What's Better Than a Red Ryder BB Gun?

[WapitiTalk1]

Christmas came late this year. FEDEX came when I was at work today. Now, I've gotta figure out to use this equipment. Hmmm, whom should I ask for guidance Will be my first time ever using one this fall.

[cnelk]

Welcome to the other side RJ
You're entering a whole new world!

[Indian Summer]

Welcome to the other side RJ
You're entering a whole new world!

Yep and you're gonna love it. You'll feel deadly up there, like a hawk perched ready to pounce. Have a safety harness?

[ctdad]

That is a lightweight well made treestand with a horrible seat cushion. I've whitetail hunted out of them. Hours can feel like days if you are uncomfortable. I'd look into a different cushion if I was you.

[Indian Summer]

I use a different seat cushion with all of my stands so I'd agree with that. Nothing worse than squirming around up there with sore "hind quarters".

I'd get a bow hanger too with a long arm that has a pivot point. It's awesome having you bow, or gun, hanging in your face right where you need it requiring minimal movement to take it off the hook. Conversely... nothing is worse than holding it in your hand, moving it around, and risking getting busted from the skylined movement.

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to the other side RJ
You're entering a whole new world!

Yep and you're gonna love it. You'll feel deadly up there, like a hawk perched ready to pounce. Have a safety harness?

Heck yah! The harness is the Lone Wolf Fall Arrest system that came with the tree stand. How much weight can these things hold? I think this harness could wrap around a 400 lb dude It doesn't fit snug on my skinny arse so not sure if that is a factor or not. I'm 5' 11" and 165' soaking wet. Mrs. Phantom has given me 25 1/2 eye rolls tonight as I play with my new gear. I think she likes it Make that 27 eye rolls and three ceiling looks.. She must really like it.

[Swede]

RJ, I can tell she really likes it. You should get her one too. Of coarse she will need a new 70# bow, etc., etc.

[Elkduds]

RE seat cushion: I have never sat in a tree stand. But my wife's Subaru is brutal on my back to drive So I researched online and found out about the Oregon Aero portable ergonomic seat cushion, recommended by lots of truckers to relieve back and leg pain/numbness.

http://www.oregonaero.com/softseat

I bought one almost a year ago. I use it on drives longer than a few minutes and in my office chair @ work. No more back agony from sitting in bad seats. The cushion is outstanding, all the claims on the web page are true and some are understated. If I were going to sit anywhere for several hours, you bet your ass I would have my cushion.

[ST52V]

Make sure the harness fits correctly. Most people put them on and run them lose. The leg straps should be adjusted tight to your inner thighs. If you do fall with those straps loosely hanging you won't like the results. They will cause some serious damage!

[Indian Summer]

That's funny Phantom. My wife has done a thousand eye rolls. She burst into laughter when I was sitting on the couch in my Heater Body Suit. I made her climb in it too, and laughed at her. I told her it makes her look fat.

When I get new packs, serious ones for meat packing, I strap it on, rest the pack on the couch, and have her climb in. Then I stand up and move around some. Jump up and down a little flopping her all over the place. She laughs her arse off. But mostly it's just the eye rolls as I try new things on in the house. Sometimes I read her our super intelligent posts and I get lots of eye rolls for that. She knows you guys by name by now.

I also use a retractable bow/gun hoist which I love. Doyle's deer gear makes a really nice one here at the link. http://www.huntinhoist.com/php/index.php

[bnsafe]

very nice equipment. ive spent a lot of time in a stand. use to sit on a 5 gallon bucket back in the day. the seat will work but an upgrade would be nice. congrats an enjoy.

[flystrait]

x10 on the new seat cushion. I also use a third strap to the tree, ratchet strap style just makes me feel better. I also started using this

http://www.eaglearchery.com/Hunter-Safe ... Mgodw2sAbA

You can get this at almost every store Cabela's- online etc

I'm just a safety nut when it comes to tree stands

[WapitiTalk1]

Tracking on the recommendations. Thanks gentlemen. Seat cushion - check; bow hangar - check; Doyles retracting bow/gear hoist - check (cool little contraption); life line - check. I imagine you guys hoist up your pack also.. do you just hang it on a hook within reach?

[Swede]

RJ: I wear my daypack as I climb into my stand. I just hoist my bow. I clip unto a HSS safety line when I go up and down for added security. I have two or three hooks to hang my bow, pack, and maybe a jacket on. You can go cheap when it comes to hangers. They sure don't need to be fancy. I have always used cord or baling twine as a drop line for my bow.

[cnelk]

When I hunted white tails from a tree stand I had another use for the drop line.
Once up in the tree I would tie my rattling antlers to the cord.
Then I would lower them to the ground. When I wanted to rattle, I would just pull the cord a few
times. The antlers would also make noise in the leaves and ground cover.

If a deer responded to my rattling, all I would need to do is let go of the cord and get my bow

[Washington Wapiti]

Welcome to the other side RJ
You're entering a whole new world!

