API huntn stick

[Lottig]

[Post 1 of 4] I decided to make an impulse purchase of the API Hunt’n Sticks and see what I could do with them. I’ve seen several posts mention these sticks, but none that give a ton of details about them. Plan is 24” sticks, drill holes to reduce weight, and potentially use ropes instead of straps. Cabela’s and Bass Pro had these on sale for $79.00 and free shipping.

Details:

• 32” 1x1 square tubing: 1.131” thick, 617.7grams
• End caps: 4.88g
• Steps: 0.500-0.513” thick, 148.7g
• Tree bracket: 106.5g
• Hardware: all 5/16” bolts, 140.8g per stick
• Straps: 217.8g each

I have no idea what grade aluminum these are made out of.

Cut stick down to 24” (463.4g) and drilled 1/2” holes every inch starting at 3” from the top on the front and back and 2.5” from the top on the sides. All measurements were made from the top of the original stick. I skipped a few holes along the stick based on existing holes and trying to stay away from the versa button. Weight after drilling the sticks out was 387.59g (75.8g reduction in weight; 16.4% reduction in weight). I used the existing hole for the versa button. It is only about 1/2” lower than @bowhunter15 used for his sticks.

Testing the stick out, there is a bit more flex in the stick than I would like. Most of the deflection is focused around the versa button. I don’t think there is any risk of failure but it is noticeable compared to an undrilled stick. For reference, I weight 255lbs so I don’t fall on the lightweight end of the spectrum. I’m going to drill out the next stick just on the front and back, leaving a bit more room around the versa button and if that doesn’t reduce the strength much (I don’t think it should), I’m going to drill the sides out with 5/16” holes instead of 1/2”.

Using a single movealbe aider cinched to my foot, I was able to place the top of the stick at 5’ without any issues. I’m amazed at how well the moveable aider works and, more specifically, how easy it is to climb down with it cinched to your foot.

 

[Backstrap Assassin]

Can you post some pics of your moveable aider?

 

[Lottig]

[Post 2 of 4] I purchased mine from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0791VRQDM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) but it doesn't look like it is available anymore. Has a 15Kn rating and placed a tire tube over the metal buckle for adjusting the length. I've got it set for 36" between steps. It looks very similar to a Petzl Foottape (https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Professional/Rope-clamps/FOOTAPE)

I weighed the first version of the drilled out step this morning (1033.0g/2.28lbs) without the straps. I also posted a picture of the step along a straightedge and you can see a uniform bend in the stick centered on where the versa button is mounted. Max bend in the post is about 0.085" (~5/64) relative to the straight edge.

 

[Canadianbowman]

Here are some shots of the sticks before mods, though I had replaced the straps/buckles with rope

I know old thread but wondering what size rope you used?
I am about to snag these as they are 50$ cheaper then the heliums where I am.

unless someone has a better suggestion....at 2lbs per stick modified 6-7lbs for 3 of them finished....thats awesome

 

[beej32]

I know old thread but wondering what size rope you used?

I’m using the rope that muddy uses for their lifelines. Folks say that’s 8mm, but I never really looked to confirm that.

 

[Lottig]

I tried 8mm Grand rope but I could never really get it to work. I needed to cut the versa buttons down so it would grab better but still had problems. Thought about swapping out for a different versa button that was defeating the purpose of the build (ie modding the existing sticks in a cost effective manner). Getting a set of tethrd versa straps. Will post an update when I get those but I suspect those will work well and won’t be too much more than buying rope.

 

[Canadianbowman]

Here are my mods. The one concern is whether the low button placement will affect the hold on the tree. Any idea?

any issues with button placement? on a 32" stick factory placement is 67.96% of the way up...on a 22" stick that would be a hair under 15" up from bottom...
if I change the mid step for the button, and the button for the step plus an inch of material from where I would cut it I would end up with

22 5/8" long stick with 20" between the top of steps on the stick and the button would be 16 1/2" from bottom...

it would eliminate me make anymore holes and only cutting once.... any input or suggestions?

 

[Lottig]

My sticks were 24" overall. I haven't had any issue with button placement on these sticks and as I mentioned earlier, they are very close to what @bowhunter15 used for his DIY sticks. I've got some factory three steps that I feel like pull away from the tree on the bottom step when you grab on to the bottom step. I haven't noticed it with the cut down sticks. My versa button is ~10.25" down from the top of the step.

