|
|
Post by jajwrigh on Mar 22, 2008 19:19:10 GMT -5
Anyone else still have a stand up somewhere? Between my mid winter back injury and lack of time, today is the first good chance I had to do so. By the way, saw some huge tracks in the woods near the edge of a logging trail. Is it October 1st yet?
|
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Mar 22, 2008 19:23:51 GMT -5
Woodmaster and myself dropped 4 in Indiana last week.
We didn't have the key for one stand, so it is still up.
I've also got one still up in Vanderburgh county
We still have about 8 or 9 up in Illinois - hopefully.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hawkeye on Mar 22, 2008 19:32:44 GMT -5
Take them down? It was two much work putting them up.I just check them real good shortly befor season.
All but two of my stands are permanent, but one climber and one aluminum ladder stand.
|
|
|
|
Post by 10point on Mar 22, 2008 19:47:29 GMT -5
I took one down today that has been in the woods for 3 years. Great time to scout. Unbelievable amount of tracks and droppings where I was.
|
|
|
|
Post by danf on Mar 22, 2008 20:16:28 GMT -5
I've got a ladder stand still up, but it's gonna stay that way until I deem it unsafe. It's one that I made- 12' to the platform, and it's all 2x6 material. Dad and I took it down two years ago, I took it down by myself (and about got hurt doing it) last year. This year I decided to leave it up and I'll just swap out the ratchet straps every year to new ones...
My other ones came down 2-3 weeks ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by whiteoak on Mar 23, 2008 6:27:52 GMT -5
I'm starting to think about HANGING some stands!!!, before the ticks take over the woods...
|
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Mar 23, 2008 8:32:02 GMT -5
I will be pulling some of mine out i the next week or so to do some maintenance on them. Most have been up for 4 years now. Usually I just go around before season and check them in the tree to make sure nothing has broken/rusted/stretched/walked away.
I will take them home and replace anything that needs it and maybe put some rustoleum on different parts ..... then back in the tree they go.
|
|
|
|
Post by trophyhunter1 on Mar 23, 2008 12:53:08 GMT -5
i leave most of mine up also.just check them good before you start hunting out of them during season...
but right now is the time to get out and scout for next season, and pick up a few sheds...
|
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Mar 23, 2008 13:16:11 GMT -5
A question to you guys that leave them up year to year..
Are these the ratchett strap portables or what?
I would be very leary about using a rachet strapped stand after it had been out in the weather and exposed to UV (sunlight) for a year or more. Plus the growth of the tree making it tighter and tighter...and.......POP!!
|
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Mar 23, 2008 16:24:32 GMT -5
Mine are all ratchet strapped ...... I just check everything each year and replace anything that needs it.
I have found that you MUST adjust straps each year because of tree growth. I left a stand without adjusting it for more than a year and the tree didnt break the straps but it started growing around them.
|
|
|
|
Post by ripleyshooter on Mar 23, 2008 19:46:31 GMT -5
The property owner on one of my hunting spots leaves stands up and we go around and check them out and make repairs in August. The bad thing about this method is that we got into bees last year. I pull all of mine down in Jan and put them back up in late summer. Most of my hunting is done in a climber and I carry it out with me every time I leave the woods.
|
|
|
|
Post by 10point on Mar 23, 2008 21:11:40 GMT -5
A question to you guys that leave them up year to year.. Are these the ratchett strap portables or what? I would be very leary about using a rachet strapped stand after it had been out in the weather and exposed to UV (sunlight) for a year or more. Plus the growth of the tree making it tighter and tighter...and.......POP!! The stand I pulled was an old loc on with a chain that I don't even use. I only used it to mark my spot from others. I don't think tree steps are safe climbing up and down unless you are using a climbing system. I used my climber to climb up to it and get it down. |
|
|
|
Post by danf on Mar 24, 2008 6:22:55 GMT -5
A question to you guys that leave them up year to year... I plan on replacing the ratchet strap with a new one on a yearly basis before the season starts. I do not trust nylon to not break down in UV and still retain adequate strength from year to year. swilk is correct, the straps won't break (at least if they are good ones), but the tree will start to grow around them or become girdled by them. A couple of years ago I took down stands that someone else had put up probably 10+ years ago using ratchet straps. Could NOT get the straps to budge, they were so tight. Ended up cutting them and the tree was noticeably indented where the straps had been. |
|
|
|
Post by DEERTRACKS on Mar 24, 2008 6:29:02 GMT -5
Leaving mine up this year. Just removed the cushions.
|
|
|
|
Post by firstwd on Mar 24, 2008 9:59:36 GMT -5
Finially got the last of mine out Saturday, but almost lost a 4-wheeler in the process. That got a lot more rain down there than I did at the house last week.
|
|
|
|
Post by buckeater on Mar 24, 2008 10:59:39 GMT -5
i just hung 10 new stands up last weekend. still have about 8 more or so to do. looks like they will have to wait till i put my cameras back out in june because crappie fishing is going to start for me this week. i might get over to west central illinois this weekend though and try to hang a few over there or at least find some good spots for them.
|
|
|
|
Post by steiny on Mar 24, 2008 19:42:24 GMT -5
I just bought some ground adjacent mine that was riddled with junk, nailed up wooden tree stands and ladders of all types. Ripped down five of them tonight, still have two or three to go. Gonna have a big tree stand fire. Those dang wooden stands are visual pollution.
I'm gonna put up several nice steel ladders and maybe a tower stand and set this ground up nice.
|
|
