best climbing tree stand

grumpyvette

Administrator
Staff member
" HEY GRUMPY? whats the best climbing tree stand?"


Obviously you need to ask,
best for who?,
under what conditions"
, on what tree?
at what height?
how well do you climb?
are you rifle, pistol or archery hunting?
well that answer, depends a great deal on both the area you hunt the distance you need to carry it and the type of trees it will be used on, but down south theres usually tall strait pine or similar trees in many areas....bordering fields , keep in mind the advantage is basically based on placing the hunter high enough to be above the line of sight and far enough up to greatly reduce the chances of your odor , or movement being seen or detected, from covering the immediate area, thus a height of 15-20 feet off the ground is usually the MINIMUM required


southern_longleaf_pine.jpg

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a good deal of FLORIDA SWAMPS LOOK'S LIKE THESE pictures
typical palmetto thickets where 20 -40 yard shots are the normal range, and where some areas where use of a climbing tree stand offer's you a big advantage

akml3.jpg

get a gps so you can find the areas depicted on the sat photos and take the effort to find recent satellite photos, get a good climbing tree stand.
if you get out the recent satellite photos your looking for areas that channel deer movement, between cover and feed.
ideally youll want to locate a choke point concentrating deer movement.

flamedo.jpg


untill you know the area,increase your odds by finding areas deer constantly travel between cover and feed, be in a tree stand with a wide field of fire ,
up at least 15-25 feet up a tree so you command dozens of acres, if you plop down in a random area on the ground your chances of success diminish a great deal.

flamedoa.jpg

akml4.jpg

swap3.JPG


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http://www.treelounge.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwXhQGt2 ... re=related

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/where-in-hell-is-my-buck.14375/

Ive got a welder, and a limited bank balance so I fabricated something vaguely similar to this design for personal use but with several improvements, it probably cost me $80 to do that in materials but its worked great for decades
 
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just a reminder that every year dozens of guys manage to fall out of tree stands , guys slip, guys fall asleep and fall guys get careless and there are many permanently disabled, or killed, broken bones and busted spines are common , if you don,t use a safety harness, you can,t fall 10-20 feet very often with out getting seriously injured , and even a little 4-6 foot fall can be fatal under some conditions.
I generally hear of several injuries every year and I don,t doubt it a bit when I hear that there is generally many , many times more deaths from falls than guys getting shot accidentally
the harness does not cost much compared to the medical cost of a lifetime being paralyzed, or even just having a busted leg , good ones cost $150-$300 and are worth their weight in GOLD, if you fall and trust me! its only a matter of time!

http://www.webriggingsupply.com/pages/c ... esses.html

http://www.lonewolfhuntingproducts.com/ ... mbers.aspx

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... aQod1k8A9A

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videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjehWj19B8c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhG0yKpIIT4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuQEQ_XBe8s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uip7EIwHn0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrCF9zt2dM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHvX9iR3gVM
 
grumpy, what deer hunting climbing tree stand do you use?


heres one more reason to own a decent welder,
and have some fabrication skills
telescoping aluminum rectangular tubing is best but steel tube while heavy will work, and its faster cheaper and easier to weld
don,t forget to use a high quality safety harness

https://www.walmart.com/ip/44813151...75035&wl11=online&wl12=44813151&wl13=&veh=sem

https://www.amazon.com/Treestand-EMERGENCY-DESCENDER-Adapter-Wingman/dp/B01MYNEN83

http://treestandwingman.com/

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod....z_btnclk=YMAL-2278438&WT.z_pg_ref=prd2287112

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...edium=AFF&utm_source=41227&rid=12&WT.tsrc=AFF



PLUS safety line
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hunter-S...ategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=b8bZD4-6tAy_84Ma55ZrYc

https://www.google.com/search?q=tree+lounge+tree+stand&tbm=isch&imgil=ntUNZIHr3yrMcM%3A%3BlhT-bIEgzH0kJM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.biggamehunt.net%252Fnews%252Fhunting-community-mourns-loss-tree-stand-innovator&source=iu&pf=m&fir=ntUNZIHr3yrMcM%3A%2ClhT-bIEgzH0kJM%2C_&usg=__D4b-aUNgdsKflcZV4JlXaM3mTq8=&biw=1360&bih=662&ved=0ahUKEwi98uGR47jQAhUGxGMKHVKSACAQyjcITg&ei=MVgyWP2VG4aIjwPSpIKAAg#imgrc=ntUNZIHr3yrMcM:

