run and gun setup...

[Bill Frederick]

KS Dan, do I understand you correctly?  You carry 2 - 3 sticks and then move them up with you as you ascend.  Thus you can climb high with just a couple of sticks.

Isn't it hard to reach down and SAFELY disconnect the stick below you?  

I'm a climbing stand guy so trying to understand how to make sticks work without the weight of hauling 4+ sticks around.  I appreciate an explanation of how you use your sticks.

Great thread.

Bill

[reddogge]

little_feather, on the hooks, I've used for the past 46 years several of 2 or 3" cup hooks from the hardware store. They weigh nothing, take up little space, go into the tree fast and hold the bow and Arrowmaster quiver. If you forget them (and I have) no big deal or expense. I love the little hooks mainly to hold the bow and quiver when first getting set up and organizing everything. Last season I didn't put one in and while getting organized the bow slid off of my lap down to the ground.

Bill, I re-read KSDan's post and the link to my old 2012 post provided by Yohon and got the impression he used more than two sticks. He just hangs two conveniently up in the tree so he can grab them on the way up after he mounts two on the tree.

[Cmane07]

I hunt mobile probably 85% of the time.  I use a Lone Wolf alpha climber and then have what little gear I carry (gloves, facemask, tab) in my Hunters safety system vest.  Never carry hooks, I've always liked to hold my bow in my lap.

[KSdan]

I use 3-4 sticks. reddogge has it correct.  
1) I take all sticks off upon arrival at the tree.  
2) I loosen the straps.  
3) Put the stand back on my back.  
4) I then loosely hang/set sticks 3-4 either in a limb or on a small screw-in bow holder if needed.
5) While on the ground I attach stick 1.  I hold it against the tree with my chest while I throw the strap around the tree.  (It does not have to be ultra tight as the stick wedges down as you put weight on it)
6) I step up and do the same thing again with the 2nd stick.  
7) I then step up on the 2nd and retrieve the 3rd from its hanging place.  
8) I proceed with the 4th if needed (I also have a few screw-in steps in my vest if I need an extra step on a crooked trunk or similar).  
9) I use a linemans's strap if I can, though most trees I climb have far too numerous limbs.  
10) Once on the third stick I have a lineman strap on- I take off the stand and attach it. (Another helpful thing here for guys with shorter arms is to first screw in a tree step near the seat height- then have a small rope loop on the upright of your stand [behind the seat] so you can just place the loop over the step and take the weight off while you attach the strap. Remove the loop once you strap it.)
11) I then attach a safety rope above the stand- and reattach to it before I step onto the stand.
12) Once on the stand I reposition the safety prussic system higher. I screw in a couple bow holders.  I place my vest on a hook on the trunk.  I pull up the bow.  Ready to go.

Notes:  
-I have yet to see the value of the hook system on a LW.  Even if you use the hook, you still have to use a strap.  AND I have heard of guys putting a lower strap on the stand which put force upward allowing the hook to become undone.  The stand fell forward when they stepped on!!  I would rather trust a top strap- and a lower if it makes you feel more secure (never needed one).  
- I do not know about all LW stands- but mine are equipped with a V-bracket at the top (as are most other good stands out there).

Works for me. . . sure there are other ways
Dan in KS

[wtpops]

I just picked up an X-Stand sit and climb. Its weight is about 12 lbs. Have been out climbing trees for the past 2 weeks and it works very well.

Disclaimer: I am 57 and this will be my first season in trees. I have no experience with tree stands this is my first one. I wanted something light weight that would allow me to move around on public land. I also picked up a Spider Wire Micro harness (easy to put on and light weight) and a Live Wire decent system (will lower me to the ground if i fall).

[Hoyt]

This is how I go every hunt when using climber on public land and I always hunt public land.

Same set-up when using loc ons.

I bone and pack the meat out so have to always carry backpack. I just put what's in the main compartment of backpack in trash bag and hide till the next day and put the meat in to pack out.

I'm 67 with a lot of ailments and little over a mile back in the ridges in this pic. So I cut every corner I can weight-wise when possible.

Cold weather is the worst..that backpack is carrying mostly clothes. Pruners, saw, gps, woodpecker drill, bolts, climbing harness and belt are on my waist and belt.

 

[Bill Frederick]

Thanks for the explanation Reddogge and Dan.  I thought maybe I'd been overlooking a way to use sticks.  

When I do the math, 4 sticks plus a stand comes out quite a bit heavier than my LW climber.

Bummer because I'm looking for lighter wt, yet portable set up for my 10 yr old son to use, when he comes out with me.  15 - 20 lbs of stand and steps + clothes and gear gets a bit heavy for him.  Looks like we'll stay on the ground for another year when we are together.

Bill