Tree Stands

[Oldbloke]

For some time now I've been conducting most of my deer hunting primarily by ambush. (Sit and wait) And having some success. Certainly seeing more and shooting the odd one.

When stalking I've not had a lot of success in the past. I break the cardinal rule of walking too fast and probably make too much noise.

I usually scout around a fair bit and once i find good sign set up. Mainly mornings and evenings. Sometimes I take a small comfortable folding canvas chair. Always shooting sticks. Usually near water, or feeding areas, sometimes wallows.

Problem is bush is often thick where I hunt and clearings scarce. Bush is so thick can't see more than 15 yards in front of me in much of it.

Some height will help in these areas. Giving me more opportunities.

So, what about tree stands? Popular in USA. I know you can buy them but not cheap. I want portability, light weight. (Getting older)

I'm aware of the fall issue.

Any here with experience, ideas/options?

[bladeracer]

For some time now I've been conducting most of my deer hunting primarily by ambush. (Sit and wait) And having some success. Certainly seeing more and shooting the odd one.

When stalking I've not had a lot of success in the past. I break the cardinal rule of walking too fast and probably make too much noise.

I usually scout around a fair bit and once i find good sign set up. Mainly mornings and evenings. Sometimes I take a small comfortable folding canvas chair. Always shooting sticks. Usually near water, or feeding areas, sometimes wallows.

Problem is bush is often thick where I hunt and clearings scarce. Bush is so thick can't see more than 15 yards in front of me in much of it.

Some height will help in these areas. Giving me more opportunities.

So, what about tree stands? Popular in USA. I know you can buy them but not cheap. I want portability, light weight. (Getting older)

I'm aware of the fall issue.

Any here with experience, ideas/options?

My deer hunting is similar to yours I think, lots and lots of recce to discover their routes and where they like to hang out, then try to find spots that I can get into without being seen or smelled where I can wait and watch. Again, very limited lines of sight make this difficult, but the shape of the terrain also very greatly limits where I can actually take shots. I doubt a tree stand would help me with lines of sight, but it could certainly increase the places where I could take shots by allowing me to shoot down toward the ground. Having to carry such equipment in, and I suspect the added risk of injury due to falling several metres might outweigh the benefits though, for me. I hunt private property and it's possible the property owner might not mind me building semi-permanent stands though. There are heaps of fallen trees to use, and he might even find such hides useful himself. I'll have to look for such positions next time I'm out there. I might even manage to get out there tomorrow, though I wasn't intending to chase deer, just taking a load of firewood to my mate next door to the property.

My mate has wanted to build a log shooting hut similar to US ones he's seen, 360-degree viewing via awnings while protecting against wind, rain and snow. The ideal place for such a hut, for the views, is on the crest of a hill, which makes shooting difficult in most directions.

[Oldbloke]

I currently just use one of these.
U can get them cheaper tho.

IMG_20240603_235545.jpg (112.61 KiB) Viewed 6168 times

[Blr243]

In your original post you mentioned walking too fast. I reckon most of us would be guilty of that at times to some extent…. The info I have here is not relating to the purchase of a stand and I’m not suggesting you forget the stand idea ( I was sit and sit last night and plan on doin more in the next two weeks ). I’m working and hunting a cattle property in central Qld.. so I just wanted to share my method I use to slow myself down when stalking . I count my steps and then stop and look or look and glass. . Depending on what I’m hunting and the terrain / vegetation it might be every 25 / 50/ 100 /200 steps. I also do this when thermal stalking at night It’s then especially important and the regularity of stopping is crucial because I will only see things when I’m stopped and scanning

[Flyonline]

How high do you really need to go? If you're only going up just enough to clear the underbrush you might be able to make up something with an aluminium ladder and platform. I made up a semi-permanent platform ladder with an old fruit picking ladder that was free standing and just leaned back against a tree and even managed to shoot a fox with my bow from it (and missed a couple more).

Is a tree saddle an option?

Have you tried a flexmark for sambar? You might be able to draw them to the edge/out of the thicker stuff to a shooting lane.

