I go old school just put a penny nail in the stand if wooden or in the tree.

 

I use a ladder stand and lay it on the shooting rail...

Mike

 

If you are using a tree stand that you will be setting up in various trees, get one of those miniature tree steps and screw that into the tree. You can take it out when done hunting and use it in again in a different tree.

 

High point makes a crossbow holder that bolts on the rail and also New Dawn.

 

Whats wrong with your lap? Thats were it should be! I know it gets to be a pain but you are not always given the oppurtunity to move and get your crossbow from a hook.

A lot of guys think hunting with a crossbow is easy because its cocke and you dont have to draw, and to them I ask have you evered tried moving those things in the stand and not getting busted? Its much easier to hide behind your vertical bow and draw it than it is to try and raise your crossbow into action especially if you have to go fetch it.

 

Whats wrong with your lap? Thats were it should be! I know it gets to be a pain but you are not always given the oppurtunity to move and get your crossbow from a hook.

A lot of guys think hunting with a crossbow is easy because its cocke and you dont have to draw, and to them I ask have you evered tried moving those things in the stand and not getting busted? Its much easier to hide behind your vertical bow and draw it than it is to try and raise your crossbow into action especially if you have to go fetch it.

I hunt in mountain areas and low land swamps, I guess after wading thru water, climbing hills, and setting up a climber, that I have been packing thru the process; I am a little winded! LOL...not the man I used to be and I am afraid I may shift in my stand knock the crossbow out of my lap and down it falls, breaking the scope in the process. That would be my luck!

 

I hunt in mountain areas and low land swamps, I guess after wading thru water, climbing hills, and setting up a climber, that I have been packing thru the process; I am a little winded! LOL...not the man I used to be and I am afraid I may shift in my stand knock the crossbow out of my lap and down it falls, breaking the scope in the process. That would be my luck!

Good point Tommy!

 

Swing Arm....

I recently bought one of those swing arm bow holders from Dick's. I didn't trust it when I got home, so I put it on a tree in my yard and hung 15 pounds from it! It held that, so I decided to trust my Trixie on it. It works great, my crossbow hangs directly in front of me for easy access. This also offers me a little more camo "screen" to help hide behind.

 

Pick one. http://www.huntingmadeeasy.com/tree_bow_hangers.html


Trying the Better Bow Hanger when it gets here. I've used the Primos 3 sectional one and it wants to spin on you if you move the xbow off to the side. The one in the link takes care of that with an offset bracket design.


I hang mine stirrup up and it's ready in a second. The pivoting design allows you to put it in the best spot for cover or visibility. The Primos if it didn't spin so easy would be fine. Nothing like a loud "pop" when you reach for it and the added movement makes it shift.

 

You have my permission to LYAO! Here is what I had to come up with to be comfortable. I tried the Stoney Point Rapid Pivot Bipod first, then the Primos Trigger stick mono-pod, then the Horton Knee pod. The knee pod works great for the ground blinds but my tree stand has a higher seat and the knee was not straight enough. In desperation I reached behind me and grabbed my lift rope and looped it over the nail I used to hang my vertical bow on (above and in front of me). I tied a loop in it, put it around my stirrup at the exact height that would allow me to swing side to side, looking through the scope, and cover all available shots and by leaning forward or back I could cover close or farther shots. Not only did this keep my bow in a position ready to shoot but I could rest the stock on the seat next to me and have my hands free. This was perfect when my buck came in at 20 yards and I was able to put the crosshairs behind the shoulder and hold it steady before the shot. I will be rigging something up that will work the same way without having to use my lift rope and something that will be adjustable that I can use in different trees too.

 

You have my permission to LYAO! Here is what I had to come up with to be comfortable. I tried the Stoney Point Rapid Pivot Bipod first, then the Primos Trigger stick mono-pod, then the Horton Knee pod. The knee pod works great for the ground blinds but my tree stand has a higher seat and the knee was not straight enough. In desperation I reached behind me and grabbed my lift rope and looped it over the nail I used to hang my vertical bow on (above and in front of me). I tied a loop in it, put it around my stirrup at the exact height that would allow me to swing side to side, looking through the scope, and cover all available shots and by leaning forward or back I could cover close or farther shots. Not only did this keep my bow in a position ready to shoot but I could rest the stock on the seat next to me and have my hands free. This was perfect when my buck came in at 20 yards and I was able to put the crosshairs behind the shoulder and hold it steady before the shot. I will be rigging something up that will work the same way without having to use my lift rope and something that will be adjustable that I can use in different trees too.

I've seen that done with a rifle, using an EZ hangar above head height and a strap. Put the weapon in the crotch of the endless loop strap. Tried it once and it worked pretty well. A bit too "busy" for my taste and you're fairly restricted to about a 220 degree semi-circle.

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0004918413663a.shtml

 

I recently bought one of those swing arm bow holders from Dick's. I didn't trust it when I got home, so I put it on a tree in my yard and hung 15 pounds from it! It held that, so I decided to trust my Trixie on it. It works great, my crossbow hangs directly in front of me for easy access. This also offers me a little more camo "screen" to help hide behind.

I bought a tree arm the 3 section type so I could put my bow right where I need it. The concept is great but you need a sledge hammer to get this thing started in hardwood! :thumbsup:

 

I bought a tree arm the 3 section type so I could put my bow right where I need it. The concept is great but you need a sledge hammer to get this thing started in hardwood! :thumbsup:

I carry one of those small cheapo screw in hangers which start into any tree very easily; and use it for making a "pilot" hole for larger hangers, EZ Hangers in hardwood, or tree steps that I use for hangers. Weighs nothing and I keep it in my harness pocket.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...avAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

 

I keep mine in my lap. Learned that lesson the hard way. Sometimes those big bucks come in quick and you dont have time to get it off a hook or you spook the deer trying to do so. I blew it on a great buck like that years ago and promised myself never again.

 

I keep mine in my lap. Learned that lesson the hard way. Sometimes those big bucks come in quick and you dont have time to get it off a hook or you spook the deer trying to do so. I blew it on a great buck like that years ago and promised myself never again.

LOL ... "Been there ... done that!" But holding a crossbow for 10-12 hour sits ... can't do ... gotta hang it. I "try" to pick out deer WAY out so I can get in position early. You're right though; some of those deer come up out of the ground on elevators or something. You peruse around to the right, look left, turn back to the right ... and there's a deer 15 yards away! "Where'd he come from????" LOL