shooting rails
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
shooting rails
Do any of you guys use deer stands with shooting rails? I like them for two reasons. First, they make holding the crosshairs still on my crossbow or rifle scope easy, allowing me to feel very confident on most shots. Second, they add a measure of safety when hunting from an elevated stand. They are not as safe as a safety harness but I'm stubborn and don't like to a use safety harness so the rail is the next best thing. I'm curious about what you might think.
axiom
350 SE
350 SE
- racking up points
- Posts: 1608
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:41 pm
- Location: Windsor, ON
Re: shooting rails
I like shooting rails for the reasons you listed. I drape camo burlap over them and brush them in to add a measure of concealment. But I still use a safety harness and won't get into any tree without one. In my younger years, I was like you and insisted I didn't need a harness but once I got married and had kids, I realized that there are people that relied on me being alive. It's a very unobtrusive piece of equipment, you really should seriously consider wearing one.
Leupold Optics
Boo Custom Strings
Black Eagle Arrows
Ti64.com Fastener Kits
Boo Custom Strings
Black Eagle Arrows
Ti64.com Fastener Kits
-
- Posts: 4970
- Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:32 pm
- Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia
Re: shooting rails
What Racking up Points said X2. You can get safety harnesses now that you can put on like a vest and are very easy to strap on. Please reconsider and wear one for your sake and your loved ones sake. Remember that many falls also happen getting in or out of the stand. Accidents are unexpected, that's why they're called accidents and not purposes.
Paul
Paul
You're only paranoid if everyone isn't out to get you.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
My enemy's friend is also my enemy.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
My enemy's friend is also my enemy.
Re: shooting rails
Spend the money for a HSS vest and lifeline or your going to end up a stubborn man in a wheelchair or worse dead! Wake up man!
Team Matrix 355
Matrix 355 The Crusher
TT 2 stage trigger
Executioner arrows
Easton XX75 magnums 2219
Xcaliber custom string
Boo Custom String
Vixenmaster Custom string
8ptbuk string
Rocket 3 blade 2" cut
Slick tricks
HSS Vest 30' lifeline
Matrix 355 The Crusher
TT 2 stage trigger
Executioner arrows
Easton XX75 magnums 2219
Xcaliber custom string
Boo Custom String
Vixenmaster Custom string
8ptbuk string
Rocket 3 blade 2" cut
Slick tricks
HSS Vest 30' lifeline
-
- Posts: 13618
- Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:51 pm
- Location: Western Ky
Re: shooting rails
I will be 65 in June, i use a safety Harness. I sit up in Hang-On stands & use Summit Climber. I love killin deer n hogs!
Re: shooting rails
Amen! For the sake of your loved ones wear a harness! As I tell everyone the best thing that can happen if you fall out of the tree like that, is... "you be dead on arrival"...at least your family can collect on the life insurance and move on....racking up points wrote:I like shooting rails for the reasons you listed. I drape camo burlap over them and brush them in to add a measure of concealment. But I still use a safety harness and won't get into any tree without one. In my younger years, I was like you and insisted I didn't need a harness but once I got married and had kids, I realized that there are people that relied on me being alive. It's a very unobtrusive piece of equipment, you really should seriously consider wearing one.
....the worst that can happen is that you become a quadriplegic and your family has to feed you and wipe your arse for the rest of your life...
Didn't mean to be blunt about it...but I had to be blunt about it!
Anthony
....Obviously this was meant for "grouse", not for "racking up points".....
In a tough situation and wonder where God is; ...the Teacher is always quiet during the test.
Anthony
A360 (l'Assassino)
AXE 340
Scorpyd DS (w/AeroCrank AD)
GRZ2
G1-NM335(On loan)
ZS,Ex
Spits
Vixenmaster Strings
Anthony
A360 (l'Assassino)
AXE 340
Scorpyd DS (w/AeroCrank AD)
GRZ2
G1-NM335(On loan)
ZS,Ex
Spits
Vixenmaster Strings
Re: shooting rails
rails are arm rest only, not a safety bar. with that said please don't get in a tree without a safety harness . I lost a good friend of mine because he thought the same way you did . left a wife and a little girl . was 44 years of age. don't mean to seem gloomy but that what happened in my experience . safety is important.
W.M.
W.M.
- Deerstalker
- Posts: 614
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:18 pm
- Location: North Carolina
Re: shooting rails
I also like the tree stand rails for tie-wrapping the camo shroud in addition to a shooting rest.
Like others have said always, always wear your safety harness. Here is what a 16' fall looks like and I was extremely lucky that I could walk away. I thought that I was too good of a climber to need a safety harness & learned the hard way.
Like others have said always, always wear your safety harness. Here is what a 16' fall looks like and I was extremely lucky that I could walk away. I thought that I was too good of a climber to need a safety harness & learned the hard way.
