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Climbing Sticks - Do I have to take them all up at once?

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CanadianAbroad

New Member
Oct 18, 2020
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Question: Aside from pride and saving a little time, is there an important reason not to just leave the extra sticks on the ground and just climb up and down as you are setting them up? I'm new to saddle hunting but I'm pretty athletic so I can climb up and down rather easily. I'm more concerned with noise and every time I've tried to take too much up the tree at once something dings mettle on mettle - hence I've been leaving the extra sticks on the ground and just climbing up and down. I don't think this adds too much time to my setup (again I'm pretty athletic) but am I missing something important?

I fully intend to bring all the sticks up with me eventually. I just really want to focus on being quiet with no Mettle on Mettle right now.

Thanks!
 
J

jholmes0521

New Member
Dec 28, 2019
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New to the saddle/mobile game as well. Same thing happened to me too. Tried doing it all in one climb but ended up making too much noise. I only run 3 full length api sticks. I'll set the first two then hook platform and 3rd stick to saddle. Maybe takes me a couple extra minutes but it works for me. It's all about getting a system that works for you.

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R

rswink

Active Member
Nov 1, 2019
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My wife runs Helium's, she has been experimenting, her current set up involves a DIY HYS strap that we made for her, it is 14' long. She goes up with everything not touching.

Her new idea is to make 6' to 8' long thin ropes with eye splices on both ends, attached to the ends of the Helium's. I think it is going to make noise bit she will try this after 1st of the year.

My next idea for her is a long rope with preset loops for the sticks and a Carabineer on her belt to hook the loops in as she takes a stick off. That would keep the the sticks away from the tree by her keeping herself off the tree.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk
 
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Shakeandbake

Shakeandbake

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2020
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I hang the first two pretty fast, with no lineman’s rope or tether. Then I take my time and get ready to not climb down again. I use S biners to hang a stick at each hip and use all the safety gear once I get past the second stick. Backpack is on my back with a platform attached and bow is clipped on the hoist rope ready to be pulled up. I found this to be the fastest, quietest and safest way for me to get 4 sticks and a platform up.
 
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pesqimon

pesqimon

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Apr 25, 2018
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It is simply more convenient to climb up with all sticks on you. I run 3 sticks. First gets placed from the ground. The second and third stick go on each hip. Platform hangs on the back of my saddle. One trip up. No metal on metal. More time spent looking for deer.
 
Crawdaddy4

Crawdaddy4

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Oct 2, 2020
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CanadianAbroad said:
Question: Aside from pride and saving a little time, is there an important reason not to just leave the extra sticks on the ground and just climb up and down as you are setting them up? I'm new to saddle hunting but I'm pretty athletic so I can climb up and down rather easily. I'm more concerned with noise and every time I've tried to take too much up the tree at once something dings mettle on mettle - hence I've been leaving the extra sticks on the ground and just climbing up and down. I don't think this adds too much time to my setup (again I'm pretty athletic) but am I missing something important?

I fully intend to bring all the sticks up with me eventually. I just really want to focus on being quiet with no Mettle on Mettle right now.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

This is my first year saddle hunting as well, and I've tried multiple methods (retrieving one at a time, hanging sticks from saddle, pulling them up from ground, etc.). For me, hanging them from my saddle was extremely noisy. There was no way to keep them from clanging each other (even adjusting tether length they were hanging from) or clanging the tree/already set sticks. This also increased the probability that dangling sticks get tangled in my bow or backpack pullup rope.

This is the system I have settled on for now (keep in mind I am using daisy chains, not straps, and am using 4 Hawk Helium minis)

1. Attach my daisy chain ends to the versa buttons on all my sticks.
2. Set my first stick with aider on the tree while standing on the ground
3. Attach the daisy chain ends of my 2nd & 3rd sticks to two opposing steps on top of my first (set) stick.
4. Attach the end of the daisy chain for my 4th stick to the versa button on my 3rd stick.
5. Attach my daisy chain to my Ridge Runner platform and throw it over my shoulder to carry while I climb.
6. Climb to the top of the first stick.
7. Pull up the 2nd stick and set it.
8. Before climbing onto the 2nd stick, pull up the 3rd stick daisy chain and attach to one of the top steps of my 2nd stick.
9. Climb onto the 2nd stick.
10. Pull up the 3rd stick (with the 4th stick attached). While holding the 3rd stick in my hand, remove the 4th stick daisy chain and hang on top of the 2nd stick step.
11. Set the 3rd stick
12. Reach up and carefully (so as not to clang anything) hang the 4th stick daisy chain from the 3rd stick
13. Climb onto 3rd stick and pull up 4th stick.
14. Hang 4th stick
15. Hang platform that has been hanging off my shoulder, over my back

