I have a really hard time hanging stands. It just takes me forever and wears me out. Really to the point where it is either find a better way to hunt out of tree, or quit hunting. Really is that bad. I have tried just about everything. Tree steps, stick ladders, ladder stands, but I have not tried climbers yet. I have tried hunting off the ground and I"™m really not that fond of it either.
So, I went to a local pro shop today and looked at a few climbing stands. I really don"™t care about a lot of "śbells and whistles"ť. Mostly I want safety, safety, safety, light weight, and easy to use.
They had an inexpensive Loggy Bayou normally $199 but display model for $170. They also had the summit Viper SS for $239. Really didn"™t look like there was that much difference. I liked the more "śrubbery"ť cable and the stirrups of the viper, but other than that I"™m not sure. I"™m just not sure if there will be much difference in how they climb and the stability of it once I"™m up in the air"¦
Feedback please.
Bruce
I can vouch for the viper. It is very quiet, stable, comfy, safe and easy to use even on wet slippery trees. Probably the only stand I will ever own. The climbing stirups that come with the summits are a must in my book. My firend has a loggy bayou and It doesn't even compare but his is much older than mine so its probably not a fair comparison.
If you don't like the hardship of lockons, ladder stands, then you won't like the climbers. They take almost as much strenght to climb up a tree with one of these as anything. The best thing I use now since I'm up in age and can't put up a lockon, which I used entirely for twenty some years, is a box stand on a tower. It's forgiving for scent, forgiving for movement and some good views of the surrounding area. I wouldn't hunt outta anything else now. And you can build one for around $300 bucks if you shop for the lumber margins. Just my opinion though.
BBO
Man go with the Summit-I have a Goliath since my butt is bigger than most and love it. You wont find a better stand or safer for that matter. I hunt on the ground and out of the box stands and I do not like the box stand as much. Its a ground blind or the climber for me
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Excalibur Pheonix-Best thing since sliced bread
I about fell out of a hang on once! It has been ladder ever since!!
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Hunting is like Marriage, you get out of it what you put in it. Sometimes you score and sometimes you don't, but its always fun going out!
I have a summit but I leave it in the woods at the base of the tree. Unless your walking thru fields to get where your going they are just to loud!!
Iuse Loggy Bayou"cheap seat"fixed stands cause they were cheap and rock solid and were only $50 bucks. I think they stopped making them. I also always drill pilot holes with the cordless drill for the screw in steps and use more steps than I need. If I am worried about theft or someone sitting my stands I pull the last four steps and put a nice green stick in the hole so I can find them the morning of the hunt.
I guess it's easier if you own/lease land to put up perm stands that just have to be tended every year.
PS.. that gizmo that fits on a cordless to drive in steps is good for 2 steps before it kills the battery
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Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
I haven't tried the attachment to the drill. I have thought about trying one. Even looked for them in the local stores, but they always seem to be out of stock"¦
I have brought out a cordless drill with me and pre-drilled a pilot hole. That did help some. I have also used wrenches to turn the steps. That also helps, until you drop the wrench and have to climb back down to get it!
Help choosing a climber
