I went to the local bow shop in my area and asked what stands they use for bow hunting and the owner uses a Summit Python and the other one uses the Summit Viper. The man with the Viper said the bar doesn't get in the way. I bought the Summit Python because you can stand-up sit-down climb, or use your arms and climb. also there is no bar to get in the way. I gun hunt also and so if I wanted to I could raise the bar and have the shooting rail. The Summit Python has worked great for me.