1.) jbone - 10/13/2013

Been hunting from the ground up until this year. Trying to figure everything out and thought perhaps you folks would have some tips on making life easier. You know; the things nobody would think of on their own (do's/donts, stuff to bring/leave at home). It seems like everything takes forever getting into and out of the stand (using a hang on with climbing sticks). And when Im up there I just feel out of place, like nothing is where/how it should be. Maybe Im over thinking it. But anything will help at this point.

2.) Dan-o - 10/13/2013

Here's my routine, for what it's worth.

I get as much ready in the stand and on my person prior to the hunt. All hangers in place, limbs trimmed, etc, well before the season.

So my routine is:

1. Walk to and Climb the tree as quickly and quietly as possible without breaking too much of a sweat
2. Clip safety harness on
3. hang fanny pack on hanger
4. Take quiver off and hang on quiver hanger
5. Hang bow on bow hanger and wait on deer to show so I can shoot them in the face

I don't need to strap on my release because I do it at the truck. Binos already around the neck, grunt tube already around the neck. Wind checker bottle in left front pocket, bleat can already in right front pocket, deer herd in a stick scent in left jacket pocket. Cell phone in right jacket pocket, etc.

3.) Dan-o - 10/13/2013

One other thing. My strategy is to pack as light as possible, so I leave my saw and tree stand hanging prep stuff in a pack in the truck, and a pack with post kill stuff, like rubber gloves, butt out, scent free wipes, knives....

No need to lug a bunch of stuff around that you only need on 5% of your hunts. If I do kill something, I take everything to the truck and exchange if for the post kill pack. Then return to the kill site.

4.) jbone - 10/13/2013

What kind of hanger do you use for the bow? Mounted on the tree or mounted to the stand?

5.) Dan-o - 10/13/2013

[QUOTE=jbone;11713]What kind of hanger do you use for the bow? Mounted on the tree or mounted to the stand?[/QUOTE]

On the tree. Realtree easy hanger or one of its variants. A small accessory hanger for my pack. And another for my quiver,

6.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

i bought me one of those bowbats from gamegear..it carrys youre bow plus everything you would need.. plus it wraps around the tree for a back cushion. plus you can access every thing easily once it wraps around the tree.. like a pocket knife or an apple..



like i'm going to eat a apple...lol

7.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

I’m cold-natured, so I carry clothes with me since I can’t wear them in and out without sweating too much, especially if I have to hang a stand or even just climb in the early season. That means I usually use a bigger pack than some other people. Whether I bring things like tracking and field-dressing/retrieval gear with me or leave it at the truck depends on how far back I’m hunting and whether I’m on public or private land, but I do make sure I can easily carry whatever I need or want.

What this amounts to is that I usually use at least two haul ropes in getting up the tree. I do not wear stuff on my back or anything bulky on my chest while climbing. It throws off your balance and inhibits your ability to be nimble, to say nothing of landing on something hard if you fall on your back. I suggest wind-up or self-retracting haul lines to save some time and frustration with simple rope in the dark (self-retracting if you hunt where winds are routinely brisk).

If you are using climbing sticks, having more than one haul rope will save you some time, effort, struggle and noise while hanging them.

You also need a lineman’s belt and a system for hanging the sticks the same and easiest way possible every time. Know where you have to place your steps in relation to your body as you’re hanging so that fastening them and stepping up is as easy as it can be. If you’re hanging sticks or installing steps without using a lineman’s belt, you are working way too hard.

These days I try not to step on the stand without being strapped in already. This is especially true if I’ve just hung the stand, and doubly true if I hung it in the dark. To make sure I am not unattached to the tree as I make the transition from below the stand to on the stand, I use a second lineman’s belt (or a three-snap line) or a loop runner or tree strap that I can hook into my harness or belt.

Like Dan-o and others, I like to have the stand and all accessories installed prior to the hunt. Since that is not always possible, I have a few things in pouches attached to my belt or harness or over my shoulder, so I can access them as soon as I step into the stand. This would include a tree strap to attach to after disengaging from the climbing strap or loop runner, at least two simple bow hooks (not the big honkin’ swivel bars) a screw-in quiver bracket (if using a Qwikee or Sof-Lok and/or a stand that does not have a quiver bracket pre-attached), and a strap with four hooks for attaching packs and other gear to the tree once I’ve retrieved my haul ropes. I use something similar to this: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Ameristep-Treestand-Accessory-Strap/dp/B003EUD26W[/url].

