posted
I just had a horrible flashback from another thread of some old Baker treestands I used back in the day. I'll never forget the frightening rides down some tall straight trees in these things. My forearms still bearing the scars from numerous rides down with me hugging on for dear life and the hand climber fast behind banging me in the head. I also will never forget that sound either while we skipped down the tree...."KaChunk, kachunk, kachunk, kachunk, kachunk.
-------------------- "Dog on Point" or "Deer on Ground?" Posts: 6485 | From: Kentucky | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I remember a climber a friend had that he had bought at wally-world. He paid $79 for it. The thing was actually riveted together and the first time he used it the rivets became loose. You had to balance yourself in it to keep it from shifting around. That thing would tilt 2" side to side. He hunted in it for a couple of years until he could afford a Summit climber. Those old Summits had a folding seat that you had to bend down, pick up, and step over to get it into the sitting position. All of this 20ft or more up a tree with no saftey belt. Man we were crazy.
Ross
-------------------- 1969 Bear Super Kodiak 45# 1966 Bear Kodiak 52# 2000 Black Widow MAII 46# at 28" Roy Hall Navajo Stick, 64" Caddo 55#@28" Posts: 278 | From: Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2011
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posted
The old Baker's were the worst climbers ever built, but the scariest time of my life was using Loc-On Lem stands. They attach to the tree by chain with an S hook on the end. Twice I have been sitting in the stands up 16-18", just happen to look down and notice the S hook having just enough crook left to keep from straightening out. Both times I was afraid to even move enough to get out of the stand. This was back in the late 70's or early 80's. I always had on a safety strap, but back in those days it was just a strap around your waist. I reckon the strap would have kept you from falling to the ground but it probably would have cut you in half during a fall. I still have a couple of those old stand that I use ocassionally, but today it's always while wearing safety vest, and I've learned to inspect the S hooks before each use.
Posts: 1738 | From: Republic Of Texas | Registered: Mar 2003
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Oh come on now........you guys are all talking about the NEW stands. Waaaaay back when, maybe 35-40 years ago, even before Bakers I built my very first tree stand from parts of an old lawn chair - yup, thin aluminum tubing, 1/4x20 bolts and a bit of canvas. Damn thing was tied on a tree. We were hunting Fed land back then and no tree pegs allowed so I "tied" triangular shaped blocks on the side of a popple tree to get up in the stand. Sure enough the "steps" slipped down as I was going up so I had to shinny down after shooting a nice buck opening day. I was young, dumb and brave back then and even I was scared of that stand
Next came a Baker and a homemade baker - neither had hand climbers so we had to HUG the tree to get up and get down. Never so glad to retire tree stands as I was when those were put to rest.
I am a confirmed ground hunter now.............
-------------------- Pete
Charter member - Ye Old F.A.R.T.S
MOLON LABE [mo 'lon la 've]
"That human optimism & goodness that we put our faith in, is in no more danger than the stars in the jaws of the clouds." ............Victor Hugo Posts: 626 | From: Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
HA! HA! Baker climber! I love it. When I was around 13-14years old,my Dad had a Baker. I decided I was going to use it for some shooting practice while he was at work. I was real smart though,I went to the telephone pole in the yard to set-up because there was no limbs on that thing. Or bark. I got up around 14 feet,hoisted up my bow,nocked a arrow,began to draw.... AND DOWN I WENT!! what a ride. Even with tree's with bark on them,those were sketchy. rat'
posted
I can still remember my brother walking toward me with blood gushing from his head. He took the fast way down on one of those and was fine til he looked up and the hand climber fell.
After that I upgraded to a lock-on with a plastic floor. Can't remember who made them but they were pretty scary too.
Rob
-------------------- I'm just a guy on a buffalo. Posts: 1843 | From: S. Indiana | Registered: Jan 2011
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posted
I had a climber I made out of steel tubing and expanded metal. This was back when I worked as a welder and the stand was rock solid. You could climb like a monkey in that stand but it was HEAVY. That thing would kill a mule hauling it around in the Ozarks.
Ross
-------------------- 1969 Bear Super Kodiak 45# 1966 Bear Kodiak 52# 2000 Black Widow MAII 46# at 28" Roy Hall Navajo Stick, 64" Caddo 55#@28" Posts: 278 | From: Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2011
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posted
I kept my first (only) Baker so long I replaced the wooden platform twice! My chest had a red rash from tree-hugging most of the bow season until the weather turned cold enough to wear more padding.
I'm glad to have survived those 10 years or so.
-------------------- If the mind wanders, so too will the arrow.
Member of various archery organizations. Posts: 3884 | From: Kentucky | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
My first attempt at a climbing stand was with a Baker. My Dad and uncles laughed their butts off at me while I was trying it out on a tree in the yard. I quit using it after I took the express elevator to the ground in the dark!
Posts: 365 | From: Morley, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Baker or home made baker alike without a doubt. Going up was iffy, coming down could be a real thrill, but they insisted you sit real still.
I have a friend who swears he rattled up a decent buck while trying to get down one day.
-------------------- "If I had tried a little harder and practiced a little more, by now I could have been average"...Me Posts: 1515 | From: Macon, Ga. | Registered: May 2009
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Waaaaay back when, maybe 35-40 years ago, even before Bakers I built my very first tree stand from parts of an old lawn chair - yup, thin aluminum tubing, 1/4x20 bolts and a bit of canvas. Damn thing was tied on a tree. We were hunting Fed land back then and no tree pegs allowed so I "tied" triangular shaped blocks on the side of a popple tree to get up in the stand. Sure enough the "steps" slipped down as I was going up so I had to shinny down after shooting a nice buck opening day. I was young, dumb and brave back then and even I was scared of that stand ![[scared]](graemlins/scared.gif)
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