Tree Stands???

[Shoot2Kill]

Hello from way up north...I have a question about treestands. I'm going to be baiting black bears in the next couple weeks and need another treestand. Our selections at the sporting goods stores up here is limited and nobody really knows much about them because they aren't widely used up here except to bait black bears. I have a budget and am not looking for the mack daddy of all stands. I found one from Cabelas...the Cabelas SS Lounger for 89.99. Have any of you used this stand before? It's primarily for my wife. It looks more comfortable than your average stand that makes you sit straight up against the tree so I think she would be happier with it when she has to spend the night in the tree when we have a grizzly come into the bait.

Any pros and cons toward it that you can see?

www.cabelas.com

It does seem a little on the heavy side for a lock on, but it appears that it should do the job. Anyone? Thank you very much.

 

[akcarv]

Shoot2kill, I baited with my son on the Kenai last year and built our own stand with plywood, spruce poles and rope. The base was 13' up-- should have gone higher according to my son who had a big boar brown bear stand up on his side one night. Most of the guys down on the Kenai build their own and hunt in pairs because of the numerous brown bears, but I was successful several years ago with a hang-on and stap-on steps. Not sure if I will bait this year as we worked 2 sites hard last year and had nothing but problems from brown bears. Lots of excitement but a little too much at times!! Good luck and be safe. Brad

 

[Shoot2Kill]

Magic man...thanks for the reply. We've debated builing our own, but this will be the only year that we can hunt it...we're both leaving Alaska this summer and don't want to have to tear it down when we're done. I've baited out in PWS and had great luck with our portables. This year we're going to a new spot with the wheelers so we don't have to mess with the boating stuff. The problem we have with our new spot is right where we want to put our second bait site there isn't good enough trees to build a stand. It would either be too high or too low...nothing in between where we need it. That't's why we want to put the portables up...about 20 feet at least...to avoid the brownies. I've heard they're nasty down your way with bait stations. They need to open it up down there for one season to baiting for them in my opinion.

What's the snow like down your way?

Ryan

 

[muddy]

If your pack in isn't too far I HIGHLY recommend Lone Wolf stands. They do an absolutely phenomenal job on deer and are comfortable to sit in. If you ever moved back south you'd have a nice, light treestand all ready to go then.

 

[akcarv]

Shoot2Kill, Muddy is right about the Lone Wolf, great stand but hard to get up here. I have one down in a garage in Des Moines right now.The snow is really going fast down here. It is only in the shade and woods and not over 6-8 inches at the most. Bears should be out any day. I second your idea about a baiting season for brown bears in our area as they were thick in the Swanson River road where we baited last year. Had 4 different brown bears at our site wihout a single black.

 

[teeroy]

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I have one down in a garage in Des Moines right now

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uuuhhh...........just where would that be? if you want, i could go get it and keep an eye on it for you

 

[akcarv]

Nice try Tee roy, but I hope to be sitting in it this fall . I have 1 NR preference point and have a 50/50 chance of drawing an archery buck tag. If not, I'll come down and try to shoot a skin-head. I've been down the last 2 years and have a great time chasing deer and pheasants with my dad, brother and uncle. Got my brother who lives in Des Moines into bowhunting and he is having a blast.Now I have someone to set my stands before I come

He shot his best 2 deer last year, a 125 9 pt. with bow(his first bow deer),
and a 150 shotgun. He's hooked bad now so I have a hunting partner again!!Now I just have to close the deal as I have yet to connect with anything with horns yet. (I have scared a few)

 

[hillrunner]

I have the Lounger stand you mentioned. It is by far the most comfortable stand I have ever sat in, and it hunts great. The only problem with it is that its a bear to carry in and hang up. So bad that I dont even take it down anymore.I leave it set up year round in my favorite hunting spot and love sitting in it, but wouldnt purchase it if I was planning on moving it around a lot, especially if I had to walk long distances.

 

[alaskanwhtail]

I'm going out soon here to put up a treestand with my brother and father, we plan on building one. My brother is way more pumped about it than me, I'm more interested in sheds and women, though the shed hunting season hasn't began up here, it's gonna be a week or two or three? Good luck to all, hopefully your wife will enjoy all the mesquitos and close bear encounters, theres a guy I know up here that hunts them with a spare and a ground blind...

Magic Man, hopefully your son can score, and stay clear of the brownies...

 

[Shoot2Kill]

Bradsbuck....does the stand break down at all? It doesn't look like it folds down at all because of that metal brace that supports the shooting platform. What do you do with it...put it all together and then carry it in? How is it for hanging in a tree? Is it pretty difficult since it weighs 37 pounds? Once it's up I won't move it until we're done, but I'm trying to keep in mind deer hunting next fall when we leave here. Thanks for the reply.

 

[katy]

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I'm more interested in sheds and women, though the shed hunting season hasn't began up here

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and the women are running and hiding in their igloo's!

Sorry Alaskan the opportunity was there!