Tree Climber Hunters....

I have a nice Summit climber that I don't use because it's a lot of stuff to pack in every time. I used to attach my backpack to the climber like you and also a fanny pack. Too much to carry. I'm going more for easy as I get older.

Summit Viper with Molle straps and waist belt. Attach SMALL pack to stand. Just take in the bare essentials. Carry crossbow in front of me. On longer walks in, I have a sling that attaches to the crossbow and stand that transfers the bow weight to the Molle system. The Molle really makes a big difference.

I could never get a Molle to attach correctly to my Summit Viper to where it would pack up correctly for carrying. I ended up giving mine to a guy for shipping costs to him.
I backpack my Summit and carry my bow in my arms/hands. I go across some pretty rough stuff doing this and have never had any problems. I think my longest walk is about 450 yards from where I can park.

Summit stand on my back ,carry bow in my hands . I go stealth with small pack with everything I need on my belt . The rest of stuff in pockets.(flashlight bow stringer gloves cell phone keys wallet etc,) I do like fixed stands much more. Then use my sling to carry bow. quiet in and out.

I like to go into the place where I plan to hunt early and lock my climber to a tree. Not even necessarily the tree I plan to hunt from but somewhere close. If I can't leave it near where I want to before the season, I just carry it in the day before hunting or mid day, after a morning sit, no pack but I do carry the bow. If you are only 500 yds from the truck, why not make 2 trips on the day of the hunt? I have also just put the essential stuff in a small fanny pack and attached to the stand.

I just purchased a climber and plan on using my old military duffle bag to put the sticks in and then carry my backpack on my front. I am sure that it will be a real pain in the ___, but only way I can think will work.

I have begun using my climber less and less. I have a rambo cart that I load up and take as close as I dare. I then load everything on the climbing stand, sometimes even the bow and hoist it on my back for the last 100 yards or so. I also sometimes take the stand in midday on the cart. I may leave the cart or and bring it back in when I think I will bring the stand out.

I wear a turkey hunting vest and use the pockets for my accessories My crossbow is strapped to my Summit Viper and I walk in hands free. I should mention I fitted my climber with army surplus pack straps to make the whole load bearable. (30+lbs)

TomOnTheRun said:

If you are carrying in your tree climber on your back how are you carrying in your Crossbow and accessories (shooting stick) when you hunt? Me, I have a Backpack that secures my backpack and I attach it to my tree climber. To say the least it's a pain the are and make me want to hunt on the ground.

A 500 yard hike up and down hills and thick cover is a workout.

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I gave up packing my Summit Viper in. Just too much hassle for me. Sometimes it was a real pain just getting the climber up on my shoulders. I bought a kit that converts the tree stand into a cart.
https://www.sherpahunting.com/summit_model.html
Now I just load up the cart with my crossbow, etc. Once at the tree I intend to climb I remove the cart kit and climb. Piece of cake and I don't have to have an extra game cart. Kit is quick and easy to attach and remove.

When I do my initial scouting I choose the best path and mark it with reflectors. If needed I will clear out deadfall. Been doing this for a while now and it works for me. Hauls your deer out as well.

Bill

Lucky for me I hunt all private lands. Therefore I get my stands in the woods by way of a 4 wheeler and leve them there. All I carry in is my bow and bare necessities for the morning or afternoon hunt and that's usually in my pockets. I typically clip my thermacell onto my crossbow sling which hangs from my shoulder. I, too, usually walk about 500 yards in to my stands.

That is bad is bad ass cool!

How close to your stand do you bike too?

TomOnTheRun said:

That is bad is bad ass cool!

How close to your stand do you bike too?

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I drop it well before I get to my hunting spots. My shortest ride is about 300 yards and that is 200 yards from my hunting spot. My longest trip with the trails as they today is just under 1000 yards.

In most cases my climbers stay on a tree in the woods so I bike out with just my day gear. For this time of year it's my fanny pack (all my widgets, water, snacks, bio bottle) and I may carry a coat and the Nitro. All stuff that's easy to shoulder and carry that distance. My fanny pack is "packed" so I typically carry it on my shoulder vs. my waist which gives me a shoulder strap that I can lay my coat across so I'm hands free.

Tom, check out saddlehunter.com,, you wear the saddle in, & carry your bow & whatever climbing method you prefer. Plus no more looking for straight, limb less trees. G2OUTDOORS has all info on YouTube.

I used … to cinch my backpack to my Lone Wolf to the tune of carrying 57lbs. Now when I'm rarely forced to use my Summit Viper, it's only for short sits on drives for at most a couple hours. I travel with a fanny pack with only a short EZ Hangar, saw, rangefinder and extra gloves. Carry the firearm. In those rare cases of long sits with a crossbow & climber, it's full gear and my JetSled along with a medium EZ-Hangar and threaded hook for my backpack...lol

Iron Duke said:

I used … to cinch my backpack to my Lone Wolf to the tune of carrying 57lbs. Now when I'm rarely forced to use my Summit Viper, it's only for short sits on drives for at most a couple hours. I travel with a fanny pack with only a short EZ Hangar, saw, rangefinder and extra gloves. Carry the firearm. In those rare cases of long sits with a crossbow & climber, it's full gear and my JetSled along with a medium EZ-Hangar and threaded hook for my backpack...lol

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Course correction made. I just purchased a new tree stand that has a shooting rail. Also, has a mesh floor so if I want to use my shooting stick I'll have that option.

I'll be in he woods with a new tree stand in one week. This will give me new confidence when I take a shot. It's hefty in weight, weighing 29lbs but I can handle that extra weight for a 500 yard walk in. Just not doing the mountain goat climb down and up anymore. Steady Eddy walks down and up is my adjustment.

Cover … the platform with a scrap piece of carpet, or if you're going first class a piece of dense indoor/outdoor carpet and your feet stay a lot warmer, it's a lot quieter, less dropped stuff falls to the ground or "clanks," and there's a little less of you and your movement exposed to being seen.