Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    
        I built my own at a cost of about $8.00+-, Alls you need is
    a sheet of 1/2 or 3/4" plywood, 1/4-or1/2" steel rods, flat steel
    1/8", and 1" angle iron, and a welder, and 6-8' of rope.
        It took us about a day to make 8 stands they work great and
    dont damage the tree.........
     
     
                                                               Lee
    

    
    
        sorry that should of said $8.00 each 
    
                                                    Lee
    

    
    Al,
    
    Check out the Loggy Bayou tree stands. Will run anywhere from $180-$225
    
    The way these work is you have a bar sort of, on the tree and a
    platform that you slip your feet thru.
    
    Like doing Pull-ups or chin-ups you hold on to the bar and pull your
    feet up, then stand, push the bar up, do it again and again till your
    at your desired height,
    
    Go to a dealer they should have insrtuctional tapes you can view, I
    know with each purchase of the loggy bayou you'll get a tape.
    
    I dont recommend using any portable tree stand in the rain,ice, or
    snow, if you know what i mean.
    
    Other than that the loggy bayou is considered the best there is and if 
    i'm going up a tree 15 to 20 ft with gun or bow, I want the best.
    
    Good-Luck,
    
     Rick

     Hi Al,  I use an Amacker TL-100 tree stand. Price will run around
    $65 to $75. It is not a self climber. I find there are to many draw
    backs to the self climbers. I cary a few tree steps with me and
    I can put my stand up quickly and quietly anywhere I want. I have
    tried quite a few different kinds of stands and find for the money
    you can't beat the TL-100.
    
    Good Hunting
    Gilles

    The nice thing about the Loggy Bayou is that it can be used as a self
    climber or a hang on stand... depending on the situation.  it can also
    be used to climb till there is an obsticle, then the climbing band can
    be released and reconnected above the obsticle with very little effort
    and a little ingenuity... Screwing in tree steps works, but gets to be
    a real pain in the butt after awhile.
    
    The Bayou's well worth the money, and like Rick says when your up 15/20' 
    you want the best.
    
    Fra

    Thanks Fra, I baught a Loggy Bayou and watched the tape.  It did show
    the guy above branches but not how he got there.  I read the
    instructions but must have missed that part about getting around
    obsticles.  
    
    PS: Watch out for tree's with moss/slime, they get slippery also and
    don't make a good tree for climing.  I have also heard that the SUMMIT
    tree climer was a very good tree climer/stand.
    
    Thanks_from_Dom_who_now_has_more_trees_to_choose_from

    Hi Al,
    I don't use stands often, but when the situation presents itself,
    I use an Amacker ladder stand.  While not as light as the other
    types (30-35 lbs.), it eliminates some of the problems.  It comes
    in 12' height and you can buy a 3' extention to go with it.  You
    carry it out to your spot in the woods, slide it together, strap
    it to the tree and go up.  It has a roomy platform that you can
    sit on and put your feet on the top rung.  The 12' one that I have
    cost me about $80.00 at a local discount outlet.  And I don't worry
    about mossy trees, loose bark or any of the other uncertainties
    involved with climbing trees.  By the way, it attaches to the tree
    with nylon straps, so there's no damage to the trees.  The major
    problem with this type is that it's visable to others who may be
    tempted to take it home to admire it, if you know what I mean. 
    I like mine.  They're worth looking at.
    
    Glenn
    

    I have a light loggy stand...very nice and light. I am also toying with
    a couple of homemade stands. They have a plywood platform base, an aluminum
    channel riser and a fold up seat. Cables secure the platform to the
    riser. I have a couple of ideas to secure it to the tree. One
    idea is to just use the rope arrangement that comes with a light loggy,
    a really neat idea. A more standard approach would be chain. Send me mail
    if you are interested. You can knock a couple together pretty cheap. I
    weight 200 lbs and feel safe in them. If you are interested in the
    plans, send me mail.
    
    
    Guy

    sorry for the double stutter!!!
    
