climbing stand shots

[Arrowcraft]

I was wondering if any one could share some insight as to adapting to shooting over summit viper sit & climb rail ? i have been shooting pretty vertical with little cant , but that could raise issues i think. Also once in the stand do most of you guys hang your bows keep them vertical or across your lap or tree stand rail ?
                                Thank You

  _____________________________________
    Black Wolf 68"57#@28
     Tall Tines 60"52#@28

[indianalongbowshooter]

lay mine across the rail, hunt out of a Summit Titan not the easiest stand to shoot a recurve out of it especially 60 in. or longer. Not to bad with my 56 in. Chinook or 52 in. Cascade Night Hawk.. best thing is wear a good saftety harness and learn to lean way out over rail and bend at the waist.. also get you a set of third hand stabilizer straps for your stand will make it twice as stable as without them.. put your stand to where it hits so its easy to bend at waist while leaning out, practice, practice and more practice.. you can cant pretty much as much as you want if you lean far enough out.

[Stump73]

I use a old man climber with the rail. I lower my rail with the seat attached down a few inches closer the to the foot platform that way when I stand up the rail is lower. It helps me with my 5'-6" height get over rail. The only place I have trouble is shooting behind me.

[TRAP]

I agree with Dean. Get some 3rd hand stabilizer straps and the stand is solid enough to lean against or out over the rail.

I''ve used a Viper for 15 years and have had the straps on it for 3 years.  Night and day difference.

Good luck.

[maineac]

I went to a open shot.  With my viper I always put took the seat out, and lowered the top rail as low as possible, standing he whole time. My woods are generally so thick that deer are almost in range by the time I see them.  I don't want to risk standing if I am sitting. I can shoot out of the open shot from a sitting position.

[Possum Head]

There was an extensive thread a few years back on this very subject and it did deal with the shooter leaning out over the rail. My Specialist Summit is like the Open shot so I've not practiced the lean over method. I use the Summit style bow holder but have got caught with my pants down    :eek:    Like Shed hunter when hunting my Ole man I kept the top portion lowered to optimize clearance when standing. Always practice a few aggressive cant shots with each session for those times you may need them.

[TRAP]

I used to lower the top rail also but no need with the stabilizer straps.  Now I sit in comfort and lean over the rail.

The only way I can stand hunting from a climber is if it is a hand climber with no rail to get in the way!

Bisch

[8upbowhunter]

I had the same issues this year with my API grand slam climber as my son did with his Summit Viper stand. We have used the stabilizer straps for years now (started with Lone Wolf straps and recently switched to 3rd hand straps)and the top stays rock solid. The issue we had was the seats on both stands sat too low in the top part and to lower the top enough to get good clearance you were practically sitting on your feet. I swapped both seats with a Hazmore net seat and adjusted them fairly snug so your butt is only and inch or 2 below the horizontal bar the seat attaches to. Now we can lower the top section closer to the bottom platform and be comfortable while sitting but have a lot more clearance for my lower limb when I stand to shoot. It took me a couple of adjustments to get them right as they did stretch some after using them a few times but after they stretched in they work great now.

[awbowman]

Go to Sportsman Guide and buy you the LW hand climber top only $150) and use it with your summit platform. Problem solved.

[bruinman]

Out of the Summit, I keep the bottom and top fairly close together. Tighten the seat all the way up on the frame. Then instead of hooking the back rest to the tree, I keep it all folded up and I sit on it. That makes it much easier to stand. The rail is then low enough to easily shoot over. I shoot up to a 64 inch longbow this way with no problems.

[DanielB89]

I shoot my bows out of mine with no problem.  I do 2 things.  

1. tighten my seat up as tight as possible.
2. when sitting, put my seat to where my knees are poking up higher than it.  If I am shooting behind me, I slide as far forwards as possible and have plenty of clearance for my bow.  

***BE SURE YOU ARE WEARING A HARNESS WITH YOUR TOP THAT LOW!!!***

[dbd870]

Originally posted by bruinman:
Out of the Summit, I keep the bottom and top fairly close together. Tighten the seat all the way up on the frame. Then instead of hooking the back rest to the tree, I keep it all folded up and I sit on it. That makes it much easier to stand. The rail is then low enough to easily shoot over. I shoot up to a 64 inch longbow this way with no problems.

That's what I've been doing as well.

[JR Chambers]

I do the opposite. I bring the top bar up so it is about under my arm pits while sitting. I then stand and lean out over the bar and it is up under my arms and then there is nothing to get in the way

[Shadowhnter]

I do the same thing as most people by leaning out over the bar most often. But now and again, if the deer is a bit to far to my weak side,sometimes I opt to take a position as if im climbing with the stand, facing backwards sitting on the rail and towards the tree. It opens up that side quite nice, if you practice it. In any case, being prepared by standing before deer approach is key.I think a degree of canting is almost necessity for me out of the viper, but thats how I shoot anyway.

[the rifleman]

Aw bowman gave you good advice --  the lw  hand climber works great.  If you are more comfortable using the sit and climb just add the lw climbing strap to the hand climber.  I hunt out of their smallest climber-- I think it is called the assault.  But I'm not a big guy-- 145 pounds soaking wet.  I installed a third hand bow holder and it works great, although it is a little crowded even for me in my late winter clothes.  With this set up, when the shot comes I don't have to go into contortions to be sure my limbs are clear.  Best of luck.

[TooManyHobbies]

Originally posted by DanielB89:
I shoot my bows out of mine with no problem.  I do 2 things.  

1. tighten my seat up as tight as possible.
2. when sitting, put my seat to where my knees are poking up higher than it.  If I am shooting behind me, I slide as far forwards as possible and have plenty of clearance for my bow.  

***BE SURE YOU ARE WEARING A HARNESS WITH YOUR TOP THAT LOW!!!***

After hitting my rail a couple times and losing deer, I did the same as Daniel this season. Only took one shot this year, but it worked great. I'm 6'6" so I put top at knee level. Plenty of clearance. you would think at my height it wouldn't be a problem anyway, but the ones I've hit the rail, the deer were closer than 10 yards.