Getting back in to bowhunting this year, this time
with a Damon Howatt recurve.
I have a couple API Grand Slams that are great
for rifle hunting but I think that rail will make it impossible
with a recurve.
Any thoughts on a climber for archery?

If you want to stick with a climber, check out the summit openshot or another brand of hand climber (xop or lone wolf)

Any open face climber will work. But I like the Lone Wolf sit-n-climb for climbable trees. If not, 4 sticks and an Alpha II hangon.

I love my grand ol' man climbers. I love how comfortable the footrest is.

I like the summit explorer open front. Super comfortable and it folds flat. Out of all the tree stands I’ve owned the summits with that suspended seat are by far the most comfortable.

I’d go with a lone wolf. with the recurve you will more than likely need an open front like has been mentioned

I hunt out of a summit viper with a 64" longbow. It's not impossible to hunt out of but you have to set your top part real low to your foot climber. I may end up buying an open top for it this year.

You can tighten the straps on the seat and it will sit you hire than the rail, or just use the stand to climb up and then drop the tip section to knee height and stand the whole time.

I know some guys that use climbers with the bar that shoot longbows and recurves.
They set the seat low and the bar high so that they lean out when they shoot.
Works good if you stand when you shoot.
They say the bar gives them stability while shooting.
I tried it once while using my brothers API, it does work if you're standing when you take a shot.

May have to set up an API in the backyard and see how they
work with the recurve.

I just use a Summit Viper and set the seat and the rail a little low. I had one of those Summit open face climbers and didn't like it. Once you've used the Viper with the rail, I didn't feel comfortable with the open front. Plus, it was a lot harder to climb with than using the shooting rail to sit as you climb.

I never even tried bow hunting from a climber with a bar. I owned two Grand Slam bowhunters. They were great
and I often slept in mine. You can either use your upper body strength to climb or run a trap across the front to sit and climb. I now have a Treewalker with a removable front bar. It is a great stand too. Either way, as long as you use your safety harness you will be safe. Since frontless climbers are so light I suggest you ratchet it to the tree once you have reached your desired height. It only takes a bump for one to slip if it isn't attached to the tree with an additional strap. Hunt safe

I'm still a fan of the ol man stands but I rarely climb anymore...just something about taking a deer on ground with bow that's really exciting to me

I hunt a lot on the ground. Killed a few with a compound from the ground
and yes its a totally different experience.

I mainly use a Lone Wolf Sit & Climb for a bowhunting climber, but will use the Grand Ol’Man and the Summit Viper.



The stabilizer straps that Third Hand Archery sells is a better/easier option. It locks the upper and lower sections together and are a good thing to use on any climber.

For 40 plus yrs I've always liked the idea of tree stands but always wind up back on the ground..lol

The third hand stuff is definitely a must have and Jim is a good guy to deal with

I do the opposite where I don't really have to move much to stand and lean on the rail to shoot

Lone Wolf if you looking for a hang on

I’m trying the Millennium m150 this year with lone wolf climbing steps. Hoping it works out good for this season