    Guy

do any of you guys know of a tree stand that a handicapp person could
    use? i hunt in alabama our deer season for guns is open from nov.
    17 to jan 1990. i found a spot but i have to walk about 2 miles
    to get to it and i'm a amputee so its very hard for me to carry
    something that weights 50 or 90 pounds on my back and also climing
    a steep ladder. any suggestions would appreciated.

    the loggy bayou might be the thing for you.... check out a video, and 
    see what you think.... its a climber and if used with the climbing aid
    you could get up without the use of your hands... just need to tighten
    the double direction rope once your up... only weighs 11.5 lbs
    
    good luck, let us know what you decide on.
    
    Fra

    The Loc-On Spirit weighs about 8 lbs, but doesn't climb.
    I use screw-in steps. 
    
    The Dick Idol Windwalker system weighs a bit less, fits in its
    own backpack, has pouches for steps, etc. Smaller platform.
    
    Have you tried different types of stands to see what you
    can and cannot use ? Climbers, hang-ons, ladders ?
    
    Good luck. And remember, lots of deer still get taken from
    ground blinds. Wind direction is critical, but it can be done.
    
    Dana

Al, you can get as many different opinions as to tree stands as you can on load
preferences, the main thing to not forget is your SAFETY STRAPS. No matter
what stand you by there is always the possibility that it can come down, case
in point. I almost had to skip hunting this year due to freak accident my 
partner had, the week before bow opened here in Mass. we were at his house and
he went up the tree to just show me something (forgot what), the next thing I 
know is I am getting out of the way of a falling body. The stand let go, (it
wasnt fastened correctly) and down he came. Fortunately the hospital said 
nothing was broken and we went hunting. If he had the strap he wouldnt have 
come down 10 ft.
Anyway, I use the TSS stand, about 12lbs, easy and quiet set-up, use the
safety strap as th eclimber and also to drag out the big guy, and the nice
thing is it is only about 80$.

Jack

ps. I should mention I am not considered a light weight.

    
    Here's a question for the Ma hunters, the abstracts say that you
    need written permission from a land owner to put up a treestand
    with nails, bolts etc. on private land. What about on state land?
    
    I'm getting married in three weeks and can't afford a real tree stand
    so I was wanting to nail two, two X fours inbetween some trees and
    put a platform on it. Is it legal to do this? 
    
                              Walt

    I used to but I'm not sure about the legality. Gander Mountain has
    a nice hang-on stand for $59.95, a Warren & Sweat White Oak aluminum
    rated for 250 lbs. 
    
    Since the state periodically sells logging rights for land my
    guess is the answer would be 'no'. 
    
    On the other hand, you can get some stout cord and *lash* a stand
    together with no damage to the trees.

    
    I did try lashing the 2x4's to the trees but it did'nt work too
    well, and I'm afraid of the rope creaking if I move around. maybe
    I need to convince the future Mrs. Bing how important it is to have
    a safe tree stand ;')
    
                              Walt

Yo Walt ! 

   Maybe you can postpone the wedding until after hunting season.
If not try this suggestion. Lash the 2x4 's in a strong tree,
tie a rope securely to a branch about 7 feet above the stand. Tie
the rope around your neck and jump. This way you  are guaranteed 
to be in the woods all season long.;^)

If not ... Good luck
Frank 

    
    Frank, 
       She wanted to get married during hunting season! Of course I
    put my foot down and pleaded with her to change her mind 8')
    
    As for your rope suggestion it sounds good but with my luck the
    rope would break, I'd fall to the ground and have the breath knocked
    out of me, the ten pointer I've been seeing would come along and
    snicker, lick my face, break wind in my general direction and giggle all
    the way back into the swamp. (I hate when they do that)
    
                           Walt
    
    p.s. got any suggestions for fishing season?                       
    
                                                

    	Walt,
    
    	I never had to make a tree stand. I did once have to make one sit
    though. What a chore that was... 8#)
    
    	I saw a tree stand in the woods once, I mean where else would a
    tree be standing? Com-on steve stop it !!!  it was a very interesting
    set up. What the owner had done was make a ladder from smaller pine
    trees. I was about 10' tall. At the top he built a platform and tied
    one side to the tree. All the nails in the set-up were in the ladder.
    There are commercial ladder stands in hunting books. All you need to
    make one in the woods is a brush saw a few nails and some rope.
    
    
    	      platform ------|	| |
    			     v	| |
    			    ~~~~~ |
    			   /	| |
    	    ladder ---- > /	| |<--tree
    			 /	| |
    
    	What is really neat about this setup is that it blends in with the
    woods. Don't de-bark the ladder uprights or rungs.
    
