I'm 60 years old and am just getting back into saddle hunting mainly due to the great ideas on this site. I started out with a treesuit years ago and also own a web and sit drag and have a Kestrel on order. I haven't used them much because I hated the ameristep platform but the platform development here has me interested again.
DaveT1963 mentioned this climbing method in one of the threads about having a separate platform not mounted to a stick. This looked like it had some promise as a primary climbing method and this is what I came up with, sorry no video just pics.
This climbing method uses a full size stick with a strap and a double step on the bottom and a LW or XOP hand climber top with a bungy cord and boat strap with OCB.
This is the starting position. Note that the climber is attached to the tree above the sticks bottom tree bracket and below the versa button strap and that it is secured by an adjustable bungy cord to keep it from falling down if bumped. You climb up to the middle step then carefully step on the platform. Once on the platform you can reach down and pull the stick up enough to loosen the strap, then move the stick up and set it so that the sticks bottom tree bracket is just under the hand climber traction belt. The closer the better because this defines how far you move up the tree with each movement.
This is how it should look after moving the stick.
When the stick is secure you step on bottom step, loosen the bungy on the platform and move it so the traction belt is just under the LW stick strap as shown in the first picture. You then repeat the process until you reach your hunting height. Note that you don't need to disconnect the hand climber from the tree while climbing, you just slide it up the tree. If you need to adjust the belt you can easily reach down and adjust it.
Here is what it looks like at hunting height with the platform secured on the bottom with the boat strap with OCB.
The advantages of this method are;
1. No hanging from the tether while climbing
2. Can easily navigate branches
3. Can easily adjust the traction belt while standing on the stick
4. Weighs only 7 lbs.
5. If the platform breaks or the stick breaks you can use the other one to climb down the tree.
6. The platform moves approx. 20 inches per move so around 12 moves to get to 20 feet.
Disadvantages;
1. To get 20" platform moves requires a full length stick. The mini two step sticks only allow around 10 - 14 inches per move.
2. Awkward to carry with a full size stick. An expandable or folding 40 inch stick would allow easier packing and step sizes around 27". Only 9 moves to reach 20 feet.
I have not hunted with this method and have only practiced at lower heights but wanted to post it to get comments and hopefully some improvements to it.
DaveT1963 mentioned this climbing method in one of the threads about having a separate platform not mounted to a stick. This looked like it had some promise as a primary climbing method and this is what I came up with, sorry no video just pics.
This climbing method uses a full size stick with a strap and a double step on the bottom and a LW or XOP hand climber top with a bungy cord and boat strap with OCB.
This is the starting position. Note that the climber is attached to the tree above the sticks bottom tree bracket and below the versa button strap and that it is secured by an adjustable bungy cord to keep it from falling down if bumped. You climb up to the middle step then carefully step on the platform. Once on the platform you can reach down and pull the stick up enough to loosen the strap, then move the stick up and set it so that the sticks bottom tree bracket is just under the hand climber traction belt. The closer the better because this defines how far you move up the tree with each movement.
This is how it should look after moving the stick.
When the stick is secure you step on bottom step, loosen the bungy on the platform and move it so the traction belt is just under the LW stick strap as shown in the first picture. You then repeat the process until you reach your hunting height. Note that you don't need to disconnect the hand climber from the tree while climbing, you just slide it up the tree. If you need to adjust the belt you can easily reach down and adjust it.
Here is what it looks like at hunting height with the platform secured on the bottom with the boat strap with OCB.
The advantages of this method are;
1. No hanging from the tether while climbing
2. Can easily navigate branches
3. Can easily adjust the traction belt while standing on the stick
4. Weighs only 7 lbs.
5. If the platform breaks or the stick breaks you can use the other one to climb down the tree.
6. The platform moves approx. 20 inches per move so around 12 moves to get to 20 feet.
Disadvantages;
1. To get 20" platform moves requires a full length stick. The mini two step sticks only allow around 10 - 14 inches per move.
2. Awkward to carry with a full size stick. An expandable or folding 40 inch stick would allow easier packing and step sizes around 27". Only 9 moves to reach 20 feet.
I have not hunted with this method and have only practiced at lower heights but wanted to post it to get comments and hopefully some improvements to it.
