Hahaha! That’s my grandpas and my favorite movie series. Temple of Doom being the top pick.
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Cons to the "one-stick" method?
- Thread starter weekender21
- Start date
REGould
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2020
- Messages
- 18
I use 2 WE steps to get where I need to be, which is with my torso about 15 feet off the ground (higher than that where I hunt and you are dealing with a thicket of mid-story ironwood and witch hazel shrubs).
Have you tried the knaider swaider? I found it super awkward. I think it might be for hunters who do yoga, not stiff middle aged guys like myself. When you're using the knaider you're a femur and WE step distance away from the tree. Last season I ended up with 2 WE steps with rope ladders as shown in my avatar. This season I'll be using a Backwoods Mobile aider that I'll be pulling up with me.
I ended up with the WE Steps because I wanted a climbing setup that I could just jam into my backpack and not have it be a big, awkward pain in the ass. It fit the bill. I carried it around most of turkey season just in case things got slow and I wanted to check out some spots for deer season.
huntin_addict
Well-Known Member
Disagreeing is fine. My mobile game started with a climber, then shifted to a Millenium M100 with 4 lone wolf full lengths for several years. Then shifted to saddles, still using the 4 LW sticks for a few years. Then shifted to 4 LWCG doublesteps with a versa aider, and now one sticking.
With all of that, one thing that is extremely important to me is to ALWAYS have a system. That said I always pack my stuff up completely the same exact way after every hunt, and unpack and have a specific method at the start of every climb. These things take time. With the one stick method I can be climbing within 1 minute, or less, of hitting the base of the tree.
I know it's not a race, but if I can save 10+ minutes, I'm in. Same with end of hunt. For me the only draw back, the ONLY one, is the slack in the tether, and to be fair, whether climbing with a linesman or tether, there is always a bit of inherent risk.
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It's more like I can only sit on the sidelines of a one-sticking thread for just so long . . .
I also realized the size of the one stick and aider config is pretty important. I had been practicing with a 12 inch shikar with 13 inch spaced 3 step aider and it just wasn't clicking. Today I got an EWO 15 inch one stick with 16 inch spaced 3 step aider and it was like it was made for my 6 foot frame. I went up the tree effortlessly. I am sure some of that is due to all the pain staking practice with the little shikar, but I also think the size of the stick ended up being VERY important for comfort. Also thanks @boyne bowhunter for your video clip insert. It definitely helped me smooth out my process.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2021
- Messages
- 5,049
I ran 75’ of deep woods 7/16” (I had Samson predator the previous two seasons but last year it was hard to come across for some reason) the rope runs me roughly 5 lbs. my saddle weighs 1lbs 7 oz. Sometimes I use a tether sometimes I do not. Depending on where I hunt I take a predator platform or a ridge runner with a couple slotted squirrel steps. Or I take a full set ROS and leave the platform at the house, if I plan on moving multiple trees during the day. I keep a thermocell and a small grunt. My bow is a hoyt rx5 with 3 arrows. Usually coming in about 16 lbs total (sometimes a pound more or less depending on the time of year). I didn’t bash anyone or anyone’s way of climbing. Someone stated that one sticking is by and far the best method out there so I asked to explain because a stick with a platform on top is gonna come in at the very lightest 2 to 2.5lbs. And it takes longer to get up than other climbing methods that I’ve tried. Again I’m not efficient at one sticking so I was truly asking him to humor my ignorance, but I would never say my climbing style is better than anyone else’s. Or if you’re referring to me asking the post person for the video on 2 tether climbing to do a full set up next time, that was specifically because I would consider that climbing method on some of my hunts and I want to see how easy and quick the full set up is. That was not bashing someone. I think it looks easier than one sticking. Moving forward I will avoid posting so regularly, so not to offend anyone or over warm my welcome. But I definitely didn’t bash anyone or beat a dead horse. If someone claims they have the single best way to do something I simply want clarity because I would hate to think I wasn’t doing it or doing it correctly. And I never claimed to be a weight savings specialist. I prefer safety and comfort over the light weight craze. I didn’t get into saddle hunting because I couldn’t lug around my hang on, I got into it because some of my stands were ransacked during season and I got tired of it, so decided to try other things. Here 5 years later it’s the only way I hunt and I just learned about this site from a coworker 6 months ago. So I guess I did catch the bug and made up for lost time. Again never meant to offend or bash anyone.
