Originally Posted by DannyD

This will be my 6th season of hunting. I've always hunted from the ground but yesterday I bought my first climber. I also bought the Hunters Safety System Restraint System

I have many questions and i'm sure some of them are quite elementary so bear with me.

1. When on the ground it was easy to peel or add layers of clothing as the weather changes. How is this accomplished in a tree stand? I'm able to put on and take them off in the stand. It's just a little cramped but can be done. I always put HSS on top of my base layer so I'm always attached to the tree when changing layers.

2. Obviously you pull up your bow. Do you pull up your backpack? I pull up my backpack with the bow. One of my backpacks, I'm able to attach my bow to the pack itself. Otherwise, I'll just loop the backpack through then tie the bow.

3. There is a rope that connects the seat and the foot rest (so the footrest doesn't fall away. Do you just tie it on to each piece or do you use some "clip system" for ease of use? I permantly tie one end to the climber and on the other end of the rope I have a clip. I loop it through the platform after I attach both to the tree. You'll get tangled up if you leave them attached all the time.

4. There is a pressure release foot strap that comes with the HSS. Do you attach it or should you try and connect it after you fall? If you attach it do you let it hang or roll it up and put in a pocket? I don't have it with me. If I fall, I should be within arm's reach of the climber and should be able to pull myself up.

5. Where do you attach the pull rope as you climb that is attached to your bow on the ground? I like to get 25' up if possible. I use a 27' rope attached to the climber part of the stand so my platform is right at 25'.

6. Being new to this, how long will it take me to ascend say 17'? how about once i get the hang of it? (please keep in mind i will also be climbing using the HSS all the way up) It'll probably take you a good 30 minutes or more the first few times from arriving at your tree to when you're settled in. Probably 15-20 minutes once you're used to it. But, that's not using the HSS all the way up. I don't. I would imagine you should add 5 minutes doing that.

7. The instructions to the climber tell me to sit on the removable shooting rail as i climb. Well, it is removable and i don't want to use it for bow. There are no instructions on how to ascend without sitting on the rail. What do i do? I never sit/stand. I put my hands on the climber and just push my weight up. I raise the climber just under my armpits, push myself up with the platform, set the platform, and do it again. I don't know what you call that apparatus in a gym, but it's similar to it, when you extend your arms and hold yourself up. Then lower yourself and push yourself back up. Whatever you call it that's what I do. You can get up a tree faster that way because you're taking bigger bites than just sit/stand. It also makes noise every time you reset, so the fewer bites you take the less noise.

Thank You,
Dan