    	Steve 	

    
    Steve,
    
          I have been thinking about a set up like the one you described,
    I even have the ladder made already, my problem was/is how to attach
    the platform to the tree. I take it the stand you saw had the platform
    nailed directly to the ladder, then the ladder tied to the tree?
    
          Another problem I should mention is that I make a 200lb. deer
    look very small, so i need something sturdy. That's why I like the
    idea I have, but I don't want to get hasseled by a warden or destroy
    any trees. 
    
                                          
                                   Walt

    	Walt,
    
    	Correct the ladder is all nailed together and the platform is nailed
    to the ladder. there was an additional brace I forgot to draw in. There
    is an angle brace from the end of the platform that attaches to the
    tree back to the ladder. This adds A LOT of strength to the platform
    ladder assembly. You can lean the thing up against the tree and climb
    without it being tied in. Then tie it once you are up there.
    
    	Steve Still_trying_to_get_the_tree_to_sit 8*)
    
    	
                        
                       

    
    just for the heck of it I called the DOF&W to ask about this. But
    first a couple of pointers if you should decide to call.
    
       A. don't call after 4:30 cause they're closed and don't want
       to answere the phone. (so why did he pick it up!)
       B. Don't ask any questions cause they're too busy to answere
       them.
       C. Even though he may say something different than what the abtract
       says, he is still right! So don't argue with him, you'll get
       ulcers.
    
    Anyway, the gist of the conversation was that no one may drive nails
    into any tree at any time even if it's on your own property. he
    said that if it damages a tree it is against the law. Since this
    guy was a jerk I don't know whether or not to believe him. I quoted
    what the absrtact said and he said it was wrong. So dont use and
    nails, bolts, etc.....
                                 Walt                      
    

    Walt,
    	You're getting married! Congratulations.
    
    Are you moving into a home or an apartment?  If you're moving into
    a home why not buy one of those folding ladder combinations from
    the lumber yard. Paint the ladder camo and use it hunting. After
    the season it could be used around the house.
    
    
    Tom

    
    Tom, thank you and great idea, but I live in an apt. and don't have
    enough room for her and all my hunting stuff as it is . 
                   
     
    Hope she don't mind living with her mother awhile longer 8')
    
                                        Walt
    

    re .24 You could offer her a choice - either move into a larger
    apartment or you get a new pickup truck (to store hunting gear 
    in :-) )

    
    Any one know if its legal in MA to use screw in tree steps?
    
    

    
    It's a slow day so I thought I'd take the time to update you guys
    on my treestand. Peter (a read only member of this conference) and
    I went out last saturday to put up our treestands. We started with
    mine, I had bought some new rope and decided to lash the two 2x4's
    to the trees. I managed to this this then I put on top of them 2
    peices of wood about 3'x 1'x 2". I then bravely stepped onto the
    platform and low and behold....it held! it's about ten feet in the
    air and I can see all around and have plenty of shooting lanes.
    Now all I need is the deer to cooperate......
             
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           |--|  top   |--|
              |  view  |
           |--|        |--|
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    An artist I'm not but you get the idea. Pete's is somewhat like
    mine but not as high up.....
                                        
                                Walt
    

    Walt
    	10 ft. is kind of low so be carefull and stay still while on
    stand as if you were on the ground.  If the stand were a little
    higher (like 15') it would afford you the opertunity to move around
    a little bit.
    
    Tom

    re.  22
    	<...no one may drive nails into any tree at any time even...
    on own property.>
    
    	DEAD WRONG!?!
    
