This hunting story is so true that I bet a lot of our readers can relate and maybe have been in a similar position at some point during their hunting career.

The story begins on the last day of muzzleloader season in 2005. I headed out into the woods to one of my favorite spots that I had hunted for years.  I had no idea what might be traveling this area (I had not hunted in the area for several weeks) so I was taking a blind shot at hoping to see something.  I should mention that I did not own a muzzleloader at this time, so I was still bowing hunting. Rut that year was a trickle rut in my neck of the woods, because of that it was prolonged well into December that year.  I put a scent wick out with one of my favorite scents just to see what would happen.   The weather was perfect, and even the wind was cooperating by blowing towards a bedding area.  I got up in my tree around 2 pm and settled in for the evening.  I had not seen anything by 4pm, so I started grunting a little just to see if any bucks might be in the area.  After a few minutes, I heard a grunt from over in the thicket. I had no idea how big the buck was, but I knew I had his interest and he was headed in my direction.  Finally, around 4:30 a very respectable 9 point buck walked out of the thicket grunting.  When he came out into the clearing, he had no idea what was grunting back at him, but he was looking to fight.

After a few minutes of him walking back and forth just out of shooting range, I started to think with the sun going down behind the trees that I may never get a shot.  I watched this 9 point buck walk around grunting looking for his opponent for what seemed like forever (about 20 minutes).  Finally, he started walking towards me, I just needed him to walk 15 yards and he would be within bow range.  As he got closer, I got a better look at him and he would have been a nice trophy for any hunter. I was guessing him to score between 120 – 130 inches.  Finally, he was getting ready to turn broadside within bow range.  I got ready to draw my bow and just as I do I hear another grunt, not from me, not from the 9 point, but another buck!!

My first thought was should I attempt to draw and shoot the 9 point or turn around to see what else has walked in from the other side of me.  My first thought was that no smaller buck would have come in grunting that deep, so it had to be something willing to challenge the 9 point.  So…I turned my head very slowly, not moving anything else,  as I turned my head the deer grunted again and as my eyes found the source of the grunting I could not believe my eyes…..

My eyes saw a monster buck, pawing at the ground and grunting, he was ready to fight the 9 point.  This deer made the 9 point look like a baby.  I had to make a choice, I now have a 9 point buck 35 yards off to my left,  and off to the right I have a 11 point buck about 60 yards and closing on me.  I figured since the 11 point was much larger I would wait on him to walk down, plus I now have two sets of eyes rather than just one.  I waited, and I was losing light fast.  Therefore, I decide that they are going to fight, but they are currently in a standoff.  The 9 point has moved behind a fallen tree which means that now I do not have a shot on him.  The 11 point is now about 50 yards away on the edge of the brush.   Finally, the 11 point makes his move, he wraps around the outside of the 9 point, far too far for me to shoot.   Both bucks are now off to my left getting ready to fight, perfect for me as soon as either deer walk out into the clearing.

With just 5 minutes of legal shooting light left, I was ready to draw and the first deer to present a clear shot was mine.  As soon as the 9 point moved, the 11 point put his head down and as he did the 9 point turned and started running.

I think we all know where this story is headed now.  Yes, the 11 point took off after the 9 point and I heard them crash through the woods until they reached the edge of a nearby field.  I sat in my stand for about 25 minutes after dark that evening listening to them fighting about 100 yards away from me.

The moral of the story is that I went out and bought a muzzleloader the very next year.  Had I had my muzzleloader, I probably would have shot the 9 point before I even saw the 11 point.  So since I was bow hunting, I got to see that beautiful buck. Had I not shot the 9 point, I very easily could have shot the 11 point the minute he entered the woods.

I hunted the same area for several nights over the final 4 weeks of hunting season.  Like always when hunting, I never saw either of these bucks again during daylight.   However, that spring I was out shed hunting and I came across one side of the 11 point (pictured below) about 200 yards away from where I had seen him 2 months before.   I do not know what happened to that 11 point buck, I never saw anything even close to him the next fall.  I would also like to note, since I have purchased the muzzleloader, I haven’t seen anything but does during muzzleloader season in all the years since!

