I'm looking for a good treestand for hunting public land. I was looking at climbers or ladders but I don't really have a preference and would like to be under $150. Any suggestions? I was looking at this: http://www.bowhunting.com/shopping/Products/Grizzly-Climbing-Stand__59500.aspx
If you can, I would spend a bit more and get a Summit stand. They're lighter, easier to hook up to the tree and IMO, a better stand. Cabela's sells a model called the Bushmaster that is priced around $179. This is the stand I went back to after using a different brand and not liking it. I had a more expensive Summit model before and honestly, this stand does everything that stand did and has all the same features. I think you will be hard pressed to find a nice climber in the sub 150 range unless you find a good used one.
Hi, I highly recommend that you buy a Summit Viper climbing stand, and a good safety harness. The Summit is so comfortable and safe. Its a few dollars more, but not really. Your safety and comfort is well worth it. Trust me!
Lone Wolf Hand Climber. It's your freaking life you could save, and because you only need (1), save your money and buy something nice. The hand climber is freaking awesome! I so highly recommend it.
I have the Summit Bushmaster also. It is very simple to use, very light, and pretty comfortable on long sits. I really enjoy mine.
Do yourself a favor and find a dealer that carry's both the Summit and Lone Wolf stands. Ask to see the boxes and you will understand why I'm such a LW fan!
I'll have to take a look at the game fair here in a couple of weeks. They're probably a lot cheaper than going to a store
All TMA approved stands come with a safety harness included and they are effective in keeping you safe. However, they typically are cumbersome to put on on use. Therefore I would suggest using it until you can afford an aftermarket harness like the Hunter Safety System or Muddy. Good luck.
For hunting public land I would buy a climber. I would recommend a summit. Really comfortable stands and well worth the extra money.
I hunt public alot and I just use a cheap hangon and sticks. I go the day before we hunt and set everything up then in the am i go and get in it. If i need to change the stand I will do it around noon and just get in it and stay all night. Its not as easy as a climber but you can get in any tree you want for any situation.
I just have to comment on this. While I do agree that the LW climber's do pack flat, which is nice for storing. But for packing into the woods, that feature in moot point. I don't know of anyone who goes to the woods with just their climber and bow in hand. Most of us carry a backpack too, usually strapped to the climber. Along with extra clothing in colder weather. All of this sticks out, roughly as far at the bars on the summits do anyway. So, really, IMO, there is no advantage to having a stand that packs flat other than ease of storage and making the box smaller at the store. I had a LW climber, used it one season and did not notice ANY difference in felt weight while packing it into the woods. This was due to my pack being strapped to it. Without the pack? You bet there was a difference between it and my Summit. But for practical purposes, no.
I think that is a little contradicting muzzy, what you are saying is that with your backpack strapped to the lonewolf it was just as big to pack in as the summit... so are you saying you dont bring your backpack when you pack in the summit? wouldn't that be far and beyond the cumbersomeness of the lonewolf and backpack? I think if that was Todd's point, he makes a good one, if its smaller to pack in and weighs less or the same, it is better for packing. If the quality of the stand was sacrificed for the ability to pack it easier, then obviously this wouldn't be in question.
I guess I should clarify. I do bring my pack with me on every hunt. The pack ability of the LW that many rave about is thrown out the window, IMO, by strapping your pack to it. Many claim that this is a huge advantage to the LW's when compared with say, a Summit. I personally have used both and pack them the same way. Hell, after a while of using the LW, I didn't even bother folding it flat anymore because I didn't feel any weight distribution advantages with my pack on there. With the pack strapped to the Summit, it feels about the same as it does when strapped to the LW.
Skip the treestands and get a Tropyline Tree saddle instead/ They only weigh no more than three pounds and you can wear it into the woods.The only other thing you need to carry in with your bow is either a stick ladder or staking steps . You can check it out at www.trophylineusa.com . And you can buy them cheap at the AT forums from people selling them . I use the tree saddle on public land here in Wisconsin and will never go back to tree stands again. I sat comfable in mine for 5 hours once. Check them out .
Saying a Summit packs like a LW is pretty much a joke. Go into the thickest saplings you can find, turn around with a LW on your back, and then a Summit. Tell me what sounds like two aluminum antlered bucks going after it! Climbing, safety, packability, and SILENCE is what makes LW better. The traction belts alone are worth buying one. The rest is just added bonus! LW comes with a decent harness to wear also.
The LW guys will always come on to the treestand threads and talk about how great their stand is. I think what Muzzyman is saying is that once you get the pack on the treestand, the pack sticks out the same amount on the Summit as it does on the LW. I've never used a LW but I have used a Summit extensively and I can say that they are great stands. The Summit Viper is selling for $250, the LW Sit and Climb for $420. I'm sure that LWs are great too but are they worth $170 more? I don't think so. You can almost buy two Summits for the price of one LW (not that you need two). Since you asked for suggestions around $150, you will have to stick with the cheapest of Summits to stay around that price although they may be a little more than that. I bought my Summit Viper 3 or 4 years ago for $199 from Cabela's. Here's a link to the Summit Bushmaster for $199. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunt...=SBC;MMcat104791680;cat104783580;cat104650380
Gotta go with the Summit treestands. I have the Viper SS and love it. Comfort and security were very important to me being a new hunter and its worth the few extra $$'s.
What you need to do is look at both. Then see if someone has one you can test. See how you feel up in a tree at 15 - 20 ft. I had an open stand and switched to the viper because I prefer having the extra bar around me. It makes me feel a little safer when at 15 - 20 ft. The lW may get up more trees with climbing sticks at a shorter height. Test to see how comfortable you will feel based on your own experience in a stand at those heights.
