Scared of Heights?

[Mike Belt]

I notice many times people talk about climbing up a tree in their stand but never going over 15-25 feet up. No way or they going to climb any higher! In some instances you really need to be several feet higher. I'm just trying to figure out why they stop before getting there. If someone is scared of heights what's the difference between 20' or 30' or 40' up'? You climb the same and go through all the same motions at any height in the tree. Someone enlighten me.

 

[TreyB]

Mental I would assume. All in their head.

 

[jard]

Actually several reasons for this. 1) i only have one spot on my hunting farm that I can climb over 25' and not be in the canopy. I lose all visibility over 20'. Most trees I climb I'm at 15' or less. 2) I'm a big boy. 6'6" 300 lbs. those trees get skinnier up top. Any wind with me sitting up top and that bad boy rocks and makes a good shot
Impossible.

I'm pretty bad scared of heights but climbing doesn't affect me.


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[Mike Belt]

I hadn't thought of wind as a factor but you're right, those trees can sway in high winds. I remember years ago on a hunt at Chickasaw I was wa-y-y-y up a pine tree with the wind howling. I stayed "puckered" while that tree was swaying a good 6' off center from side to side. I finally had enough and climbed down.

 

[catman529]

Most times I bow hunt I don't need or want to be higher than 25 foot. But I did hunt with my rifle from 50 foot up a walnut tree a few years ago, people here gave me crap for it, but I shot two deer that evening.


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[GRIT]

We read every year were several hunters fall from tree stands and die.But some still climb IMO way to high to just kill a deer when you don't have to.I know you don't have to be way up in a tree to fall out for it to kill you 10 12 and 15ft can kill you just as quick.But climbing 30 40 and 50 foot up the odds of getting hurt goes up.
If your climbing 40 to 50 foot up a tree to hunt a deer what are you doing up there grilling out while you hunt.
Just not worth it to me to go that high up to hunt i like to come back home to my family.
And i am not scared of heights and i do wear my harness when i hunt.
But it's your choice.

 

[THEdonkey0515]

Never had a reason to climb 40+ft In a tree

15-25 feet does me just fine. I can see really well & feel comfortable. Heck kill a couple on the ground every year with my back against the base of a tree.

I just never left the house and thought I need to climb 50 feet high in the tree today or I'm not gonna get a shot. No disrespect to the people that do feel that way, everyone has there own ideas when it comes to hunting just something I've never felt like I had to do.

 

[Jcalder]

Highest I ever climbed I picked a tree in a draw. Decided I wanted to see on top of both sides. So I climbed that high. Wouldn't do it now. Most of the time now I hunt out of a barn loft with a firearm. I did hang a stand for the rut and it's around 12 feet high. No need in going higher. Just more to clear out for a lane.


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[Mike Belt]

I seldom hunt that high and never that high bow hunting. Sometimes though, the circumstance of the set up might require it.

 

[Stykbow]

I bet my average stand height is right around 12 feet. I've come across very few instances that required me to be higher.


Jack of all trades, but master of none!

 

[Ladys man]

For me I keep my pull up rope at 30 ft I feel that I'm not getting any advantage of going any higher were I hunt and and higher with my bow affects shots completely throws off angles and yardage I'm not scared of heights or anything just see no need for it

 

[gator-n-buck]

Normally 30 feet because of shot angle with a bow. Beyond that it becomes pretty steep,

 

[Deer Assassin]

never had a reason

i kill fine 12-20 foot

 

[HunterVol1143]

Sometimes it's tough for me to find a tree straight enough to get my climber much more than 20ft. I've hung stands between 27-30 feet using ladder sticks because of the way the location set up against the surrounding terrain. I've pretty much decided I'll only go that high if the terrain/wind dictates it.


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[Hunter 257W]

I can see the definite advantage of being so high that deer neither see nor smell you but the risk and consequences of falling aren't worth it to me just to kill a deer. I enjoy living and walking too much to take the chance. I have one homemade ladder stand that is 10 feet and one 10 foot shooting house and that's it for me. There's no way I'm going to use the 16 foot tall store bought ladder stands I have anymore. Yes I'm afraid of heights and yes a fall from 16 feet can kill or cripple you. The vast majority of the time I hunt from a turkey stool and I know i lose deer because of it. No deer ever lived that is worth getting crippled up for.

