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Climbing stands in Iowa

isu22andy

isu22andy

Active Member
I only have a handful of bargain buy hang on stands due to being in college. Now that I'm graduated and have some cash inflow was looking into investing into a climber or maybe a lightweight sticks and stand combo. As I stand I absolutely dread hanging stands as it seems like a dangerous chore (even with a harness). I was thinking about buying an XOP climber http://www.fieldsupply.com/general-store/hunting.html?p=1 ...XOP is a lonewulf nock off . How many of you Iowa guys out there use climbers? I realize there not for every tree like sticks and a hang on are but Id like to know if there loosing popularity or are still regularly used. Im kinda late in the game as season starts next week, I know ... Thoughts ?
 
I used a climber for the last two years. This year we hung 13 hang on. I hated the self climbers. Limited to what trees you can hunt.
 
I have a nice climber that I rarely use because there are so few suitable trees anywhere near where I want to set up. I would recommend a nice set of portables climbing sticks and a quality, lightweight stand to carry in.

I think you can be very safe even while hanging and hunting if you use your harness and linemen's rope around the tree as you ascend and descend.
 
I like the lonewolf stand and sticks combo (or if you wanna go the XOP route), but bloodsports are good too. I think there are situations where climbers are nice, but in the long run if you're only gonne choose one, you'd probably be better off with a lightweight portable and sticks due to the versatility. When I had a climber it seemed like I either had to go lower than I wanted because of a limb or I had to go in a less than perfect tree. If you hunt a property with a lot of straight trees than maybe a climber would be fine and fit your needs. I used to trim limbs on certain trees when I had a climber and it worked fine in that respect, however it seemed like anytime I went in a new area and changed a setup due to deer sign I was too restricted in tree selection too much.
 
When Andre D owned lone wolf he said most of the climbers where sold out east. I had a climber one week and I sent it back. I have used lone wolf since 1991 and I hang it every time I hunt once you get on to it you will like it good luck
 
I used a climber in college and regularly until I got into using hang ons in 2011. I think I've used that climber a total of 5 hunts since then. I never used them before because of the issues with hanging them and fighting a stand on a tree. Now that I use line wolfs it's really simple and I feel a lot safer.

I would recommend staying away from cheap products in this category. Your going to be 20 feet off the ground and I personally do not believe all stands are created equal. The bite of the offset bracket on a lone wolf is unreal. These stands do not slip when stepped in properly.
 
I have a summit climber as well as a lightweight hang on with lone wolf sticks and I use the climber 90% of the time. Maybe the timber where I hunt is different than a lot of people on this site because I can almost always find a tree to put my climber in. I'm sure if I used the stand and stick combo more often, it would be easier and faster to hang, however at this point the climber is my go-to setup.
 
Do you have a friend that may let you try one out on a tree? That way you can get a feel for how they work without having to buy one first. My biggest gripe about them was trying to guess how tight to start out so the angle of the stand would be correct at whatever height. Sucks climbing all the way up and having to come down to make an adjustment. Then climbing again. I found myself trying to adjust it while up there, and that is just flirting with death, and should never be attempted. I personally would choose a good hang on over a climber any day. Food for thought.
 
I have the API Bowhunter climbing stand and love it. It works great on several farms I hunt and is the most comfortable stand I own. I have had it for 13 years with no problems.
 
I ran a climber a lot the last two years. Nothing worse then wandering around looking for a tree you can get over 10' up in.

I bought an XOP with sticks this year....
 
Like others have said, it kind of limits the trees you can get in but at the same time...if you have the tree already scouted and picked out...a climber would be a nice thing to have.
 
It has its place but it is very limited.I walked into some public ground climber on my back walked around for 20 min ended up sitting on th ground as the deer started coming out while i was wandering around.you definately need to scout the area before heading in.
 
I have used climbers a lot over the years. Summit is my favorite and worth the money but i'm sure there are other quality ones on the market. Stay away form cheap for safety, ease of use and comfort! I do not usually walk in and hunt but I have done those too. My main method I use is I have spots picked out limbs cleared for climbing and shooting lanes, etc before season. Then will carry in the climber and hunt. The type of trees do limit you but I was getting so much stuff stolen, even on private property, I hunted with only a climber for 10 years. I know own property and use 2 person ladder stands to take my kids, but still use the climber when I want to make a quick change in my location. Shot 2 nice bucks out of it last year. Not sure if am actually safer, but i'm more comfortable with a stand that has a shooting rail around me, so I prefer the climber to the small light hang on's.
 
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supserdave said:
I ran a climber a lot the last two years. Nothing worse then wandering around looking for a tree you can get over 10' up in.

I bought an XOP with sticks this year....
Click to expand...
Hows the XOP with sticks treating you ? Do the sticks fit nicely on the stand ?
 
I recently got a XOP medium silver series platform and a set of 4 sticks. Packs together neatly. Only complaints are fabric on seat has just a bit of noise and finish was slightly shiny on platform/sticks. Nothing that a hunt comfort seat and a can of spray paint/roll of tape won't fix.
 
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First off, the XOP isn't a Lone Wolf knock off. The D'Aquisto's who started Lone Wolf and sold the company own XOP and the stands are a different design than the Lone Wolf. They were able to start manufacturing cast aluminum stands again after the Lone Wolf patent expired. Second, putting up hang on stands with a lineman's belt becomes like second nature after hanging a few sets and is very safe. I hang and hunt every time with a lone wolf alpha and sticks.
 
I have a summit climber that has been sitting at the base of a tree for 2 years- just never went back to get it and maybe someday I will decide to hunt that spot again? I quit using it because my father couldn't use it when I told him to hunt the spot once - so I switched out too all ladder stands
 
I have a climber and Lone Wolf Alpha with sticks. The climber has not left the house in at least 4 years.
 
There are many great points in this thread it all depends on trees and which type of stand we are use to. On a side note funny story I meet a fella from Minnesota a few years back at the truck after dark. He walk in a good distance with his climber got up in the tree crap he left his release in the truck. Got back down went back and got release came back climbed up dropped the release back down he went, That night He wasn't liking his climber that much. And I can see why
 
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