xbowholic wrote:Climbing stands definately have advantages BUT IMO, hang on stands (when considering weight and set up) gets my vote; Millinneum tree stands are by far the most comfortable and they make a climbing model as well; climbers will alert every deer in the woods when setting up especially if you are doing the set up in the dark;
I have been hunting from the ground with excellent results using the Ghillie Suit; marcanthonyoutdoors.com is one of the best web sites around; you owe it to yourself to visit and also try the ghillie suit method; just a true joy to go into any set of woods and not carry anything but your crossbow and a small fanny pack; I have limited out on tags (in several states) using this method and will eventually get away totally from using any treestand.
I don't claim to be a ninja, but I respectfully disagree with "alert every deer in the woods". A few seasons back I packed my stand and gear over a big ridge to set up in the bottom on the other side, right where a saddle in the facing ridge dropped in. The woods were a little damp which was good, but I made all efforts to go easy on the way in and climbing my chosen tree. When I got up there and was still getting my stuff together I looked up for a second and saw white flashing in the thick cover about 45 yards out in front and left of my position. Put my bino on that spot and it was Booner or very darn close rubbing a small pine, and he of course had no idea that I was there or he wouldn't have been going about his bucky business. I hadn't even raised my bow up yet! Believe me when I tell you that this was no tinhorn young buck, this dude was huge!
This was about 2:00 PM, and in the 3.5 hours I had two more bucks of the same caliber come through along with 4 more smaller ones, none of which had any idea that anything was amiss.
To be honest I would tend to agree with you in most cases and with most hunters, but.........