1.Always wear the safety harness and safety check your stand.
2. Learn how to use the stand before you take it in the woods for your first hunt. Find a place to practice with it and climb several times before you hunt. Take a friend with you just in case there are problems.
3. Make sure that the top and bottom sections are somehow secured together. It's happened before...and it'll happen again that the bottom section will not be locked in tight enough and will fall away (usually happens while climbing). If they are not secured together, you have just lost your ability to climb.
4. If you happen to fall and are "flailing" as you put it. Hopefully your stand did not fall to the ground and you can somehow regain use of it to help you get to the ground. If not, hopefully you have a cell phone or radio in your pocket and can call someone for help. Last resort, wrap your legs and one arm around the tree in a bear hug and cut the line with your free hand and then bear hug your way down the tree. Just don't do this if you think you're not strong enough to keep a good grip. Better to just hang there till someone finds and can help you.
5. That in mind, good idea to make sure that someone knows where you're hunting and when to expect you back so that they can get help if you're not back within a reasonable amount of time.


the TREE LOUNGE is no longer made ,
the company went out of business when
the original COMPANY owner died
AND HIS WIFE COULD NOT FIND A MACHINIST & WELDOR
TO CONTINUE BUILDING THEM AT A REASONABLE COST.

but you can find them used,
or if your semi skilled duplicating the design, or even improving on it,
is not difficult if you own a decent welder

or if your good with a welder and can fabricate one,
you won,t have a great deal of trouble building something similar
Ive used a personally built CLONE VERSION,
one, I built for thirty years with no issues
I think my versions had a few improvements



https://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=61&step=2&top_cat=60
 
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I will keep my ladder stand it's less portable and harder to set up but the effort is well worth it. I hunted out of a climbing stand once& didn't feel safe
 
I have always built my own self climbers out of electrical conduit and expanded metal for the seat and foot rests in two parts that you used with your hands to pull yourself up . Also had 1 1/2 inch angle iron with teeth cut into them for the purpose of it not trying to go around [pivoting] the tree while climbing. Never had a failure and always used a safety harness as well as tying the two parts together so you wouldn't be stuck up the tree. Two pieces, light weight and could be back packed any where. Used spring clips and d-clips to adjust to tree thickness.
 
Thanks for the information guys, I want to share my experience.:) There is no such thing as a "best" of anything and treestands are the same. It's really what's right for you. I have a summit viper ss and have enjoyed the results.it uses a cable lock and trigger system.for ease of use and confident building, it does the trick if you haven't hunted off the ground before. Extremely comfortable seating as well.my 2 suggestions/dislikes would be adding a slight bit of padding to the straps because packability gets a little rough on longer hikes. I used two cuts of pipe foam to remedy this.secondly, I recommend some sort of vest style fall safety harness.Here is an interesting video about how to set up it.

 
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thank you for the input,
I own several versions of commercial climbing tree stands,
but I custom fabricated the stand I USE 90% OF THE TIME,
AS IT WAS ALL TOO OBVIOUS, TOO ME!
that after looking at dozens of designs and trying several friends climbing tree stands that most are designed,
with low production cost and, fast,& easy manufacturing as the prime concerns.
the one I built is rather similar too these, video's (
linked/posted below) in basic design,
but I added a few additional features like the ability to adjust the grip and angle,
once you reach the desired height , as all trees are unique, and the fasteners used are stronger and redundant,
on my design.
I can be reasonably sure most of the commercial designs never had any serious engineering expertise invested in the design phase, as most are clumsy too use and noisy or not very adjustable, the whole idea of successful tree stand use, assumes you'll be able too spend hours sitting comfortably without moving to remain un- seen, and safe up, a tree and ideally at least 15-25 feet off the ground, to place you high enough to make odur and movement hard to detect and give you an excellent view of the area, if you are not extremely comfortable that won,t happen

I like the idea of basically allowing the hunter too be seated comfortably, in a way that if he fell asleep,
he would be very unlikely to fall out of the stand
anyone with a few basic tools and a good welder and some mechanical fabrication skills,
could build a decent climbing tree stand once hes used a few commercial versions,

and has experience using those as a basis, too use for design, the keys are strength, available materials, cost, ease of use ,
reasonably light weight, versatility and an experience using them.

