Managing Climbing Sticks

[Heath]

UPDATE*** - After more playing around i've simply started hanging two sticks from my saddle, one directly each into the loop that attaches to either side of my bridge. There is enough room in the loop for me to hold the back side of the stick. I tried paracord loops on each side. I placed them behind my sys hauler on each side and I found that the sticks would clang together behind me as I started to climb. Still a work in progress, Thanks for all the feedback!

Sounds like you are finding a solution. Keep at it.
Yes I can get some clang with my system if I get in a hurry and make fast and abrupt movements. I always try to avoid fast and abrupt not just for the noise but for safety. I'm a electrician by trade and usually when I get in a hurry, that is when I will make a mistake or bust some knuckles. So when I'm in the woods I just try to be intentional with every move. Slow and steady.

 

[Bowhunter5262]

Sounds like you are finding a solution. Keep at it.
Yes I can get some clang with my system if I get in a hurry and make fast and abrupt movements. I always try to avoid fast and abrupt not just for the noise but for safety. I'm a electrician by trade and usually when I get in a hurry, that is when I will make a mistake or bust some knuckles. So when I'm in the woods I just try to be intentional with every move. Slow and steady.

X2! Slow and steady turns in to efficiency. Efficiency turns into speed!

 

[JPS]

I am also a newbie and learning the same things you asked. Tried several things this summer and this is what I do with 3 (even 4) helium sticks + predator.

I can't get used to hanging heavy stuff from my saddle and climb comfortably (disclaimer: I am extremely afraid of heights). So I don't hang the platform or sticks on my saddle on my way up.

Predator goes into it's little pack that is in my back: easy to take out when I need it and I do feel comfortable climbing with it on my back.

For the sticks I put a loop of para cord in each and I hang them from the top step of my hawk stick. on each side of my first stick. If I have 4 sticks, this is trickier and I need to put two on one side (attached by their suction cups so they don't clank with each other).

I keep the stick straps in a pouch on my side. It is a light pouch, so it doesn't feel bad climbing with it.

The routine is this:
1) get to the tree and put the predator on my back and the strap and tether pouches on my sides
2) hang first stick and hang the other sticks on its top step
3) climb on first stick and standing on the last or second step hang second stick, move the other stick up and hang from top step of second stick
4) climb on second stick and repeat
5) Take predator out of pack and hang it
6) connect tether and climb onto predator, tie daisy chain to hang stuff
7) pull up bow strapped to main pack, hang, test drawing bow, etc, readjust as needed.
8) relax, cool down, put jacket on and carry on.

I reverse everything on my way down, never dropped stuff from up high (although I'be been tempted some times to expedite the process LOL)

 

[thelefty41]

I am running 3 full length lone wolf sticks with 8ft rope as the attachment method. I added small shock cord loops to the end of the ropes to secure them in transport, but I recently found that I can hang my first stick on the tree, attach one to the paracord loop on my saddle, and the last stick I put the shock cord loop over my wrist so that when I get to the top of my first stick I just pull up the second one and there is no way of dropping the rope. It is quiet and I only have one stick attached to my saddle so no chance of making noise of sticks swinging into each other.

 

[Westdesign03]

X2! Slow and steady turns in to efficiency. Efficiency turns into speed!

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Always liked that saying.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cschwanz84]

Sounds like you have some solutions already but I use the paracord loops on my harness (not into the saddle game yet) when I hang and hunt my lock-on. I put a paracord loop on each side where the linemans rope connects. First stick is attached on the ground then climb one stick high for the 2nd one. Put the tree claw through each loop and up I go. Once I'm to the top stick, I pull up my stand thats connected to my harness with a pull rope and hang it. Once Im in the stand, pull up my bow with a pullrope thats attached to the stand. Once I leave the ground, I don't have to go back down.

Now to get into the saddle world deeper to make this setup light, easier and faster lol.

 

[WVtreeguy]

I use Petzel Caritool accessory beaners on my first molly loop and have one on each side of my saddle. I attach my platform to the one on my left side and my sticks to the one on the right. As far as aiders and how to manage the sticks while climbing I hang the sticks upside down and clip the cable aider on the Petzel Caritool. I have used paracord loops but found it to be frustrating when the paracord would get jammed in the groove of the beaner when the gate was open. Hanging them by the cable seems to work alot better for my system.

 

[Bowhunter5262]

I use Petzel Caritool accessory beaners on my first molly loop and have one on each side of my saddle. I attach my platform to the one on my left side and my sticks to the one on the right. As far as aiders and how to manage the sticks while climbing I hang the sticks upside down and clip the cable aider on the Petzel Caritool. I have used paracord loops but found it to be frustrating when the paracord would get jammed in the groove of the beaner when the gate was open. Hanging them by the cable seems to work alot better for my system.

Just noticed this from my setup today.