Portable Tree Stand - Basic Load Thoughts

[WapitiTalk1]

I've been talking about adding a tree stand to my elk hunting kit bag for several years.. Looks like I can/will finally do it. What is a good tree stand and accessories list that are both functional, and, will keep my wife from being a widow too soon? I've had the Lone Wolf Alpha II recommended as well as their climbing sticks for the base package. Oh yeah, I've settled on a fixed stand vs. a climber for many reasons that suit my needs. Besides the tree stand and climbing sticks, what does a guy need to complete the setup? I assume gear pull up ropes, a lineman's type belt for hands free installation of the upper climbing sticks and actual tree stand, what else? I'd review Swede's Tree Stand Hunting Rocky Mountain Elk for some gearing up tips contained therein but I lent it to a friend a few months ago and am currently without the book

What are the ABC's of "things you should get" for a portable tree stand setup?

[cnelk]

I would first have some hard thoughts with myself on 'how' Im going to use the tree stand.


Here are some basic items that have helped me:

If you are going to sit in a tree all day, everyday, you will want a different stand than if you just sit in it for a 2-3 hours once a day

Safety and comfort are first things to consider.
After that, you can 'accessorize' to your liking

Keep in mind if you are right or left handed when placing a stand

Para cord to lift weapon up/down

Some sort of screw-in weapon holder and a pack holder

Place the stand 'mid-step' of the climbing sticks so you can make a short step down [or short step up] to/from the stand

Place the stand 30-45 degrees from the climbing sticks [90 degrees is too far]

Keep in mind where the sun will be when it rises and sets

I like to place stands so I can access them using the appropriate wind to my advantage

And of course a good tree is a bonus

See my buddy?

[WapitiTalk1]

Good copy on all cnelk. Thank you for chiming in.

[Indian Summer]

Man Brad sure covered all the bases. A bow hanger can be as simple as a screw in hook but the longer reach ones with a pivot arm are really nice. They minimize movement with the bow hanging nice and close.

I might suggest a Port-a-Roof Magnum... the tree mount umbrella. On rainy days you won't miss a beat. Get up there pop it up and stay high & dry all day. Makes you feel sneaky too cause the elk are thinking no wussy human hunters would be out in this crap.

[>>>---WW---->]

RJ: Of course you can always do like I used to before tree stands were invented. Just perch on a tree limb. That's how I got started. Actually, some of those white oak trees in the Midwest were fairly comfortable!

But any more, I try to keep my feet planted on the ground. LOL! A few years ago I went to Alaska with Danny Moore, aka: Bigdan. I hadn't been up in a tree for 30 some odd years and was scared to death. But I did manage to get my bear out of the stand.

Danny had some stands that would adjust to the angle of any tree and it had a chair seat on it that would pivot 360 degrees. It was a little heavy but probably about the best stand I have ever seen. Sorry , I forgot the name of the company that made them. But you might do some looking around on the net or contact Danny and take a good look before you buy anything.

[Swede]

As Brad said, there are comfortable stands and there are light portable ones. Decide which you need. It looks like Brad built a good ladder on site and used that to get to where he hung his stand. I do that a lot, but I go up a few steps above the ladder on tree steps to gain some extra height. I do not like the extra heavy screw in steps. They are difficult to just screw into the tree. I like the lighter cheaper ones. Of all of the tree stands I have tried I prefer the Millennium M100 the best. The folks I hunt are gradually converting over to them. They cost $200 each so they are not cheap. The M100 is easy and safe to hang and it is very comfortable and safe to sit in for long hours. There are lighter stands if you are packing i a long way.

[>>>---WW---->]

Take a cordless drill with you. drill holes in the tree and place 1/2" rods in the holes to climb up with. As you come down, pull the rods out and nobody will be able to steal your stand.

[Z Barebow]

Phantom- I have that exact set up. (LW w/LW Sticks) and it is the cats meow. In most cases, I set up and take my stand down every hunt. I used it for elk this year also and I packed in ~ 1/2 mile uphill.

I have cut my teeth hunting WT's and this is my go to set up. As far as other "stuff", it was covered but I will tell you what I use for additional equipment.

Gerber hand saw- They make one with a wood blade as well as a bone blade

Hand pruner- This is my favorite to trim, as I can cut limbs much quieter than with saw.

Bow Haul Rope-Can be as simple as paracord. Nothing fancy. I make a loop knot and this slips over my cam as an attachment to haul up bow. No metallic sounds with this set up

Bow hanger- Self explanatory. To be honest, I hold my bow quite a bit. If a tree allows, you can leave a trimmed branch stub to hang you bow also.

