Dilemma Sit or Use Climber

[88GW]

I would normally setup a permanent stand but since I hunt with a friend who has permission from landowner I cannot set one up.  I have brought my climber and sometimes I sit on the ground. We usually arrive to the woods by 6 am and it takes 15 minutes to get to a spot, I then usually leave 10:30 ish.  There are pros and cons to both.  Just wanted some opinions on what you think.  I am going to be hunting sat and sun am's only.

 

Would really like everyone's opinion.

[stoneam2006]

I love my climber...this is first year with one and both deer I shot would have busted me on the ground....so I'd sit in a climber over the ground

Edited October 31, 2014 by stoneam2006

[turkeyfeathers]

Climber: Can see farther, better scent control, can move around a little more without getting pegged

[MACHINIST]

Another vote for the climber,the only way I will sit on the ground is if the cover in the trees wont allow me up to high.Then I sit on the ground in a blowdown or something

[Five Seasons]

open hardwoods or field, i'd go blind.

 

Anything other a stand is where it's at. Furthermore for archery I absolutely prefer a climber almost no matter what. Gun a nice blind is fine and sometimes better.

[accman]

Hopefully with a little more activity this weekend, and them coming from anywhere, a climber is better.  Getting that upper perspective and seeing a heck of a lot farther is worth the time up and down.  Only thing is if I'm going to get there and make some noise setting up,  I'd like to get there by 5:30 so I'm already setup and quiet by 6:00.  Others go in 6:30 and shoot em at 6:45, so who knows.  I always like being a little early to the stand.

[grampy]

Ninety percent of the time I prefer to hunt from the ground. I pay close attention to wind direction,can slip in and hunt with little noise,and in some areas like stands of hemlock, I can see better from the ground. Nothing quite like the thrill of being on their level,eye to eye and getting a shot with bow! I've used natural blinds,overturned tree rootballs and blow downs successfully over many years. And some set ups you just need to use a climber or stand,and if I have to I will.

But,I must admit,I'm a little afraid of heights.....lol.... 

[BizCT]

I'm with an Xbow, so a little different. But I am always on the ground sitting against a big tree or stone wall. Pretty heavy pines, so I can only see 50 yards in 1 direction and maybe 75 in the other. Being up in the air wouldn't be anymore of an advantage.

Edited October 31, 2014 by Biz-R-OWorld

[ants]

climber is the most versatile stand. If you decide to sit on the ground you can connect the climber seat to a tree and construct a quick grunt blind using branches and dead limbs.

[Vince1]

climber, then if you want to ground hunt you can always do that and come back

[jjb4900]

what are you hunting with? crossbow is easier to get away with on the ground than a longbow.

[bkln]

I don't like climbers so, it is ground for me... ladder stand would be nice but since you can't get one I would use ground like Biz said, pick the right spot and don't move. I got last 2 deer like that, it works....

[BfloHunter]

Climbers for me personally but to each his own. I always have my climber for just in case. I like to hunt both ways but I've always had more luck with bigger bucks with the climber. Scent advantage

[thunnus]

Has anyone else seen deer come in as a result of all the scraping as you use the climber?

I always discounted it as finding the right place just coming to late in the morning (when id's see deer as I'd assent) no matter what time I was climbing.

[CvaBob]

I have a great climber "Summit Viper SD". My first time using it this year and these are my thoughts. Carrying the stand itself isn't bad but adding a gun or bow as well as a small pack and you get the idea. In a open trail or open woods its fine. If there is a lot of under brush/thickets its a different story. I use a Muzzle loader and Xbow.

 

I am going to add a ghost blind runner some time this year. This way I have all bases cover depending on location.

[Five Seasons]

I have a great climber "Summit Viper SD". My first time using it this year and these are my thoughts. Carrying the stand itself isn't bad but adding a gun or bow as well as a small pack and you get the idea. In a open trail or open woods its fine. If there is a lot of under brush/thickets its a different story. I use a Muzzle loader and Xbow.

 

I am going to add a ghost blind runner some time this year. This way I have all bases cover depending on location.

 

I have the same climber. It's much nicer, safer and lighter than the field and stream i used a few years ago. I can't underline safety enough with climbers. I've hunted hang ons my whole life and climbers are a whole new level. My biggest issue is trying not to sweat my ass off.

 

Agree with you completely on needing some decent trails for hiking with a climber. At the end of the day though, it is what it is and to use a climber in a hard to get to spot is still better than not getting there at all.

[The_Real_TCIII]

I love my climber I hunt it almost exclusively. I can be setup in around ten minutes, taking my time. If you haven't tried them the Thirdhand Archery straps are the absolute best thing I've added to a climbing stand

[robw]

Climber - 100% as long as you can still shoot once you're in the tree.  I use a climber  (API Grandstand) all the time as long as I can stay below or just into the canopy and have good shooting lanes.  Keeps your scent  a bit more dispersed, helps keep you out of the sight line of the deer you shoot at and almost always improves your sight range. I'd rather see a deer at 75 yds and get ready for the shot than at 25 and have to move with him that close.  Based on shooting lanes, I go anywhere from 12 - 25 feet up. 

 

I only use a blind when the range is very short, or the brush is so thick I can't get above it and still shoot.  (think overgrown abandoned apple orchard)  Or if there just isn't a tree I can climb - seldom the case, but I've climbed some pretty skinny trees before...

[landtracdeerhunter]

 Depends on wind conditions, as we have had our fair share this year. Ground sits sometimes give little more disadvantage as your  scent will carry more to the ground. When elevated, your scent might tend to carry over the deer, and disperse more. Some food for thought.

Edited November 3, 2014 by landtracdeerhunter

[HUNTINGS IN MY DNA]

Scentless scentless scentless can't stress that enough you will never ever see in your lifetime a 5 1/2 year old mature buck hunting on the ground if you were scentless and in a blind then maybe

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[mmkay]

Climber the more the better. I have a half dozen cabled locked on various pieces of state land. Always buried in leaves and branches at the base good trees. hiding them keeps others honest