What's the longest time you ever spent in a tree stand?

[Twanger]

I just got back from a VA mountain hunt, and set my personal record on time in a tree. 5:15am to 5:15 pm. Exactly 12 hours. Man, did my butt hurt for the last two or three hours. my longest before that was about 5-1/2 hours.

Of course, I didn't see a single deer that day! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Anybody been up there longer than that?

-Twanger

[ncboman]

I'm not sure if I have ever pulled one any longer than that but close. I spent 4 long days up a tree in a row in Illinois a couple of years ago without coming down...but I was seeing deer once in a while.

Do you have strange little thoughts while you are on a stint like that? Like, am I crazy? Is this like being in jail? Will this really pay off in the long run? Why am I so hungry? or, no one can treat me as bad as I can treat myself.

I'm glad I am not the only looney out here and think it is great that you are paying your dues. Doing things like that really give you a good sense of satisfaction even when it is for naught, just knowing what it really is about.

Good huntin and believe me it will pay off for you eventually in self confidence.

Something I have developed doing this is an extreme sense of the ability of my equiptment to do the job if the shot ever comes. The last thing you want to happen during a stay like that is to have something go wrong at the moment of truth.

Maybe next year we can get together and go somewhere in search of a world class animal. ;)

[Kyarcher]

Hunted a trail several times back in the late 70's and never saw a deer. Well I was determined to see exactly what time of the day they were using it so I stayed from dawn till dark and never saw a single deer. Not much of a feat but I was in a Baker climber with NO seat! I stood the whole time! Boy was I stiff when I came down.

[Dan Jackson]

Kyarcher - I remember those bakers - 10 years ago found me perched up in a tree standing in a baker. I could stand in those bakers for about 7 hours...that's about all I can take of standing ;)

[hatracked]

I usually put in a half dozen days during the rut where i sit dawn till dusk. Typically I am good for about three hours in a permanent stand and in my climber I can hang for three or four hours.

Funny the things that go through your head while waiting. I came to the conclusion last season that overcoming your minds nagging to get down and go home is the toughest part of hunting for me.If you ever watch a big cat on tv or even your house cat stalking and witness the patience involved you will understand what makes em the hunters they are.Patience and waiting for just the right moment to pounce make or break the hunt.

I kill most of my bucks in odd hours when the rest of the hunters are in camp. Being in the stand during what usually is considered the slow times has put me on more big bucks than anything.Sit awhile longer even if its two or three days in a row without seeing a thing they move sometime!

[ November 30, 2001: Message edited by: hatracked ]

[Shadow]

from dawn till about 3:00 for me, then the A.D.D takes over, and I have to get down before I go nuts.

[chansen92]

I have not set in a stand for 12hrs but when I go to sask, canada to hunt deer it is not uncommon to set in a stand for 10hrs at 15-20 degrees below zero. you will test your determination and servival skills to the max. You have to have the ability to totally control your mind or you will never be able to stay on stand. It helps to think of that world record WT that will show up at any minute. Its worth it when you see those monster deer.

[Twanger]

I must be nuts, because I never get bored sitting in a tree stand. Even for 12-hours. I think about every danged thing, and the squirrels keep me guessing. I did fall asleep a couple of times, but hard living and not much sleep was the cause, not boredom.

NCBOWMAN SAID <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Maybe next year we can get together and go somewhere in search of a world class animal. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks NC. I'd like to do that. I've never gone more than a few hours away to hunt deer, but I'd definately like to take a trip out to the mid-west and see, first hand, what all the fuss is about.

-Twanger

[ December 02, 2001: Message edited by: Twanger ]

[swoop]

I've set all day once, and was very sore! Usually, I'll stay in the woods all day but split my time between 2 or sometimes 3 different stands. 4 hours is the norm for me.As far as what I think about...I've got "deer on the brain" disease. Probably couldn't tell ya my wife's name when I'm huntin! ;)

[Nightstalker87]

i have spent nine in a stand once a boy was it cold. i only came down when the snow started coming down.Then it get really dangerous.I did see alot of deer though

[Dan Jackson]

It's amazing what us hunters will put up with just to "sit up in a tree and see deer" tongue.gif Nor wind, nor rain, nor snow will keep me from going :D

[Revclimber]

Dan,

I beg to differ. Really windy or really raining, i am in doors. I am still hunting though. I go to the african safari, colorado hills, and deep in the south on Big Game hunter III. :D

you Might catch me out there in wind. I am not the still hunting type too much though.

[swilk]

I have spent the full day in a stand several times, but will only do it when I truely believe that I will see a a buck worth waiting that long for. My dad sits all day every time he goes out. he only gun hunts, and I lug his Tree Lounge stand in the afternoon before our opener, and lug it out the afternoon after our last day, or when he tags out. Comfortable stand, but too heavy. I use a newer Loggy with the padded seat, not the most comfy thing in the world, but not bad.

[Shadow]

Swilk I agree about the treelounge. I have one too, and it si the greatest thing going once you get it on the tree. Until then, you better have a good back. They newer model is actually a lot lighter.

[swilk]

Yeah, I think that the new ones go like 19lbs or something like that. Dad is actually talking about getting a new one, just to see if it is light enough for him to lug around, and if he does, hes says he'll give me his old one. We are supposed to be joining a lease this next year in southern Illinois, so Ill use it more or less as a permenant stand on the lease. Im not sure what the old ones weigh, but I'd guess around 35-40lbs when full equiped.

[Trumbull Archer]

I have 3 permenent stands that where built with my kids in mind, therefore they are large,completly covered in military camo netting to hide movement,high up but easy to climb,easy to get to. very comfortable.Best of all they've all produced deer. I have spent many dawn to dusk in them. but only 4 or so in climber.
T.A.

[ December 21, 2001: Message edited by: Trumbull Archer ]