• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Quietest climbing method?

elk yinzer said:
Being loud is clanging and scraping objects together or against the bark. It is dependent on your technique, practice, and level of care and really isn't dependent on the climbing method.
Click to expand...
This. Speeding through and no paying attention to the small details is the biggest downfall of most
 
elk yinzer said:
Being loud is clanging and scraping objects together or against the bark. It is dependent on your technique, practice, and level of care and really isn't dependent on the climbing method.
Click to expand...
Completely agree, I just seemingly have a way of making at least one clank nearly every time I climb with multiple sticks regardless of how much I try not too. Almost like the harder I try to be quiet the higher the odds I am going to clank something together.
 
I think this is the sort of question that everyone has to answer for themselves. I might be quieter with sticks than a single stick, you might be quieter hitch climbing. If silence is a requirement, you're probably better off setting a ladder, a ladder stand, or pre-set sticks. Or maybe the thing to do is get in there 2 hours before dawn and SRT up a pre-set.
 
treehopper steps with amsteel daisy chain trucker hitch method can be used with almost total silence because they only slide down the tree an inch or so and don't have any teeth to grate the bark

i've climbed trees with deer 50 yards away feeding and they didn't hear me

the only time i've made any noise with them is when on a shag bark hickory
 
I can be real quiet using my Wild Edge Stepps. Quiet out of the bag, quiet looping the rope around the tree, & quiet tying the knot & camming them down. A soft "thunk" when you do it right.

It took some practice, especially since I like climbing way bigger trees than "basketball" size, and usually ones with multiple limbs sticking out all over, (better cover for me,) but definitely possible!

But, I shoot a trad bow, so I don't go to 20 -25 ft. Normally 12-18 ft is my max height.
 
I think we tend to over estimate how well deer can hear and its effect on them. I've heard lots of noises in the woods and pay a lot of attention to how deer react to certain stimuli, noise is definitely the lowest sense on their alarm radar. If they can't put a sight or smell to the noise they usually go about their day. A little noise might even bring them. Obviously, if you're banging and clanging the whole way up that's another story but if you take your time and are visually obstructed from where the deer are you can be quiet enough with whatever you're most comfortable with. I mostly carry sticks because they work anywhere. If you have a tree or trees picked out that are good for one sticking and/or 2TC maybe they're a better option. Be versed in all of the above and try to get some sticks preset if you can.
 
THill202 said:
I think we tend to over estimate how well deer can hear and its effect on them. I've heard lots of noises in the woods and pay a lot of attention to how deer react to certain stimuli, noise is definitely the lowest sense on their alarm radar. If they can't put a sight or smell to the noise they usually go about their day. A little noise might even bring them. Obviously, if you're banging and clanging the whole way up that's another story but if you take your time and are visually obstructed from where the deer are you can be quiet enough with whatever you're most comfortable with. I mostly carry sticks because they work anywhere. If you have a tree or trees picked out that are good for one sticking and/or 2TC maybe they're a better option. Be versed in all of the above and try to get some sticks preset if you can.
Click to expand...
I agree. I have climbed up twice, one sticking, with deer inside 60 yards and was undetected. Have rappelled down twice with deer inside 25 and they didnt have a clue until my feet hit the ground. Pretty comical to see their reaction. At least those deer know how I feel when I look around and a deer is standing there at 15 steps and I have no idea where they came from.
 
Bolts, regardless of skill level or physical condition, or attention to detail.



Large gap






Then Multiple sticks if you have quieted gear, a system of packing and unpacking you’ve practiced, and are slow deliberate and pay attention while climbing.

Then Preset rope climbing, again, with quiet gear, tons of practice, and paying attention.
 
kyler1945 said:
Bolts, regardless of skill level or physical condition, or attention to detail.



Large gap






Then Multiple sticks if you have quieted gear, a system of packing and unpacking you’ve practiced, and are slow deliberate and pay attention while climbing.

Then Preset rope climbing, again, with quiet gear, tons of practice, and paying attention.
Click to expand...
I hear you and I like bolts but I prefer one stick over bolts because I get way less sweaty. Crankin that drill while easy, always left me dripping in sweat. Might be easier now though using a saddle where you could just hang and drill rather than way I did it back when I had a drill and bolts.
 
No uncovered metal. No chance of it making noise.less metal less chance of making noise.if you sound like a squirel or racoon climbing à tree in the woods .....good.soft and slow like animals do.pausing to look around and listen like you do still hunting adds to this effect.plus can help with sweat or catching your breath after à long hike.climbing is so easy for me that i can get in a hurry and just want to get set up quick.but that could be counter productive.
 
Last edited:
NMSbowhunter said:
I second 2Tc. It is the quietest method I have used on hard barked trees. Very little metal to make noise and it packs down very small. You are not limited to how high up you can get. Many methods can be quiet if you just go very slow and really pay attention.
Click to expand...

I really want to try 2TC soon, but mildly cynical of these responses saying it's the quietest. Of the most popular 2TC videos currently, the number one thing that kinda pushes me away from trying is THE NOISE :) When transferring weight, every demonstrator is leg hugging tree, futzing too much with the friction hitches, etc. All the while it's bark scrape city. Can anyone reference an accurate/quiet 2TC demonstration video? I truly want to be sold on it, but just don't see how it's going to improve on the speed and silence I have with my 1stick routine.
 
I ordered the foot strap from CGM so we’ll see how practicing with that goes the next couple months. A little noise is likely fine, it’s the carabiners clinking, sticks bumping each other, camming over thud that makes me most nervous. A little natural sound has never seemed to spook them. If I can’t be effort efficient with the 2TC I’ll push hard for bolts. If I do go bolts I’m putting them in this spring/summer so I don’t need to worry about hand drilling while trying not to spook anything. That sounds like an added trouble I don’t need if I can avoid it.

Edit: I’m not sure this matters as much as I’m making it out. I drove home last night and 6 does/fawns were in the front yard. I parked in the driveway, got out and walked to the front door less than 15 yards from them and they didn’t even look at me. But I guess neighborhood deer don’t have the fear that swamp deer have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top