Vintage Bear Archery Treestand

[450 marlin]

Picked up this today, never knew they made one. The chain has rollers on it to raise it up the trunk of the tree, then you climb the rope ladder. It has the three section lift bar and back pack straps that mount on it. Anyone have an idea on the year they produced them?

[reddogge]

Back in the day I considered them unsafe and wacky with the pole, rollers and tiny rope ladder although I bought some real death traps during those years.  I'd say early 70s.

[Jack Shanks]

Roy,

Mine doesn't have all the accessories that the one you found has.





The one I have was given to my brother in law's father, Carol Wert by Fred back in the late seventies or early eighties. I know I have had it since 1982. Carol was the camp cook at Grousehaven back in those days and in part of the exchange for his duties he and his sons were allowed to hunt there for a week as well. I was invited to join them one year but couldn't get the vacation time off from work. One of my biggest regrets to this day.

[Shane Reed]

This stand was dropped off by Bob Blevins at my Friend in MI's house for me. Fred Gave this one to Bob. I hope that I can get my friend to clean the bird droppings off before sending ;-) I will take it either way.

[TonyW]

I don't know if you should remove it, Shane.
Reminds me of a Jackson Pollock painting.

[Jon Stewart]

Didn't Bear recall those due to a safety factor?

Shane, I saw that stand in Bob's garage a couple of years ago!!

[TonyW]

Jon - Notice how Roy and Jack both show it mounted as low as possible?    

It is a great Bear collectible, but pretty scary.

[Shane Reed]

Jon,
 Were you at his camp?

[Mojostick]

Whatever you do, don't let anyone ever use it. I shudder when I think about both the homemade stands we nailed up into multiple trunked and multiple limbed trees and the "liability laden" metal stands we used to climb into and on.

[Medicare Bhtr]

If I recall correctly, the Bear Grousehaven camp used these stands.  Sure I have been in one at that camp or the later Bear Archery hunt in Alabama.

[Shane Reed]

I will strap this stand down and set up some climbing sticks. I purchased a new system to me for this year called "tree saddle" This stand will make the perfect base for getting off the knees while hunting from that system, and I should be able to step off of it as the tree saddle allows you to work around the tree.

[ChuckC]

I actually liked the heck out of mine, but it really dug into the tree and cannot be used on public land in WI.  Late 70's and early 80's I'd say, about the same period as the Baker if I recall.

BTW, I didn't use the rollers or the climbing ladder.  You had to be young to use the ladder.

ChuckC

[Shane Reed]

My stand is being held hostage by the guy who invited me out to hunt MI. So it looks like I will not have it until November 2015.

[oldbohntr]

I spent a lot of time in one of those back in the early 80s.  I remember trying to climb that rope ladder one -10 degree morning when I had on so many layers I couldn't pull myself up the ladder...feet just pushed that step out and I hung there like I was in a hammock! Must have looked like the Pillsbury doughboy....sure felt like him!  A year or so later, I was putting it up during real cold weather and the damned thing snapped at the back two hand holds.  Didn't come apart though and I fixed it.  The next year, it was stolen.  Good riddance!  Hope it killed him!

[Gator1]

Interesting,

I picked one of these up this weekend, and it has a seat belt to strap against the tree, was this a modification do you guys think?

Otherwise it's in real nice shape.... I would never sit in it though..

[Shane Reed]

I think I will like it ;-)

[Gator1]

Shane

It should work perfect for your application..

     

[Shane Reed]

It will. Takes a bit off the knees. i was going to make some home made platforms for that. Not now ;-)