brian3

i love to hunt and like a tree stand ,i have a amiker self climber and has rails its the last one that does not have cables to go around the tree really nice i have had offer for it because others tell me the deer see me anyway,,,,but not in the morning or evening ....
ten feet is all i can do right know , im afraid of the big fall,really,,i dont want to sell my stand ...its like a gun to me ,never sell just by a new type but never get reid of anything ,,
can anybody help me in this position ..... thank you and good luck this year >>>>>>>>>>>>an d by the way the tree i hunted out of last year ,i missed a small deer that my cousin finally killed """jason is his name"""and two weeks later my other cousins killed a 8 pointer in my stand ,,,so on opening day i sat down on the ground and killed my first buck right under my tree ,and my deer scores 106 3/8 a monster for me after 16 years of hunting,,,,,and i get the mount back sat.

Swampmonster

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
i love to hunt and like a tree stand ,i have a amiker self climber and has rails its the last one that does not have cables to go around the tree really nice i have had offer for it because others tell me the deer see me anyway,,,,but not in the morning or evening ....
ten feet is all i can do right know , im afraid of the big fall...<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

One thing that I have found helps a lot of guys is this:

1. Get a full body harness and make sure it fits you snugly and comfortably.

2. Adjust the strap that attaches to the tree snugly, such that you can always feel its tension, especially as you are climbing.

3. Go on up to 15 feet, slowly, keeping that strap nice and tense between you and the tree.

Sound simple, but it has helped a lot of folks I know. They just feel a little &quot;open&quot; up there. The tightened belt gives them the certain comfort that something has them.

BTW. I got this idea because I fly planes. I tell passengers to cinch the seatbelt real tight when in my plane and often they feel a lot more comfortable than otherwise...

Try it, and if it works for you, just send me your first kill of the season <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

timbercruiser

If you are uncomfortable with heights, don't wait till the first day of season to climb with it. Pick out a tree in the backyard and spend some time getting use to your climber and heights.

nntramp

10-15 feet off the ground is all you need just be smart where you put it, use natural cover. you dont want to be in the wide open, then you will have to get up a little higher, the higher you go the less of a broadside shot you have. put up your stand and have a buddy take a black and white pic, that will show you how you look to a deer, and allow you to make adjustments you might need to put up some siloutes branches and stuff to break you up some.

Ken/WV

get 15 feet up in your back yard. sit there, sit there, sit there, sit there, sit there some more. and you'll get used to it. i always had a problem going higher then 15ft. Now I go to 18-22 feet everytime.

High Country Archery - &quot;Driven to greater heights...&quot;

Rodsmith

I have an older style Loggy climber that I trust and regulary climb up to 30' depending on the area. I would love to have one of the new API Grand Slams but I hunt the Adirondacks and anything that harms the tree bark is illegal. I like the idea of the wrap around rail to keep you shall we say &quot;aligned&quot; when that sudden mid afternoon rubberneck hits you (nap time) I use a harness but have never used one while actually climbing, sounds a bit cumbersome, can anyone recommend a full harness that climbs with ease and silence.

Swampmonster

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
... can anyone recommend a full harness that climbs with ease and silence.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Hehe. Nope. It is probably my biggest gripe about using a tree stand. I just get into the woods VERY early and take everything real slow.

I wear the harness always, even while climbing. Had an accident years ago where I set up my stand (another one) in the dark and I guess I forgot to screw one of the nuts on the bolts that hold the blade around the tree. The thing held fine, but as daylight approached I saw what had happened and stood up to fix it. To make it short, I heard a metallic pop and I was danglin' - just like that! It didn't even take a second. So I wear it and I won't allow anyone to hunt with me who won't wear it. Don't need the headaches.

Just take it slowly, and enjoy the woods. No need to hurry anyway.

Allen Denton

Go slow and be carefull. I practice in my backyard and have done so every year. I think the more you practice the safer you will be. Always wear your safety belt.

propmahn

they said just sit up there a while and get used to it. and i just want to add take a book/magazine and sit up there reading for an hour or so

propmahn
you can never have too many guns

VAhuntr

Over time you should become more comfortable with the heights. If you pick your spots, and with a little luck, 10 feet can work. All the suggestions above are good ones but I would also add that if you do not feel comfortable 20' up in a stand, by all means do not go that high. If 10' or 12' feet is all you feel comfortable with, get up in that stand and hunt.