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Primary Climbing Method Poll

What is your go to climbing method?

  • Sticks, Sticks w/ Aider

    Votes: 134 45.7%

  • One Stick Method

    Votes: 47 16.0%

  • WE Stepps w/ knaider/swaider

    Votes: 25 8.5%

  • WE Stepps w/ 5 step aider

    Votes: 16 5.5%

  • SRT

    Votes: 14 4.8%

  • Tree Bolts

    Votes: 23 7.8%

  • Spurs

    Votes: 14 4.8%

  • Other - explain in comments

    Votes: 10 3.4%

  • Hand climber

    Votes: 10 3.4%
  • Total voters
    293
SRT, because my public land MR BIG is in mountainous terrain that requires some elevation climbing, and I really want to bring my camera this year. Ive been working on SRT during the off season. Once the rut is on he's likely to come down and chase the does around the neighbors swamp for that I'll use my 4 Super Dano ultra light mini's with a CAYG single aider it's only 3/4 of a mile from my truck. On my private land I have several ladder stands near the food plots but will use SRT or sticks to catch them in between.
 
I agree also. I have tried screw in steps, Spurs, hand climber, wild edge steps, and sticks. All have their place but each have downfalls for sure. Hand climber is great as a nall in one climbing method and platform but the pain of adjusting the strap and needed perfect trees sucks. Spurs are the fastest but the downfall is they can be sketchy and taking them off at hunting height sucks. Wild edge steps are super compact but tying the knot can be difficult in the dark above your head.

So for me I think I am going with the one stick climbing method with aider. Weighs 2 pounds, easy to carry or strap to pack, no packing and unpacking sticks, quiet, and super safe.
 
Nutterbuster said:
When I win the lottery, I'll buy 12 of @DanO's squirrel steps and climb with those. That would be lighter, easier, and only slightly bulkier. But for now, cranfords and bullmans are about the only financially feasible "public legal" method that I like.
Click to expand...

I have a set of 4 lone Wolf sticks I’ll never use again. I tried the WE steps and it was too much work. I use to use screw in steps for pre sets on private and Silent Approach on public. SA on everything now. Not as fast climbing as a set of sticks but much lighter and fit in my pack with my Kestrel.

Sticks and steps for sale locally.
 
Heydeerman said:
I have a set of 4 lone Wolf sticks I’ll never use again. I tried the WE steps and it was too much work. I use to use screw in steps for pre sets on private and Silent Approach on public. SA on everything now. Not as fast climbing as a set of sticks but much lighter and fit in my pack with my Kestrel.

Sticks and steps for sale locally.
Click to expand...

I have a set of ameristeps that I might try using as well
 
I prefer bolts, but I am prob 50/50 with Wild Edge steps but I do not use knaider or 5 step aider. i like the WE adjustable aider. I have picked up a hand climber to give a try this summer. Not sure if I want to keep adjusting the tether, but I will try it for sure.
 
I used 4 wild edge steps with Swaider/Knaider as my primary method all last season. It was a little sketchy at first but after I swapped my ropes with some that I had on my old cranfords I was sold on it. I also use the modified knot on them which helps tremendously.
I know this is going to change as I bring my kids along so I'm keeping practiced with my modified helium sticks when needed.
 
Got
T.Clarke said:
I used 4 wild edge steps with Swaider/Knaider as my primary method all last season. It was a little sketchy at first but after I swapped my ropes with some that I had on my old cranfords I was sold on it. I also use the modified knot on them which helps tremendously.
I know this is going to change as I bring my kids along so I'm keeping practiced with my modified helium sticks when needed.
Click to expand...
Got a link for the modified knot? And what kind of rope is on the cranfords that you liked so much?
 
I’m shocked at sticks winning this. Everyone talks about the Wild Edge steps that I’ve been second guessing my plan on using sticks. Almost talked myself into jumping to WE. Going to stick with sticks for now :) thank you for doing this post/poll!
 
1. You have to understand there are more people that are taking the poll than are consistent posters on the site.
2. We have talked sticks to death. We hit “the flavor of the month” sticks will come back around here in the next few weeks.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
rakbowhunter said:
I'm kind of surprised by the results so far. Thought there would be just as many or more WE Stepps users than sticks. Keep em coming!
Click to expand...
everyone bought sticks before WE steps became a thing. My thought is most folks modified what they already had. Plus you have the advancements of aiders, that made the use of fewer sticks to get to height, which is what the complaint of stick users was, to bulky, and didn't stack well.
 
clint6760 said:
I agree also. I have tried screw in steps, Spurs, hand climber, wild edge steps, and sticks. All have their place but each have downfalls for sure. Hand climber is great as a nall in one climbing method and platform but the pain of adjusting the strap and needed perfect trees sucks. Spurs are the fastest but the downfall is they can be sketchy and taking them off at hunting height sucks. Wild edge steps are super compact but tying the knot can be difficult in the dark above your head.

So for me I think I am going with the one stick climbing method with aider. Weighs 2 pounds, easy to carry or strap to pack, no packing and unpacking sticks, quiet, and super safe.
Click to expand...
I didn't like tying the knot above my head with the 5 step aider. With the knaider / swaider you tie on at eye level. the key to the knaider/swaider technique is in the linesman belt IMO. Once you get that figured out, it's so quiet and easy, and 4 steps gets you to 22 feet using a platform.
 
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