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I used a Baker from the age of 10 to about 14. Maybe my dad didn't love me? But, the one I had was actually one of the sit down/stand up climbers where you face the tree. I never had any trouble with it slipping. I think my dad liked me using it because it had the seat rail around me to help keep me from falling out. The tiny foot platform wasn't great for bowhunting though, and that's all we did.
But the worst stand I ever had was a Loggy Bayou. I don't remember the exact model but that thing was a death trap while climbing. It was great once you got set up because the seat flipped up and ratcheted to the tree. It was rock solid at that point. But getting there usually had me in a cold sweat.
-------------------- “...the old ones ... knew in their bones... that death exists, that all life kills to eat, that all lives end, that energy goes on. They knew that humans are participants, not spectators.” -- Stephen Bodio, On the Edge of the Wild Posts: 285 | From: AL | Registered: Mar 2012
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A climbing stand called a "fox squirrel" that came out around 1971 or so give or take a year. i bought it in Athens, Ga from either Dan Quillians archery shop or another local guy named Garth Fuller who had a shop in his house. The original model had no rubber coating on the steel bands so it was very loud putting the stand up. There wasn't a hand climber with it at the time so you used your arms to climb up and then down the tree. i usually left a good bit of skin behind. Eventually we learned to tape around the metal straps to quiet them, and the company finally put some rubberized coating on the straps. i think i paid $29.95 for the first one that i bought.
-------------------- TGMM Family of the Bow
Randy Keene Posts: 6666 | From: georgia | Registered: Aug 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Pete McMiller: Thinking about it, there was one I used that was worse than a Baker. Don't know the name but it was a climber that had a flexible steel band covered in rubber that went around the tree and there was also a rubber covered "V" on the platform.
That would be a Loggy Bayou. Still have mine from 1983 when they came out. With the climbing aid I never had a problem. But. . . first time before I bought the aid. . . ouch!
-------------------- After cursing through every slice and missed shot on the first nine holes, a golf partner said to his frustrated and cursing partner, "I think I can tell you your problem." "Really?" "You just aren't that good." Posts: 1758 | From: Kansas | Registered: Feb 2004
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I had two that I bought from garage sales. They were aluminum hang-ons that SQUEALED when temps got below zero. Cost me two doe, grrrr!!!!
-------------------- Just one more step.....please!
St. Joe River Bows Oliverstacey Strings Swafford Knives Michigan Longbow Association Posts: 4189 | From: Michigan | Registered: May 2006
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Had my Baker come off my feet about 20' up a Beech tree Left quite a blood trail from my hands on the ride down ! Also climbed up in an old wooden stand once that I found in the woods. Without warnind it fell right off the tree. All I remember was throwing my bow and broad arrow on the way down so I wouldn't land them.
-------------------- " Take a kid bowhunting" New York Bowhunters BOD Posts: 1909 | From: Bergen NY | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by LimBender: A homejob rebar ladder stand with road signage for the base, which was slick and leaning away from the tree, while sitting on a 20 gallon bucket and getting terrorized by mosquitoes. Memories
Those were the days Will. I can see your Uncle Leroy saying .... GET UP THERE BOY AND SHOOT US A DEER!!
quote:Originally posted by Roger Norris: What was the treestand (70's) that you pushed up the tree with a pole, and then climbed up a rope ladder? Was that the Baker?
That one was sold by Bear. There is one still in my shed. Had plastic rollers on the chain so it would slide up the tree. Didn't work worth a damn.
Yep....I went bowhunting when I was 12 with an Uncle. He had one of those......I was 12, and treestands were a new thing, but even then I knew that was a scary looking contraption. I never hunted out of a tree until the LEM Loc-On became affordable. Probably about 89?
-------------------- "I think wolves would find me stringy, of high cholesterol, with an Irish whiskey aftertaste" www.traditionalwoodsman.com Your Source For Asbell Wool Posts: 2544 | From: Michigan | Registered: Apr 2003
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I started out with a Baker Pro Hunter it was like carrying a half sheet of plywood around on your back. And yes the down the tree slides were memorable I remember sliding down a tree with the hand climber attached about 15 feet up. Hand to stand there and throw sticks at it to knock it down.
-------------------- "You can't have NO in your heart"- Joe Dirt Posts: 910 | From: Southern Illinois | Registered: Apr 2006
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That's good stuff Randy! Ole Fox Squirrel....DD still hunts from his.. Dan swore up and down that Loggy Bayou knocked him off. Which brings me to my worst stand.
Loggy Bayou original climber... I called it the "Elevator".. That band would slip on a damp pine tree in a heart beat.. I fell 12 feet one time so fast I thought I was in an elevator watching the bark pass in front of me.....it's still in a tree in Geneva Ga
-------------------- Aim down your arrow because thats where it's going. Posts: 1968 | From: 294 Hwy 7 South, Oxford Ms 38655 | Registered: Aug 2003
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A totally homemade hangon. I was wearing my waist belt, about 15 feet up an gnarly old maple tree. I was dozing and woke up when I suddenly hit the end of my belt. Seems the cable clamp had cut through the plastic covered cable but had not gripped the cable. I was lucky-as I dangled, I threw my bow and my arrow as far as I could, worked my way to the tree, climbed down, and went home and cleaned my drawers!!!! No more home made stands and no more waist belts!
-------------------- SELFBOW19953 "When I aim at something, that's what I hit. When I hit something, that's what I aimed at." Loretta Young in "Along Came Jones" Posts: 1678 | From: DELAWARE | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Roger Norris: What was the treestand (70's) that you pushed up the tree with a pole, and then climbed up a rope ladder? Was that the Baker?
Roger,that one was actually sold by Bear Archery.I used to have one.That was a pretty crazy system.
Posts: 2991 | From: Montana | Registered: Aug 2008
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Left quite a blood trail from my hands on the ride down ! Also climbed up in an old wooden stand once that I found in the woods. Without warnind it fell right off the tree. All I remember was throwing my bow and broad arrow on the way down so I wouldn't land them.![[coffee]](graemlins/xxmcoffee.gif)