[Oldbloke]

I reckon 4 mtrs is enough.
I've seen where blokes attach a seat to a ladder, lean it against a tree and secure it. But ladders are a bit cumbersome. Not really something to set up for 2 days.

Saddles, the concept had passed through my mind. I hadnt seen them. Same as a bosun's chair. Seen them in action few times. Has a chance. Portable etc. Not sure about comfort. I reckon not very stable, you'd move around a bit. Will give it some thought.

Havnt tried a flexmark. You'd be surprised how a $2 -$5 foxblaster sounds almost identical. It stopped the last one I shot.

IMG_20240604_112533.jpg (17.58 KiB) Viewed 6116 times

Edit: The beauty of what I do now is I can set up in under 5 minutes, chair weighs about 1.5kg at a guess.
All the other options seem a lot slower and heavier.

[Oldbloke]

I like the look of these.

https://youtu.be/7XtkqAfrdpo?si=fCKYNOgxjOIQPRNT

[mchughcb]

Any here with experience, ideas/options?

For Victoria you need to get up around 3.5m to see over the smaller trees, any higher and you will be in the canopy and see nothing.
If you are hard of hearing, unfit or scared of heights don't bother.
If you want quality gear and safety gear its going to cost a small fortune to get from best from the USA.
The weight of the stand, your rifle, safety gear plus your daypack is going to be heavy.
You need to spend hours sitting and standing on a small stand at elevated height that many people freak out.
I've got climbing and hangons. The hangons range from very small to king size which are heavy but I can sit in for hours.
I haven't hunted out of one for at least 5 years since I built a few deer blinds.

[mchughcb]

I hunted with a crew and built two of these from timber from the hardware store in 55 minutes but I've got a lot of experience. Just use it for firewood when done.
The last thing you need is someone using your seat for free.

[Oldbloke]

Thks McChughcb,

won't be building hunting blinds. Too much work for me. Anyway, I prefer to be mobile.

Fit enough I think, not afraid of heights. Familiar with heights safety. Hearing is another qn. Have lost a bit. But no different to what I'm currently doing.

Yes, I noticed all the gear is in US and like kryptonite.
here.

Hangons, (tree stands, seats) yes, these apeal but as you mentioned, far from cheap. Bit of a root around to set up too.

Seems there are no easy solutions.

[mchughcb]

These ones were popular in the UK but they are heavy, difficult to install and the narrow rung will hurt after a while even with boots on.

[Oldbloke]

These ones were popular in the UK but they are heavy, difficult to install and the narrow rung will hurt after a while even with boots on.

Yeh, I've seen pics of a DIY version. Would work but a bit much to lug around. If it was private property and you could leave it in place could be workable.

But I'm mainly want the use for public land for 2-3 days at a time. Also needs to fit in the ute along with the rest of the camping gear.

[mchughcb]

If you are going to sit all day then this is one of the most comfortable I've used.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/millenn ... -treestand

[Oldbloke]

If you are going to sit all day then this is one of the most comfortable I've used.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/millenn ... -treestand

Look good. That's US tho I guess. Will be $400 here?

[Oldbloke]

Mmm, getting an "access denied" message now.

[Oldbloke]

I hunted with a crew and built two of these from timber from the hardware store in 55 minutes but I've got a lot of experience. Just use it for firewood when done.
The last thing you need is someone using your seat for free.

Yes this is along the lines of what I've seen elsewhere. If on private property would work well.

I'm starting to think for a portable system a "tree saddle" may be best. I usually just sit fot abt 3 hrs morning and evening. And all of this gear is
along way from cheap.

But.

I just found this. Got a chance. More investigating I guess.