I attach this strap to the tree at roughly the height of my belly button as I face the tree, so gear is accessible while sitting or standing, and so that packs are out of the way for shooting close to the tree. The first bow hook goes to my right as I face the tree, up as high as I can reach and still screw it in. I am right handed, and this is the hook my bow hangs on when it is not in my lap. I will install a second similarly-placed hook for my bow on the left side of the tree as I face it if I will do a lot of standing and or looking behind me. If that will not be the case, that may be where I hang my quiver, which if it is not a Qwikee/Sof-Lok has a 550 paracord loop or a built-in hanger. If a Qwikee/Sof-Lok, I have a screw-in bracket for the quiver which I place on that left-facing side at seat level, so I can pull a second arrow while seated, if necessary. Since I prefer to shoot while seated, I can reach for a second arrow with my string hand without much movement if the hook above me or the bracket at my hip are placed properly. If I feel I will likely have to stand to shoot, I place one arrow above my head and another on the right side of the tree as I face it with a couple of these: [url]http://www.simmonssharks.com/products/second-chance-arrow-holders[/url].

My sequence is this:

Hook into the tree.

Step onto the stand.

Attach first/primary bow hook and/or pull up bow to attach to pre-installed hook.

Install arrow on string.

Put on release. Fire up the Thermacell.

Install second bow/quiver hook or use pre-installed hook or bracket to quiver.

Attach gear strap to tree, haul pack and other gear up tree, hang on gear strap.

Install secondary arrow holders where necessary.

Spray down with scent killer (bottle is handy attached to outside of a pack).

Sit down and do final prep: pull up headnet, put on gloves and extra layers, get binos ready and handy, deal with cover scents, etc. Fire up second Thermacell if necessary. Trim obstructions if necessary.

Become the dominant predator.

8.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

o god!!!

9.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

LOL...

I can take my ball and go home if that's the way it's gonna be...

:wink

10.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;11723]I’m cold-natured, so I carry clothes with me since I can’t wear them in and out without sweating too much, especially if I have to hang a stand or even just climb in the early season. That means I usually use a bigger pack than some other people. Whether I bring things like tracking and field-dressing/retrieval gear with me or leave it at the truck depends on how far back I’m hunting and whether I’m on public or private land, but I do make sure I can easily carry whatever I need or want.

What this amounts to is that I usually use at least two haul ropes in getting up the tree. I do not wear stuff on my back or anything bulky on my chest while climbing. It throws off your balance and inhibits your ability to be nimble, to say nothing of landing on something hard if you fall on your back. I suggest wind-up or self-retracting haul lines to save some time and frustration with simple rope in the dark (self-retracting if you hunt where winds are routinely brisk).

If you are using climbing sticks, having more than one haul rope will save you some time, effort, struggle and noise while hanging them.

You also need a lineman’s belt and a system for hanging the sticks the same and easiest way possible every time. Know where you have to place your steps in relation to your body as you’re hanging so that fastening them and stepping up is as easy as it can be. If you’re hanging sticks or installing steps without using a lineman’s belt, you are working way too hard.

These days I try not to step on the stand without being strapped in already. This is especially true if I’ve just hung the stand, and doubly true if I hung it in the dark. To make sure I am not unattached to the tree as I make the transition from below the stand to on the stand, I use a second lineman’s belt (or a three-snap line) or a loop runner or tree strap that I can hook into my harness or belt.

Like Dan-o and others, I like to have the stand and all accessories installed prior to the hunt. Since that is not always possible, I have a few things in pouches attached to my belt or harness or over my shoulder, so I can access them as soon as I step into the stand. This would include a tree strap to attach to after disengaging from the climbing strap or loop runner, at least two simple bow hooks (not the big honkin’ swivel bars) a screw-in quiver bracket (if using a Qwikee or Sof-Lok and/or a stand that does not have a quiver bracket pre-attached), and a strap with four hooks for attaching packs and other gear to the tree once I’ve retrieved my haul ropes. I use something similar to this: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Ameristep-Treestand-Accessory-Strap/dp/B003EUD26W[/url].