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I don't think anyone was more then mildly tickles. I myself am very fickle when it come to my 'final' setup. Plan is one stick, but like all things in my life beside my wife, I'm always looking for the next hot thing that catch my attention. SRT with knee ascender might be next!
All good stuff man. Yup I have and still use the knaider swaider but it’s not generally my primary method any longer. I started repelling a few years ago and then thought “well, why don’t I just climb the rope then” and got set up with the necessary stuff for the single rope method. I like it but in certain situations I still use the ks. I’ve always liked the idea of the WE steps with a rope ladder or stirrups of some kind but I just never got the right combo set up I guess. Might have to look back into that. Thanks for the thoughts!
Mopar1169
Well-Known Member
I suppose you guys that one stick shoot the smallest deer you see. After all it is the least amount of work to get it out of the woods. Wow I can't believe you guys fret this much over carrying a couple extra pounds. How about you skip the fast food once a week and you won't have to worry about the two pounds difference in weight to carry.
I care About how much weight/crap I bring in the woods. I also don’t turn my nose up at little deer.
can you open this jar for me, big strong man?
Mopar1169
Well-Known Member
I carry 6 lbs of climbing gear. 3 beast sticks with cable aiders. I can get to 18 ft or so platform height if I stretch it. How much does your climbing gear weigh? Your stick and all your repel gear. I bet it is hardly the difference of a big morning crap.
Mopar1169
Well-Known Member
Here is my two setups depending on what I want to do. I can go up to 4 sticks with aiders if I really want to get up there. 
huntin_addict
Well-Known Member
Oh, you're one of those guys. Cool bro, thanks for your thoughtful input.
The little deer are usually the dumbest and much easier to kill.... plus i got a bad back....hehehe
Mopar1169
Well-Known Member
No different then the group that jumps into every thread about climbing sticks or getting up a tree and tells you the only way is one sticking. Your dumb if you carrying any more weight. Every single thread turns into why one sticking is the best and everybody else is stupid for not doing it.
If you wanna one stick more power to you. I will not do it. Way too much movement. Too much time hanging on the side of the tree. I like sticks it is simple light weight and quiet go as slow or fast as you want.
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I haven't noticed that...I think that's kinda true for all the different climbing methods...plus anybody climbing with a stick is stupid hahahahaha
Well once you get into anything, it become an art form and a focus that move beyond simple caring about 1-2 lbs. Its a strive to reach your own perfect setup, its the journey that matters. You might never find that end goal but life is about pursuing it. God never ask you to be a perfect human being, but its the fact that you try that pleases him.
So if someone spend their time and effort on trying to reach their perfect hunting setup, nothing wrong with that.
I have co workers who measure their food by grams daily to lose weight.
Tom Brady has never eaten strawberries or tomatoes in his life. Eats avocado ice cream..... (Ok, to this, I say &#^$*#&@ you man for making the rest of us look bad).
I used to work for a sushi catering company that has Jewish clients. They would have Rabbi ride with us from the fish market, all the way to the restaurant, then to the actual party to make sure that the tools we use are koshers and did not touch any meats. They care that much about their beliefs and dedication to their covenant with God.
Not saying any of these things are on the same level as each other. But passions can be in many forms and all are to be respected.
So if someone spend their time and effort on trying to reach their perfect hunting setup, nothing wrong with that.
I have co workers who measure their food by grams daily to lose weight.
Tom Brady has never eaten strawberries or tomatoes in his life. Eats avocado ice cream..... (Ok, to this, I say &#^$*#&@ you man for making the rest of us look bad).
I used to work for a sushi catering company that has Jewish clients. They would have Rabbi ride with us from the fish market, all the way to the restaurant, then to the actual party to make sure that the tools we use are koshers and did not touch any meats. They care that much about their beliefs and dedication to their covenant with God.
Not saying any of these things are on the same level as each other. But passions can be in many forms and all are to be respected.
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Yup, at opening of bow season last year I grunted back a spike 4 times, let him go because I was buck chasing. This year I'm going to repeat everything and that deer dies the first time.
Dude....what is going on with ur shoe