I just found this.

https://youtu.be/0kD4e9YsHEo?si=LDlyd0guvm9Ykv3Y

[Peterwho]

Oldbloke

I would give bosuns chair a f***ing big miss. I’ve been in them a couple of times, had to because no other bastard would. Needed to fix an instrument wiring issue at the top of the mast on a 55 footer. Not really something you want to sit in for a few hours waiting for deer or whatever. I wouldn’t do it again. Electric winches or grinders are wonderful to get you up there. Not sure you will find too many at the base of a tree. I’ve seen a few logging protesters use modified ones but never close up. Maybe some tree climbers/loppers gear or seat harness could be a better bet. But even that could be a challenge. Find the right tree and the right branch, lead leader, string, throw rope, climbing rope (good quality), prusic, carabiners, climbing stirrups etc. Nor do you don’t see too many tree climbers over a given age or a given weight. Climbers have their lighter saws on a lanyard, your hunting gear and gun? Find a tree lopper, and do a trial run

[yoshie]

One time I was hunting around Orbost I came across a 10 ro 12 ft platform ladder with a seat attached to the platform. Like an old plastic school seat. It was wrapped in camo netting

[Oldbloke]

Peter,
These are available.

https://youtu.be/Z_2nr7b_Vdc?si=s7pWqPkw053Xj-P8

[Oldbloke]

One time I was hunting around Orbost I came across a 10 ro 12 ft platform ladder with a seat attached to the platform. Like an old plastic school seat. It was wrapped in camo netting

Yeh, thought of s platform ladder. They would work fine on private property. Particularly if you were happy to leave it for a rew months. Might get pinched in the bush tho. The other down side is poor portability.

[Oldbloke]

Climbing belts are available too. Reasonably priced. But would be s**t to sit in for long.. Hence giving a bosun's chair consideration.

IMG_20240606_001234.jpg (114.29 KiB) Viewed 5967 times

Also the tree stands, like McH suggested.

A lot to think about.

[on_one_wheel]

An axe and 2 springboards will get you up there, iv seen blokes get it done in well under a minute

[Oldbloke]

An axe and 2 springboards will get you up there, iv seen blokes get it done in well under a minute

[markg]

Stands can be very effective for hunting just about anything.

[Oldbloke]

Stands can be very effective for hunting just about anything.

I'm sure your right.

[OyKurwa]

A saddle fits the bill perfectly for what you want. The climbing method is the only challenging part.

Personally I use SRT. My kit consists of a saddle, grigri+, hand ascender, approximately 20m of 9.5mm static line, a spindle of throw line with an 8oz weight, rachet strap with steps, tension strap with hooks for gear hanging and (you're going to laugh at this) an Anaconda water balloon sling bow for line setting. All weights in at about 6kg.

Getting up a tree is remarkably easy once you get it down pat. Use the sling bow to get your throw line over a limb (it'll make it 15m up with the 8oz weight). Haul static line over and tie off around the base of the trunk with your choice of loop (I use a bowline backed by a double fishermans). Connect your grigri and hand ascender and scale the rope. At hunting height set your strap and steps, and your hook to hand your rifle or bow.

You absail down like batman when you're done.

You can run and gun pretty well with this kit, but it really shines when you scout and leave set paracord loops in place to come back to. I have a few spots where I can sneak in during dark to a set loop and haul my line over so that I'm quickly and quietly up in the tree for first light.

[Border_Bloke]

There's a bowhunter in VIC who's made youtube videos of deer hunting from tree stands, I've seen them advertised at some of the archery supply places.

Please note that while these are OK to use in VIC, they are illegal to use in NSW state forests.

[Oldbloke]

There's a bowhunter in VIC who's made youtube videos of deer hunting from tree stands, I've seen them advertised at some of the archery supply places.

Please note that while these are OK to use in VIC, they are illegal to use in NSW state forests.

Thx,
I dropped it for a few months as I've not been in the position to look further into it.

I'll try and find those videos.

I'll check out the tree species in the areas I hunt too. No point if there are no straight (ish) species.

[bigpete]

There's a bowhunter in VIC who's made youtube videos of deer hunting from tree stands, I've seen them advertised at some of the archery supply places.

Please note that while these are OK to use in VIC, they are illegal to use in NSW state forests.

Is that the guy who makes his own longbows?