Tree Stand Placement

[ydeardorff]

I just bought a viper classic climbing tree stand by summit along with some mossy oak noseeum blind material to attach to it. Its on its way via FedEx, but I was curious when is the best time to place the stand in my spot? Or is it just a crap shoot as to when is the best time. If hunting pressure makes the bear go nocturnal, I could screw things up by going there to set up at 4am,  or possibly setup at dusk, and spend the night in the stand and wait till morning?
i know i need to be about 25-30 feet off the ground, but just curious when the best time to setup would be.

[Ranger91298]

My personal opinion it depends on what kind of tree stand. If it is a stand that you have to secure to the tree with a strap I would put it in several days in advance so that your not messing with it the day of and trying to secure it in the dark. If it is a climbing tree stand; personally I would carry it in with you the day of unless its a pain to carry in due to weight or distance. If it's going to hinder you from moving into your stand quietly I might throw it in the brush and cover it up midway to your stand; this would help you from getting too tired. I would not leave it laying in the general location of where you plan to hunt as it will obviously leave your smell. 

[ydeardorff]

Well my summit viper classic arrived today,

OMG, I love this thing.

I followed the DVD's instruction to put the thing together, took out with the included safety harness, All I can say is I love this thing. 30 feet later Im up in position. My son comes out into the woods behind our home looking for me after completing his home work, he heres me using a fawn bleat, I stop, he freezes, looking around for the sound. I look at him wearing his new hoodie, and I say "nice jacket".... It takes him about ten seconds to find me up in the tree. and he says "WOW" "How'd you get up there!"

Its not too heavy (27 lbs) and very quiet to get setup, installed, and then also in climbing up. The ascent and descent were very easy, and the stand felt very solid the entire time.

I cant wait to scout some new territory to use it in. The one thing I will say, is get a stand with a upper surround bar like this one has. cause when you have to shoot you will be standing up. and having a ring of steel around your waist, makes you feel a lot more comfy, than not.

[shredneck666]

If I got time,, I like to put my stand up at least 2 weeks before I am planning on using it.  It is gonna leave a scent, so I like the animals to get 'used' to it being there.  (I also have a climber.)  I will throw some dirt, branches, sticks, etc . . ., whatever the ground cover is on it to hide it and attempt to make it smell like its supposed to be there.

[ydeardorff]

I'm leaving mine hanging from a hook(s) outside under my garage carport away from anything that isn't natural. Its nothing but wood, and trees back there.
But Im not leaving my prize out in the woods,   

Plus I have to work on finding myself a tree to put it on, not just pack it around all day looking for a spot. It would get heavy quick!

[shredneck666]

I hear ya on leaving it on a tree.  I bring a padded bike chain-lock with me and hook my stand to the tree!  If someone takes it, well they wanted it pretty bad and the next time I booby trap it!

[ydeardorff]

Well 7 hours in the stand today resulted in Zero Bears. I went up an Alder tree, about 25 feet over looking a stream that apparently no longer has any salmon in it. 
After calling on and off every other hour. I pulled a Lynx out of the brush with the cotton tail call on my cell phone. (So at least I saw something)

A NOTE to other people getting or whom are new to climbing tree stands. Thin barked trees like alders can be sketchy climbing. The teeth on the back of the stand need to be FIRMLY planted into the tree. This can be easily done by giving it a couple of good bounces. But if you forget, "Shwoop" You'll have a quick ride back down.

Either someone else got the bear Ive been after, or he's moved on. It seems like all or most of the berries are now gone, the salmon runs have dried up, leaving an empty forest aside from deer.

Im starting to think the bears have moved nocturnal, and or have moved up high. Which sucks for me as I did no alpine scouting. (note to self for next year)

Now also It appears the jig is up on my semi hidden spot. Ive had the luck of arriving first now two days in a row, while other hunters pull up, and stop, turn around and leave. I was the only guy using this spot as far as I know.