Splitear

I took a walk around our 4-H property the other day and found 2 rubs and a scrape that weren't there a week ago. They're still at it....

Welcome to the forum, and good to see that you're getting to spend some time outdoors!

I would give him several hours, probably later this afternoon.

Good luck!

Nice to hear from a fellow Miltonian...Miltonite...whatever it's called I shot you a PM with Fred's information. Let me know if you need any more help.

Looks great!

I went out last Friday and picked out 3 different potential trees. I think I know which one I’m going to go with, it overlooks a trail along a ridge on one side, an old logging road in front of me, and I have a shot to the hay field behind. One of my others is on a bedding area with a ton of sign, and one is in a fence row between pastures with a reed swamp on one end and hardwoods on the other.

Never had him scored, I’m not sure what he would go. I should say, this isn’t a New York deer, but from my home state of Illinois. I was a sophomore in High School, and it was my 3rd season of hunting, I’d missed a few does, but he was a great first.

I think they were around 9”, his spread was right at 20”.

In the HuntStand app, there’s a place to put notes when I mark a stand. With my Summit, I pay attention to how many of the little bit things need to be out/in. I always climb the tree to make sure I have it set right. Sometimes they taper more/less than I think they are going to, making my top and bottom slanted instead of flat.

The right one is split as well, you can’t see it so well in the photo.

I was at our Training Center today, where I keep my mounts, snapped a photo of my first buck/first deer. November 17th, 2001. I watched him come 100 yards across a pasture, and he entered the woods at around 20yds. My first shot with my 1100 hit good, and my second was a spine shot. I was so excited, I fell off of the ladder while I was climbing down. I was fortunate to take him while hunting with my uncle, who got me into deer hunting. If you’ll notice, his left ear is where my screen name is derived from.

As far as the climber goes, the biggest issue you're going to have with setting up in the dark (as long as you have practiced with it enough) is that you don't know what your sightlines are going to be. I have on a couple of occasions set up in the dark on a new tree, only to discover that after climbing up, my views to where I think deer will be was obstructed. Ideally, I like to go out in advance, find some trees, and take down any obstructions to my view, and to my climb. So, I think you have a good idea in using the ladder stand, but taking the climber out with you. If you have a chance to get out before now and Saturday, I would take your climber out, stake out a couple of trees and have them in your toolbox. I use the "Hunt Stand" app, and mark where the tree is on my app (I also tie some kind of tape, string so I can find it in the dark). I also notate where my cables need to be placed when climbing, approximately how high I need to climb, which way I need to face, and what the best wind would be.

Welcome, and I hope to see more of your adventures!

Great buck! That brow tine is wicked!

I have a 10/22 with a kind of greyish laminate Mannlicher stock, it looks really nice.

That's a beautiful stock!

I've hunted exclusively from a climber for about 15 years, and I love it. Plus, a lot of the climbers are super comfortable once you are in the tree.

That sucks, but hopefully your luck will turn. If you need help dragging one out this weekend, I'm only a few minutes away Good luck!

I had a 444 at one time. What a powerhouse!

Those grips are sharp! Nice work!

Yes, that is his tree. He might be able to find someone who'll come clean it up for firewood.

I'm a sucker for an 1100. That stock is beautiful!

Thompson Center New Englander .50. My first year hunting with a ML, and I feel comfortable out to 75yds. with it.

Man, what a buck! Love when main beams almost touch!