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By: Robert Janis
Selecting a Tree Stand
Next time you go out deer hunting, take a
good look around. What do you see? Lots of
trees, right? Suppose you take advantage of the
height of one of those trees in order to bag
yourself a whitetail. Many hunters prefer the
overhead shot, and they achieve it by shooting
from a tree stand. It doesn't matter if you are
using a firearm or a bow and arrow--you can use
a tree stand. Also, there are several different
styles or models that accommodate say just you,
or one or two of your buddies.
THE ADJUSTER™ MAGNUM is a self-leveling
stand that can be used even on
bell-shaped, oval, or odd-shaped trees.
As you climb, simply adjust the
platforms to the taper of the tree.
Never again will you have to climb down
and search for another tree because your
platforms are not level and safe. |
In selecting a tree stand you may want to keep a
few things in mind. First, you may have to carry
the stand some distance from where you left your
ATV to the tree you intend to use to shoot your
prey. Some tree stands are heavy or fold up into
awkward shapes or are just plain cumbersome. So,
as you are selecting your stand, pick them up
and lug them around the store to make certain
that you can handle the one you select. Second,
making noise is the cardinal sin for a hunter.
You want things to be perfectly quiet so the
deer doesn't get spooked. So, keep in mind that
you will be carrying the stand to the tree,
unfolding or opening the stand in some manner,
climbing the stand up a tree and locking the
stand in place on the tree. You want to be
certain that all of that work is achieved
without noise or at least with the minimum
amount of noise. Third, the stand will have to
be secured to the trunk of the tree. So, you are
going to want to be certain that it is sturdy
when you tie it to or lock it onto the tree.
Different styles of frames or apparatus are used
on the various stands. So, you want to check
that out at the store. What frame or apparatus
do you feel provides the most secure hold on the
tree? Are you certain that you can properly lock
the stand in place using the apparatus
available? Do you find the apparatus easy to
use? And, does the apparatus do the task of
securing the stand to the tree quietly? Is it
easy to disassemble when the time comes to end
the hunt? Fourth, what size or circumference of
a tree will the stand fit? Since the stand is
secured around or onto the trunk of the tree,
you want to be certain that the stand will fit
properly around the circumference of the trunk.
Fifth, does the design allow you to set up the
stand in the position that you find most
comfortable in relation to the tree? There are
stands that set up with your back, front, or
side to the tree, and there are stands that
allow for all three positions. Sixth, are there
accessories you may want that can be used with
the tree stand you buy? Some companies that
manufacture tree stands also offer accessories
as options designed to enhance the use of the
stand. For example, you might be able to buy a
gun or bow holder, cushions for the chair, etc.
What follows is a list of actual tree stands
that are available for purchase. I discovered
these products while visiting various websites
as I researched this story. There are some sites
that provide actual ratings of the products by
hunters who have used them. I have selected for
this list only tree stands that have been rated
as five-star units. Where possible, I will quote
a hunter's reason for rating a particular stand
the way he did.
The Amacker Adjuster™ Magnum Tree Stand.
According to the manufacturer of this stand, it
is the "first" and "only" automatic adjusting
climbing tree stand on the market. It does not
have manual cranks or knobs like other stands
do. Also, you don't have to bend down to the
bottom platform to level it. You adjust the
stand--both top and bottom--from the same
position on the platform. Moreover, it is self
leveling. That means that the shape of the tree
does not limit its use. It works on bell-shaped,
oval, or odd-shaped trees, the manufacturer
asserts. To attach to the tree, you simply
adjust the platform to the taper of the tree as
you climb it up. The stand also has a lot of leg
room and the large platform can hold a maximum
400 pounds, says the manufacturer. It is
supposed to be the first stand that allows you
to step easily into it when it is flat on the
ground and level it as you climb it up the tree.
When you reach the desired height from which you
want to shoot, you simply level the stand in
place. To level, you disengage the adjustment
pins that appear on each side of the platform,
lift, and then level. If you hunt in an area
that has laws against using a stand that
actually penetrates the trunk of the tree,
Amacker offers rubber guards that go on the back
blades as an accessory.
Hunter Rated at: five stars. Hunters like its
all-welded joints which eliminate noise, its
heavy duty mesh no-slip platform, adjustable
camouflage sling seat and its solid square stock
construction that makes it easier to attach to
trees. They also note that the front bar is
adjustable for better leg room.
Grandstand® Baby Grand Fixed Position Tree
Stand. This tree stand includes high quality,
welded aluminum construction which assures a
minimum amount of noise, says the manufacturer.
It also features slatted, Sure-Grip platforms
with large ribbed traction treads for sure
footing and a contoured design with a 5-point
contact system so that it attaches to trees
consistently, quickly, and quietly. At the end
of the hunt, it folds flat for easy packing. A
locking cam over buckle-and-strap hanging system
is used to secure the stand to the tree. A
T-Screw is also part of the apparatus and is
used as a stabilizer to assure a fixed position.
The stand also includes a Realtree Hardwoods®
HD™ camouflaged seat. and it is finished in a
non-glare gray powder-coat. The stand comes with
a safety DVD and 4-point, full body safety
harness. The large bench seat is 22-inches high
and the bench portion measures 19-inches by
12-inches by 2-inches. The backrest is 12-inches
by 19-inches by 2-inches.
