I am contemplating going this route with a lightweight system. Never done anything like this so, wondering for those of you that have, how safe is it? Any suggestions and safety tips? Below is one of the stands I'm thinking of.
[attachment=1,msg2806704]
I'd recommend a stand with a bar in front. A bit more weight but adds a great deal of safety and works as a sit and climb. Allows you to spend quite a bit less energy in reaching your perch. You'll appreciate that when you're trying not to get all sweated up.
Never tried a Summit, but have read good things about them. I use a Lone Wolf hand climber. As goober points out, a sit and climb is a little easier to climb with than a hand climber, but also heaver. Will take a little practice to learn how to use one, but not difficult.
Should always have a safety belt attached to the tree as you climb. A bit of a hassle moving it after every stand movement upward, but it will catch you if the stand slips out for any reason. Generally not a good idea to place your feet next to the tree when climbing or setting the stand. That can cause it to slip.
Keep in mind that climbing stands need clean trees, i.e., no branches, to climb. If you hunt where most of the trees have branches in their lower reaches, might do better with a hang on stand and tree steps.
I personally find the ones with the bar too restricting, at least with my 62" bow. I have exactly the tree stand you posted, and I like it. Sure it requires some fitness to use, as compared to the more common ones with the bar, so you'll probably need to work out a bit, at least if like me your job keeps you 8-10 hours per day behind a computer screen.
I also have a hang on, which I like. It gives me even more freedom than the hand climber, but it's heavier, and also you can only go as high as how many sticks you can take along. I consider them both an excuse to keep myself in decent shape. In the end, you'll have to decide what works best for you.
Hope this helps,
Max
Also, if you go with the SUmmit OpenShot, I would suggest to change the shoulder straps with non-elastic ones and add a waist strap. Your shoulders will thank you at the end of the hike, and this applies to any tree stand you decide to buy.
And as Orion said, always always use the safety belt. You forget it in the car, you hunt on the ground. Better than the alternative ;)
I've used em' all ...Lone Wolf for light weight super stable climber...if you want something for long day sets their are better options..
I use the lone wolf assault. Im 57 years old and i can race a grey squirrel up a tree---but, even taking my time, and being safe it is still just a few minutes from ground to 20+ feet up. Here's my advice:
Don't skimp, buy a good one like the lw the first time.
Buy and use from the moment you leave the ground until you are back on the ground, a good harness.
Strap the top and bottom of stands together--- ive had the bottom fall partway down the tree.
If using a hand climber consider adding a sit and climb strap to it. It is a whole lot easier to get the bottom section back where it needs to be if it falls when you can use both hands.
Forget models with the surrounding bars--- they go with trad bows like peanut butter and alfredo sauce. I try to eliminate any thing that will interfere with a bow limb--- if you want the security of bars it might be good to stay on the ground.
Make sure someone knows where you are.
I have the Summit Open Shot climbing stand for the ease of shooting the bow and for all day comfort. I did do a modification similar to a Lone Wolf sit and climb by adding a lower swing bar to aid in climbing. Makes it much easier to climb and I swing the bar out of the way to shoot. You could install a belt to do the same. :bigsmyl:
Hey, Rifleman and Fisherick,
Do you mind to post pics of your mods? You have really caught my interest with it, but I am having a hard time understanding how they would work.
Thank you :bigsmyl:
Couple things to consider. One light weight stands get that was shaving parts. I myself like having somewhere to rest my elbows plus once you gotta get up quietly and slowly they give you something to grab onto.
Other guys mentioned climbing. Front bars are great for climbing but not great shooting from. With any stand some shots just aren't doable.
Throughout the years I've used most stands. I've settled on two. The Summits, they really are the most comfortable but theyre noisy, don't pack flat and are harder to sneak in with. I use mine gun season, the front rail makes a great rest.
Bowhunting there's no question the Lone Wolf has every advantage.
It allows sit and climb, packs real flat, it has side rails for elbows to rest on, and most importantly it's quiet.