    		The question came up last night at the 2nd meeting
    of a Hunter Safety Course I brought my son too.  You can do what
    ever you want to your own tree (or with permission of another
    landowner).  Nails or screws  in trees on state land are forbidden.
    You may however affix a tree stand but it must be removed after
    30 days.  This according to the warden from Rutland, MA. 
    		We shouldn't forget that many hunting laws are open
    to interpretation.  I got that last night from answers from this
    particular warden such as: "I'd allow that", "I wouldn't have a
    problem with that" etc.  One example.  Your license by law must
    be clearly displayed at all times.  This particular warden wouldn't
    hassle you in camo, in a tree stand during bow season if you 
    removed the shiny license holder and put it in your pocket, as long
    as you pinned it back when you started to move.  Another warden
    might write you up.
    
    Andy
    

    
    Well guys only three more days of freedom, today is my last day
    of work then I'm off until one week from monday. My schedule is
    as follows: 
                Friday: Hunt
                Sat.  : Hunt
                Sun a.m. target practice/ Sunp.m. get married.
    
                                         
    Then off to Pa for a coulpe days, is bow season still open down there?
    That'll really tick her off! See ya'
    
                                   Walt
                                       

    Walt,
    
    		She must be one fine lady to convince you to get married
    during Deer season.
    
    		Congratulations,
    
    		Red

    
    Thanks Red, 
         She aint so bad, she can cook, clean game, scale fish, shoot
    straight. Yeah, I think I'll keep her for awhile....
                                   
                                   Walt

    ...send picture of boat and motor.

    Seriously, congratulations. I'm off next week myself, for a 
    vacation in Vermont. Bringing bow for deer, shotgun for turkey,
    22 for squirrel. I'll probably be glad to get back to the job,
    so's I can get some rest :-)

                                                  
    Well guy's I'm back. We had a great time, lots of food and drink
    and we even managed to get out and see real deer. We stopped at
    a place called Dingmans falls and saw two does and one big buck.
    The buck was in the middle of the road about 30 yards away. What
    a sight! We stopped in at the info center and started talking to
    one of the rangers there and happened to mention that we saw the
    deer. She replied that hunting season was open and the deer were
    coming down to the road side where it was safe. I could tell right
    away that she was anti so I said to her, "You mean to tell me that
    hunting is allowed here". She said that because it was a recreation
    area they *had* to let people hunt there. I then asked about the
    park and he said it was 70,000 acres and then she gave me a nice
    color topo map of the park showing all the trails. It should come
    in handy next year when I head down there for bow season. Maybe
    I'll stop in and thank her for the map.....
                                            
                                                  Walt
    

    
    Anybody know a place in southern NH that is selling Loggy Bayou tree
    stands?  I tried steve's in Hooksett but he was out.  Went to the KTP
    but they seemed pricey and of course getting someone to help you is
    like pulling teeth.  Any locations/prices would be helpful!
    
    Thanks,
    
    -Kendall

RE:  <<< Note 552.35 by 2CRAZY::BROWN >>>
    
    -Kendall


BILLS ARROW SHOP carries them, give him a call... (508)345-6556, located 
in Fitchburg, Ma...  not sure what he get's for them...  which model were 
you interested in???

Fra

    If local establishments don't have it, try Gander mtn, or Bass pro. 
    With fed ex you can have it next day.
    
    bob
    

    
    Fra -
    
    Not too sure of the model #, it was a climber with a climbing aid/fold
    down seat/safety harness.  The climbing aid was extra.  Real nice
    looking stand, I've tried Corkys stand (Loggy) before and really liked it,
    seems to be very stable.  Thanks for the info!
    
    -Kendall
     

Kendall,

If your looking for a climber thats the one to buy... But if your just 
looking for a hangon stand, try the Hang-On Lite or the Loggy Cheap Seat, 
Both are essentially the same as the loggy, less the climbing band...  
And the cost is considerably less...  All depends on what you after.

good luck, Fra
     

    Sportsman's Corner in New Ipswich carries them, Kittery does as well
    and it's not too far. 
    
    -donmac

    
      You might want to try Pellitiers in Jaffery also... I bought my
    Amacker Deer Thief magnum there for a decent price...
    
      This is a nice sturdy stand (500 lb limit) but GAWWWD is it heavy
    to haul anywhere on your back... (35 lbs %-(  sheesh!)
    
    Joe