 

[Mike Belt]

You go through the same motions and use the same safety features, etc. at 10', 20, or 50'. If you feel safe at 10'-12' what makes it different at 40'? Height has a dizzying effect on people which leads me to think it's all in their head. Not defending or even advocating climbing any higher than your comfort zone but I think it's all mind over matter.

 

[catman529]

I can see the definite advantage of being so high that deer neither see nor smell you but the risk and consequences of falling aren't worth it to me just to kill a deer. I enjoy living and walking too much to take the chance. I have one homemade ladder stand that is 10 feet and one 10 foot shooting house and that's it for me. There's no way I'm going to use the 16 foot tall store bought ladder stands I have anymore. Yes I'm afraid of heights and yes a fall from 16 feet can kill or cripple you. The vast majority of the time I hunt from a turkey stool and I know i lose deer because of it. No deer ever lived that is worth getting crippled up for.

They make harnesses that hook you up before you ever leave the ground. There aren't many places I hunt where I would have an advantage at 10 feet... would rather sit low on the ground myself if couldn't climb higher.

 

[southernhunter]

I once lost the bottom half of my climber on the way down. Glad it was at 10' and not 50'

 

[HunterVol1143]

I once lost the bottom half of my climber on the way down. Glad it was at 10' and not 50'

That's happened to my father in law as well and is the exact reason the top of my stand is always connected to the bottom.


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[Hunter 257W]

You go through the same motions and use the same safety features, etc. at 10', 20, or 50'. If you feel safe at 10'-12' what makes it different at 40'? Height has a dizzying effect on people which leads me to think it's all in their head. Not defending or even advocating climbing any higher than your comfort zone but I think it's all mind over matter.

I guess I should qualify why I feel safe at 10' and no higher. 1st, you gotta draw the line somewhere and that's my arbitrary height that I feel somewhat comfortable with. 2nd, I only feel safe at 10 feet when using my two stands, one of which has a ladder against it with a handrail to hold on to while climbing. Once in the elevated shooting house there's no way to fall out accidentally. My 10 foot tall ladder stand is so sturdy that it has nothing in common with the whippy flimsy commercial stands. I wrapped and welded expanded metal on all the ladder rungs so it's practically impossible for a wet muddy boot to slip off the ladder while climbing. It has high arm wrests and a shooting rail that mounts to the stand with 3/8" bolts. It has steel arms that go on either side of the tree with a large log chain that fully wraps around the tree. Two 3,500 lb ratchet straps hold it tight against the tree. I don't use any kind of safety harness while going up the ladder but feel that the no slip steps pretty much make it impossible to slip off in the 1st place.

Of course you are right that a fear of heights is in a person's head because 25 feet is 25 feet regardless of who is sitting at that height. But like any fear, you can't just make it go away and the fear of falling can and will make you lose your balance and fall. Also I bet that most hunters who climb so high tend to be the smaller thinner hunters. I weight 260 lbs and a tree stand that is perfectly safe for a 165lb hunter is getting creaky and flexing under my weight. My mind used to always drift to tensile strength and destructive testing, etc. back when I used a climbing stand in my younger (and lighter) days!

 

[Hunter 257W]

I can see the definite advantage of being so high that deer neither see nor smell you but the risk and consequences of falling aren't worth it to me just to kill a deer. I enjoy living and walking too much to take the chance. I have one homemade ladder stand that is 10 feet and one 10 foot shooting house and that's it for me. There's no way I'm going to use the 16 foot tall store bought ladder stands I have anymore. Yes I'm afraid of heights and yes a fall from 16 feet can kill or cripple you. The vast majority of the time I hunt from a turkey stool and I know i lose deer because of it. No deer ever lived that is worth getting crippled up for.

They make harnesses that hook you up before you ever leave the ground. There aren't many places I hunt where I would have an advantage at 10 feet... would rather sit low on the ground myself if couldn't climb higher.

That's why I just use the turkey stool the vast majority of the time. I do have quite a few places where 10 feet elevation would allow me to see better but unfortunately 10 feet doesn't hide you from deer at all. I suspect it might even make you more visible compared to just sitting on the ground with some brush around you.