All in all I'd say either one is good , for bowhunting there's no choice, Lone Wolf is the best
I use a Lone Wolf climber frequently. I own one hang on and one climber by them. It's the perfect setup for a mobile, public lands hunter. The hang on goes ANYWHERE. The climber is quicker and easier for straight trees without obstructions (when I know that is an option). I have a built in backup stand and a built in loaner.
I hunt a lot of public land so climbers have usually been my go to. I use an ol man climber now. I've been very pleased with it.
My Ol Man ain't light but good for an all day hunt. My Summit Specialist is 16 lbs. and since Bow hunting is what I do the open front is a plus. I've hunted with the open shot and like it too.
I have 3 Open Shot Summit climbers, so yes, I would highly recommend them if you wanna keep mobile. I find them easy to maneuver 62 inch recurve in them, they are stable when climbing as well as comfortable when sitting. Ive customized mine a little bit to be able to carry my pack when I'm hiking into my stand. Ive had a Lone Wolf but it didnt suit my needs. A stand of any kind is a personal preference.
Wow, I greatly appreciate all the feedback! I am hunting a bowhunting only tree farm and after scouting it a little this past weekend, I've come to the conclusion that a tree stand will probably be my best shot. Since it is owned by a Forest Product company, I cannot put a hanging stand. I will definitely use a quality harness and at all times, going up and down!
I think I'm going to get the Openshot SD and give it a whirl. I too would like to see some of those mods mentioned incase I need to make one myself. :)
I have read articles by some experienced Trad hunters and they try to keep the stand low for the best shot angle and always use a net face mask, gloves and camo jacket. Deer will see a shape, not a face, or hands, might still be uneasy, but a soft cluck on a Turkey mouth call will give them the confidence to continue. Avoid moving until their head is down, or turned. It might not work if your area lacks Turkey, but worth a try. Deer know Turkey like trees and know they would not be around if danger was present. Use the call once and wait, be ready.
HUD, thanks for the tips! There are actually some turkey in that area. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Hud on July 05, 2018, 01:36:41 AM
I have read articles by some experienced Trad hunters and they try to keep the stand low for the best shot angle and always use a net face mask, gloves and camo jacket. Deer will see a shape, not a face, or hands, might still be uneasy, but a soft cluck on a Turkey mouth call will give them the confidence to continue. Avoid moving until their head is down, or turned. It might not work if your area lacks Turkey, but worth a try. Deer know Turkey like trees and know they would not be around if danger was present. Use the call once and wait, be ready.
This is not good advice imo. Never use anything that draws attention to your set. Use background cover to blend in. If I told you how many deer I've shot wearing no gloves, face mask, wearing jeans and a flannel you'd think I was lying but it's not a call that puts em at ease. It's not being seen in the first place. Also being real low gives good angles but it puts your scent right w em. You want to compromise here a little.
All in all if you know the direction of the deer and have good cover you'll be ok.
That stand would be a good choice if you like the open front aspect. I don't know that either style is really "safer", but the bar gets in the way for some people when they get ready to shoot, especially if they're sitting. Mine has a bar and I can lean out and shoot sitting, but I stand a lot especially for the first hour or so after daybreak and the last hour before dark.
Always wear your safety harness and be mindful of what trees you climb. Before you go up make sure it's a healthy tree with no bark slipping and no big dead branches overhead, and no dead branches or other trees near you. Also don't climb slick bark trees or trees with really hard bark. Some people will even tell you not to climb pines, but that's about all we have here so I primarily hunt out of them. I just take my time and really bear down on that platform and make sure it's got a good bite before I relax on the top portion. Always make sure you have the platform tethered to the seat. They're great tools. Have fun and good luck!!
I quit using Summits once I got a Treewalker. It does everything the Summit does, but better. You can use it with either the bar in front, or without. Can still sit and climb with bar removed because of their seat design. Snaps together for transport and doesn't rattle. Doesn't slip on the tree. I've also used a LW climber, but it was stolen from my house. Takes a little practice with the LW, but it's a good quiet stand.
