Heading out to climb some trees with my Open Shot, do y'all look for places then climb the trees preseason? I like to work all the particulars out before I hunt a place so there's less noise and commotion on game day.
Practicing
- Thread starter Iglow
- Start date
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
If you do it enough over the years, there's no need. I do scout for particular trees to climb and hunt, but am I climbing them to practice? No way am I doing that.
I have never done that. I scout in the fall, find the most recent sign, pick a tree, climb and hunt. Rinse and repeat as season progresses and deer alter their movements.
Got in a couple and trimmed some limbs so I could go higher, saw where to hinge a couple of trees to steer them… man it's hot 
I'll get out in the back yard a few weeks before archery season and climb tree or two just to get the muscle memory back. I also take that time to practice shooting out my stands. I have taken a stand out with me scouting so I can climb an cut limbs. Great exercise during the off season.
infoman jr.
Well-Known Member
The biggest learning curve with a climber is how much of an angle to set your platform and seat on the ground so it's relatively level when you get up the tree. I've never practiced with my climber, but I have with my lock on and sticks. That's definitely a process.
A person definitely wants to build up his muscles.... that was when my tennis elbow used to act up . Shooting your bow and then climbing trees with your climber always put more stress on your arms .
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
We have preset stands in many places and a saddle i can get into most places. I did set up with my saddle when I first got it with just one stick just to get comfortable with it. I dont hardly use climbers any more but never practiced. Learned the hard way with the death traps back in the day. Couldn't afford anything else back then.
Practicing was the wrong word, it was more making sure about some trees I wanted to climb later, I went up them and did a little trimming so I wouldn't have to when I was hunting.
If I have a spot in mind I find in late winter scouting I like to do a " practice " hunt to make sure I can get high enough, trim anything that needs it, and know what direction is best to be facing when it comes time later, and it's a good excuse to be out in the woods.
I like being prepared, I hate going in blind to a spot, being noisy and disorganized.
If I have a spot in mind I find in late winter scouting I like to do a " practice " hunt to make sure I can get high enough, trim anything that needs it, and know what direction is best to be facing when it comes time later, and it's a good excuse to be out in the woods.
I like being prepared, I hate going in blind to a spot, being noisy and disorganized.
I'm just a ground hog these days
U know, after today I'm thinking the same thing too. I don't want to kill deer bad enough to go through the trouble of getting in trees. For bowhunting a leafy suit and a folding stool look better every day.
Wooden Arrow
Well-Known Member
i killed my biggest buck sitting on a 5 gallon bucket with a padded lid. i'm still not sure what possessed me to buy treestands... i do enjoy getting up in the canopy on pretty fall afternoons though.
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
As I walk through the woods, I will pick out climbable trees in the area I want to hunt. I mark them on my gps with names I can recall such as "NE wind pipeline pinch point" and place leaning sticks around the tree so I can find it in the dark. So if you're walking through the woods and wonder why there are sticks leaning on a tree, you found my spot!
Or, maybe a gar hole to throw you off! Haha!
Or, maybe a gar hole to throw you off! Haha!
In August I climb all of my pre set stands to replace any straps that need it and to trim branches. I also scout trees i might climb with mobile, and trim branches & lanes so I don't have to do it when I hunt. There's not many or any month of the year that I don't do something related to deer hunting.
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
We do the same. I hung a couple new stands last month in places I dont want to be in until I am ready to hunt. Only thing I'll do is hang a couple of cell cameras in August or September. I cannot think of a month we don't do something for deer. March is usually are slowest month. But still always something to do. Especially when you own it.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Just before the season opens for us (Opening Day of MZ season), usually sometime on mid-October, I will visit every one of our ladder stands. I will climb up into them and check their straps and all safety issues.
