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Started By
Message
1st Climber Experience Today (pic added to OP)
Posted on 12/13/20 at 12:05 am
Posted on 12/13/20 at 12:05 am
Saw the thread asking for suggestions on what to look for before climbing a tree and thought Id bump this.
Heres what NOT to do.
OP:
Participated in my first public land hunt today (Tensas) which meant I had to use a climber.
Realization #1
My decision to not practice once before my first "real" climb was a very poor one. It was dark, the tree I had chosen was wet and full of algea. A true trial by fire.
Realization #2 & 3
Even at only 8 ft., if the bottom portion falls the frick down, you will shite yourself and panic. Did I have my feet locked in with the straps? Of course not. Was the bottom tied to the top? Luckily.
After staring death in the face (at least in my mind) I had no doubt that anyone who climbs without a safety harness is a mad man.
Realization #4
20 ft is fricking high. Didn't think I was scared of heights, but I'm rethinking that now.
Realization #5
Pulling you gun and pack from the ground, then trying to arrange that shite for ease of access is a juggling act and PIA.
Realization #6
If you don't space the top and bottom right, you will not enjoy that 5 hour sir. And nope, once I was at an acceptable height, and not free falling to my death, I wasn't adjusting shiiiiit.
Maybe some of my woes were from using a buddies older API (Crusader?) I'm told Summit makes much better and comfortable stands.
The afternoon hunt was less "exciting" and I kinda started to get comfortable, but never again will I fail to appreciate a big box stand and office chair.
Heres what NOT to do.
OP:
Participated in my first public land hunt today (Tensas) which meant I had to use a climber.
Realization #1
My decision to not practice once before my first "real" climb was a very poor one. It was dark, the tree I had chosen was wet and full of algea. A true trial by fire.
Realization #2 & 3
Even at only 8 ft., if the bottom portion falls the frick down, you will shite yourself and panic. Did I have my feet locked in with the straps? Of course not. Was the bottom tied to the top? Luckily.
After staring death in the face (at least in my mind) I had no doubt that anyone who climbs without a safety harness is a mad man.
Realization #4
20 ft is fricking high. Didn't think I was scared of heights, but I'm rethinking that now.
Realization #5
Pulling you gun and pack from the ground, then trying to arrange that shite for ease of access is a juggling act and PIA.
Realization #6
If you don't space the top and bottom right, you will not enjoy that 5 hour sir. And nope, once I was at an acceptable height, and not free falling to my death, I wasn't adjusting shiiiiit.
Maybe some of my woes were from using a buddies older API (Crusader?) I'm told Summit makes much better and comfortable stands.
The afternoon hunt was less "exciting" and I kinda started to get comfortable, but never again will I fail to appreciate a big box stand and office chair.
This post was edited on 10/12/21 at 9:07 pm
18
Posted on 12/13/20 at 5:55 am to Bawcephus
Try climbing 25 ft with spurs and a home made lock on next.
It is scary AF when the bottom or top slips. I used a summit this morning on a slick oak and had to make sure top gripped right before I set weight on it.
It is scary AF when the bottom or top slips. I used a summit this morning on a slick oak and had to make sure top gripped right before I set weight on it.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 6:01 am to Bawcephus
A slick bark water oak, willow oak or nuttall oak is terrible to climb
Trees are limited, but if you have choice out there - a sweetgum or bitter pecan has a little better bark to bite into with the climber
Most climbers have a buckle across the front to strap your climber to the tree once you get setup. That helps a lot too for stability
Look like you learned some lessons so it’s all good
Trees are limited, but if you have choice out there - a sweetgum or bitter pecan has a little better bark to bite into with the climber
Most climbers have a buckle across the front to strap your climber to the tree once you get setup. That helps a lot too for stability
Look like you learned some lessons so it’s all good
This post was edited on 12/13/20 at 6:05 am
Posted on 12/13/20 at 6:42 am to Bawcephus
Hang your pack to the front of the climber. It will keep weight on the front and prevent you from kicking it up if you stand up or move around. Wear a damn harness, baw.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 6:47 am to Bawcephus
Sound about right. You’ll get better the more you climb.
Those days are over for me though.
Those days are over for me though.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:01 am to Honest Tune
quote:
Most climbers have a buckle across the front to strap your climber to the tree once you get setup.
Did this the second time. Helped with piece of mind.
quote:
Hang your pack to the front of the climber.
funny you say that. I actually did this by pure accident. quote:
Wear a damn harness, baw.
I was. Heard too many horror stories to not do that.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:21 am to Bawcephus
Third hand archery stabilizer straps. Look them up. Worth their weight in gold on a climber while climbing and once at desired height.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:31 am to Bawcephus
quote:
Heard too many horror stories to not do that
Back when I first started using a climber, I never wore one. Took a nap up there one day and jolted awake thinking I was about to fall out. It was all I needed, went and bought one immediately.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:39 am to Bawcephus
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go to the top of a 15 foot ladder stand, then attach your climber to a tall straight Pine on the edge of a brand-new clear-cut, climb another 20 in the dark, and then realize you forgot to tie your pull rope to your rifle! That was about 30 years ago.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:40 am to Bawcephus
quote:Having owned both an API and currently a Summit Viper, I can confirm. Summit is much quicker and easier to setup/pack up
Maybe some of my woes were from using a buddies older API (Crusader?) I'm told Summit makes much better and comfortable stands.
