THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE***** I mainly hunt low deer density high elevation mountains. All public. Central PA
This is a long rant about why I built this devise but remember the term BULK and that everything has a positive and negative functionality.
Mobile hunting was a necessity before it was a passion of mine. To this day it is an asset. Scouting is definitely the best method to becoming a better hunter regardless of your hunting strategy. *** I thought scouting would lead to obtaining "spots". But spots go cold and one day of scouting doesn't give an accurate depiction of deer movement. Also until you hunt a spot many times you will not understand the wind and or thermals. For that reason, I did not hang as many stands as I thought I would after 3 years of scouting. Being mobile is important.
I have owned basically everything for being mobile. Old steel climbers, lonewolf assault hand climber(worked well), lone wolf sticks (and customized LW sticks), saddle hunting platforms, and so on for combinations of sticks, hang-ons, and saddle hunting platforms.
MOST IMPORTANTLY. EVERY METHOD HAS A DOWN SIDE!!!!!!!
From my experience I believe it comes down to physical ability and versatility. I will come back to this but "bulk" is the most important thing to me. Considerations: overall weight, tree you can climb(Limbs and trunk size), bulk, speed, noise, sent, userablity.
CLIMBERS are easy to earn and generally do not take much practice or athleticism. But you are limited to straight small to medium trees with no limbs. They are also very bulky. Takes a ton of space on your person. Which makes them loud to move through the woods. but i would say they are quite to get up the tree which is a benefit.
STICKS. Sticks are awesome! Higher end brands are light weight BUT all are bulky. They also take more athleticism. Yes you can climb any tree, go around limbs, and you can hunt with a buddy to film or whatever. The fact that they are left on the tree for a second person is huge and that why most filmers will use sticks for many years. But all the movement makes noise and leaves scent(If you work up a sweat and get flustered). AND THEN you have to hang a stand or platform. Definitely the most moving parts. In most cases the versatility aspects of sticks and hanging far out weighs a climber. But depending if you are using a stand vs a saddle hunting platform it could be the same amount of bulk as a climber.
SADDLE HUNTING. One of the lightest and most versatile methods is saddle hunting. most commonly done with sticks and a hang on platform. They are not comfortable for sitting dark to dark multiple day in a row!!! It takes physical ability to become comfortable sitting in one AND shooting out of one. Also when you get antsy in a saddle you move around alot and make more noise than a stand. This is the nature on the beast if hanging from a rope...
THE ONE STICK METHED. Absolutely takes the most athleticism. Without practice, it certainly is the loudest way to get up a tree. If flustered, leaves the most sent. 100% takes the most practice. And there is very little mainstream use of this method. BUT IT IS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BULK. I chose this method due to size of "gear". Yes it is light but volume on my pack is way more important to me than weight. How can you move quietly though the woods with a folding chair on you back? If you are going to hike 1-4 miles center of gravity on your pack is important as well. If you want to run and gun though thick habitat, less bulk lets you keep moving quietly without getting snagged up. If you want to hunt dark to dark in 20 degree or less weather you need a large volume of clothing. Bulk on the pack or in the hand is everything to me. There a few things I would change about this prototype but all in all I really liked using this devise. Filled my 2020 PA and Ohio tag on public land using this.
The stick consists of a Harken cam cleat, lonewolf tree bracket, 1" square tube aluminum 1/8", 1/8" am-steel rope and a custom aider. All welding of bottom step and platform attachment are 1/8". The aider steps are 16" gapped sewed on an old singer treadle.
This is a long rant about why I built this devise but remember the term BULK and that everything has a positive and negative functionality.
Mobile hunting was a necessity before it was a passion of mine. To this day it is an asset. Scouting is definitely the best method to becoming a better hunter regardless of your hunting strategy. *** I thought scouting would lead to obtaining "spots". But spots go cold and one day of scouting doesn't give an accurate depiction of deer movement. Also until you hunt a spot many times you will not understand the wind and or thermals. For that reason, I did not hang as many stands as I thought I would after 3 years of scouting. Being mobile is important.
I have owned basically everything for being mobile. Old steel climbers, lonewolf assault hand climber(worked well), lone wolf sticks (and customized LW sticks), saddle hunting platforms, and so on for combinations of sticks, hang-ons, and saddle hunting platforms.
MOST IMPORTANTLY. EVERY METHOD HAS A DOWN SIDE!!!!!!!
From my experience I believe it comes down to physical ability and versatility. I will come back to this but "bulk" is the most important thing to me. Considerations: overall weight, tree you can climb(Limbs and trunk size), bulk, speed, noise, sent, userablity.
CLIMBERS are easy to earn and generally do not take much practice or athleticism. But you are limited to straight small to medium trees with no limbs. They are also very bulky. Takes a ton of space on your person. Which makes them loud to move through the woods. but i would say they are quite to get up the tree which is a benefit.
STICKS. Sticks are awesome! Higher end brands are light weight BUT all are bulky. They also take more athleticism. Yes you can climb any tree, go around limbs, and you can hunt with a buddy to film or whatever. The fact that they are left on the tree for a second person is huge and that why most filmers will use sticks for many years. But all the movement makes noise and leaves scent(If you work up a sweat and get flustered). AND THEN you have to hang a stand or platform. Definitely the most moving parts. In most cases the versatility aspects of sticks and hanging far out weighs a climber. But depending if you are using a stand vs a saddle hunting platform it could be the same amount of bulk as a climber.
SADDLE HUNTING. One of the lightest and most versatile methods is saddle hunting. most commonly done with sticks and a hang on platform. They are not comfortable for sitting dark to dark multiple day in a row!!! It takes physical ability to become comfortable sitting in one AND shooting out of one. Also when you get antsy in a saddle you move around alot and make more noise than a stand. This is the nature on the beast if hanging from a rope...
THE ONE STICK METHED. Absolutely takes the most athleticism. Without practice, it certainly is the loudest way to get up a tree. If flustered, leaves the most sent. 100% takes the most practice. And there is very little mainstream use of this method. BUT IT IS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BULK. I chose this method due to size of "gear". Yes it is light but volume on my pack is way more important to me than weight. How can you move quietly though the woods with a folding chair on you back? If you are going to hike 1-4 miles center of gravity on your pack is important as well. If you want to run and gun though thick habitat, less bulk lets you keep moving quietly without getting snagged up. If you want to hunt dark to dark in 20 degree or less weather you need a large volume of clothing. Bulk on the pack or in the hand is everything to me. There a few things I would change about this prototype but all in all I really liked using this devise. Filled my 2020 PA and Ohio tag on public land using this.
The stick consists of a Harken cam cleat, lonewolf tree bracket, 1" square tube aluminum 1/8", 1/8" am-steel rope and a custom aider. All welding of bottom step and platform attachment are 1/8". The aider steps are 16" gapped sewed on an old singer treadle.
