RE: climbing tree stand
All very good advice so far. Best thing you can do is practice a bunch before you try to hunt out of it. Strap it to a tree at ground level, and just sit in it, see how you move around, practice moving your feet on the platform, turning around to face the tree, any movements you would make to hunt with it. Shoot from it. You don't want any surprises when you are 20' up. Oh, and wear a harness!