I found this to be one of those experiences that many of us might only be presented with once or twice during our hunting careers.  I enjoyed every minute of that evening, but I felt like I missed an opportunity of a lifetime.  The only part that did make me feel a little better was finding the shed that spring. I could finally lay hands on the deer that I had missed out on; even though I was not able to take this trophy.

Have you ever been in a situation like this?  What would you take out of this to turn it into a positive experience?

What do you think the 11 point would have scored, based off the one side of his antlers I found?

Yesterday, we gave you an overview of Summit’s climbing treestands, ground blind, and tree seat.  Today, we present you with the second part of our Summit overview that focuses on hang-on stands, ladder stands, and tripod stand.  If you are in the market for a hang-on stand, ladder stand, or even a freestanding tripod stand, then Summit has you covered!!

Next we will talk about Summit’s variety of hang-on stands:

The rsxEagle Hang-On Stand

The rsxEgale Hang-On Stand is part of Summit’s Raptor Series.  The rsxEagle is the world’s most comfortable Hang-On according to Summit’s website.  It offers a padded seat with 3 inches of padding for all day comfort. The rsxEagle also uses Summit’s Talon bracket system to making hanging the stand very easy.  All around, the rsxEagle sounds like a very comfortable easy to use hang-on stand.

The rsxHawk Hang-On Stand

The rsxHawk is simple, compact, lightweight, and comfortable. It hangs very quickly with Summit’s Talon Bracket System.  This stand is made to be comfortable and reliable day in and day out during the hunting season.

The rsxOsprey Hang-On Stand

The rsxOsprey offers all the same great features as the rsxHawk, only it is built out of steel allowing it be a more affordable option for those looking to not spend a lot of money.  The rsxOsprey uses Summit’s Talon Bracket System, and is quickly adjustable for leveling the platform.  All around great choice if you want a hang-on that does not break your bank.

You can check any of the hang-on stands listed above for more information or to purchase them by clicking on the pictures or links.

Next we have the ladder stand selection from Summit 

Single Shot Ladder Stand

The Single Shot Ladder Stand is built to last. It boasts an over built construction with an extra heavy duty, thick steel that will never let you down.  A thick padded seat for comfort, and all Summit Ladder Stands come with a 4 point fall arrest system, removable bench seat, safety / instructional DVD, 3 stand ratchet straps , written instruction, and a 5 year limited warranty.

Single Shot Magnum Ladder Stand

The Single Shot Magnum is very similar to the Single Shot only it offers more room! Actually, 50 percent more room to be exact.  It offers the same great construction and the thick padded seat for your comfort.  The Single Shot Magnum also comes with a 4 point fall arrest system, removable bench seat, safety / instructional DVD, 3 stand ratchet straps, written instruction, and a 5 year limited warranty.

Double Barrel Ladder Stand

The Double Barrel Ladder Stand is the next step up from Single Shot Magnum it allows you to take a buddy.  The Double Barrel is twice the size of the Single Shot and it is the biggest stand that Summit makes.  It is great for every hunter that wants to take a friend or family member with them, or someone who just wants a little more room to themselves.  It offers all the other great features as the Single Shot and the Single Shot Magnum. It also comes with a 4 point fall arrest system, removable bench seat, safety / instructional DVD, 3 stand ratchet straps, written instruction, and a 5 year limited warranty.

Finally we have Summit’s Tripod Stand:

The Summit Deluxe Tripod

The Summit Deluxe Tripod is Summit’s only tripod style stand.  The tripod style stand is designed to be used anywhere you cannot use or hang a normal treestand.  They are great in areas that lack trees, but still have thick under brush.  The Deluxe Tripod has a platform height of 10 feet, which is a great height. It also offers a roomy metal mesh platform and a 360 degree swivel seat giving you the ability to shoot no matter where your game comes out.  This tripod stand was made to keep up with all the rest and was made to make you feel comfortable, stable, and give you the best chance to harvest the animal that you are after.

