Showing posts with label tree stand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tree stand. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
My most Frustrating deer hunting season yet (part 4)
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| image credit Sharpy70 |
After cutting up the deer we all headed back out to the parking lot, so we could get back out to the woods for the afternoon/evening hunt. At this point I had the idea to move my stand. I thought what better place than where I heard all of the deer cross the small stream.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
My most Frustrating deer hunting season yet (part 2)
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| image credit wpclipart |
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
My most Frustrating deer hunting season yet (part 1)
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| photo credit to Wonderlane |
As every year goes this year of deer shot gun opener started out with a ton of optimism, excitement, and my typical one new piece of gear(Muck boots). The night before the season started I still wasn’t 100% sure where I was going to sit. I had it narrowed down to three spots which in my opinion were all very good.
Monday, November 9, 2009
My New Gorilla Silverback Magnum HX Tree stand (A review of)
I looked at a few different brands not wanting to limit myself to just Gorilla. I ended up coming to the same conclusion I had the year before I like Gorilla Treestands the best.
Now I had to decide which one of the Gorilla Treestands I wanted. It was between the King Kong Lounger HX and the Gorilla Silverback Magnum HX. I almost walked out of the store with the Lounger HX, but the idea of a 13lb tree stand was the deciding factor that pushed me to the Silverback.
I’ve had this stand sitting in the basement for the last two months begging to be used. I finally got the chance to use it this last weekend for rifle opener. I was initially very impressed with how light it felt on my back even when I added all of my extra gear.
When I put it up in the tree opening morning I loved the fact that it was so easy to place in the tree. Other then the little fumbling around I did because it was dark out and I was still a little groggy from not getting enough sleep the night before. I would guess it only took about five to six minutes to set the tree stand up.
That morning I only really sat in the tree stand for about an hour. I shot at a deer about two minutes after legal shooting time. Needless to say I didn’t really get to test out the comfort of the Silverback Magnum HX, but so far I was impressed with everything I had seen.
That afternoon I decide to move my stand to a different spot. I had some trouble getting the stand off of the tree. I soon realized it wasn’t the stand it was me I wasn't using the buckle correctly. When I figured out how to use the buckle the stand came right off the tree. There was nothing wrong with the stand at all just the user.
When I moved the stand over to a new tree it was just like the walk earlier that morning easy. I t was great to have such a light stand. After I got my clumsy climbing sticks set up and a few pegs I was ready to carry the stand up the tree. I had just put the strap over my shoulder and clink my new tree stand had fallen to the ground. The shoulder strap had come on done. I was a little annoyed with this but I was able to fix it quickly.
This time I think it only took me three to four minutes to get the stand up in the tree. As I was setting up the stand I thought to myself “I think I have this thing figured out”.
After sitting in the new tree for about two and a half hours I decided that the new stand was also very comfortable. The seat cushion was not too hard and not too soft but just right. One other thing I discovered was the Velcro straps on the removable seat cushion made noise every time I shifted in my stand. It wasn’t a lot of noise, but it was enough noise to make me pay attention to it every time I moved or stood up.
The next morning went just as smooth as the first no problems at all. After lunch I decided to move my stand again. It was very easy to take my stand down again and I just love how light the Silverback Magnum HX tree stand is. (Do you see a trend)?
I arrived at the new tree after a 20 minute walk. No sore shoulders (like in the past) because it felt like I had nothing on my back. I set my tree up with my climbing sticks and some screw in pegs. Again as I was grabbing my stand to put it in the tree the strap came undone. I have to admit this did frustrate me a bit, but I fixed the strap and set my tree stand up again. It just keeps getting easier and easier to set this stand up in a tree. I bet it only took me two to three minutes this time.
I got up in the tree and sat down and just about feel asleep when I heard a noise. I stood up and the Velcro stuck to my hunting suit making an extremely loud sound. If there was a deer it would have been gone in an instant. I can say I don’t like the Velcro on the seat I wish they would have used buttons, or magnets. With a little adjustment and making sure to unstick my hunting suit from the Velcro before standing I was able to sit and stand without much noise.
Over all I really like my new Silverback Magnum HX Tree stand. It does have a couple of annoying little down falls, but they can easily be over looked, because of the quality of the craftsmanship, the comfort, ease of use, and of course the weight. The problem with the straps can be easily fixed with a little clip, and I have to figure out a way to fix the Velcro on the seat cushion.
If you have any ideas on how to fix my Velcro problem please let me know.
I give The Gorilla Silverback Magnum HX 8.9 out of 10. It would have been a 9.5 if it wasn’t for the Velcro incident.
~ Ben G.
Monday, October 26, 2009
10 tips for Picking the Best Place for your stand and setting it up for success.(Part 2 of 3 Tips on how to get a deer this season with a busy seclude)
image Credit esagor
Now that you have done some scouting, determined deer are in the area, and frequently using the trails you check out. It’s time to find a good place to put your deer stand. Here are 10 tips on selecting the best spot from what you have discovered in your scout.
1. Find a tree off of the edge of the feeding area not too far from the trail you followed in while scouting. This way when the deer come out to feed in the morning you will be able to see them as they enter the field. Some times you will even have luck in the evening when the deer are coming back to feed again.
2. Look for good funnel areas along the trail and set up a stand near them. Many times there are openings in the woods deer use as trails but they funnel into one small trail. That is where you want to be.
3. Remember the scrapes; Bucks will check back at these spots from time to time to make sure another buck isn’t in his territory. It might be a good idea to set up here and see if you can get that buck in the morning when he is checking out his turf.
4. When you were scouting you may have found a bedding area. If so a good spot to put your stand would be near where you think the deer will be exiting in the morning, but you better be very quite when entering your stand the morning you plan on hunting.
Once you have picked one of these spots or even a few of them here are some other tips to keep in mind when placing your deer stand.
5. Place your stand at the very least 12 feet off of the ground. Remember the higher you go the less chance you have of a deer seeing you. I suggest you only go as high as you feel comfortable. There is noting worse then not feeling comfortable in your tree stand.
6. Also when placing your stand keep in mind where the sun is going to be. You don’t want it in your eyes when you expect to see a deer. One other thing I try to do is put the stand were the sun will warm me up sooner in the morning which will allow me to stay in my stand longer during the day.
7. Make sure you place the tree stand appropriate for being left or right handed. If you are right handed you want to place the stand so you expect the deer to come in from the left. Just the opposite for a left handed shooter. This just makes for an easier shot with less movement in your stand. One thing I have found out though deer are very unpredictable after the gun season starts, and some times you will have to make shots in some awkward positions.
8. Clear a minimal amount of brush and branches so you have some shooting lanes. I have always thought that if you clear too many branches and brush you will loose some cover and make yourself more visible to the deer.
9. Make sure to find a good place to enter and exit your stand. Usually I will clear more brush here than I will for my shooting lanes because being quiet is the key.
10. Lure the deer into your shooting area
Learn how in Part 3 of How to get a deer this season.
If you know of any other tricks please feel free to comment on them.
~ Ben G.
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