it was not pretty.
If I was to by a climber it would be a Lone Wolf.
But Im a ground hunter. Getting to old to climb trees. And latley for me less is more.
Been hunting from the ground for 4-5 years. Had more than enough shots to let me know that if you are careful you can hunt from the ground.
Between me and my buddy we get more shots than most with compounds (but we'll and have shot anything)
The only benifit to a tree stand in my opinion is see further and your scent is better controled.
Try ground hunting , I think you'll like it.
I guess it's individual preference because I see posts where people don't have a problem with bows up to 68" or so with stands that have rails. But I do and will not buy one that has them.
The only climbers I've got left that have rails are Equalizer and old Summit Cobra..it has short hand rails on each side and the Equalizer's go all the way around. Both have been locked to the base of trees for the last two seasons.
When I do break down and hunt out of either with my 64" recurve I end up setting the top section as far down as it will go (actually resting on the bottom section) and my chin resting on my knees..still worry about my bottom limbs hitting the rails.
I would get the top section of the Open Shot...$159 and bottom of any other Summit but Open Shot, bout $159..but first thing I would do is call Summit Customer Service which they tell you to do before buying individual sections.
Please consider the Chippewa Wedge Loc (I don't sell them). With a few spare chains, you can move your stand around easily. Extremely safe, solid, quiet, and easy to hange.
I was 6' and over 3oo and was looking for light weight and something that set up easily. I bought a lone wolf with a hand climber and I rigged a strap and added it to sit on while climbing. I tried the one with the nicer seat and it just didn't seem wide enough at that time. If money is an issue like it was for me, watch **ay or c****list you can often find a used one at a pretty decent price. I bought one that didn't have a mark on it in the original box for around $200.00. You'd be surprised how many guys buy a high end stand for one trip or just don't like them and will sell them pretty cheap. No matter what stand you buy get a decent fall restraint and use it every time you leave the ground.
I'll x2 on what Mr. Norris said, I've sold off all the other stands collected over the years, Love all the Chippewa stuff.
I have the summit goliath and I also have the cabelas summit model with the open front. Both are great stands and very comfortable. I use the open front stand with my recurves and it does pretty well, there may be a couple shots I cant make because of the side bars but I think every tree stand except for the lone wolf has the side bars. If I were u I would look at the titan model, the goliath is a little tight when I have on bulky clothes and I'm 5'11 and 220. You can always call summit and order the biggest platform and any top piece you want, thats what nice about summit treestands. Just my opinion
Have been up in the air about which treestand to buy but I ran across a deal yesterday :) . Was talking to my uncle and treestands came up so I rode down to his house and he had a Loggy Bayou climber only used once by a friend of his (he had a whole shed full of stands) that he said that he would sell cheap just to free up some room. After a few minutes of negotiating back and forth he goes in the house and comes out with a Bear Kodiak Hunter that he said he was not interested in selling, all in Grayling green. So to make a long story short I got a climber and the Bear for $200!!! Not a bad deal in my book. The only thing "wrong" with the bear is it had been drilled at one point for sights, but thats no biggy I just have another rainy day bow. I will just fill the holes (1/16 dia) with some epoxy or something. Now I just need a tree to try hanging it up in :D
Forgot to add I also got a package of 100 right wing shield cut feathers in the deal to. He didn't want them because they were pink. SCORE!
I have a summit viper and use it at time but the bar does create some unnecessary challenges I usually leave it at home until rifle hunting and muzzle loader it's a great rifle rest if needed. I have a lone wolf sit and climb and it is nice, I think a little over rated and the arm rest can get in the way even with my 58" bow. I'm 5'10 not a 6+footer so it may be better for taller hunters. I'm thinking of the Goliath you can call Summit and tell them what you need, that would be your best option I would think.
Good luck
I had an Open Shot and used it for awhile. Didn't like it in the colder weather with trying to climb with a bunch of layers on. The Viper is easier to climb with, but I hated how the bar got in the way once you got settled in. So I sold the Open Shot and picked up a Summit Razor. It's a sit and climb model with makes it easier to climb with, but when you get up in the tree, the bar folds down out of the way. Hope to give it a thorough testing this fall.
Frankie, I am of the opinion that anything you can do with a climber you can do with a strap on. I can go up and down any tree nearly as quickly, probably quieter, and can change trees no problem. I can also use nearly any tree around, even those with limbs in the way.
Don't count them out only for the reason you gave.
I use the Chippewa stands. They use a separate hanger that makes things quicker, easier and quieter. They are also very stable and quiet.
Of course, a good ghillie and seat can work wonders as well.
ChuckC
You might check out Cougar Claw treestands. American made too.
I have a lone wolf hand climber it's awesome and I will never have to buy another one. Good luck
Guido's Web. Check out my video review, see what ya think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IAgwDkTc0&feature=plcp