Now that I have given you the run down on all of the 2011 Summit treestands, I thought I would give you just a little more information.  Summit also offers a full line of very nice safety harnesses.  They are the Seat-O-The-Pants Harness line, safety should always be your first concern and these harnesses offer both safety and comfort all in one.  Summit also goes out of their way to carry a full line of accessories and upgrades, as well as replacement parts if you already own one of their treestands.  They offer many very useful accessories, a lot of which I use. The fact that you can order replacement parts right off their website without having to find part numbers and all that non-sense is a big plus for me.  So, the next time you are in the market for any type of treestand, check out Summit Treestands and consider giving one of their models a chance next time you head out into the woods.

If you own and Summit or are thinking about buying one, we want to hear from you! Leave a comment and tell us what your thoughts are about Summit and what product you either own or are thinking about buying!

**This is a two-part article; this article will highlight Summit as a manufacturer of treestands and a review of their climbing treestands, ground blind, and tree seat. Stay tuned for part two of this article that will highlight Summit’s hang-on treestands, ladder stands, and the freestanding tripod stand.

Summit is one of the best known manufacturers of treestands and a household name these days. In fact, Summit makes the best treestands on the market in my opinion. Back 30 years ago when the company was started by John Woller, it was just a small backyard company. Now, 30 years later they offer a variety of different products that meet every hunter’s needs when it comes to treestands, safety harnesses, ground blinds, and even comfortable tree seats. If you are interested in more history about Summit, you can check out their About Us page. Summit also offers accessories for all of their stands, as well as replacement parts and this is valuable if you need a replacement part for an older stand that you love. Summit’s customer service and support is second to no one. I have been on both sides of their customer service; I have called for replacement parts for my Summit stand, but I also was in close contact with them while working as a bow tech in a big box retailer. I called them numerous times to help customers figure out problems and answer questions of all sorts. Summit was always there and able to answer the question without leaving me on hold or feeling like they did not care.

I personally have owned a Summit climbing treestand for about 12 years now. I own the Summit Cobra, which was made by them for a long time, and was very popular with bow hunters. This year they released a new version of the Cobra in my opinion called the Summit Dagger Treestand (pictured above). I also own a second climbing treestand by Summit which is the Razor (pictured below), which I got about 5 years ago for people I take hunting with me and now my wife Amber is using as well. I have no complaints about either of these stands, they are very comfortable, lightweight, quiet, very well made, and will never let you down. Interested in any of the stands pictured? You can click any of the links or photos to check them out at Cabelas and get current prices.

Well, enough about what I own, even though I cannot say enough good things about Summit and I would highly recommend a Summit stand to anyone. Even more so to any beginner because they are some of the easiest stands to climb in terms of setup and take down. Summit is one of those companies that has products that are made to last. They continue to build quality products and improve their products based on recommendations by customers and pro’s that use their products. Over my 15 year hunting career, I have been using my Summit stand for 12 of those years, so I speak from experience as I have spent hundreds of hours in my Summit. If you have any questions about a Summit stand, please feel free to email us at (info@bowhuntingmaryland.com) and I will be happy to answer them.

Now for what everyone wants to know…what does Summit has in their 2011 line of treestands. Let’s look at what Summit offers this 2011 hunting season and I will give you a little info about each product and my opinion of course. You will note that all the climbing stands have an SD after their names, this stands for Sound Deadening. Summit offers their Dead Metal Sound Deadening Technology on all their climbers this year. Another new feature for this hunting season is all climbers come assembled from the manufacturer this year (in the past some assembly was required). I welcome both of these new features and applaud Summit for both!

We will start with Summit’s Ground Blind offering:

Summit Predator Blind

The Predator blind offers an open front design for optimal shooting paths, lightweight, easy setup, and collapses down into a carry bag for easy carrying. This is great blind for anyone looking for an open front design for easy shooting. It’s small, easy to setup and take down, and would allow you take it long distances and not weigh you down. I think for the price this is a great buy, you can click the picture above to head over to Cabelas to purchase it.

Next we have Summit’s Tree Seat offering:

Summit Trophy Chair

The Summit Trophy Chair has been around for 14 years. The Trophy Chair is designed based on comfort, with a large padded seat, padded arm rests and easy setup; this makes the Summit Trophy Chair the best tree seat on the market in my opinion. The seat is great for deer, turkey, and duck hunting, as well as just a comfortable chair for camping. I highly recommend this seat; I can tell you after hours on a cheaper round swivel seat, I sure would have loved to have the comfort of the Trophy Chair. The Trophy Chair is priced a little bit higher than other tree seats. However, the added comfort is well worth the extra money!