 

[dburt]

I generally climb around 15' - 20' as well. I do occasionally have a situation where a higher position would be benefitial, like someone mentioned in a draw, or just canopy reasons. But most of the time the canopy opening has been the best for me at 15'-20'. Totally depends on the tree / canopy. Just gotta be aware enough to know that I can't see crap and move, up or down, if need be. Which can be a little difficult when setting up with a climber in the morning. I've never put a marker on my desired height...why don't I do that? That's a really good idea. haha

To answer Mike's question, I think it's all in the head for me too. Mentally I know I'm absolutely safe with my harness, but I AM a little scared when I'm past 20'. And I'm thankful for that. Fear can be paralyzing, sure, but a healthy fear can keep a fella safe.

 

[deerchaser007]

I really wish I could explain it. In theory, I'm afraid of heights. It's not mentally I am afraid, because I have tried, it's my bodies reaction to the height. I am good to 25', after that my legs weaken, Trimble, and I begin to fatigue.
Even outside of a tree stand, the same occurs. I can be in a 20 story building, not even looking out a window and get same feeling. A skylift does me same way. Even travel out West on safe highway at high elevation does it. I tried overcoming it by running up fire towers, and could not do it. But, I cannot explain it.

 

[infoman jr.]

Often times, if I try to climb too high, the canopy of the adjacent trees become a hindrance. It just depends on the situation.

 

[southernhunter]

I am also uncomfortable with heights but I work in construction and have to do it. I been through training many times for height safety. The bottom line If your afraid of heights don't do it, I have seen many guys that wasn't afraid of heights nearly fall to their death. Stories and videos of some that have. I have done some really dumb things because of buck fever. I have came to the conclusion nothing's worth a fall especially deer hunting. FYI . A Safety harness is great and should be used when climbing every time, however in most cases you only have 15 to 20 mins to be rescued before your in serious trouble. How long would it take for someone to get to you in the woods? Or climb 50' to you then get you down 50' ? Before you think you will just rescue your self, study shows it's highly unlikely for many reasons. Something to think about.

 

[EastTNcowsNwhitetails]

Im not afraid of heights. I have bungee jumped twice... but i am very nervous at high heights without a rail around me. In my climber im good at 20 feet or so but u wont catch me in a hang on stand without a rail around me. I can climb in one and sit there a while, but when it comes to standing and moving around to focus my attention on a kill shot on a deer, my body reacts and i get shaky and nervous about falling out even with my safety harness on. That coupled with buck fever in my opinion would be too much for me to make a good shot. Maybe i am scared of heights and bungee jumping was me overcoming my fear. Ill go high but like someone said earlier, once im at a certain lever with nothing to keep me from falling out, my legs shake and its too hard for me to think about shooting. Call me a chicken or whatever, but i hunt low. As far as im concerned, i may have some deer smell me but im good at getting in a tree and finding cover from surrounding trees or the one im in to where the deer never see me. The angles xlchange a lot too for boe hunting and my range finder doesnt account for angles like some do.

 

[Mike Belt]

I guess I'm lucky...or just dumb, lol? I'm only about 140-145 pounds so weight isn't a factor. I'm also not afraid of heights. It doesn't bother me in the least to swing or hang from limbs to get done what I need done at any height thus my email address...Limbmonkey. I am careful doing it. I've fallen once about 30 feet but that was a stand malfunction and before I began wearing a safety system. It's possible for a stand malfunction any time but it's no longer possible that I get off the ground without my harness. I don't often climb that high but if the situation calls for it I don't hesitate.

 

[Tennrock]

Maybe its just the areas I hunt, but how do you guys get any higher than 20' without a lot of chainsaw work? I use a climber and the thing that keeps me below 20' is limbs & branches and it is those limbs & braches that I do not want to get above to hinder my view.

Are you climbing with a belt or shoe spikes, sitting on a branch?

 

[catman529]

I guess I'm lucky...or just dumb, lol? I'm only about 140-145 pounds so weight isn't a factor. I'm also not afraid of heights. It doesn't bother me in the least to swing or hang from limbs to get done what I need done at any height

I weigh the same and climb the same. I've climbed trees since I was a little kid

 

[dgolden]

I'm not afraid of heights; I'm afraid of the fall! Had a fall in a 15ft ladder and it didn't feel good. Usually 15 or 17ft ladders is what I stick to.