 

[bayoubalentine]

I have 6 of them cut down to 24” with a single 22” aider on each. I was using dyneema rope last year with no issues but swapped over to daisy chain webbing. I haven’t hunted with them yet but much lighter and can get higher than them stock.


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[bayoubalentine]

Also, didn’t have any issue with button placement last year using the rope mod.


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[beej32]

any issues with button placement? on a 32" stick factory placement is 67.96% of the way up...on a 22" stick that would be a hair under 15" up from bottom...
if I change the mid step for the button, and the button for the step plus an inch of material from where I would cut it I would end up with

22 5/8" long stick with 20" between the top of steps on the stick and the button would be 16 1/2" from bottom...

it would eliminate me make anymore holes and only cutting once.... any input or suggestions?

When I first cut the sticks I tried to avoid drilling a new hole for the button, and that left the button really close to the midway point between steps- like within 1/2” iirc. With it that way, the top of the stick did want to pull away from the tree, so I went ahead and drilled a new hole to move the button up. I’ll try to remember to measure where things are in the next day or two.

 

[TrophyFishR]

Why are yall wanting to shorten the sticks? I'm asking because I'm new to the saddle game.

 

[Labonte.r]

Weight

 

[Backstrap Assassin]

Why are yall wanting to shorten the sticks? I'm asking because I'm new to the saddle game.

Weight and packability more than anything. I can use two cut down sticks paired with my 5 step moveable aider and get a littler higher than using 3 long sticks.

 

[eightwgt]

Weight and packability more than anything. I can use two cut down sticks paired with my 5 step moveable aider and get a littler higher than using 3 long sticks.

What is 5 step aider ??? Pics please

 

[Backstrap Assassin]

What is 5 step aider ??? Pics please

Google black diamond 5 step aider. That’s the one I use.

 

[Lottig]

[Post 3 of 4]. Finished up my stick mods this weekend. I'll get the final weight tomorrow. I ended up going with 1/2 holes down the front and back and 3/8" holes on the sides. Cut the versa buttons down and countersunk the bolts. I had access to a mill, and milled the steps down to ~3/8" thick. The only extra purchases was versa straps. All together, I have $125 into the sticks. The carrying strap is from an old Primos Bow sling. On a decent tree, I can get the top of the 3rd set of sticks right at 16.5' which puts my platform typically right around 18' using a single moveable aider. This basically equates to 22" between steps (66" per stick). Any higher than that, basically going to have to goto a multi-step aider.

 

[Backstrap Assassin]

[Post 3 of 4]. Finished up my stick mods this weekend. I'll get the final weight tomorrow. I ended up going with 1/2 holes down the front and back and 3/8" holes on the sides. Cut the versa buttons down and countersunk the bolts. I had access to a mill, and milled the steps down to ~3/8" thick. The only extra purchases was versa straps. All together, I have $125 into the sticks. The carrying strap is from an old Primos Bow sling. On a decent tree, I can get the top of the 3rd set of sticks right at 16.5' which puts my platform typically right around 18' using a single moveable aider. This basically equates to 22" between steps (66" per stick). Any higher than that, basically going to have to goto a multi-step aider.

What do they weigh per stick?

 

[Lottig]

[Post 4 of 4]. Grabbed final weights of my modified sticks. 984.5g (2.17 lbs) for the stick, 1024g (2.26lbs) for stick and versa strap. I'm looking at 6.77lbs for 3 sticks. Eventually, a set of Beast Sticks is probably in my future (but down on the list of things to purchase). Three Beast Sticks with the provided straps are advertised at 6lbs, so that works out to about $115 extra for the additional 3/4 lbs weight saving, compared to modifying the API sticks.

 

[bayoubalentine]

[Post 4 of 4]. Grabbed final weights of my modified sticks. 984.5g (2.17 lbs) for the stick, 1024g (2.26lbs) for stick and versa strap. I'm looking at 6.77lbs for 3 sticks. Eventually, a set of Beast Sticks is probably in my future (but down on the list of things to purchase). Three Beast Sticks with the provided straps are advertised at 6lbs, so that works out to about $115 extra for the additional 3/4 lbs weight saving, compared to modifying the API sticks.

Mods look great!! Fine job!


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