Last edited by Deerstalker on Thu Mar 05, 2015 1:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Semper Fi
2012 Equinox
Firebolts & BEEs w Boltcutter & Slick Trick BHs 150gr
S-5 & Boo string, TT trigger, Nikon Bolt Xr scope
2012 Vortex w/S5 & Nikon Bolt Xr (son # 1)
2012 Axiom SMF w/S5 (son # 2)
2012 Equinox
Firebolts & BEEs w Boltcutter & Slick Trick BHs 150gr
S-5 & Boo string, TT trigger, Nikon Bolt Xr scope
2012 Vortex w/S5 & Nikon Bolt Xr (son # 1)
2012 Axiom SMF w/S5 (son # 2)
Re: shooting rails
X3 on what the others have said! Shooting rails are great for steadying a shot. Safety harnesses keep you alive.
Matrix 380
18" Zombies, 400 gr w/ 125 gr Magnus Stingers & Lumenoks
Exomag
20" Zombies, 380 gr w/ 100 gr Magnus Stingers
18" Zombies, 400 gr w/ 125 gr Magnus Stingers & Lumenoks
Exomag
20" Zombies, 380 gr w/ 100 gr Magnus Stingers
Re: shooting rails
I appreciate everyone's feedback and I am certain that everyone's intentions are nothing but good. However, I do about 70% of my hunting from a 15" tripod stand with a 360 degree shooting rail and a 360 degree swivel seat. Rigging and using a harness on that stand seems illogical. When I hunt from one of my shooting rail equipped tree stands I feel no more vulnerable than I do in my tripod stand. I am no longer the reckless young man I once was I'm 66 yrs. old, I always wear my seatbelt in a vehicle, a helmet on a motorcycle and ear protection when I target shoot a firearm. I would probably be safer if I wore a harness just as I would if I placed a thick layer of cushions beneath my stand.
I'm not arguing against anyone else using anything they want to feel safe but a sturdy, properly installed shooting rail gives me an adequate feeling of security while spend my hours sitting in one of my stands. I said in my first post that I am hard headed and I'm sure to many of you I just proved it. Thanks again for your opinions.
I'm not arguing against anyone else using anything they want to feel safe but a sturdy, properly installed shooting rail gives me an adequate feeling of security while spend my hours sitting in one of my stands. I said in my first post that I am hard headed and I'm sure to many of you I just proved it. Thanks again for your opinions.
axiom
350 SE
350 SE
- Deerstalker
- Posts: 614
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:18 pm
- Location: North Carolina
Re: shooting rails
I felt EXACTLY the same way that you do until I fell. Remember it is NOT if but WHEN you will fall.
Semper Fi
2012 Equinox
Firebolts & BEEs w Boltcutter & Slick Trick BHs 150gr
S-5 & Boo string, TT trigger, Nikon Bolt Xr scope
2012 Vortex w/S5 & Nikon Bolt Xr (son # 1)
2012 Axiom SMF w/S5 (son # 2)
2012 Equinox
Firebolts & BEEs w Boltcutter & Slick Trick BHs 150gr
S-5 & Boo string, TT trigger, Nikon Bolt Xr scope
2012 Vortex w/S5 & Nikon Bolt Xr (son # 1)
2012 Axiom SMF w/S5 (son # 2)
Re: shooting rails
I have a shooting rail on every stand I hunt in. I do like the ability to use a steady rest every chance I get. I even hunt with my compound bow from the same stands so I just have to stand up to clear the rail when shooting. On occasion, I have even leaned out against it to make sure the limbs are clear. API makes an aluminum strap on shooting rail that I've had on one of my hang-on stands for at least five years. I wouldn't want to rely on it to save my life, but it does add a little more security than a wide open seat.
I do wear a HSS harness and have a lifeline on my non-ladder stands. I wear the HSS harness every time I hunt even if I plan on hunting from the ground. It doubles as a world class deer drag and all of my gear fits in the pockets. The fact that its a safety harness is just a bonus.
Maybe the should market a spin off under the name MBDS for Monster Buck Dragging System. It could double as a safety harness. Since it is for dragging big deer maybe those with an aversion to safety wouldn't feel so bad about wearing it.
DuckHunt
I do wear a HSS harness and have a lifeline on my non-ladder stands. I wear the HSS harness every time I hunt even if I plan on hunting from the ground. It doubles as a world class deer drag and all of my gear fits in the pockets. The fact that its a safety harness is just a bonus.
Maybe the should market a spin off under the name MBDS for Monster Buck Dragging System. It could double as a safety harness. Since it is for dragging big deer maybe those with an aversion to safety wouldn't feel so bad about wearing it.
DuckHunt
Micro Wolverine/Matrix 350 SE
Recovering Excalaholic
Recovering Excalaholic