quote:Originally posted by TimDougan: Thanks for the input guys i looked at the Timbertall at the ETAR. Not sure about the rail getting in the way Urbandeerslayer let me know how you like it. Vter the woods are not real big 500 to 2500 acres so out walking some one is tough. Good advise though and has worked for me in other locations.I am leaning towards a hang on and muddy steps. Thanks. TD.
I may give the TimberTall a test run this weekend to see how I shoot with climbing rail obstruction. I'll post it up once I give it a go.
-------------------- Shoot Straight, Feel Great! Posts: 292 | From: PA | Registered: Jun 2012
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The versatility of light sticks or rapid rails plus a light hang on stand has tons of advantages over a climber.
The Ameristep rapid rails and hang on stand are good. So is the lone wolf sticks and hang on stand. They both let you hunt out of trees with far more cover to conceal yourself.
That said, I use a Summit Open shot climber. I don't use the sticks and hang on stand for one reason only. I get nervous I might slip on the sticks or rails if it is wet or snowy. Even with a lineman's belt, those steps hurt if you fall even a few inches into one. The rapid rails would eliminate that problem though.
So..... as always, go with your preference. If it was a climber you are interested in, then Lone Wolf is excellent and the Summit Openshot is pretty good too. Summit having a far lower price. If you want a good sticks and hang on combo, my preference would be the Ameristep rapid rails and hang on.
Good luck!
Posts: 2924 | From: Galion, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2006
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I'll always take a climber if I can, I feel safer in one. I hate hanging sticks and a strap on. The strap on will go into any tree though, so for versatility it's tough to beat.
I have both Lone Wolf hand climber and and Alpha hang on with LW sticks. Both are great, but like I said, the climber for me if at all possible.
A neat thing about the hand climber is that you can leave the platform home and take just the seat portion if you are hunting from the ground. Strap it too a tree and it makes a great little seat. I use it that way a lot for run and gun scouting trips.
Posts: 916 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jul 2007
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Hang on and sticks. Nothing worse than finding "the tree" and not being able to climb the darn thing because it isn't climber friendly.
-------------------- "Teach him horsemanship and archery, and teach him to despise all lies" -Herodotus Posts: 3484 | From: Linn, MO | Registered: Oct 2004
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Get a good loc on and a woodpecker drill and a bunch of bolts. Take your stand and the bottom few bolts in and out with you or get a good climber. I have a lone wolf and 4 loc ons. I hunt any tree that will hold me and seldom hunt the same tree more than three times in a year.RC
Posts: 4076 | From: Baxley,Ga | Registered: Mar 2003
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Woodpecker and a fanny pack of bolts for getting up the tree. Too much noise and too much scent associated with the sticks for slippin in and setting up. Rubber gloves when sticking bolts in holes will help with some of the set up sent in the mornings.
For stand choice I would highly recommend Chippewa wedge loc. It will come with 2 brackets when purchased but making additional brackets is simple. 5-6 foot chain, 1 s hook, and two tennis balls. You can leave your brackets in the trees, take out first 4 bolts. You can have multiple set ups ready and this system is far better than any stick and loc on set up. Wedge locs are the easiest stand bar non to hang and hunt and take back out. There are many great loc ons out there on the market, and I have used many of them. The lone wolf stands are good, just as good as the chipewas, but their hanging system does not compare when slipping into a place climbing a tree with stand on your back, taking it off shoulder and placing in bracket and being sitting down in less than a minute and very very quietly.
As far as climbers. You will want something that is open front. IMHO climbers highly limit opportunities when shooting stickbows, because of their lengths and lack of cover. Also, i just never liked or was tought to hang stands from light poles. I like trees with cover for all the apparent and many other reasons. Cover is critical when shooting critters with a stickbow. We do not have the luxary to draw back and hold 10 lbs and wait 3 minutes for a deer to close the distance. It is nice when that big ol slickhead is about 7 yards and i am nestled in a knarly cedar, and she never knows what hit her or where it came from.
I have a lone wolf hand climber. Best climber on the market for ease of use, quietness, and stability. Like a loc on with no cover when you get to desired elevation. Down fall is it is not a very comfortable stand for long sits. The open front summits are not as quiet and stable as the lone wolfs but they are far more comfortable.