Hunter Rated at: Five Stars. Hunters like the
big and comfortable seat and plenty of room on
the platform to adjust your feet when shooting.
The Equalizer Treestand
The Magnum Treestand |
Equalizer Treestand. This tree stand has a
number of exclusive features that assure a
stable, sturdy attachment to the tree as well as
quiet performance. A Geared Leveling System
allows the user to safely adjust the stand in
the tree. A Cable Block and Acme Threaded Rod
includes a handle that allows the user to get
12-inches of cable adjustment as the cable block
rides up and down the aluminum acme threaded
rod. The Cable Block Assembly is double locking
and embedded within the cable block and the SwiftLoc Terminal is double locking for
security. The Positive Locking System features
tie lines that connect the seat and foot
climbers when climbing and locks the seat and
foot climber into the tree as if it were nailed
in. To assure the attachment, there are two
offset tandem blades that reach farther around
the tree and the dual blades are offset with the
top blade a quarter inch longer than the bottom
blade for a strong, secure grip. The frame is
made of welded aircraft grade aluminum to assure
stability and quiet, and the foot climber has
been load tested to 1,000 pounds. SwiftLoc Cable
Silencers eliminate any cable noise when
climbing or backpacking. Finally, a three-way
moveable seat cushion allows you to sit facing
the tree, back to tree, or in the leaning post
position. It also comes with a 40-minute
instructional DVD and instruction book. Optional
accessories include an adjustable safety bar
with back cushion, cross mount, or side mount
gun racks for the adjustable safety bar, bow
holder for the seat climber frame or for the
adjustable safety bar, drink holder for the
adjustable safety bar, foot rest, and frame
mount shooting rest.
Hunter Rated at: Five Stars. Hunters like the
strength of this tree stand. One hunter claims
to have seen five men stand on one at the same
time and it held. They also like the lightweight
of only 19.5 pounds. They claim that it will fit
any tree from 28-inches in diameter. It can be
adjusted while climbing up a tree up to
12-inches and it is compact for backpacking.
Hunters say that there are no parts that stick
up above your head that could hit branches and
none hanging low that could hit your calves. It
does not have pins to drop off when you attach
the cable and the cable drops and locks into
place. The seat can be adjusted into three
positions--facing the tree, back to tree, or
standing with back to tree with seat at 45
degree angle.
SuperMag Original Tree Stand. This stand has a
variety of features to assure a safe and secure
attachment to the tree, quiet performance, and
versatility in adjustment. The removable seat
piece allows you to sit facing the tree with
back rest or away from the tree with a gun rest.
You can drop the back rest out of the way
whenever you want and use a 3/4 seat position
favored by bow hunters. The back rest and
shooting rail can be adjusted vertically or
horizontally allowing you to find your optimum
comfort zone when you shoot. The apparatus
features all welded arms and climbing teeth to
keep the stand solidly anchored to the tree as
you climb and sit on the stand. The stand also
includes two rope ratchets which you can use in
any manner you wish to assure a secure anchor.
You can, for example, use one rope to secure the
seat piece to the tree. To assure a quiet
performance, the stand has nylon silencers
attached to both the foot and seat pieces. Four
speed twist knobs are used to lock the stand
into place as you climb the tree. Other tree
stands use hitch pins that can rattle during the
assembly process.
Grand Slam Extreme Bowhunter by API
Outdoors |
Brutus Pro Series Treestands. Brutus offers four
Pro Series Tree stands--the Brutus Pro, Brutus
Pro Staff, Brutus Pro Staff Elite, and the
Brutus Pro Staff Aluminum. All Brutus Tree
stands are certified by the Treestand
Manufacturers' Association (TMA) and follow
stringent guidelines in the manufacturing of the
products. Stands that receive a TMA
certification have been weight tested twice to
assure that they qualify under their stated
weight capacity. The stands also go through a
repetitive load test that can include up to
10,000 cycles. The Pro Series Brutus Tree stands
include a Pro Collar Mount that allows for a
complete stand and the addition of an optional
collar mount to allow for multiple hanging
locations. The stands also include platform
support chains and leveling systems which bolt
to the platform and assure that the chains do
not crimp and the chains also act as a platform
leveling system. The Pro Series Tree stands also
allow for the tree angles. The Collar Mount has
multiple mounting holes to slide the frame in or
out depending on the angle of the tree.
Moreover, all Pro Series stands have a seat
height adjustment and ladder receivers at the
bottom of the platform to add an optional
16-foot Conversion Ladder.
Summit Broadhead BackPacker SS Treestand. This
stand has an overall size of 20-inches wide by
36-inches long and a platform area of 20-inches
wide and 28-3/4-inches long. It weighs 21 pounds
and can be used on trees that are 8-inches to
20-inches in circumference. Weight limit is 300
pounds. It is aluminum constructed, with frame
pivots and folds down to a flat package for
backpacking. It features a tethered knob which
works quietly to secure the stand, two piece
seat buckles for height adjustment and quick
seat removal, thick padded arm rests and front
bar. Complete package includes four point safety
harness, RapidClimb stirrups, all necessary
padding, hardware, ropes and straps.
Hunter Rated at: Five Stars. Hunters like its
sturdiness, comfort and it's quiet. They also
like the well- made construction.
Sources:
http://www.hunting-fishing-gear.com
http://www.amacker.com
http://www.apioutdoors.com
http://www.equalizertreestands.com
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