Summit Climbing Treestand offerings:

Summit Blade SD

The Blade’s key feature is that it folds flat, this allows for easy packing and transportation. This treestand offers a padded seat, and arm rests, and a wrap around bar for easier climbing and doubles as a gun rest once you are in the stand. This is an all around great stand for anyone in need of a flat packing, reliable, and comfortable stand. The Blade is a reasonably priced stand for what you get and will make getting in and out of the woods easier.

Summit Dagger SD

The Dagger is an open front stand that is great for any bow hunter. The Dagger offers a lot of the same comfort features as all of their other stands, such as: RapidClimb stirrups, comfortable fully padded seat, and is secure with the QuickDraw trigger system. Similar to the Blade, the Dagger also folds flat for easy packing. Having the older Summit open front model the Cobra, the Dagger folding flat is a great addition to any of their stands! The Dagger seems like a great buy for any bow hunter because it is normally priced slightly lower than other Summit models because fewer materials go into making it, and it has an open front which most bow hunters will tell you that an open front makes for easy shooting while sitting down.

Summit Ultimate Viper SD

The Ultimate Viper is an upgraded version of the Viper. Summit added a fully adjustable gun rest and camo comfort mat for the platform. The platform is filled with noise-reducing expanding foam which is their Dead Metal Technology; it also includes a drop-down camo blind, and an upgraded seat with storage pouches to hold gear, hand warmers and even your breakfast or evening snack. This is the fully loaded version of the Viper, if you are looking for comfort and features the Ultimate Viper is for you.

Summit 180 Max SD

The 180 Max SD is made for those that are looking for a stand that can be set to face the tree, or face away from the tree. It also offers a little extra space for those who want a little more room with an extra 2 inches of room in the top section. It also offers an extra long platform for more maneuverability. It also uses the Dead Metal Technology, and offers a surround seat with a solid core backrest for comfort no matter which direction you are facing. A great stand if your hunting locations demand the ability to change your seat direction, as well as offers you great comfort.

Summit Titian SD

The Titian SD key feature is the fact that it has some more room and is the biggest climber that Summit has ever offered. The top section is based off the Viper top, but with an additional 2 inch of width and length. The platform has an extra 2 inches of length and 1 inch of width, plus a weight limit of 350lbs. The Titian is a great all around treestand if you are looking for some more room or a higher weight limit but still want to keep all the great features and comfort that all the other stands on the market offer.

Summit Viper SD

The Viper as been a bench mark for Summit for many years, and has to be one of the most popular selling climber treestands in my opinion. It offers all the great features of all the other Summit climbing stands and in fact, a lot of those features started out with the Viper. The Viper is quick to setup and take down, comfortable, and offers the Dead Metal Technology to reduce sound. All around a great stand for any type of hunting and will never let you down or leave you feeling uncomfortable while in the woods.

Summit Goliath SD

The Goliath was created about 10 years ago, it was designed off of the Viper. The only difference between the two is that the Goliath offers more room up top and a higher weight rating. It offers a slightly wider top section and a 350lb weight limit. This stand has been very popular since they released it and like the Viper, it will not let you down or leave you feeling uncomfortable.

Summit OpenShot SD

The OpenShot is just what the name says, open. It offers a single flat padded seat for optimum visibility and shooting area. The stand is lightweight and is great for long hikes into the back country or that “secret” hunting spot well off the beaten path. Being one of the cheapest climbers that Summit has to offer makes it very appealing to those not looking to spend a lot of money.

Summit Razor SD

The Razor gives you the best of both worlds if you are looking for a stand that offers a climbing bar to allow you sit while climbing and yet you can fold it out of the way to give you an open front treestand. This is the reason that I purchased the older version which is pretty much same other than it lacks the new Dead Metal Technology. Overall, a great stand for beginners or the avid bow hunter that wants to be able to sit while climbing.

Interested in any of the Summit stands above? Click any of the pictures or links to check them out and purchase them.

Check back with us tomorrow to read the second part of our Summit review. The second part will highlight Summit’s hang-on stands, ladder stands, and tripod stand.