The harness that comes with the climber sucks though. Do yourself a favor a get an aftermarket one. I use an HSS. And don’t forget to use the bungie to attach the seat and foot platorms so you don’t end up stuck in the tree with your feet dangling if the foot platform came loose for some reason
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:46 am to Bawcephus
I can't say if the Summit is more comfortable than the API or the other way around.
What I will say is I feel 100 x safer in the API. Absolutely do not like the way the summit bites a tree, or fails to bite actually. I do kind of like the Summit cable system, just not the lower part that's rests against the tree
What I will say is I feel 100 x safer in the API. Absolutely do not like the way the summit bites a tree, or fails to bite actually. I do kind of like the Summit cable system, just not the lower part that's rests against the tree
Posted on 12/13/20 at 7:52 am to Bawcephus
It’s like anything else get a system and you will do it very smooth quiet and quick a few things to note.
-Look for a sweet gum the bark is good and they are same size to the bottom no need to adjust or start at a steep angle.
-Remember where your top is at on your leg that way u can repeat the comfortable height.
-Put one cable all the way in an the other all the way out when you take it down. small tree you know that the one cable will need to cinch up big tree you know
to let out cable.
-Look for a sweet gum the bark is good and they are same size to the bottom no need to adjust or start at a steep angle.
-Remember where your top is at on your leg that way u can repeat the comfortable height.
-Put one cable all the way in an the other all the way out when you take it down. small tree you know that the one cable will need to cinch up big tree you know
to let out cable.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 8:04 am to Bawcephus
Slick Pines are the best to climb
always make the climber too tight at the bottom because the tree will get smaller as you go up
Practice will make it easier
I hunted out of one 70% of the time for 20 years and loved it, I'd skin a pine tree 25-30ft and never think twice. Spin around like a spider monkey getting it adjusted just right.
I took a few years off due to having a kid , work etc etc Last time I climbed, I was like you, about 15 ft and I was shitting my pants
always make the climber too tight at the bottom because the tree will get smaller as you go up
Practice will make it easier
I hunted out of one 70% of the time for 20 years and loved it, I'd skin a pine tree 25-30ft and never think twice. Spin around like a spider monkey getting it adjusted just right.
I took a few years off due to having a kid , work etc etc Last time I climbed, I was like you, about 15 ft and I was shitting my pants
Posted on 12/13/20 at 8:37 am to Bawcephus
API stands from Grand Slam forward will not slip. Don't really understand the harness comment when using a climber. Yes, bottom to Tom distance is crucial for comfort. I have had to adjust a lot once up. Part of that is guessing the correct angle when starting out. I love using my climber.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 8:41 am to Bawcephus
I’m reading this post while sitting in my climber in tensas
Posted on 12/13/20 at 3:35 pm to jmkidder
quote:
I’m reading this post while sitting in my climber in tensas
How's your weekend go? I saw squat. One of the guys tried to shoot a big body 6 or 8 through some saplings and missed (or hit a tree).
This post was edited on 12/13/20 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 12/13/20 at 3:43 pm to Bawcephus
One of my first times with a climber I hiked in, climbed a perfect tree I had seen a few days earlier, and felt pretty good about myself.
When the sun came up, the wind started blowing. The tree was moving way more than it should.
I started reassessing me situation and realized I had climbed up a large, dead, and quite hollow rotted out tree.
Like an idiot, no harness. That was a stressful climb down.
When the sun came up, the wind started blowing. The tree was moving way more than it should.
I started reassessing me situation and realized I had climbed up a large, dead, and quite hollow rotted out tree.
Like an idiot, no harness. That was a stressful climb down.
Posted on 12/13/20 at 3:51 pm to Sus-Scrofa
25+ years ago I had a climbing stand. Really heavy, cumbersome thing.
I got up in that thing one day, when a brutal thunderstorm blew up..friggin lightning and close. I was sure I was going to die, in one of two ways. Even after finally getting down, though it was gonna get me.
I got up in that thing one day, when a brutal thunderstorm blew up..friggin lightning and close. I was sure I was going to die, in one of two ways. Even after finally getting down, though it was gonna get me.
This post was edited on 12/14/20 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 12/13/20 at 3:55 pm to Bawcephus
Without trying to sound like a dick, all of those problems could have been figured out or at least realized with a little practice. Again, not trying to be a dick, but there are already enough ‘moving parts’ to hunting public land, no need to make it more difficult on yourself. It’s a good way to get yourself hurt
Posted on 12/13/20 at 4:56 pm to stein_burgundy
quote:
Third hand archery stabilizer straps
Can’t stress enough how confident these inexpensive straps will make you while climbing and after you’ve reached your desired height. Watch the video on the Thirdhand Archery website. They should come stock with every climbing stand. They completely changed my comfort level when climbing. These straps, a harness, and an HSS tree rope are my go to safety equipment.
I also use a couple of those 18” Nite Ize rubber coated wire ties as a way to secure my gun to the top of my climber once I get to my desired height. I’ll wrap one on each side of the stand then loosely wrap it around the handle area of the gun and the barrel just enough so I know if I were to bump my gun if I were to stand up, it won’t go anywhere.
I wear my pack while climbing. Once I get to my desired height, I’ll either wire tie it to my stand or run my Summit utility strap around the tree and hang the pack off a couple grimloc carabiners I have on the strap.
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