I have been painfully detailed in case any noobs, like me, are looking for intricate instructions in the future! :)

Note: I don't climb carrying anything but my platform. I pull up my bow/gun and backpack after I have set my platform and adjusted my saddle in the tree. Granted, this is not the FASTEST way, but for me it is the quietest and most effortless (important when it's hot).

HYOH: Hang Your Own Hang/Hunt Your Own Hunt
 
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B

Buckkillr

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2020
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I have a couple hoops in my bow rope that hooks to the vrs buttons on ladders, as I climb I'll pull them up to me
 
M

MathewsHoyt

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2019
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I have my bow rope on one side and my stick rope on the other side. I have two loops in my stick rope one at bottom and one half way up. Attach 4th stick to bottom loop and set aside then attach 3rd stick to loop half way up stick rope. Put on 1st stick and attach 2nd stick strap to top step of 1st stick. Put on linemans belt. Climb up 1st stick and pull up second and attach. Climb up 2nd stick, pull up 3rd stick and attach, do same for 4th stick. Set platform. Before stepping on platform put on tree tether and attach to saddle. Step on platform and attach pack strap with biner to hold pack then bow hook. Test tether making sure I am attached properly then remove lineman's rope. Put pack on biner and pull up bow and put on hook.
Do in reverse coming down.
Dead quiet. Takes a few extra minutes however I will take longer to be stealthy in the woods I hunt on public.
 
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MathewsHoyt

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2019
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I attach my platform to the back of my saddle with a nite eyz gear ties. Gonna try clips for this. Gear ties rub on trees (I like dbl trunk trees) and catch my pack when removing.
 
C

caddis75

Active Member
Sep 30, 2020
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I have three sticks, each with an aider. I put one on the tree first before I climb. I made little loops of paracord on my right and left side of my saddle. I hang each by the versa button, the second on my left, and the third stick on my right. I've only done maybe 10 sits total, but this has worked so far. The only thing I leave is my bow, which I haul up later.
 
Robert loper

Robert loper

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Sep 19, 2017
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I tie two loops into my molly loops on my saddle right behind maybe 1-2 loops from my hips. I think maybe10 inches long and make it wide enough to put double step into the loop
I use a double aider on first stick and a single on second can but rarely go just over 21 foot.
first stick hang climb onto top step , grab stick 1 hanging from waist hang it with single aider, climb to top step repeat with 3rd stick. ( i dont use aiders on 3rd stick. )
Ros and platform are in my pack.i have a retractable rope on my saddle to pull anything up i need to. Of course i tie it on before i climb lol. 1 trip up its easy and super quiet.
i use 3 beast sticks. And sometimes set of custom stick i have.
simplify stuff it makes it alot more easier
 
V

Vada

New Member
Nov 12, 2020
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I set my first stick and jump up to the middle posts. I hang my second stick. I don’t do this with my lineman’s belt. I’m not far up at all at this point.

Go back down and secure my third stick to my right hip with a paracord loop and on my left hip the Predator platform. I also put my pack back on. Climb up and set the third stick and then my platform.

I then loosen my tether to get around the platform and when I do, I cinch it back down and move to the platform. Secure my tether. Then my HYS strap. Hang my pack. Pull up my bow which is attached via rope behind me. Nock an arrow and hang it with a hero clip.

I call it the 1.5 climb method. Haha.
 
J

jerry_d

Member
Nov 7, 2020
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Vada said:
I set my first stick and jump up to the middle posts. I hang my second stick. I don’t do this with my lineman’s belt. I’m not far up at all at this point.

Go back down and secure my third stick to my right hip with a paracord loop and on my left hip the Predator platform. I also put my pack back on. Climb up and set the third stick and then my platform.

I then loosen my tether to get around the platform and when I do, I cinch it back down and move to the platform. Secure my tether. Then my HYS strap. Hang my pack. Pull up my bow which is attached via rope behind me. Nock an arrow and hang it with a hero clip.

I call it the 1.5 climb method. Haha.
Click to expand...
thx for sharing.... can I ask how high up you get?
 
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