Legitimate question... why do folks leave climbing stands in the woods? I read about this all the time, and hunted around folks all my life who'd leave their climber (or an extra) in the woods.

I primarily ask because don't your seats and arm / gun rest cushions get wet??? I mean, it rains during the week and gets that stand soaking wet, then you go in on Saturday morning when it's 25 degrees and have to sit in that WET stand. (yes I realize most seats are removeable, but good grief it isn't easy, my API is 12-15 yrs old and I've never removed the seat from it)

I ask secondarily because is it really that difficult to walk in/out with a climber? Heck, I made a 1.26 mile walk (each way), Friday and Saturday at Choccolocco WMA (which you may know is extraordinarily steep and rugged), and have done similar and even longer walks with a climber for 30 years. Most of those years have been with a 23 to 26 pound API and/or Summit climber, and a large shoulder bag full of goodies (probably as heavy as the stand), my gun or bow, and often extra clothes/bibs/jackets tucked in the stand.

And I also think about varmints eating the cushions.

I don't really mean this series of questions as a critique, I just wouldn't dream of leaving my good stand in the woods.

I leave my Olman in the woods all year if I find a good spot for it. Summit never stays more than a night in woods if I can help it.

I've left a stand in the woods, covered it with a plastic bag to keep it dry - Ended up getting bit by a brown recluse that made its home inside the bag
Left one in the woods on private hunting club land - It got stolen
Left one in the woods, chained to a tree - Squirrels or some rat ate up the padding

I'm pretty much done with leaving stands in the woods

BTW All the stands I left in the woods were Summits

I have 4 summits I set them out in bow season and leave them all season if it rains I take a black trash bag in my pocket and fold it over the seat while hunting works ok

It’s a good way to get a stand ruined In Cold weather. If water gets inside the stand it can expand and split the metal. Not to mention the climbing cables can become rusted on a summit or ol man.

From my experience with a summit. Unless you hunt the next morning your not gonna get a wet azz. The seats dry pretty quick. I leave mine out until I move locations.

I hung an Ol Man one time several years ago (Because all there’s just the mesh sling seat) and it stayed out probably a month or slightly longer, frankly it ruined that stand because water got inside the tubing and just rusted it really badly. And overall it just looked something iron that sat out and weathered.

I'll leave mine from time to time but only if I'm gone be back in the that evening or the next day

I buy cheap used stands and put them out all over the state in various public and private lands that I hunt. I don't know if there have ever been any of them stolen or not, but I do know that I have forgotten where several of them are. Currently have about 10 climbers in the garage at home and another 5 or 6 on various lands throughout the state. I also keep one in the back of my truck all hunting season in case I see a place i want to get out and hunt.

Lowered mine almost to the ground, black garbage bag slide over both pieces and covered with brush, this year I'm packing in/out and its kinnda nice having it when/where I need it. Hunt private land lease.

I leave six Summit’s in the woods at my club during the season (I pull them after the season is over). All are cable locked to trees, but they are also in areas that are a long way from club boundaries. I also make sure they are angled so water doesn’t flow into the tubes when they are locked to the tree. Last, I don’t leave seats on them. The seat I use attaches in about 30 seconds. Easy. So no wet arse for me.

i'll leave it if i plan on hunting there next few days. if its suppose to rain I'll throw a trash bag over the seat. I always keep a few in my hunting bag for what ifs. they don't take up much room.

Never ever ever. If you don’t think a climber hanging off a tree at 3’ off the ground catches the attention of a 4-5 year old buck I encourage you to place a camera on a stand left in the woods. They do not like it. I will not leave a climber in the woods for any length of time.

What's difference in a ladder?

Ive leftem..matter o fact...i need to go get one first chance i get an proly take my gun an bust one

if you are going to leave a Ol Man out in the weather remove the plastic end caps. This is where the water collects causing rust and possible damage from freezing.

Pack it in, pack it out every time.

This

Im curious to this as well