• 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

New Saddlehunter! Looking for Climbing Stick Tips

GreenMtHunter

GreenMtHunter

New Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2020
Messages
15
Hey everyone, just got my tethrd mantis in the mail! I also purchased the Muddy Pro Climbing Stick as it seemed like a good middle ground option for a first set of sticks.
I was curious, do you guys carry your sticks in? Pack them in? When climbing the tree, where do you store the other sticks you haven’t mounted to the tree yet? Trying to figure out how to be quicker and more efficient, any tips or info would be appreciated! Thanks and happy hunting!
 
You unpack your sticks at bottom of tree and attach them to saddle with hooks. I tied paracord on my sticks use kydex hooks. I have a niteeyes with tie on the back to attach predator platform.
 
RainingBlades said:
You unpack your sticks at bottom of tree and attach them to saddle with hooks. I tied paracord on my sticks use kydex hooks. I have a niteeyes with tie on the back to attach predator platform.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips, much appreciated!
 
I don’t know why but I’ve always been extra cautious about stick climbing... well maybe the reason is I had a mild stroke in 2015, now I have to take a blood thinner, and so I try to avoid major cuts.

So I don’t ever feel like slipping during the climb and have a linesman’s belt tightening me into the sticks after a 24” fall. (1) PAUSE after every stick set to make sure it’s tightened / set correctly, and then seat it straight down. (2) I actually climb with a lineman’s but also advance a tether above me, not a lotta guys do this but it’s not bad.

(3) I also hang extra sticks on the kydex hooks https://doublesteps.com/product/kydex-molle-j-hook/ but I don’t have them pointing straight up at me dangling like spears, I have a section of paracord tied along the sticks and positioned so the sticks carry perpendicular to my torso. And (4) climb deliberately making sure your boots are securely positioned on the steps, especially when pausing on a top step to set things up. (5) Consider how you might get down if a stick kicks out. Some folks carry an amsteel section or two they could girth hitch to the tree to get a foot into and slowly advance a tether down to the ground. A lineman’s / tether combination could work to awkwardly do this too.

Edit: I personally don’t like carrying things or having things draped around my shoulders so my sticks are tightly bundled and strapped to my JX3:
7fd7395f9efc8851f022ecd6cba3b5d1.jpg
 
Any extra sticks u didn't use u can attach to the tree 2 use like a ring of steps or just stick em up the the branches outta the way... But just remember to get them before u climb down....hahaha
 
I use WE Steps and set of 8 goes into my backpack until I get to the tree. If you ever decide to try something else, give them a look. Super portable.
 
Side question, does camoing your sticks matter? Im going to use Ameristep Rapid Rail which to me stand out like hell. Should I bother to camo paint or tape them?
 
neonomad said:
I don’t know why but I’ve always been extra cautious about stick climbing... well maybe the reason is I had a mild stroke in 2015, now I have to take a blood thinner, and so I try to avoid major cuts.

So I don’t ever feel like slipping during the climb and have a linesman’s belt tightening me into the sticks after a 24” fall. (1) PAUSE after every stick set to make sure it’s tightened / set correctly, and then seat it straight down. (2) I actually climb with a lineman’s but also advance a tether above me, not a lotta guys do this but it’s not bad.

(3) I also hang extra sticks on the kydex hooks https://doublesteps.com/product/kydex-molle-j-hook/ but I don’t have them pointing straight up at me dangling like spears, I have a section of paracord tied along the sticks and positioned so the sticks carry perpendicular to my torso. And (4) climb deliberately making sure your boots are securely positioned on the steps, especially when pausing on a top step to set things up. (5) Consider how you might get down if a stick kicks out. Some folks carry an amsteel section or two they could girth hitch to the tree to get a foot into and slowly advance a tether down to the ground. A lineman’s / tether combination could work to awkwardly do this too.

Edit: I personally don’t like carrying things or having things draped around my shoulders so my sticks are tightly bundled and strapped to my JX3:
7fd7395f9efc8851f022ecd6cba3b5d1.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for putting this together for me! I’m going to try a few different options and see what works best
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top