I purchased my first hang-on stand and ladder sticks and went out this last weekend to hang them. I wanted to be as safe as possible so I purchased the HSS lineman’s belt to be used with my HSS vest. So I get out there to the property I hunt and get the stand hung at ~18-20’. The installation didn’t go too bad. So I climb up the ladder and get ready to step over to the hang-on stand and I just freeze. Something came over me that just didn’t feel good. I settle down for a min and created the courage to step over and make it over to the stand. So I sit down and I am just not comfortable at all. “I hate it”, I keep saying to myself. I just don’t feel comfortable in this thing even with my safety harness. I don’t like the openness I guess. So I decide to move it down to 15’ high to see if I feel better and it turns out, no dice. I just hate hang-on stands because apparently I am a wuss. I use my climber all the time and feel completely safe in that. I use ladder stands and feel completely safe in them. What the hell? I guess I just need that cage around me to feel comfortable. I sat in it for awhile to see if I would get used to it and the longer I sat in it the more I wanted to get down. I’m selling it which I think I already have a buyer for. I will have a HSS lineman’s belt for sale that has only been used once if anyone is interested. Good Grief, I did not expect this to happen.
I know the feeling. The first day back in a treestand always creeps me out a bit but I get used to it. I used to be a rock climbing guide and it's a lot different feeling facing into your climb than facing away from it. "Don't look down!" vs. always looking down.
Better to sell it and stick with what's most comfortable for you. The last thing you want to do is sit in the tree stand for 4 or 5 hours on edge.
It happens, no big deal. If you're not comfortable, don't do it. I don't have a problem with it, but some just can't sit up there without anything around you. My buddy will ONLY use ladderstands, and only if it has the shooting bar going around it. And he's still shaky up there :D
hell fire i do tree work for a living and let me tell you when you aint scared your stupid and then your hurt real bad or youre telling ya problems to st.peter. either way fear is a good thing boldness leads to mistakes and those lead to far worse so be careful at whatever you do and good luck 2 ya
Don't worry about it. Stick with the ladder stands. At 53 years old, I am still very comfortable with hang - ons, they're all I've ever owned. It helps that being an electrician, I'm on lifts, ladders and scaffolding every day for my work. However, due to aches, pains and everything else associated with getting old , I see the day, in the not too distant future, that I will be switching over to ladder type stands. If I were you, I'd play around with it in my yard until I could see if it were possible to become comfortable with it. Good luck
Heck, you can get 20+ foot ladder stands, so there's no real problem. Harder to move around, but you've got a climber for that anyway.
With all due respect, you must not have been climbing trees very long. In tree work, being scared is what will get you hurt. There's a big diff between respect and fear. A big diff! I've been climbing trees (big oaks & tulips) for 32 years and there isn't a single day when I can say I was scared up in a tree. Maybe when I was a green horn I might have been intimidated, but not scared. The higher the better!:D
I wasn't sure I'd like the openness of a hang-on when I purchased one myself, but after a couple of times up in it I was fine. Sometimes you just can't overcome it.
I sometimes feel shaky the first sit or two of the season, but it always goes away. I say keep practicing with it because the hang ons have some big advantages over climbers and ladder stands.
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!! You need to hunt at a level and with the type of stand you feel comfortable in!!!!!! This whole I have to be 20' in the tree thing is a macho joke. Play the wind, be safe, comfortable and know your limitations. This is what an experienced hunter does. You have no reason to be putting yourself down...You are smart and using common sense so the more pwer to you. Besides a shallow angle will offer a better kill zone. Take Care
I don't hunt ever out of open faced hang on stands. I feel exactly like you do. Even with a safety harness on I just don't feel safe. My Goliath Climber is the only stand I hunted out of last year.
Let me tell you an awesome trick that will fix your problem and allow you to sit all day in a loc on and be comfortable.What I do is flip up my loc on seat and use the top from my summit viper and I feel completely at easy and comfortable just like I am in my climber.Once you guys try it you will love it! PS. If you use your loc ons this way you can un bolt and remove the seat completely from your stand and no one else can use it when your not there plus you will always have a dry seat.
Thanks for the comments guys. To clarify the intention of my post. I am laughing at myself for being scared doing something that most people have no problem with. It is, what it is. I'm scared in hang-on stands and I'm not afraid to admit it. I'm sure as hell not going to hunt out of something that I am not comfortable with because it's Macho. I'm not that shallow. :D I may have been born at night........ but it wasn't last night.
Fear within reason will help keep you alive...Pain tells you your still alive. I know your not worried about being macho, but there are those out there who do think that way. Your from Wisconsin so I know you aren't stupid! LOL
I am the same way and cannot hunt out of any lock on. I have often looked at them and thought about buying one and trying it out butttt.... I dont know? I have the exact same problem as you. I HATE the transition from the steps to the treestand, just feels uneasy?? I hate not having nothing around me?? The only thing I have thought of would be too maybe try a rail out like this.....http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/...stand-from-big-game-treestands.aspx?a=551334# I dont know if it would help or not, it MAY help you feel more at ease?? Gd Luck!!!