If you get the chance to preset up your stands the woodpecker bit will fit in a cordless drill and you can knock out some stand sites effortlessly. One thing I do if hunting an area where I am not worried about others is I will stick bright eyes directly below my woodpecker holes where they are easy to see in the dark. Dont put them above the holes or you will tear them off with your boots.
Posts: 150 | From: Manchester, TN | Registered: Jul 2004
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Been using a LW and sticks for 16 years. Even on private ground I never leave a stand up and every sit is a fresh set. You never educate deer. Takes me less than ten minutes to set up; one time up and pull up the bow. The LW and some modifications makes everything very quiet- have set up within 50 yds of deer without them knowing. A climber would limit me. Once you learn the style you may never go back! In recurring areas you develop trees year after year- there are times I go back to a tree I hunted a few years before. Most guys who hunt with me have to learn this as it is how I hunt. I also wear a turkey vest with all my gear in the same pockets; a quick prune or saw is easy to grab and place back.
-------------------- After cursing through every slice and missed shot on the first nine holes, a golf partner said to his frustrated and cursing partner, "I think I can tell you your problem." "Really?" "You just aren't that good." Posts: 1778 | From: Kansas | Registered: Feb 2004
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What modifications did you make to your LW. I have the same stand and use it regularly, just prefer the Chippewa when setting up and hunting if stand not already hung. Then I have trees all over with brackets done hanging. I only hunt private ground so I done got stand sites selected with woodpecker holes drilled and brackets mounted all over the place. I end up with about $4 per bracket for my chippewa stand.
I have a set of the LW sticks and they are by far the most versitile and best sticks out there, but I still find trees every once in a while that have the small limbs down lower here or there that make them cumbersome to hang.
Posts: 150 | From: Manchester, TN | Registered: Jul 2004
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I use climbers most of the time and of the ones I have now I like the Lone Wolf Hand Climber best, then the Summit Open Shot. I also use a Loc-On Limit with the fold up type screw in steps (they go in fairly easy) for some spots.
I carry a Gerber folding saw and if I have to I'll saw a few limbs to use a climber. I use to think it would run all the deer off with the sound, but found out I still see deer anyway.
Posts: 1076 | From: illinois | Registered: Oct 2005
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I'd love to hear how you do it all in one trip... I used a LW hang on and sticks for a couple years and still have it but now use a LW Sit and Climb more...
Please share you system and how it works... I'd love to go back, because there are trees you can't hunt with a climber as many have mentioned...
Jonathan
-------------------- TGMM - Family of the Bow PBS Associate Posts: 758 | From: Jeffersonville, IN | Registered: May 2004
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I have listed/explained my process before and stand modifications before. It has been some time though. Would you guys want me to post here or start a new thread?
-------------------- After cursing through every slice and missed shot on the first nine holes, a golf partner said to his frustrated and cursing partner, "I think I can tell you your problem." "Really?" "You just aren't that good." Posts: 1778 | From: Kansas | Registered: Feb 2004
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KSdan feel free to share. Thanks for the input guys. Screw in steps are not allowed on are public land here in Pa. I had a Lonewolf used it one time just wasn't for me not stable enough. Had flash backs of my Baker climber i just don't have the confidence in climbers. Thought some improvements may have been made since i last had one. Leaning towards Muddy sticks and a Chippewa Quest.This will be my carry in and out system i will still have some stands set where i don't have problems.Thanks again guys. TD.
Posts: 831 | From: Erie, PA | Registered: Mar 2006
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I sold two Summit RazorSS stands cause I couldnt climb anymore. The Razors climbing/shooting rail will fold down out of the way. The stand was very comfortable and quiet. I could stay in it from daylight till dark but I was wore out. If you are in good shape and have good dexterity I would get a lockon for the reasons stated above. Heck maybe have both a climber and a lockon and you would be covered. Take the climber when you want to walk in and hunt the same day and have the locons for those great trees with limb cover.
-------------------- 66"Howard Hill Big 5 50#@27" 68"Northern Mist Classic 50#@27" 67" Howard Hill Half Breed 53@27" Posts: 1004 | From: Alabama | Registered: Apr 2007
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Climber for me. I'm a public land hunter and I move to much to bother with ladders,steps etc. I used to hang stands for myself and my dad and I will climb any day.
Posts: 910 | From: NEW JERSEY | Registered: Jul 2004
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