 
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comfort and easy of handling and transport by foot, and set-up mean, along with being able to sit comfortably and quietly for hours a great deal.
once into a potentially, productive area you need too effectively become invisible to the games detection, so in most cases youll want to get high to avoid scent contaminating ground level, and extend your visual range

Im rather curious, how many of your gentlemen regularly use a climbing tree stand?
and do you feel its huge asset ?
theres certainly large areas in the southern united states with the strait trunk type type of trees and the intermittent open areas where deer feed,
that make the use of an elevated stand and its far greater visual access into the surrounding brush, a noticeable advantage.
in many ares theres dirt access roads so you rarely will need too back-pack a climbing tree stand over a 1/2 mile from a trail access,
to find a decent area with a suitable tree to use.
find an area with good feed or terrain features that mandate the deer travel through the area to reach feed,
water or bedding and cover or avoid hunter pressure, and your odds increase/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=CKB_fTWg6d0
close-up-hunter-standing-in-tree-stand-holding-weapon-at-the-ready-BB9CMW.jpg

many areas I hunt in mid and northern florida look similar to this, with a decent revolver you can in theory control access too,
about a 200 yard diameter circle,in any direction,or about 6.5 of an acres, if you have the ability to consistently hit a deer vitals sized target
swap to a rifle with a 300 yards range, in any direction, and you in theory control access of over 50 acres, Ideally youll want to get 15-30 feet of elevation
flamedoa.jpg

screw in tree steps are at times rather useful
https://www.ebay.com/i/143155288775?chn=ps

s-l640.jpg
 
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yeah, I own three commercial climbing tree stands ,
(all but one purchased dirt cheap at yard sales)
I was not all that impressed with any of them, yet they all work reasonably well,
and all had unique features I liked,
Having an extensive engineering back-ground..and having a good deal of fabrication skills ,
and a MIG welder ,and a MILLING MACHINE, access in my shop,
it was not particular difficult, to design and fabricate a custom,version that incorporated most,
of the best features, of those tree stands, in a single custom tree stand.
a well designed climbing tree stand must be sturdy, rock solid stable,
and comfortable too use for hours at a time, and yes that safety harness is mandatory.
a fall from 20-30 feet , from a tree stand, if your 71 like I am could be really nasty
I'm certainly not suggesting I have designed and use anything exceptional but it has the features I feel are desirable,
the best feature is the ability too get 15-30 feet off the ground and have a comfortable safe seat, too unobtrusively
observe the area you survey or theoretically control access too with the weapon you select to use,
the height gives you a major advantage in what can be observed, over stands at ground level

https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Adap...s=gateway&sr=8-30-spons&tag=googhydr-20&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Adapter-Wingman-Harness-Stainless/dp/B075MK3ZJ2/ref=sr_1_30_sspa?hvadid=178101048456&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9012039&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=b&hvrand=9591147188303158541&hvtargid=kwd-3502215265&keywords=hunter+safety+system+tree+strap&qid=1550616694&s=gateway&sr=8-30-spons&tag=googhydr-20&psc=1
 
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The first one is what I normally build out of conduit but has a smaller platform to stand on and no leg stretch out position.

I don't like the lay back version as it limits your ability to move left or right or to stand safely.
 
if you own a decent welder and have a drill press and a saw that will cut metal and a tape measure, and a smidge of fabrication skill/
building your own custom climbing tree stand is not that difficult to do.
I would suggest you use grade #8 bolts where needed and tape spares to the tree stand
you design your own version, but be sure its designed with your safety in ,mind,
you need a safety harness in any climbing tree stand
the last thing you want to do is have it break and/or you fall out of it.

http://www.treewalkertreestands.com/

https://www.google.com/search?q=homemade climbing tree stand plans&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CT9Onv5Abrj6YRHZ0GB7Tdhg&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS864US864&hl=en&ved=0CB8QuIIBahcKEwiQuqWw-crqAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQGw&biw=1663&bih=917#imgrc=sQu5BG0cBHpgaM

https://app.louisianasportsman.com/...sifieds&event=view&action=single_ad&id=655309

https://www.grainger.com/product/HONEYWELL-MILLER-Body-Belt-1D840


 
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