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If I'm not mistaken a treewalker damages trees? If so it'd be illegal in lots of state land spots and may not be welcome on somewhere such as a tree farm
Hey Madmax! Here is a pic of my lonewolf with the following:
Sit and climb strap
Small pack for my case copperlock, pen, string, flashlight, rangefinder ( i know-- how trad) amazing how much i can cram into such a small pack
Third hand bow holder
Bow rope/ retractable reel
Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me--- i use this stand very often. One caveat-- it is not built for luxury and also im a small guy--150#-- it is a compact stand.
Oh--- forgot one piece of equipment tied under seat next to pack---my Wicked Tough Treesaw.
Quote from: Bowguy67 on July 05, 2018, 09:20:04 AM
If I'm not mistaken a treewalker damages trees? If so it'd be illegal in lots of state land spots and may not be welcome on somewhere such as a tree farm
I haven't noticed any more damage with my Treewalker than I have with a summit and their teeth on bark. I don't hunt tree farms, so I would check with them if I were going to though.
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I really appreciate all the help and tips folks! I think I'm going to do this and see how it works out. I will be very careful, especially since I have a disability. :goldtooth: Will definitely leave a detailed description of where I'm at with someone.
I do like the open front aspect so as not to have anything that might hinder my shot. I'm sure I'm going to be excited if one comes within shooting distance and don't want to have try and remember not hitting my limb on a bar or something. :biglaugh:
I have been using an API Grand Slam for about 25 years. Its heavy but its like an old glove. I love it, I have taken quite a few whitetails out of it. I shoot my longbow out of it with no problems. Ive taken deer straight down under me with no problems. To each its own on what stand you would want...Just my two cents..lol.. Have a blessed day ...
Appreciate your input Floyd. I have a disability so, weight is an issue. Got to go as light as I can without sacrificing safety. Right now, I think I can handle 15-16#'s and that will be with frequent rests 'til I get to my location. :)
Here is my Open Shot climbing stand with swing bar modification. I used a gun rest bar from another stand I had to make the swing bar seat. ;)[attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3]
Prefer this setup.[attachment=4][attachment=5]
The climbing stand is 18# and the Loc-on with sticks is 18#.
What sticks are those that you are using?
Leverage double step sticks modified with a Lone wolf versa button and climbing rope. I also added a nylon strap with hose as a extension step. Quick, quiet, light, and sturdy setup.
I always used a summit viper but with my knee i think im going to avoid stands for a while
Well, thank you both Rifleman and Fisherick, those are two good ideas! :thumbsup:
I hunt probably 85%-90% of the time in a climber. I've used a summit close to the one above for 10 years or so. Great climbers, they've never let me down. I'm with the others, there are several mods and tricks that make life way easier, a real good start is a set of molle straps both shoulder and lumbar. They make a world of difference packing in long distance on public land. Get on YouTube or google search climber Mods and you will find worlds of possibilities.
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I recently did a lot of research for the lightest climber I could find that still had good reviews. I narrowed it down to a X-Stand and the Summit Open Shot. I needed a lightweight stand for hunting public lands and hiking distances to my locations to hunt. After months of reading and looking, I bought the Summit Open Shot. It takes a bit of getting used to (where to position your elbows and such) while climbing, but after test-climbing several trees on our farm with it, I was pretty comfortable with climbing with it. Its safe and sturdy, grips the tree very well and with a little upper-body strength, aint that bad to climb with. I'm going to try the webbing/old safety belt loop mod on the end of the seat portion for a sit-climb soon and see how that works out for me. Overall, its really light weight (for a climbing treestand), packs together fine (with a little practice on how to nestle them together), and is as quiet as you make it. I found using a short cam strap joining the seat to the platform once in your desired position really makes it rock-solid to the tree. Always tether the sections to each other while climbing with a decent section of rope. The little bungee type cord tether that came with it is junk, toss it and replace with a better section of rope. I also gave mine a camo paint job, I think it looks much better now and will blend in with foliage. Good luck with your choice and hope you christen it with a nice buck this season!
Summits accessories include a universal seat that may offer improved comfort on some models for $40 bucks it might be worth checking out. Probably don't add a pound but may have an effect on the way you pack it up. I would like to know if it would work on the Specialist and Open Shot.
