Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Climbing Stands?

Do hunters still use climbing stands or does everyone mostly use shooting houses and ground blinds now for better safety? Back when I used to try to be a deer hunter and a real country boy, I hunted out of an excellent, stable Summit Viper all the time that I think ALDEER member Dustin recommended. I still have it hanging up in the storage room.

I climb a tree walker when I hunt. I do hunt on the ground sometimes with gun. But a bow. I’m in the tree walker.
Actually hoping to be in it this evening if the rain gets in and out.

I am approaching 60 and hav switched to ground blinds. I did put a climber up in a good road spot yesterday. First time i was really kind of nervous in a climber! Just getting older - was time for me to change 4-5 years ago. May get in one this year - but it will be rut hunts only

If you have spots you know you’ll return to year after year, put up tall ladders, as heavy duty as you can find. Or hang lock ons and use a safety rope. I’ve reduced usage of my climber too, but being up off the ground can be an important factor for visibility.

I haven't hunted out of a climber in probably 5-6 years. I used a lock on for about 2 years and then switched to a saddle for a couple of years, and now I hunt from ladder stands or a shooting house. As I've gotten older I look for comfort lol.

I cant figure out how to use one without sweating, then i sit there and freeze to death. So, i quit climbing. I bought a couple of 20ft ladder stands this year. Thats a much better situation for me.

I climbed trees for 50 years without ever having an accident, and used a whole lot of homemade ladders and hang ons. I always felt most secure in a good climbing stand. If you select a good tree, use a harness, and use common sense in climbing it's hard to have an accident. Someone stole my best climber, but I still have one left and climbed a couple of times with it last year. I might still use it some in the right circumstances, but I mostly hunt on the ground now.

API grand slam bowhunter for bow hunting always. Or for my more permanent spots, Millennium lock on.

Gun hunting is terrain / vis dependent. Either API climber or on the ground, Millennium tree seat.

same with me

Cougar Claw for me. Lightest and safest out there. Unfortunately you can't get them currently.

I still bowhunt out of the same Ol’ Man Visions I’ve had since the late 90’s. But I rarely climb for gun hunts unless it’s up a ladder on my private lands. At most I’ll bring a chair or tree seat onto public but I’m as happy standing or sitting on a log or against a tree.

I use a tree walker. Bought it from somebody on here

Started with Summit then went to the API grand slam supreme which was my favorite. After they discontinued that I use a Summit Viper.

I almost always climb a tree. I have 11 or 12 climbers, ands most of them stay locked to a tree throughout the season. One stays in the truck in case I call an audible. And I always climb at least 30’ wherever I hunt, so ladders just don’t get me high enough.

Don’t climb anymore sold my treewalker couple years ago and lifelines. Getting older just ain’t mad at em anymore

67 years old and still using my Summit Viper. Nothing more fun to me than sitting in my climber on a really cold morning overlooking a hardwood bottom. I like it because I’m surrounded by a padded rail so I can take a nap if I want and have a steady rail to shoot from. As far as getting hot, I wrap my jacket around my waist walking in then tie it to the rail as I climb. Eventually I cool off and slip it on. I’ve done it for so many years, I have it down to a science.

I have ladders, lockons and shooting houses set up and I might hunt a few of them during the year but I hunt out of climbers 90 percent of the time. I have a lone wolf that I bow hunt out of and a couple of summit vipers for gun. I just bought a summit dual threat and will break it in this week. I like the idea of having a shooting rest or open front for bow. So yea, I do still use climbers.

Same here and also depends on where I'm at and what trees are around or the woods in general. Sometimes sit on the ground looking down a road in a planted pine thicket. Been wanting to try a saddle before I get to old, maybe next year the Lord willing. Had my Cougar Claw for years, didn't know you couldn't buy them anymore.

I have 5 Summit Vipers and hunt almost exclusively from them. I sat in a permanent stand 3 times all year.

Buckshot. Cougar claw. Either one. Prefer cougar claw, but the one i have is kinda noisy climbing.