WestKyTeacher Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I hope this is the correct forum. How do you get your gun up the tree after climbing up? I mostly hunt in a climber but also hunt out of a ladder stand. In the past I always used a string to pull it up barrel first (I know, not very smart), but I made sure it was unloaded and the chamber open. My concerns (besides shooting myself) are not knocking the scope out of line when lowering it to the ground and how do you keep things out of the barrel when lowering it if you tie to the stock like most safety statements tell to. Please give me a detailed way or website that shows a safe way to do this. Almost forgot, if using a climber I don't like leaving my gun under the tree just in case something falls and hits it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007hunter Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I hardly ever hunt out of a treestand during rifle season but when I do I unload the gun and just sling it over my shoulder and go up. Not an option for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdavis Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I don't use climbers very often but I run the rope through the chamber; this way the barrel is always pointing at the ground. Leave the rope about 4' above the ground and your gun will never touch the ground. Lower it really slow so it's not banging up against the tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Bowhunter14 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 i just sling it over my shoulder... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tetro Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I'm in a postion too where I just sling it over my shoulder. Our stands are permeant and the ladder our slanted enough so we're not climbing straight up. Plus the floor is usually about 4'x4' so when i reach the top I remove the rifle and set it on the floor beside climbing in. This way I'm not hitting the sight or barrel arond the opening of the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruse Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I just use a rope. I tie on end to the stand before I climb. The only thing I worry about is the rope grabbing a branch or something else on the way up. I try to pull it up muzzle down. When I pass it down I do it the same just make sure it is unloaded all the way. I have even let the rope go to soon but did nothing to the scope. Good luck help it helps. bruse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Continue to use a rope to hoist your weapon after you are set and tied off. Depending on how high up go, give an extra 5' or so extra of rope, so the UNLOADED weapon lays flat as you climb. You can put markers on the rope to determine your height as you climb. If you can climb the tree, there has to be no branches in the way of your climb right? So as long as you don't jerk your rifle as you climb, and let it lay down slowly when descending. Any decent scope and mount ought to handle that kind of handling. As far as barrel obstructions...well, its your job as the shooter, to make sure the barrel is unobstructed before you fire; knowing the kind of handling that the gun just endured. A simple fix would be a piece of good electrical tape over the muzzle. It will not effect your accuracy. I do this in snowy wet weather. Keeps the the junk out. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Depends on the stand I am hunting. Usually I carry it on my shoulder going up the ladders of our blinds and ladder stands. My climbers and hangons I usually use a pull rope, and I tie my pull rope to the sling so that the gun is laying flat. My pull ropes are fastened to ez hangers and are set so that the rope is about a foot below my eye level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Depending on the stand I'm using, I employ different methods. Like a lot here, I'll just sling it over my shoulder sometimes. Other times when I use a rope, I tie one end to the stand, ensure the rifle is unloaded and lean it against the tree on the side where I'm sitting, when I stop climbing, it is directly below me off just off to the side so when I pull the rope I can ensure it doesn't bang agains the tree. When I get ready to leave, I slowly lower it to the ground, tied to the front of the sling mount and gently lay it completely down. This is all if I can't find a limb close to where I'm climbing to tie a permanent rope to a couple feet off the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestKyTeacher Posted October 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Thanks, I do use the sling on my ladder stands but on the climber this is not an option. I make sure to raise and lower it slowly not to hit anything. Was just trying to find out how others do it and how they lower it so the barrel does not go down first and stick in the ground. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Thanks, I do use the sling on my ladder stands but on the climber this is not an option. I make sure to raise and lower it slowly not to hit anything. Was just trying to find out how others do it and how they lower it so the barrel does not go down first and stick in the ground. Thanks for the info. Get you a $4 pull rope and tie it to a hanger. Most pull ropes I have seen are adjustable, even if they are not, you can tie a knot in them so that when lowered all the way down it will not go all the way to the ground. I do not like to leave my bow or gun on the ground, usually too much junk at ground level to get tangled on, plus it is just easier to clip on without having to reach/bend down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie234 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Like you I make sure it's unloaded and tie the end of the rope onto the frond swivel. It will lay flat on the ground or lean it up against a nearby tree. I have 20 ft of pull up rope and usually only go no higher than 12 to 15 ft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 The gun is thrown over my shoulder on a sling as I climb up into the tree. I usually hunt out of ladder stands so it's not really a big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predator Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 I tie the gun to a rope to form a triangle so the gun is horizontal or slightly barrel down on the way up or down. Hard to describe but I run rope through trigger guard or rear sling mount then a knot around the barrel and tie a bolin in the free standing part. On way down try to set it away from the tree or the "back side" so you don't step on it getting out of the climber stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 I just carry it on my shoulder when climbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 I never climb into any stand with the rifle on my shoulder. I always tie a pull rope off to the middle of the sling and lay it off to the side. If I'm using a ladderstand I've installed one already. I also tie off my fannypack where it would be about 4 feet above the rifle on the rope. If I'm using a climber I tie off the other end of rope to the top portion of the stand. When I am anchored in the stand I'll turn around and begin to pull up my gear. When the fannypack lifts off the ground I hesitate for a short while to stabilize the rope and stop any swinging it may have developed. Then I slowly lift the rifle off the ground. When I'm lowering the gear I slowly let the rifle contact the ground and settle. Then I'll move my arms over to one side or the other and lower the fannypack until it's on the ground. I've always been more worried about me falling with the rifle on my back than me falling on my rifle thats on the ground. I've never had a good enough reason to climb into any stand with the rifle on my back. Another thing is that with the fannypack tied above the rifle when I feel it lift off the ground I know I'm at the height I want to be;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 I do both, whatever I feel like for the day. I do however empty the firearm completely, and leave the bolt open either way. I also sling the rifle over BOTH of my shoulders when climbing with it though, as it has a tendancy to want to slip off just my one shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 on ladder and hang on stands I leave the rope short enough so the gun is hanging off the ground.... in my climber that's not an option so I'm just careful when raising and lowering my bow or gun (unloaded). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 i aways use a rope to get the gun up in the tree with me, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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