Thanks Darrin for the input! I am going to go with the Summit Open Shot SD. I believe it is going to fit the needs that I have and like you, hope I get to christen it with my first ever! :goldtooth:
Rifleman can you take a photo with your bow in the 3rd hand bow holder? That looks like a good idea. I've only ever though of them mounted to the bottom of the stand to hold a compound. I also use the small lone wolf out of necessity because of long hikes and steep terrain. It folds up flatter and weights less than any other stand. I have both the large and small lone wolf. The platform on the small one is just a little small for hard left hand shot.
Thanks,
Tedd
I'm with others on the summit open shot. Bought one and find it super easy to use. Kinda limited on trees at times but its good in a pinch for a quick hunt. Ill sometimes even just use the top half as a tree seat and brush in around it to hunt the ground.
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but anyone care to share their source for molle shoulder/lumbar straps that work with the Open Shot?
Thanks.
HIJACKER!!! :scared:
Kidding. :goldtooth: I'd be interested to know also so, good question!
I use a lone wolf climber, love it and it is safe as long as you are safe. Give it a go think you will like it.
J
Like I said earlier a Lone Wolf is no question better if you ask me. I think the stand you're looking at is a BIG mistake. No one is considering climbing w it. The open shot is gonna require some core strength. Not insane core strength but a little.
In a Lone wold sit and climb you can SIT and CLIMB.
My opinion is besides the point, only stating it again because I feel very strongly you are making the wrong decision. I hope I'm wrong.
All that being said Darrin's post about practice is dead on. Until you gain famalirity w it, you may hate any climber. That only lasts one or two sessions. Practice packing, unpacking. Practice climbing, descending. Practice putting on a harness, where to position belt on tree and fall rescue.
Set up your stand the way you like, for instance personally I use a haul line permanently tied to stand. Another thing that's a pia is the backpack straps on any stand, they like to fall down on your arms it seems like. A "breast strap" is a strap I cinch together the two back pack straps in front of me to prevent the riding down. That being said a headlamp that straps to your head may help at first as well as practicing outside in the dark.
You also need to think about hanging bow and a way to prevent your arrow from falling when bumped.
Last but not least Tell someone where you'll be and leave your phone ACCESSIBLE!!
Thanks to Fisherick and The Rifleman (Lucas McCain!) for their great mod ideas!
After reading this thread and their mods, I went out this evening with my Open Shot to a poplar tree in our yard. I fixed an old web safety belt to the braces on the top seat section. I adjusted it to where it was comfortable while sitting and my legs were at the right height to still get a decent range of motion to be able to lift the platform up a decent amount. After a couple minor length adjustments, I was zipping up and down the tree while sitting just like a sit-n-climb with little effort. I found I couldn't get quite the longer strokes/distances making ground as when just using my forearms on the seat and lifting with my abs/legs, but not by a lot....and it was MUCH easier. Once height is reached, the sling climbing seat was no hindrance right where it hangs, didn't bother me at all. What a great modification! Thanks again guys!! :thumbsup:
(https://i.imgur.com/96dMUjH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KVjNW64.jpg)
Army surplus stores
Quote from: DarrinG on July 07, 2018, 11:51:11 AM
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but anyone care to share their source for molle shoulder/lumbar straps that work with the Open Shot?
Thanks.
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Nice Darrin, thank you for posting pics of your modification! Looks simple enough. :thumbsup:
Since the last posts on this thread I've had a chance to actually now hunt from my new Open Shot SD. I can report and I am quite happy with the stand. SUPER comfortable! I added the Third Hand Straps to it and wow...it was already stable but with the straps its even more-so. They add virtually no weight and they double as straps to bind the sections together when packing in-out.
My ONLY concern is...the padded seat. Under the sewn-on camo fabric on the bottom there seems to be some sort of vinyl covering maybe for waterproofing? When seated and I twist, it squeaks. Squeaks as in like someone twisting on a vinyl covered chair. After careful inspection, it's not the stand making ANY noise, its the padded seat on the bottom side. When I twist any at all while seated, it's noticeable noisy. No doubt that's where its coming from. The pad is sewn on to the seat bar so it don't fall off and loose it while hiking in. Anyone else experienced this? What was your remedy? I hate to cut the nice thick pad off the seat bar but I may have to and replace it with something else.