Safety Harness- Don't go cheap. Go for comfort and quiet. Last year I bought an HSS vest and it is very good. Only know is it might be considered a little heavy. Don't but one with tons of pockets as you will likely have a day pack to carry stuff. (Pockets add weight). You life is worth it. Not an option. Mandatory. (This is coming from someone who fractured a vertabrae in a tree stand collapse. Back in the 80's when I thought I was invincible)

Seat- I can sit in the LW all day, but you will want to add a little padding for your rear. (Buy a foam rubber pad and use a bread knife to cut it to fit seat frame.

Tree step- I use a collapsable step with a machine tapered lag bolt). I use this as the final step as I step onto stand. (As was mentioned above, you want to step on to stand from level or higher than sticks) Also if you have theft concerns, I will leave my stand up with this last step left also, but I will remove sticks. This set up will likely get you 12-14' up.

When you place your stand, sit in the stand with your bow. Swing your bow to all of the possbile shooting locations. Make note of branches which can hot your bow limbs and trim generously.

[fm]

The rest of the guys nailed every thing I do. The only thing I would add is all of my stands have straps so I add a extra one inch ratchet strap for extra security.

[bnsafe]

I would only add, if you have a buddy have him with you when you put it up or take it down. last year I was pulling stands by myself an got to ride a ladder all the way to the ground. snapped metal into two pieces. not an experience I want an if I had had somebody with me to hold the ladder next to the tree prob wouldn't have happened. even if you don't need help its good in case something happens. good luck

[WapitiTalk1]

Solid recommendations/comments folks! Thanks to all for chiming in. cnelk asked how I'd be using the stand: I will mostly be using a single tree stand package to pack in to pre-determined spots. I may rotate it several times throughout my hunt so I'm very interested in the weight factor (Lone Wolf and the Millenium's Swede mentioned are on my short list; they both seem bo be a manageable weight, well constructed, and from all reports are pretty comfortable). I'm leaning towards the climbing sticks for weight and ease of deployment. Looks like guys use a few screw in steps also in conjunction with the climbing sticks for a few different purposes (makes sense).

Haven't heard anybody talk about the "lineman's belt". Does everyone use one as they put up their sticks, steps, and tree stand?

fm, you mentioned an extra ratchet strap for safety. I assume it's just an extra strap you use to attach your stand to the tree, yes?

Z barebow, I have one of the dual bladed Gerber saws you mentioned. Good tip. That'll go with my "stand pack" for sure. You mentioned a hand pruner. Are you talking about the small rose bush type pruners?

ww, you mentioned "perching on a limb" before tree stands came around. Reminded me of a story my father used to tell at our elk camps many moons ago in MT. He would tell all of us around the campfire about a time he was guiding in the BOB and him and his buddy decided it would be "fun" to lasso a cow elk, on a steep draw trail, while sitting in a large fir branch which hung over said trail. Well, the elk won that battle

[Swede]

RJ: I assume that roping a cow elk was an exciting exciting experience. I use the Hunter Safety Systems climbing rope equipment. I like to have someone around when I hang a stand and even when I take it down. I admit that rarely happens, but it is better than being alone. The one inch ratchet strap secures the stand more. Some folks use them or you can use a good rope with a trucker's hitch. By securing the loose end of a stand, they are more secure when you get in or out.

[fm]

Swede said just what I was talking about. Another use for a 1 inch strap or rope is if you have to put up a stand while on a ladder use the strap or rope to fasten the ladder to the tree. The Hunter Safety System has a strap that can be used as a lineman`s belt. I have a differant one I bought that is a belt with a heavy metal loop and heavy rope on it. I use it all the time putting up and taking down stands.

[Swede]

fm: The line you have sounds like it is one of those the loggers have used for years when preparing and rigging a tree. They need the metal core when chopping and sawing while up a tree, so that they do not risk cutting the line that secures them. You have a better line, but I would assume it is quite a bit more expensive. I have been told the HSS do not meet OSHA standards for what it is worth.

[fm]

Swede I don`t like where the strap on the HHS hooks on either. To me it hooks on to low and makes me feel like I am going to tip over backwards.

[Swede]

Interesting. I do not cinch my line up snug at all. I keep it loose and above me. I do not remember the HSS instructions saying that, but I learned it when I was being certified as a tree climber long ago. Too long ago. The idea then was to lean back against the line so you do not have a tendency to slide back down the tree if a spur missed and so your spurs would go into the tree. I do not lean back now since I am going up on screw-in steps, but I still keep the line loop up fairly high.

[Z Barebow]

Re pruner - you are correct. Something you pick up in the gardening section.