Yep and you're gonna love it. You'll feel deadly up there, like a hawk perched ready to pounce. Have a safety harness?

Heck yah! The harness is the Lone Wolf Fall Arrest system that came with the tree stand. How much weight can these things hold? I think this harness could wrap around a 400 lb dude It doesn't fit snug on my skinny arse so not sure if that is a factor or not. I'm 5' 11" and 165' soaking wet. Mrs. Phantom has given me 25 1/2 eye rolls tonight as I play with my new gear. I think she likes it Make that 27 eye rolls and three ceiling looks.. She must really like it.

Niiiice . . .I'm busting a gut right now reading all of these comments. Sara REALLY likes when I strut around the house and strike a pose in my harnesses. There weren't any eye rolls until I pulled off the hose on the shop vac, came running in and started bugling through it demonstrating that I was starting to get the hang of using a diaphragm. I hope you dig "Life Elevated" as much as I have been. I believe most hardware, harnesses, and straps involved with treestands are rated for no more than 300 pounds . . . at least on my two set-ups. I also bought one of those Real Tree camo umbrellas for treestands a month or so ago for next season. Don't laugh! Like Swede, I also wear my pack while climbing up, I tried hoisting it the first time I climbed in and figured it was just easier to wear. I have 3 pivoting hangers and use one for my pack, one for my bow, and the other to rig a camera on or whatever. Be careful lowering your bow. For my elk set up I used screw ins and bent my 40 yard pin on one of them while lowering. Hmmm . . . that Oregon Aero cushion looks awfully inviting . . .

[Washington Wapiti]

When I hunted white tails from a tree stand I had another use for the drop line.
Once up in the tree I would tie my rattling antlers to the cord.
Then I would lower them to the ground. When I wanted to rattle, I would just pull the cord a few
times. The antlers would also make noise in the leaves and ground cover.

If a deer responded to my rattling, all I would need to do is let go of the cord and get my bow

Ingenious! Covering all the bases with one tug LOL

[ST52V]

The umbrella!! They have come a long way over the years. I just got a new one for Christmas and it is way better than the one I have been using thats probably 8-10 years old. The new one is built sturdier and pivots into a l for better leverage and has one strap that goes around the tree with a buckle. My father in law saw it and tried to hide it from me. I don't have unlimited days to hunt so it allows me to hunt even during an all day rain.

[Washington Wapiti]

The umbrella!! They have come a long way over the years. I just got a new one for Christmas and it is way better than the one I have been using thats probably 8-10 years old. The new one is built sturdier and pivots into a l for better leverage and has one strap that goes around the tree with a buckle. My father in law saw it and tried to hide it from me. I don't have unlimited days to hunt so it allows me to hunt even during an all day rain.

I didn't know they had been making them that long! Yep, exactly, pivots into an "l" . . . that's the one I have. After all the rain this season I knew I was either going to make some sort of rain cover or buy something, and it turns out walmart.com had those umbrellas. So I ordered one. It is still in the box, so its good to get an opinion from someone who has used it.

[elkmtngear]

I didn't know they had been making them that long! Yep, exactly, pivots into an "l" . . . that's the one I have. After all the rain this season I knew I was either going to make some sort of rain cover or buy something, and it turns out walmart.com had those umbrellas. So I ordered one. It is still in the box, so its good to get an opinion from someone who has used it.

This is another advantage of owning the SLIP System. And you can film your shot if desired.

[RockChucker30]

The new huntcomfort seats look really good....I saw a few at ATA this week. I've always used a gorilla foam seat on my LW Alpha and it worked much better.

For a safety harness take a look at the Black Diamond Alpine Bod. It's a mountaineering climbing harness and can be had much cheaper than a tree stand harness. It is also much lighter, much easier to put on, and much more comfortable.

[WapitiTalk1]

Thanks for all the notes guys! Appreciate it. Rockchucker, I like the look of that Black Diamond climbing harness! Will take a closer look at that. Lastly, it may be time to pick out a Slip System

[Washington Wapiti]

Yep, I second the Alpine Bod if going that route. I used them a fair amount in the past. They are very, very easy to get into. If you go to REI and buy one, be careful not to mention what it is for. They'll probably throw Cliff Bars at you. LOL At the very least they may not sell it to you, or try to dissuade you. I used to work there and we were instructed not to offer harnesses for anything other than rock climbing or mountaineering specifically. You're simply going to Colchuck Peak for some roped travel practice.

[Washington Wapiti]

I didn't know they had been making them that long! Yep, exactly, pivots into an "l" . . . that's the one I have. After all the rain this season I knew I was either going to make some sort of rain cover or buy something, and it turns out walmart.com had those umbrellas. So I ordered one. It is still in the box, so its good to get an opinion from someone who has used it.

This is another advantage of owning the SLIP System. And you can film your shot if desired.

I knew I should've read more into The SLIP!