treestands safe when wet?
09-15-2006, 11:20 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: new jersey
Posts: 10
treestands safe when wet?
I recently purchased a summit viper and I've only used it once so far. It's been raining the last few days and tomorrow they're talking about rain showers. My question is will it be safe to use my climber tomorrow when everythings wet? thanks in advance.
09-15-2006, 11:34 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 2,849
RE: treestands safe when wet?
Yes, it is safe unless you are wearing slick soled boots. I would have to argue that bowhunting in the rain is a bad idea. The deer are out there no matter what the weather is like, so you might as well hunt them if you want.
09-15-2006, 11:41 AM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Kodiak, AK
Posts: 2,877
RE: treestands safe when wet?
Treestands aren't truely safe even when dry, and less so when wet. However, driving isn't truely safe either and we do that every day. Take necessary precautions to reduce risks (safety harness, gummy soled rubber boots) and go hunt. If we didn't hunt in the rain up here, we'd never hunt!
09-15-2006, 12:04 PM
#6
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 39,060
RE: treestands safe when wet?
You should be fine. I have a loggy and choose to use the rubber climbing pads rather then the metal cleats. Years ago I screwed up big time. I've posted this story in the past and will do it again.
I was in between classes at school and went to my local watering hole at the school to play darts for a few hours before my last class. When we left to go to class the weather broke from rain to a light drizzle. Perfect hunting weather. My motto "you can always retake a class but you can never relive a hunt" was alive and well. I had everything except my boots in the truck, but the temp was fine so I hunted anyway.
I screwed up and didn't angle my stand enough and my shoes were smaller then boots so I was killing the mechanics on how the stand works to climb. I was about 20' up and needed to go higher for the hunt when the next thing I knew I'm dropping like a rock slidding to the bottom. The stand did what it should and absorbed most of my fall. I adjusted my stand and hunted that night.
Inow always use the safety strap when climbing in the rain. I also try not to huntwithout boots. As far as skipping class to hunt, yes I would do it every timeit's agood hunting day.
I was in between classes at school and went to my local watering hole at the school to play darts for a few hours before my last class. When we left to go to class the weather broke from rain to a light drizzle. Perfect hunting weather. My motto "you can always retake a class but you can never relive a hunt" was alive and well. I had everything except my boots in the truck, but the temp was fine so I hunted anyway.
I screwed up and didn't angle my stand enough and my shoes were smaller then boots so I was killing the mechanics on how the stand works to climb. I was about 20' up and needed to go higher for the hunt when the next thing I knew I'm dropping like a rock slidding to the bottom. The stand did what it should and absorbed most of my fall. I adjusted my stand and hunted that night.
Inow always use the safety strap when climbing in the rain. I also try not to huntwithout boots. As far as skipping class to hunt, yes I would do it every timeit's agood hunting day.
09-15-2006, 12:07 PM
#7
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 356
RE: treestands safe when wet?
I have a Summit climber. Been hunting in all sorts of weather and this afternoon I plan to bow hunt even though it's raining here in NJ. My advice to you is the following:
1. Be careful
2. Wear your harness and safety equipment on the way up, while in the stand and on your way down.
3. Climb in small increments.
4. Make sure you have good footing and no mud on your boots when climbing.
5. Pick a good, healthy tree with decent bark, like an Ash so that your stand can really get a good bite!
6. If you are worried, don't go up more than 5-10 feet. This time of year you have very good cover with vegitation on the plants so you will be OK.
Same advice applies to cold, snow, ice, or good weather. Safety first. If you feel nervous, it's probably for a reason so don't climb or climb only 5 or so feet up.
1. Be careful
2. Wear your harness and safety equipment on the way up, while in the stand and on your way down.
3. Climb in small increments.
4. Make sure you have good footing and no mud on your boots when climbing.
5. Pick a good, healthy tree with decent bark, like an Ash so that your stand can really get a good bite!
6. If you are worried, don't go up more than 5-10 feet. This time of year you have very good cover with vegitation on the plants so you will be OK.
Same advice applies to cold, snow, ice, or good weather. Safety first. If you feel nervous, it's probably for a reason so don't climb or climb only 5 or so feet up.
09-15-2006, 12:13 PM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mont County, Pa
Posts: 7,368
RE: treestands safe when wet?
I prefer hunting when it's wet and crappy out. The climbing part is where you need to be most careful but it's safe enough. I find that deer feel more secure moving during and after a rain. I'm not referring to a downpour, that's when they hide out. Right after a rain is awesome!