I attach this strap to the tree at roughly the height of my belly button as I face the tree, so gear is accessible while sitting or standing, and so that packs are out of the way for shooting close to the tree. The first bow hook goes to my right as I face the tree, up as high as I can reach and still screw it in. I am right handed, and this is the hook my bow hangs on when it is not in my lap. I will install a second similarly-placed hook for my bow on the left side of the tree as I face it if I will do a lot of standing and or looking behind me. If that will not be the case, that may be where I hang my quiver, which if it is not a Qwikee/Sof-Lok has a 550 paracord loop or a built-in hanger. If a Qwikee/Sof-Lok, I have a screw-in bracket for the quiver which I place on that left-facing side at seat level, so I can pull a second arrow while seated, if necessary. Since I prefer to shoot while seated, I can reach for a second arrow with my string hand without much movement if the hook above me or the bracket at my hip are placed properly. If I feel I will likely have to stand to shoot, I place one arrow above my head and another on the right side of the tree as I face it with a couple of these: [url]http://www.simmonssharks.com/products/second-chance-arrow-holders[/url].

My sequence is this:

Hook into the tree.

Step onto the stand.

Attach first/primary bow hook and/or pull up bow to attach to pre-installed hook.

Install arrow on string.

Put on release. Fire up the Thermacell.

Install second bow/quiver hook or use pre-installed hook or bracket to quiver.

Attach gear strap to tree, haul pack and other gear up tree, hang on gear strap.

Install secondary arrow holders where necessary.

Spray down with scent killer (bottle is handy attached to outside of a pack).

Sit down and do final prep: pull up headnet, put on gloves and extra layers, get binos ready and handy, deal with cover scents, etc. Fire up second Thermacell if necessary. Trim obstructions if necessary.

Become the dominant predator.[/QUOTE]
why is it on tv everyone pulls up there binoculars right after they shoot a deer??? i mean its right there 20 yards!

11.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;11725]LOL...

I can take my ball and go home if that's the way it's gonna be...

:wink[/QUOTE]

no that was good.. we need more cow bell like that on this forum..

12.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

The short answer :-) is drama and sponsorship...

:wink

And maybe they're looking for where their lighted nock flew off to after impact...:fire:

13.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;11729]The short answer :-) is drama and sponsorship...

:wink

And maybe they're looking for where their lighted nock flew off to after impact...:fire:[/QUOTE]

i would have been out today but a cut the heck out of my thumb the other day.. weather today is beautiful..

14.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

plus my crossbows still in the shop...with my half cut off thumb i might need that thing this year.

15.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

what have you been doing?? hunting wise...

16.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

Hope your thumb heals quick...Whiskey or tequila are good disinfectants...

Or is that how you sliced it in the first place?

17.) Ventilator - 10/13/2013

Holy chit swampy! When I saw this thread I was hoping u would post!!

Classic! :)

Now , if jbone has a dump truck to haul gear in , he now has the proper technique to get it all in the tree!

18.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

:-)

It's really not all that much, LOL...

I haven't been hunting much yet. Been busy with some fishing stuff and some truck trouble, as well as needing to do some work my lease pre-hunt. The place hunts differently every year, and this time none of the food is where it's supposed to be, except for the acorns, LOL. At least there wasn't any new timbering. So I've been hanging a lot of new stands, LOL. Getting some good stuff on my cameras.

Put in my food plots recently. 400 pounds of Coker oats, 50 crimson clover, 50 ladino. That's a bit of a project. I do it by hand, but my landowner is good enough to prep and cover for me. A few days later than I wanted, but between truck repairs and waiting on rain it got done when it got done. I don't know why I went overboard on the clover this year---it's not like the chick at the feed n seed was that hot--but we'll see what happens.

The plan this year was to trade off the early season for hunting hard from mid Oct. through November…Some good bucks are just now starting to hit the ground, so my timing’s alright so far…

19.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

piece of metal...plus the last couple of weeks i've been gettng this hitting youre funny bone sensation in my right wrist.."floyd be quiet"

me and a buddys going to buy one of those sprinker installation machines..see how that goes..

you need a sprinkler system installed??

20.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

Not unless it kills mosquitoes ... What if we ran a line from a huge tank full of Deep Woods Off down into the swamp?

21.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

we would have a line full of deepwoods going to the swamp?

22.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

Unless you like Cutter's better...

