What stand do you guys use to hunt?

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What stand do you use?

Climber only
9
9%
Hang and Hunt Every time (lone wolf or something similar)
35
34%
Fixed stands on property only
5
5%
mix of Hang On Stands set up - other spots hang and hunt/climber
53
52%
 
Total votes: 102
cowboyup_again
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby cowboyup_again » Sun Oct 05, 2014 7:50 am

dan wrote:
cowboyup_again wrote:
Dewey wrote:
SonofUlam wrote:I'm surprised so many of you guys use sticks and hang in stands with the style I hunting I read about here. I think of myself in decent shape- but hiking half a mile or more with 30-40 pounds (I'm figuring 15 pound stand, 10+pounds for sticks, plus bow, and pack) on my back through thick brush would make me a sweaty mess by the time I reached my tree.

How do you guys that use that set-up work through that or deal with that? I'm also not ignoring the possibility I'm just not in nearly as good of condition as I need to be to be an effective hunting beast. What are your thoughts or suggestions?

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When hunting beds it's all about being mobile and being quiet so a stand and sticks are usually your best option.

Admittedly it's not for everyone because hunting Beast Style is a lot of work but the rewards can be very high.

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I'm not saying that I am a hunting beast but I do provide all meat for my family yearly with deer and I kill a lot of them. I have been using a hand climber for years and got a XOP hang-on with sticks this year and did alot of research and set it up just as everyone on here did. I have hunted it 5 times this year and I must say it sucks!
The weight compared to my hand climber is staggering and my set-up time to hunt is nearly doubled. It is a pain to hunt now that I have hang-on and sticks. Too much stuff to bring in and out of the woods. With my hand climber I can get right next to bedding areas but with my hang-on, i can't get close due to the movement of set-up, sweating, and noise of limbs and leaves. I am going back to my hand climber and using my hang-on for hunts back west.

You just used to the climber... I have both and rarely use my hand climber. The only legitimate complaint in my eyes is the weight difference. But I am an old man and carry the stand and 5 sticks to set ups that are miles in several times every week from early September thru december with no problems. And I can certainly get up a tree with less bad movements with the sticks than with the climber. I routinly set up within 75 yards of bedded bucks without them knowing I am there.


Dan, I have watched your videos and I have gotten close to bedded bucks also and my record is 30 yards from a bedded doe in the rain. You have a lot of experience and knowledge so what is the big difference in your mind between a lone wolf hang on setup and a hand climber routine. What makes one better over the other besides the obvious of tree selection. I am very quiet and methodical with my movement and would like to know what I am missing. With my hand climber, I go up and down the tree hidden by the tree just like you do with the sticks and it only takes me once to go up the tree whereas it takes you 3-4.


BCam
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby BCam » Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:03 am

I have changed over the years. Used to be all presets. Eventually started using a climber while still using presets. Got sick of presets getting stolen, everyone of them so I went to solely a climber. I bought a hang on and sticks 4-5 years ago and now pretty much only use those. Every once in a while I will use my climber but that gets less and less each year. I guess I did get back into presets again but they are simply trees that are pre pegged. Stand comes and goes with me.

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Bhuntin
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby Bhuntin » Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:19 am

Peter wrote:Interesting topic. I'd like some feedback from the seasoned hunters on here! I started gun hunting a couple years ago and bought a comfortable but heavy hang on setup--big platform, guard rail/gun rest and arm rests on the hang on, and a sectioned ladder that straps to the tree. The whole setup is probably 80 pounds... I've been doing the very un-Beast method of hang a stand on Friday, hunt them opening weekend as so many people do. Using what I learned on this board to choose a spot based on topo maps I saw lots more deer last year than the rest of my hunting buddies did.

I'd like to be able to hike further and set up to hunt on the spot, but to buy a Lone Wolf and sticks is $400+. Would it be a decent compromise to buy the Lone Wolf sticks and something like this hang on from Amazon: http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... r&i=732802

That would be around $250 for the setup, and I'm sure I could sell my current gear to cover at least half of the investment, leaving cash for buying my first archery gear.

Advice appreciated!



I think we have all been in your shoes either when we first started out hunting or as we moved toward Beast style of hunting. I would say save your money on that stand. I don't own one of those stands you posted the link to but I can tell you a few things right off just by looking at the pic.
1. The bottom of the stand needs another strap or its going to kick out on you.
2. Hooking it up to the tree is going to be noisy, its metal on metal clips.
3. The platform is going creek and pop when it gets cold, and I can almost bet you the price of the stand that the metal mesh is going to bend the first time you stand on it.
If you really want to go that route I would say look on craigslist you should be able to pick up something like it for $20 or $30

My advice would be to save up and buy it all at once or buy the sticks this year and the stand next year. Also don't forget a good safety harness!

Like I said we have all been there. I think I've owned half a dozen hang on stands and climber before I finally got a lone wolf. It will most likely be the last stand I ever use. Last year I tried another stand thinking I could do better than the lone wolf....I sold that stand after one season.

Hope that helps.
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hoyt
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby hoyt » Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:46 pm

Right now I'm using 4 loc ons and 4 climbers that I leave in National Forest I walk into behind my house. I locate them in different sections in the area I hunt (about a 1000 sq. acres) and hide at base of trees locked up so I can go by pick one up and not have to carry it but around 100 yds vs a mile or more if I carried it from house.

Some areas some of my climbers will work better than others like size of trees and Lone Wolf vs Summit. Some areas Loc ons work better than climbers due to tree types.
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mag1
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby mag1 » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:10 am

LW Alpha assault, 4 LW sticks. 8lb stand, 10lb sticks. Plus gear. Gets heavy if u hunt when it is cold out. But a molle belt and good shoulder straps make it work well. Huge difference w/molle belt. Just put that on last year.

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yungbuck
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby yungbuck » Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:58 am

cdeam wrote:Like Dewey, I use an alpha and sticks and a summit climber. The hunt decides which one goes.

I work to stay in shape so when hunting season rolls around packing my stand is no big deal. I got a toddler backpack for my daughter last year and have been carrying her around all summer. It's been great conditioning!

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My 10 month is 23lbs and been carrying her all over to prep for season and it worked ha

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nothing but a simple minded god fearing public land bow hunter
Brad
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby Brad » Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:44 am

I alternate between my sit and climb and my alpha and sticks and this year I've been using a tree saddle and sticks a lot. In a perfect world my favorite is the sit and climb, I'm way faster with it, generally quieter but depends on the tree, and its lighter. The only con is its not always easy to find a suitable tree to use. I love my alpha and sticks and yeah its nice being to pick just about any tree, it is slower (for me) and takes more work to get it set up. Its more comfy than my sit and climb. The treesaddle is awesome except it takes awhile to get set up when you factor the time setting the ratchet steps for the platform and the bridge tether. It also has spots that are hard to get shots too. If I could only have one it would be the alpha and sticks but I'd hate to be without my sit and climb, I use it about 60% of the time.

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hunter_mike
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby hunter_mike » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:29 am

Hang n hunt, or stay on the ground

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365buckin
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby 365buckin » Wed Oct 08, 2014 8:06 am

If you want to be prepared for any situation you might encounter. Have an option for all.
Be in the woods as often as you can....and as long as you can!
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checkerfred
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby checkerfred » Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:34 am

mag1 wrote:LW Alpha assault, 4 LW sticks. 8lb stand, 10lb sticks. Plus gear. Gets heavy if u hunt when it is cold out. But a molle belt and good shoulder straps make it work well. Huge difference w/molle belt. Just put that on last year.

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same here....exact setup. I would never hunt without the molle belt/shoulder straps. I can carry my stand and gear a long long way with it....not far without it. Even up ridges its not too bad if you just take your time. It's amazing at how the straps distribute the weight....and mine fits the assault perfectly, however if you need the bow holder the waist strap blocks that.
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wv-outdoor
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby wv-outdoor » Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:30 pm

I use a combination of the pre-hung stands and mobile setup. My past mobile setup was Summit climbers, but this year I bought the Lone Wolf Assault II and climbing sticks. Have yet to use them as I've been hunting pre-hung sites for Doe harvest. Will start using my mobile setup next weekend and hunt areas where there hasn't been any pressure.
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checkerfred
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby checkerfred » Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:48 am

To add, I love the LW assault/sticks for the packability....they are compact...I can move through the woods much easier and quieter than with my summit climber...the molle straps and hip belt make it easy to carry even with extra weight. My only negative is the comfort level and the setup time. I bought the upgraded gel seat and even though it's better...I feel like I tend to move around more in this stand. I couldn't ever make an all day sit in it. I guess I just have a boney but. I'm seriously considering getting a summit specialist HD climber for rut. 14 lbs....add a molle strap and i think I could walk all day with it. I know it won't be as quiet though.
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ozzz
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Re: What stand do you guys use to hunt?

Unread postby ozzz » Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:59 pm

Lone Wolf Assault and four sticks. I have a lot of trees ready to go with pegs or ladders or what not but I always carry the stand in.

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