well,to make a long story short,the farmer who lets me hunt on his land had to sell the farm,and the new owner wants no hunters on his land,so this late in the year I am forced to go back to public land. I need some suggestions on good quality portable deer stands. I don't trust leaving the stand in the tree because there are other people in the woods when I may not be there. I would prefer a climber type if I can find one that is easy to use, Not really a fan of screwing steps into trees or carrying the bulky ladders that strap to the tree. I will be walking at least a half mile to the place where I will hunt. I have no worries about shooting a deer,the quality will just be less then what I am used to. Just means I won't put a trophy on the wall,but the meat I put in the freezer will be the same!! thanks for any suggestions!! and sorry guess my short story turned into a long one!!

 

My son worked this past summer, to pay for his 'hunting toys'.

He bought a Summit "Viper SD - Crush Series" climbing stand.
He got it from BassPro Shop and paid right at $250.00. (It's gone up, a few $$$ since August.)

One of his bowhunter instructors uses the same climbing stand, and recommended it.

Here's the link to his stand.

Summit™ The Crush™ Series Viper® SD Ultra Climbing Treestand | Bass Pro Shops


One little 'heads-up' - When I was assembling the footrest to the stand, the SMALL screws (#6) they provide stripped out the hole in the aluminum frame.
I went to the local HD store and got some #10 'Tec' stainless steel screws that are self-drilling/self-tapping, and used them to secure the footrest.
Daggone footrest is solidly mounted, now!

I wound up ordering (from Summit) some better straps. The 'issue' straps are o.k., but, the wider, padded straps make me a little more comfortable about my son hauling this thing through the woods.
(Don't want him to leave it, and then I have to go back and get it!!)

 

thanks,Keith....that one looks good!!

 

Brad really likes this stand.
He took a 4 pt buck this past Sunday, during Maryland's "Youth Hunter Days".
He was 18' up and made a 32 yard shot, according to his rangefinder.
(That kid is turning out to be a decent hunter!!)

I just opened the mail, and there was a BassPro sales ad in there.

That treestand is going to be on sale for $249.97, November 21-25.

 

I've used a Old Man Vision for 20 years. Great stand & very safe.

 

We have a PortaClimb Cadillac. Information on Porta Climb Stands

Looks like they are only in the Carolinas, though.

 

thanks for the suggestions,but after hunting public land this weekend,I don't think I am going to invest in a climber at this point. I was 1/2 mile back into the woods,and passed 6 hunters on my way out this afternoon. That's way too much hunting pressure. Plus I had to put one down that two other hunters shot but didn't kill. I will just wait until next year and maybe find some land to lease or take a couple years off. Last time I hunted there,there weren't near as many people hunting that area. I was as far back into the woods as I dared to be considering you can't take a atv in to haul the deer out. Plus there is a levee as the border,so hunters with permission can park on private land and just walk over the levee,so doesn't matter how far the hunters from the road walk,they are still at a disadvantage. sorry for the rant,just frustrated.

 

I had the same issues with public land near Memphis. It was covered with hunters. I found a lease. Now I have 200 acres of family land but its surrounded by heavily hunted leases. The deer go nocturnal fast.
The Old Man stands have versions that are very light. They are all aluminum. Twenty lbs or less.

 

I know how you feel.
When I first moved into this area, I only had public lands to hunt.

On opening day, I had my 'day permit' in my possession and climbed into a tree and got as comfortable as possible.
I was on a 'fork' in the woods, with a stream on one side, and a trail.
I figured that I should see 'something', being here.

What an understatement.
2 hunters walked past me within 20 minutes after sunrise. They waved as they walked past.
30 minutes later, they walk past, again, waving.

An hour later, a lone hunter walks past, then sits beside a tree, about 15 feet from the tree I was in.



Around 10:00 a.m., I had endured enough!
As I was walking out, I watched some Elmer Fudd shoot at a nice doe (on the run), from the hip.
Son-of-a-gun hit the deer, but, when it went into a REALLY thick growth, he wouldn't go track it.
Two other guys, and I, went into that thicket, tracking that doe.
We found it.
That (ahem... cough, cough) didn't even field dress the deer, or tag it.
Here in Southern Maryland, we have a name for that. "Slob Hunter."


I haven't hunted public land, since.

The problem isn't an abundance of deer. The problem is man encroaching upon nature!!!!!!

 

I see hunters like that around here. Plus they shoot any deer they see. If it doesn't have spots its dead. I wish La would pass a law requiring a 6 point or 4 points on one side to be a legal buck. Miss & Ark have this type law & the bucks killed are getting nice. It takes a few years but it works.

 

I don't like hi-tech options.

A Pine tree is the obvious choice of a true hunter. If you are not allergic to the sap - you can get up there with a few planks and lay them out to where you can make a tree HOUSE - much less a stand

The branches radiate out at level after level, and it takes little effort to pick a level where you can assemble something you can lay down on with your bow handy...

Tree stands....

WALMART owns you, as does Bass Pro Shop - don't they?





Shucks....


HUNT THE OLD WAY!

For one thing if you use natural materials to build the hide - it is less noticable
~Branches, and such

HAVE YOU COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN HOW TO BUILD A TREE HOUSE FROM WHEN YOU WERE A KID?


~We never bought stuff to do that....

If you expect modern tech to deliver meat to you - you are sadly mistaken.
Learn the hunters craft first

 

^^^ that would be great,and it is what I do on private land,but I am not leaving things in trees/on the ground that some other schmuck can benefit from and steal while I am not using it. A lot of people pass through that area. Squirrel/rabbit hunters,people target practicing,etc. That is too many sets of eyes to assume they are all going to be honest!!

 

Get up a pine - the branches are close enough together you don't need to add anything
~Just curl up around the trunk and wait

That kind of woods-craft is ages old...

BLEND, be green

The critters can't smell you when the wind carries it away high up

~You don't need a truckload of junk

You just need to find the right tree

 

I enjoy my climber. I have stands in many places on my land but the ability to move to new good sign & to hunt the wind makes the climber a great hunting accessory for me. I have killed over 30 deer setting in it.