climbing stand help.
 

i just got an ameristep climber. this is my first time using a climber, and its seeming pretty hard to get the hang of it. if i barely bump the top it falls, if i sit to far back on it it falls. so im afraid to go up very high with it yet. maybe its just me being new to using it, or i might not be using it right. i was testing it out on a telephone pole that wasnt very big. am i missing something? do i need to try a bigger tree.? or am i just inexperienced and need more time to get used to it? any help would be appriciated.

When you go up the tree you got to kind of put your weight to the rear. I kind of hop on the foot portion to let the teeth dig in. You can kind of push down on the top portion so the teeth dig in a little more. Pressure the farther from the tree is key.

Remember set your stand up at a higher angle to compensate for the tree narrowing as you go up. Or your stand will be a bad angle downwards. I made a quick drawing to illustrate it. Couldn’t really explain to well.

Some of them don't climb on telephone poles well. When you set the stand up at the bottom of the tree you want to keep it with a slight angle upward so, when you get to where you want to hunt it will be level. Find an actual tree to learn how to climb in it. It will help your confidence and please, always wear your harness.

id say mine is one of them that doesnt like telphone poles. it was the easiest, straightest thing i had to try it on. im going to try it on a tree 2moro and see if that helps. hopefully it will be a little more secure, i was really looking forward to using it alot this year, but if i dont get any more confidence in it i dont think im going to be able to.

I'm telling ya a climber that is easy to take in and out of the woods is worth 1000 times it's price tag. Learn to use it and get confidence in it. No one says you have to go 30 ft up in a tree. Try going 10 the once you get a little more confidence try going a little higher

I've shot my biggest bucks out of my climber. It's nice when you can head into the woods and scout find hot sign and zip up the tree and hunt then and there.

One thing I always do for a little more safety is I bring up 2 ratchet strapes and ratchet the two pieces to the tree. Just one more safety measure.

I have a heavy bungee cord that gets wrapped around the tree and top part of the stand once I have it where I want it.

It seems to stop any movement or squeaks that used to happen when shifting weight when standing to take a shot or shifting weight in the seat.



Mitch

I am gonna say that it is advised to not hop on the foot portion of your stand. The movement could actually cause the teeth to lose grip. Also try it on a real tree... The telephone pole is probably alot of the OP's problem.

I'll echo a lot of comments that your problem is likely because it was on a telephone pole...they don't have any bark. ;) Climber stands usually grip best when the tree has some bark that the teeth on the stand can dig into. Bare wood (like a pole) or smooth bark, like on some hardwoods or aspen, are prone to slipping, I've found. I like older trees with rougher bark with some give to it, because the teeth on the climber bite better. What I do is climb to my desired height, and then bounce lightly on the platform to dig the teeth into the bark. Then I tighten the security strap around the tree as best as I can to prevent the stand from slipping if I adjust my weight on the platform or seat.

Instead of practicing on a pole, try it out on the kind of trees you expect to hunt from. You'll find that each type of tree is different and presents a different challenge. Old Red Maples, for example, have really rough bark that comes apart in plates, so your cable will often catch on them and noisily rip off chunks of bark as you climb if you're not paying attention.

Also, +1 to the comments about angling the stand upward when you start. It takes some practice to figure how much lean you need to start off with depending on the taper of the tree and the height at which you want to hunt.

Some really good tips in this post. Could not have said it any better. :hail:

Ditto on putting weight at the end of the platform furthest from the tree and the same with the seat portion. Let those teeth dig in. Also make sure you tie the top and bottom half together, you don't want to be dangling from the seat while your platform skitters down the tree. Also a ratchet strap around the tree attached to the seat portion helps keep things secure, and as others have said, angle the stand upwards so it will level out as you climb. If you didn't angle it up enough, climb down, adjust and start again. Its no fun being up there with the platform or seat angled downwards, at least not for me. I always feel like I am going to fall. All is good when level though.

Biggest thing always use a safety harness going up and down I broke my neck 4 yrs ago cause i neglected this. I had a harness on but not while going up and down also make sure top of stand is attached to bottom in case it cuts loose it doesnt fall to the ground Practice b4 you get out there on the opener good luck

tried it tonight on a tree instead of a pole, it worked ALOT better. still doesnt grip great, but im sure alot of that is my inexpierience. i think im going to use ratchet straps to help hold it like posted earler. now if i can just get my confidence up enough to take it out and get it up to hunting height. lol

LOL!!!! Define "hunting height"!!!! I have a Summitt Viper SS climber. I'm 6'4" and 300lbs (cld stand to lose a few of those lol). There is no specific "hunting height". I am now comfortable up to about 18-20 feet in the air. But you don't need to be that high to harvest deer or any other big game animal. It's all about knowing your big games patterns and habits, having good concealment, but IMO the most important thing in the world is Scent Control and playing the wind correctly. I've shot deer on the ground without a blind, 10 feet up in my climber, and up to my current comfort level. Being high helps but can also hinder you with incorrect yardage readings and uncomfortablness up there when a shot takes place. Anyways, just some of my thoughts.

As of now i currently only use ladder stands, but they're such a pain sometimes, so i'm looking at a few climbers before the rut kicks in. How long does it consistantly take you guys to get your climbers to about 20 feet? Thanks!

Demo-

Take a Dremel and put a sanding bit on it then sand the edges of the teeth, making them a little sharper near the points. I did this last year as the "points" had wore down and the bottom platform wasn't gripping as well as I like. Remember, tree type/bark plays a huge part, smooth bark trees can be problematic, especially when they are wet. I try to avoid climbing younger ash trees when they are wet since their bark is not very thick and still rather smooth.

Doesn't look like it has teeth. Some stands are more difficult to use, I think you have one.

All stands should be practiced with long before you hunt with them. The reason is to figured out how to pack and use them. Climbing a few times especially for someone who hasn't used one is asking for problems. If your stand is one of those that doesn't dig in as well as others it's pron to slip sideways when you shift your weight. You don't want to find that out at full draw. I've been in stands like that, they are not forgiving.

Take some ratchet straps and cinch the top and bottom secure to the tree, they won't move. Make sure the top and bottom are tethered together at all times. Sounds like your base could be pron to taking the day off at the base of the tree leaving you to play shimmy down. Don't loose your head if it does happen. Before it happens figure out how to use the top as a base; becareful it was made to be.

I'm pretty sure your asking for legal trouble climbing a T pole.

You know now why people go on about summits, they are not the best but they do stay put on the tree and are easy to use with a good size base. They grip so well I ground down the teeth some on mine.

Which model is it? Like to see one.

Time isn't an issue with me, getting there unheard and unseen are. I often stop and glass for a while.

Getting a routine figured out with the least steps involved is best. Mine goes from back to tree as it would hang with the front of the stand in my stomach to hold it there. I throw the belt around the tree and secure it. It's now attached to the tree like a table still bungee'd together with the top and pack on it. Remove the bungee set the pack down and attach the top. Stand is now ready in just a few steps and I can do it in the dark.

You have to know how things feel. There are times when things on the tree don't allow the stand to set right. If you don't feel it before you put your weight down the stand can torque and serious problems occur. Practice is a must and before you head out in the dark climbing trees you have no idea about.

If your not used to being in the air, get used to it. Been in construction for 30 years. It is very easy to forget where you are and step off. A good way to cement that fear into your head is too climb on a roof and walk backwards toward the edge. Do it and forget the edge is so close and you won't ever step backwards without knowing where you are again. A good way to learn how not to put your weight down without feeling the ground for security is to put some boards with nails in them on the ground and walk around without looking. You'll learn quick. :)