Treestand Clothesline

By R. A. Burgin (Blacksmith)

As a member of the grey-haired group of bowhunters I prefer to hunt on the ground. For those who like treestands, I have an idea for a haul line that is always at hand and less likely to get tangled.

Go to your favorite department store and pick up a camp clothesline reel. Zip tie the reel to your climbing stand, or hook it to your belt. Tie the clothesline to your bow or gear. As you climb it will silently feed out line. When you are safely in the stand, just reel in your gear and the line is stored until you are ready to climb down. Reverse the process by tying the line to your bow and gear and slowly lowering everything to the ground. Be careful that you don't get caught up in the line while climbing down.

The camp clothesline reel is quiet, compact and inexpensive. I filled my reel with lightweight line and I can go up about 30 feet.