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Platforms vs. steps

Please make sure to include a photo of the wooden platform, been thinking there's gotta be a simple solution to this dilemma lol

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Having not used any of these.....It seems to me that not being able to get a few Stepp's level shouldn't eliminate them from the discussion, does haveing solid foot positions around the tree that aren't level outweigh something that might shift or break? Also, the Stepp system does require more ropes but I could use the Stepp's for a platform and I can't use a Muddy stick as a platform, could I?
 
donnieballgame said:
It seems to me that not being able to get a few Stepp's level shouldn't eliminate them from the discussion, does haveing solid foot positions around the tree that aren't level outweigh something that might shift or break?
Also, the Stepp system does require more ropes but I could use the Stepp's for a platform and I can't use a Muddy stick as a platform, could I?
Click to expand...
Because I move around the tree, yes an unlevel platform is a killer for me. I don't want to have to look down at my platform to see where its at when I am moving into position on a deer. Spacing of my steps is just as important as any part of saddle hunting to me. With steps, I know they are all on the same plane and spacing matches my foot. So I don't need to look down as I move, moving with a deer in bow range is not as hard as some make it out to be. Practice is everything with saddle hunting.
Now, John Eberhart likes to have his steps go slightly higher as he goes around the tree. He says it accounts for his tree strap wrapping around the tree.
You can use your top muddy stick as a platform if you need to, it will offer more area than the Jim Stepp.

Weight distribution and saddle hunting is something easily understood.
Your hunting weight (your weight +hunting clothes+ saddle) Basically weight of you if you were in the tree., all of this weight is in your tree strap. Then it has to be distributed, through three main areas, Your butt, your knees and your feet.
The more of these you use, the more weight distribution you have.
The less you use the less distribution you have.

If you sit (legs near 90 degrees), most of your weight is in your butt.
If you lean (just saddle and feet) most weight is on your feet, it why most leaners have to use a platform.
If your a hybrid (saddle, knees and feet) your splinting that weight more equally across the three points.

Now we can look at this on a micro level, meaning just at your feet.
If you lean where most of your weight is in your feet, you will need more surface area to transfer your weight from your feet into your platform. You wouldn't want to transfer most of your weight into a 3/8 in screw in tree step for 4 hours. Hints why most leaners use a platform.
If you sit, you can use almost anything as a platform. You will have almost zero weight in your feet.
If your a hybrid you can use almost anything as a platform because you weight is split more equally.

So your style and weight can effect what platform you might need. You can try different styles and platforms to what work for you.

Thanks,
Boswell
 
Boudreaux said:
Because I move around the tree, yes an unlevel platform is a killer for me. I don't want to have to look down at my platform to see where its at when I am moving into position on a deer. Spacing of my steps is just as important as any part of saddle hunting to me. With steps, I know they are all on the same plane and spacing matches my foot. So I don't need to look down as I move, moving with a deer in bow range is not as hard as some make it out to be. Practice is everything with saddle hunting.
Now, John Eberhart likes to have his steps go slightly higher as he goes around the tree. He says it accounts for his tree strap wrapping around the tree.
You can use your top muddy stick as a platform if you need to, it will offer more area than the Jim Stepp.

Weight distribution and saddle hunting is something easily understood.
Your hunting weight (your weight +hunting clothes+ saddle) Basically weight of you if you were in the tree., all of this weight is in your tree strap. Then it has to be distributed, through three main areas, Your butt, your knees and your feet.
The more of these you use, the more weight distribution you have.
The less you use the less distribution you have.

If you sit (legs near 90 degrees), most of your weight is in your butt.
If you lean (just saddle and feet) most weight is on your feet, it why most leaners have to use a platform.
If your a hybrid (saddle, knees and feet) your splinting that weight more equally across the three points.

Now we can look at this on a micro level, meaning just at your feet.
If you lean where most of your weight is in your feet, you will need more surface area to transfer your weight from your feet into your platform. You wouldn't want to transfer most of your weight into a 3/8 in screw in tree step for 4 hours. Hints why most leaners use a platform.
If you sit, you can use almost anything as a platform. You will have almost zero weight in your feet.
If your a hybrid you can use almost anything as a platform because you weight is split more equally.

So your style and weight can effect what platform you might need. You can try different styles and platforms to what work for you.

Thanks,
Boswell
Click to expand...

Good explanation of why we have different opinions.


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Boudreaux said:
Because I move around the tree, yes an unlevel platform is a killer for me. I don't want to have to look down at my platform to see where its at when I am moving into position on a deer. Spacing of my steps is just as important as any part of saddle hunting to me. With steps, I know they are all on the same plane and spacing matches my foot. So I don't need to look down as I move, moving with a deer in bow range is not as hard as some make it out to be. Practice is everything with saddle hunting.
Now, John Eberhart likes to have his steps go slightly higher as he goes around the tree. He says it accounts for his tree strap wrapping around the tree.
You can use your top muddy stick as a platform if you need to, it will offer more area than the Jim Stepp.

Weight distribution and saddle hunting is something easily understood.
Your hunting weight (your weight +hunting clothes+ saddle) Basically weight of you if you were in the tree., all of this weight is in your tree strap. Then it has to be distributed, through three main areas, Your butt, your knees and your feet.
The more of these you use, the more weight distribution you have.
The less you use the less distribution you have.

If you sit (legs near 90 degrees), most of your weight is in your butt.
If you lean (just saddle and feet) most weight is on your feet, it why most leaners have to use a platform.
If your a hybrid (saddle, knees and feet) your splinting that weight more equally across the three points.

Now we can look at this on a micro level, meaning just at your feet.
If you lean where most of your weight is in your feet, you will need more surface area to transfer your weight from your feet into your platform. You wouldn't want to transfer most of your weight into a 3/8 in screw in tree step for 4 hours. Hints why most leaners use a platform.
If you sit, you can use almost anything as a platform. You will have almost zero weight in your feet.
If your a hybrid you can use almost anything as a platform because you weight is split more equally.

So your style and weight can effect what platform you might need. You can try different styles and platforms to what work for you.

Thanks,
Boswell
Click to expand...
This was a great explanation Boswell.


Boswell and I share a lot in common. I use a lot of screw ins for my setups so I place the rear ones slightly higher just like John describes.
 
Thanks for the info, didn't realize saddle style had so much to do with it, makes sense why everyone has everything, lol. I have a RC harness so maybe the best thing is to get a sit and drag and try that first for a while. Been thinking some muddy sticks for climbing, but I don't have a platform solution, unless someone has some ameristeps for sale, tha haven't been recalled.
 
I'm going to try using a muddy stick as a platform and put my Jim Stepps around it. Could be cool!!!


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Here's my take on the steps vs platform debate. Keep in mind I've only got one year of saddle hunting under my belt although I have experience over the years with an Anderson Sling and Treesuit.
To me the saddle and steps just seem to go together. Carrying a stand to the tree just seems to defeat the purpose of using a tree saddle. That being said, the platform offers something that the steps don't, the ability to shoot at a deer on the offhand side.
In theory, the steps should offer the advantage by allowing the shooter to walk around the tree to take a shot from any direction. In practice, based on my experience, that tactic requires too much movement to ever work unless you are hunting at nose bleed heights.
On a platform, should a deer present itself for a shot on the offhand side, the shooter can lengthen his tether while standing on the platform and pivot his body 90 to 180 degrees which is much less noticeable than walking around the tree.
 
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