Tree stand info?

[rcdinaz]

I am looking for feedback on tree stands?

 

My only experience is a couple of hunts in the mid west in permanent stands. I think I am leaning towards climbing sticks and a hang on and not a climber but prices are from one extreme to the other.

 

I read a lot of feedback on Lone Wolf and a few others but they are really expensive.

 

Should I go cheap or will I regret it?

 

My plan is to have a ground blind and a tree stand for hunting in the forest.

 

Thanks for any guidance!

[prowlerMan]

Summit viper tree stands! Very easy to use and super comfy to sit in for long periods of time. I would recommend a 20 ft up safety harness system too. The 20' up system is a very fast climbing rig without having to stop & adjust your harness every couple feet up.

[gotcoues]

Placement is more important than brand. Try to face North and have some cover from the sun if possible. I try to pick a tree that leans back so you'll have a more natural backrest and not feel like your forced forward. Sportsman's guide has a wide selection of cheap tree stands, they also have the best deal going on a set of 20' foot ladder sticks. Very good set, between my friends and I we have 6 sets. If you don't plan on hiking in deep, I purchased a big ol klunky thing. I call it the Cadillac. It's so ridiculously comfortable, you might set it in your living room and watch TV. Impossible to fall out even if you fall asleep. I think my Cadillac ran me $70 bucks so about $110 w the ladder sticks. Send a pm if you need info about this set up. When I go deep I take my API stand and still hike in the same set of ladder sticks. Guys will use tree pegs to cut all the weight, but they're not legal.

[ccran]

I have two hang on stands with climbing sticks, but my favorite is my new Summit climber. Fast, light and easy as heck to get up a tree. Climbers are more expensive, but definitely worth the money.

[capoeirajosh]

We have a fairly cheap hang-on stand by Rivers Edge. $100 bucks or under and that was like 10 years ago, haha. Never had any issues with them. Super solid and comfortable.

[8OWHUNT247]

I use a 2 man 16' ladder stand.... Tons of room for one guy or I can squeez in one of the kids...

[joelbiltz]

Being a Indiana whitetail hunter that's the only way we roll here so when it Comes to stands I have hunted in a few. Buy a Mellenium M100 or M150 and thank me later. There isn't a stand that compares when it comes to all day comfort.

[pirogue]

I grew up in the South, still hunt there every year, and own several different types of stands. Your biggest decision should be where you will use it. If I am packing in a ways, or, am in mountainous or thick terrain, I'll use my Lone Wolf Hand Climber, which is compact and 14 lbs. That being said, you still have to be in an area that grows high canopy trees(no low limbs). Some Summit stands also weigh about 14 lbs, but they are not as compact as my Lone Wolf. For trees with low limbs, the hang on and climbing sticks are preferred, and I have Lone Wolf sticks for that. For comfort, and where you don't have to pack far, and weight and bulk are not considerations, I like my Summit Viper.

[rcdinaz]

Great info, thanks everyone!

 

I bought the Lone Wolf sticks and a Gorilla stand to start with. I got the Gorilla for a good price so spent some money on the ultralight sticks. I tried everything out this weekend and as could be exepected everything was a little cumbersome the first go around. I could not get the linemans belt factory or my own to be tight enough to let me hang from the tree with any confidence while I set up the sticks and then setting the treestand was a bit of a challenge. I also learned the hardway to find a tree without limbs, had 3 limbs I had to navigate around, wont be doing that again!

 

I ditched the factory harness and wore a climbing harness and made my own lifeline and linemans belt. It all worked pretty well maybe a few things to refine.

 

Next on my list is a Lone wolf hand climber for packing in on long hauls. I will deffintitely look at the Millenium stands as well. I like the idea of securing the reciever and then the stand instead of messing with all the weight the first go around.

[Rifle2Bow]

I just bought my Summit Viper in June and this will be my first season hunting out of my own tree stand. I did a ton of research and I just kept reading about how comfortable it was. I was on the fence between the viper and the open shot which is a spec lighter but went with the viper because of the rail which you can sit on when climbing and you can use a rifle rest. Ive always been a rifle hunter and I just picked up bow hunting a little over a year ago which is why i wanted a treestand. I prefer to bow hunt and as I've been practicing it hasn't hit any of my limbs at full draw. Dog gammit I can't wait for end of August!!! Good luck to all.

 

Btw- climbing on it is a breeze.