Go with a climber and as you get more comfortable, you will go higher up. First time i used my climber, i was like dang this is high. Well i think i went all of 7 ft up lol. By the end of the season 18-20ft was nothing and i was even sleeping in my stand. Something about the climber having arm rests and me feeling like i was wrapped up made me feel safe. ladder stands i don't like too much because as i climb, im just looking at that strap and thinking if that breaks or comes loose, here i go on my back.
I have noticed when I am up in my hang on I am much more comfortable when I have other trees close by or some brush underneath me. It is kind of the same concept that others have mentioned with seeing the ladder underneath you. I tend to get a little more nervous if I am up in a lone pine or something of the like. Just take practice and take your time. Respect heights, use the proper safety precautions, and you will find yourself getting more comfortable every time up. Best of luck.
I started having anxiety about climbing high in a tree several years ago. It came out of nowhere. The only thing that helped me was getting a safety harness. I still get a little nervous sometimes but its much better.
What always helped me with hang on treestands is put as many ratchet straps around it as you want my fear was never really falling out it was that my stand was gonna fall while I'm in it lol
HSS Lifeline. Hang it up and you'll have a safe climb up and down every time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Beyond what has already been offered, avoid windy days!! Rocking back and forth in a tree during a windy day is not a good way to deal with fear of heights.... T
I have been a tree worker for 37 years, and still climb trees and work out of a bucket truck....I have always been afraid of heights. I work around it by just telling myself that is where the job is, and that is what the job requires...so I do it. The same way with hunting from a stand....climbing a tree before dawn in pitch dark is spooky, but watching the sunrise from the elevated platform and the possibility of encounters make it worthwhile. Focus on what you need to do, rather than what scares you away from doing it, and train your mind to enjoy the benefits, rather than the risk. Safety gear is a must anytime you work, hunt, or play in high places. Find a playground, sit in a swing and start swinging....sounds very stupid, but you learn you can trust the chains, the swing, the structure to hold you and soon you can enjoy the swing. Now when you put on your safety harness...you can transfer that trust to the gear you are wearing, the stand you are sitting in, and the tree you are attached to.
I would agree go with a ladder stand. You can get a 12' ladder stand with rails that you will feel secure in. And then once you get used to that and feel comfortable in the stand you can go up to a 16' stand if you choose to do so. I would shy away from climbers to start though. You dont want to be shimming up the tree and not get a good bite into the tree and have your climber base kick out on you. You might not ever recover from your fear of heights then! Best of luck in conqering your fears and getting up in a treestand!!
I'm also scared of heights. You just have to do it. You have to know that you can trust your equipment. ALWAYS use your fall system. On windy days or when i need more confidence, i'll take the climbing strap and strap myself to the tree around my chest for more security. Bottom line though, you just have to get up and do it until you're comfortable Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