You can adjust for a fine mist, can't you?

23.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

lol where going to make a practice run on my yard next spring .

hopefully by june i'll flip my company the bird..and become the best damm sprinkler installer in the state of nebraska..


with obama care kicking in i wont have to worry about insurance..i'll be raking in the bucks..are goal is two a week ..my buddys wife has a good job plus i'm pretty much set..plus she knows people who knows other people.. i'll be fishing and hunting at my leasure...

24.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

LOL...Sounds good...:beer:

25.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

i can see this happening..

26.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

:-)

Aren't you supposed to bowling or something at this point on a Sunday?

27.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

youre thumb is the most important part in bowling...

28.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

the talk around the bowling alleys are crookedeye cut his thumb!!! a legend went down tonight..

29.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

theres going to be no bowling for a while for me.. i might have to go there later and give a speech for moral..

30.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

You could be the scorekeeper or sharpen those little pencils...Where's your team spirit? Everyone has something to contribute...

31.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

there all going to be in shock and whispering...did you hear about crookedeye...i'm almost like elvis when i show up at the alleys..

32.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

you do no they score bowling by computers now??

33.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

plus i'm looking forward to the "walking dead' tonight..plus i bought world war z at walmart this morning..saving that for are november hunt..

so i got alot going on for me...

34.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

[QUOTE=crookedeye;11758]you do no they score bowling by computers now??[/QUOTE]

Oh, look at Mr. Uptown...


:p

35.) crookedeye - 10/13/2013

we need to start a thread on best camp fire dinners..

36.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2013

I just went through some of my game cookbooks last night marking stuff I want to try. Time to expand my repertoire...

Salmon coated with Duke's mayo and Greek seasoning, wrapped in tinfoil over coals is a good one.

I might break out the Dutch ovens early this year, but more likely it'll be after the rut when there's less to do in the middle of the day. I keep trying to make cooking with and cleaning them at night less of a hassle if I also want to hunt the next morning, but I usually don't have much luck, or I psych myself out before I even get started.

So the Coleman stove and the grill will get most of the use until the time change, at least, and things slow down.

37.) jbone - 10/18/2013

Swamp Fox, I greatly appreciate the input! Definitely gave me some ideas, especially on hanging stuff. Just finished putting up another stand yesterday this ones a ladder stand. Its definitely easier to get into without having to carry my sticks in. The downside is theres not as much room. Hopefully it will produce, but probably wont know until it cools down. Deer arent moving much.

As far as cooking I would love to see more threads from guys who know how to cook some venison. Been looking to improve my culinary skills as well. Cooked up some backstrap the other day for some friends. They loved it but I know I can do better.

38.) oldgoat - 10/29/2013

one thing I figured out, is, move the stand if your not seeing anything where your at and your seeing sign somewhere else. I've only hunted two seasons out of a stand, first year, I set it according to sign I was seeing, by the time I really got to sit the stand, the corn was cut and the deer movement totally changed, but I stuck it out, I got a shot, had I moved, I might of got multiple shots. Last year, I was on public hunting area, when I decided where to set the stand at first, it was duck season and there was a lot of hunters and deer were moving past this spot. Next day I sat the stand and seen good numbers of deer and got a shot at a deer. Day after that, duck season closed and I never had another deer in range. Hunted several more days, then moved the stand and sat it that afternoon, almost got a shot, but they seen me, went one more time, had 6 deer under the stand, missed a muley doe early then got a whitetail doe a short time later. Also once you have stuff set where you think it's good, practice drawing your bow, first time I drew on a deer, I elbowed the tree and it really messed with my mind and missed. Good Luck!

39.) Dan-o - 10/29/2013

[QUOTE=jbone;11897]Swamp Fox, I greatly appreciate the input! Definitely gave me some ideas, especially on hanging stuff. Just finished putting up another stand yesterday this ones a ladder stand. Its definitely easier to get into without having to carry my sticks in. The downside is theres not as much room. Hopefully it will produce, but probably wont know until it cools down. Deer arent moving much.

As far as cooking I would love to see more threads from guys who know how to cook some venison. Been looking to improve my culinary skills as well. Cooked up some backstrap the other day for some friends. They loved it but I know I can do better.[/QUOTE]

Do you put up the climbing stick each and every time you go hunt?