Tree Stands- the best and the lightest

R

robbor

Member
Ok i have alot of questions, Im thinking about getting a tree stand or tree stands for the future for 2 reasons, calling predators and hunting big game. Two totally seperate needs.

#1 im looking for a treestand or just seat and rifle rest to get up atleast 5-6' for calling in sage openings, there are trees so I could trim some limbs for easy set up, im looking for something lite/simple here and i think climbing would be better.

#2 a tree stand for comfort and quiet, i would like to be able to sleep in it if necissary, spending lots of time. semi lounging type, if they make one.

The big question- going to the bathroom from treestand???
What do you do? Hang it over the side and taint your area or what? BOMBS AWAY!!!
 
You can't go wrong with a Summit. I love mine, which a Corbra. Same as the Viper, but without the bar across the front.
 
Looking for more info guys. Alot of the trees around here are very large in diam like 50+' pine trees. I went looking for tree stand tests and did not turn up much. Looking for info on the size of trees a tree stand will fit and who might make stand to fit larger diam trees. Next time out i will site locations and see exactly what i will need for a few spots.
 
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Alot of the trees around here are very large in diam like 50+' pine trees.



Good luck. I don't think you will find many to fit a 50" tree.

You better think lock-on it that is the smallest trees you've got.
 
I dont know the diameters of the trees id guess that most are 24"-36" and about 50 FOOT TALL ATLEAST. Summit did list that their stands go up to 20" in diam. Not very big.
 
Check out the API stands- they will legitimately fit a 24" tree just like they advertise, and the weight isn't bad at all. I've never seen one that could go larger in a conventional stand. The area I hunt has a lot of mature hardwoods, and that stand has made a huge difference in my ability to hunt out of the trees that I want to be in. I'm not sure it meets your lounging requirement though.
 
I misunderstood what you meant I guess. A 10 inch pine tree here will go way over 50 feet tall. A 20 inch pine will be anywhere from 80-120 feet tall.

No problem finding trees under 20 inches here. Trees bigger than that usually have no limbs until way up there, and don't provide enough cover anyway, or have limbs too low for climbing.
 
For all day stands I have an old Tree Lounge that I really like. It is a heavy stand (mine is the old design, the newer ones are lighter) but very comfy. I think it maxes out at 18 inch diameter trees.

I've also used a Summit Viper a few times. Carries much lighter, very nice stand & I think it'll fit a little larger tree, 20 inches or so. Not sure.

Both stands have positives & negatives, but both are quite good.
 
I am with tcusparky. Lone wolfs are the best stands made. Period. light weight and portable and they lock on rock solid. They are not cheap but worth every penny.
 
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Lone wolfs are the best stands made. Period. light weight and portable and they lock on rock solid. They are not cheap but worth every penny.



They may be, I don't know. If they are not, they should be for the money you have to pay. The lock-on and hand climber models do not look very comfortable to me.

I have a summit, and they are rock solid, comfortable, light, and reasonably priced.
 
Ol' Man Vision climber is wonderful and very light...under 20lbs. The mesh net seat is suprisingly comfortable. I use it for bowhunting & coyote hunting.
My Tree lounge is the best for gun hunting by a long shot but it is a bit chunky. I have spent several days deer hunting from dawn to dusk in this stand and was never more comfortable. Many ways to shoot with a rock solid rest too.
 
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The big question- going to the bathroom from treestand???
What do you do? Hang it over the side and taint your area or what? BOMBS AWAY!!!



The idea is to lessen the area contamination with scent. Urine breaks down but you can use a wizz bottle. Needing to curl one usually means you ate to much the previous day. I try to go in the morning or the night before if I need to, a good stong cup of coffee helps. I bring along 2-3 folded paper towels, very universal.
With a permanent ladder/tree stand having to climb down seems like no big deal, but while your moving around or out 100 yards to take care of business you could be contaminating the area. If your in a climber, ok it's enough work just to get into a comfortable position.
I have used and bought a few lemon stands to know even if you plan ahead, got all your gear including the wizz bottle and you don't need to curl one, that if it's not comfortable you might as well hunt from the ground. Your body needs circulation. There's alot of strong - sturdy stands out there that cost plenty, but if your sitting in them for 2 hours and the seat cuts off circulation from the way the seat is supported - friggin thing is useless then in my opinion. I have found the stands that support the seat by sort of 'hanging' it vs. a hard metal support work best. Also concerning tree stands with foot rests - I highly recomend a matt between your boots and the platform in sub zero temps. This is not for cushon comfort, but metal is like a heat sink.
 
I know of at least on camera survey study that showed as many pictures taken at scrapes using human urine in them as those where they used doe urine or dominant buck lure.

I'm not worried about contaminating my area with urine.

Now taking a dump there, no. Certainly not from the tree. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
Another vote for the Summit Cobra. I agree with Yellowhammer. Several times I've whizzed from a treestand and had deer (including bucks) sniffing around less than hour later with no negative reaction. I know a guy who always does a grunting sequence before relieving himself. Says it imitates a rutting buck marking his territory. I won't argue with him, he's killed some very good deer!
 
Summit tree stands are top notch. I have used them for twenty + years. There newer models are a lot better that the model I started out with, but it was a far cry better than the old Baker stand. I have been using a Viper for the last 8-10 years and have no complaints.
 
Peeing from the tree has never been a deterrent for me either as far as game animals are concerned. It can be a little noisy if the leaves are dry though.

I can confirm taking a dump from a Tree Lounge in complete safety. The "how to" directions are not in the instruction manual though.
That one instance brought the term "being in a pinch" to an entirely new meaning.
Just have to remember your "drop zone" when climbing down in the dark...
 


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