In any event, report from me is this was a great purchase. Stand climbs great, very stable (and SUPER stable with the Third Hand straps), as light in weight for a climbing stand as you'll find (in the top few) and very, very comfortable.
I've hunted out of a summit viper xls for I believe 15 years now. Killed quite a few critters out of it with my bow. Very comfortable. Longest bow I've used out of it is a 64" longbow. It works. 2 things no matter the climber. MAKE SURE YOU TIE THEM TOGETHER! Will or should come with a rope that attaches the upper portion to the bottom portion. Make certain you tie them together where if the bottom falls you can reach it. I was messing around with the bottom connection while seated one November morning and knocked it loose by accident. Good grief that was a horrifying 5 minutes getting it back attached. At least I had my harness. Other thing is have a nice handsaw to take out a branch or two quickly if you need to so you can get higher. A crappy saw will flat wear you out before you get up LOL.
I think if weight and safety are your main concerns you should look into a saddle system. A Quido's web is a solid seat saddle system that combined with a climbing method should keep you under 15-16# with the benefits of being able to hunt virtually any tree in the woods. You're always attached to the tree with safety rope/tree tether and lineman's belt up and down.
Just getting into saddle hunting this year. Received a mantis couple of days ago. Will take a little practice but at 8 lbs including 5 lb climber/platform I think it's the way to go. Very limited use but so far it feels comfortable and gives 360 degrees shooting.
When I use a climbing stand it is an API grand slam magnum. It is a sit down and stand up ,very easy to use. The bar on the top part can get in the way on shots underneath you but you can maneuver it.
If the tree you select is angled away slightly by just a few degrees.....way easier to go with a climber. Conversely, if you are going up a tree and it is slightly angled towards your body ....way harder to go up. A sit and climb strap may not work so well if you are a big guy. Just not a lot of room for your knees and you might be limited on distance gained per move. I have owned both Lone Wolf and Summit and give the nod to Lone Wolf. I'm in my 60's and find that by resting my upper body weight on the seat (arms and elbows) it allows me to pull the bottom section up easily with my feet. In my view, the Lone Wolf belts that go around the tree and related locking system beat the Summit system. Only failure in my climbing experience that covers nearly 40 years of climbing was a broken weld on a Summit at 13 feet up....not what you want to hear...the aluminum ping in the dark. For an all day sit ....and with anything else except a traditional bow, the Summit is more comfortable. Most of my hunts are short 3 hour sits .....the Lone Wolf packs down better than any stand I've used.....and the retention system that connects the top section to the bottom is slick and when tightened after the ascent, make the Lone Wolf stand quiet and very secure.
I had an original Baker, but not the hand climber. I used a rope gizmo around the tree as a climber. I also had a Sabor, one day when I went into town for lunch someone stole the seat. The seat of the Sabor was dangerous and a bit unpredictable. My son went to the Lone Wolf climber, it you do things exactly as the directions given in the video, they are safe and quite easy to use. I think everyone that hunts public land should use them. Too many people tend to not take out their tree stands. The game warden has a storage bin full of them, the ones he took out this summer long past the removal date of one week after the season closes. Not a climber in the bunch.
Lone Wolf unless you are a really large person in which case they won't be very comfortable for a long sit. Lone Wolf has the quickest, most quiet attachment system by far and folds flat hugging your back for easy hiking through the brushy stuff.
While I have been restricted to the ground since 2008, I had harvested many deer, including a nice 6 x 6, from climbers.
Summits have been my climber of choice as they provided excellent security
There are several other great candidates available.today.
I have hunted with and without the guard rail. My last couple of Summits had the guard rail. I strongly prefer the guard rail.
Dont know if its been mentioned but tether the two sections together when using you don't want to have you platform sliding down the tree while your sittig in or hanging onto the seat for dear life trying to figure how to get down or retrieve your platform. Happened to me a few times :knothead: