Thanks guys I appreciate your input and insight I may have to try a platform myself!
Roger,
Roger,
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Advantages of Platform over Steps?
- Thread starter Stykbow1
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Autumnrider
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It is nice on an all dayer.. spurs alone (without having to set steps or a platform) is so much faster and quieter. Spurs are not uncomfortable as most will think while wearing all day either.
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I've listed the advantages numerous times. If you get 30 plus feet up and can preset no problem with steps where legal. For under 25', open canopy and mobility steps can't even compare to sticks and a platform. And anyone that's hunted with the Ameristeps on a strap for any length of time knows how notorious they are for shifting and making noise at the wrong moment..... Just search all the threads on various sites about how to make them solid. Walking around any tree in open foliage at normal hunting heights is just not real easy.... Especially with pressured deer that look up anyways. And i can't set up with sticks and platform in minutes in most any tree i want.... Guarantee I can do it guieter and quicker then screw in steps.... Every try to screw in steps 360 around a tree close to a bedded buck????? For mobility platform and sticks is hard to beat.... Maybe spurs might be quicker but i don't think it's quieter. And spurs on frozen oak, Maple is dangerous at best IMHO
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Ill take spurs and ascend to 30 ft. quicker and quieter than any other method. Don't have any experience with platforms but it certainly seems like they definitely gonna be quieter than ameristeps. I sure love my ameristeps though.
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Yeah, it's a shame but understandable. But I know guys that also use screw in steps and bow holders on the same public. Or cutting limbs with hand saws. I'm sure there is a fair amount of behind the scenes spur action on public.
I'd hate to get caught near public land with a hand saw, screw in bow holder, spurs, tree steps, etc. with an "intent to use".
Kidding aside, it's a good climbing method where allowed. Quietest by far. Just takes practice.
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I really, really like my spurs.
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Ontariofarmer
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I would like to use spurs but there is no where that I can .... so climbing sticks with aiders are the game
Wish i could but illegal on public lands i hunt
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You can't use spurs but you can use a hand saw?
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Do you hunt any private land? If so , is it not often enough to justify the investment???
I do in ohio but the farmer only allows sticks, ladders and hang on (or saddle for me). In TX, OK I hunt 100% public lands
We can cut dead limbs and sticker branches - but we are not allowed to use anything that cuts/damages the bark of a living tree. I have asked several game wardens about trimming shooting lanes and the correct answer is we cannot. Will some look the other way? probably - but I am not willing to take the chance of being busted for wearing climbing spikes. We actually teach pole climbing here at SAFB for all USAF - I can see their advantage - but a misdemenor and fine is not what I want..... three years ago I stopped 100 yards from my truck in OK, after I left the woods and was walking across a field, I pulled off my flo orange (bow hunt during gun season) to remove my light weight wool jacket... it had warmed up a lot. Anyway two wardens watched me from the road. I put the flo orange vest in my pant pocket and simply failed to put it back on to walk the last 100 yards. Now get this, for hunting in OK during gun season on a archery only unit you only have to wear so much Flo O and a hat will suffice. Here I am walking out with a full vest and toboggan (knit hat) which I removed 100 yards from truck while ditching some layers and yes THEY GAVE ME A TICKET. they both admitted they saw that I was wearing it and had removed it. I asked them both where it says I must wear any orange while walking and they both snickered and said I could fight it if I wanted to. I paid 100 bucks on the spot (they had one fo those credit card things for a cell phone) and we parted ways.
If you damage a tree on public land the fine is steeper and it is a misdemeanor and you have to pay for the worth of the tree damaged. just not worth it.
But the main reason is I think spurs make more noise and there is far more movement then using my stick system. That is my personal experience, I am sure some of you are way better at climbing then I will ever be and can pull it off close to buck bedding..... I don't think I can.