Affraid to try climber
 

Hey all, I am forced to hunt on my own this year and I would like to be able to hunt on the go so I bought a climber. It is a Field and Stream Elite Light or something like that. Anyway, I am afraid to try it out because it is completely new to me and the only guy that I know that has one and knows how to use one will not show me how to use it. It does not come with a Dvd or anything like that. Well, any suggestions? I really need to get out there this week and take advantage of my unemployment, Lol.

Thanks

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Dozen...get a good full body harness if you don't already have one. Climbing stands these days are Simple bud....just wear your harness the minute you get on that climber, and begin to practice. I bet you will be fine within 20 minutes! Just start climbing 4-5 feet...in no time you will get it.

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

+1 on the full body harness. I just got the Hunter's Safety System today and it totally spoiled me, I'll never wear anything else (unless I have to). The stand should have come with a full body harness, but if it didn't, please, please, get one and use it.

I'm no good giving directions on how to set anything, so I'll leave that for someone else. I can say to make sure the top and bottom sections of your stand are attached together with a rope (if it didn't come with one) so you don't lose your bottom section if it slips, and make sure to use a hoist rope to get your bow up there like with any other stand.

Once you get it on the tree, attach your safety harness and climb in. Make sure everything is nice and sound at ground level before you climb. And you may want to try climbing with it a short way up and down (like 6 feet high or so) just to make sure you know what to expect and that it's going to work before you get 20+ feet up in the tree.

Stay safe and good luck!

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

I actually went and bought this stand just about a month ago.. it is a decent stand and its fairly cheap. Its real secure, but you will want to get a harness. Just read the directions and you'll be fine as far as setting it up.

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Ok good advise, I am going to go find me a tree tomorrow and practice like you guys suggested so I can get my butt up early on Monday to go hunt!

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Don't feel bad, i dont use climbers because they scare me as well. My first year bowhunting i tried one and didnt like it.

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Just remember when you first start up angle the top and most importantly the bottom at an upward angle, depending on the size of the base of the tree. As you go up the tree gets smaller, thus letting the cables go further, so when you get to the top, your platform should be level.

And practice somewhere where someone can supervise, just in case. Practice until you can do it with your eyes closed, trust me;)(unless you dont hunt mornings) And make sure your 100%confident before going out on a hunt. I myself prefer a fixed stand with climbing sticks, Limits portability, but opens up a new world of trees.:)

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Don't use it.

First off not knowing anything about the stand (no one talks about it) I'm sure it's a cheap one and not just in cost.
Second hunting and trying one out in the back yard is 2 different things. ALL StANDS require a lot of practise first before ever hunting with one on strange places and darktimes.
Third, using a harness requires the same amount of practise, wearing one wrong and again in a hunting situation it's different, can kill you AND your never, never, never supposed to need it. The way people talk today you'd think they were putting in for some award because they were careless enough to fall.

You need as much experience as it takes to pack one, carry it up to a tree, mount it, climb up, secure it, climb down, un mount it, pack it, blind folded. Can you do that? If ya can't don't use it. If you don't use a stand right you most likely wont use a harness right either.

Just because the company that sells the stand says it's safe, doesn't make it so. It's your butt and that's another issue, if it's big your begging for trouble!

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

i use a climber all the time. I use a summit stand and love it. I walk in the woods with my harness already on, set the stand in the tree and attach my saftey rope. Iam 20ft and quiet in less then five minutes and hunting. Also, I am afraid of heights to some extent and I feel perfectly safe at all times in the stand.

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Don't forget to tie your bow string to your platform before you start up the tree. I've done that before and had to come back down. I was concentrating so hard on the technique of climbing that even though i had tied my bow to the string that i forgot to tie the other end to the platform. It can happen in the dark my friend. I definately would not try to use the climber without practicing a few times first. If you have to, make you a quick reference sheet to glance at when you get to your tree the morning of the hunt and give yourself extra time. Get there early and make sure you bring you some screw ins for your bow, quiver, backpack etc., Goodluck

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

I remember getting an O'l man climbing stand 12 years ago or so...you know the strap attachment kind that was like 39 lbs? I was up and using it just fine with 1 day of practice....and the kind they make these days are WAY better.

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

don't forget to take a string and tie the bottom and top platforms together! this is important cuz if you drop your bottom part by accident, you are going to be seriously SOL!

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

another good thing is to buy a pair of pruning sheers. I don't know what your trees are like but in NJ we have alot of great trees to climb but you need to cut baby branches of in order to climb to a desired height. I have a pair that ratchet and they work beautifully.
good luck

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

yea i had to bear hug my way down one mornin... get the bottom of my stand... bearhug back up and them climb back down ...it sucks

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Amen...Do This.....

RE: Affraid to try climber
 

Thanks for the advice everyone. I tried my climber tonight and it wasn't that bad. It took a few minutes to figure out the mechanics, lol, and I had a few scary moments but thank God I was wearing my safety harness on the way up or I would have been toast! I never lost the platform end but the seated end did end up sliding on me a couple of times and if it were not for my safety harness I would be seriously hurt or worse. It is going to take some more practice but it will not be long before I am setting up in the dark and climbing trees in a jiffy I think! I also tied both ends together with the rope that it came with but I may get another one and have two of them just in case!

Question. I thought of maybe taking an extra D ring and hooking the seated end up to the rope on the tree that holds the safety harness. That way if both ends slip they won't slip to far. What do you think?