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Prepping trees

redsquirrel said:
I hunt both pre-set tree and on the fly hunts depending where I am at. My favorite method is pre-set trees with screw in steps, I have at least 40 set up throughout my state. I have never had one break on me. IMO anyone who has one of these break on them has put them in the tree incorrectly. I have seen so many trees set up with them incorrectly, I almost want to start carrying notes around the woods when I'm scouting to warn people. A screw in step needs to have the L at the bottom portion where you stand touching the tree. If that L is not touching the tree, the step is going to bend under stress when it is stepped on. Eventually (and especially when it gets really cold), that step will break. The best way to put these steps in is using a tree step tool. I use the ultimate tree step tool: http://www.treesteptool.com/

I also don't know how a step came out of the tree. Maybe it was a dead tree, or the step was put back into a previously used hole, but in either case those are things to avoid.

Anyways, just some information from my experience using screw in steps. If you can afford them, the cranford ez screw in's are the easiest to use, but they are way more pricey.
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Scoutman said:
You use cordless drill with 3/8 bit, drill 2" in tree, you can set up a tree in less than 5 minutes. During season you use a hand drill from ez cut products to be quiet.
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Are you using a normal 3/8" bit or the auger type in your drill?
 
Where I hunt , the sound of a power tool isn't strange. Drilling mid season wouldn't be a big deal.
The hand drill works really well IF you have stiff boots for standing on bolts and your linesmans belt is being used correctly. Drilling on the left side is always a challenge

Scoutman said:
You use cordless drill with 3/8 bit, drill 2" in tree, you can set up a tree in less than 5 minutes. During season you use a hand drill from ez cut products to be quiet.
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justsomedude said:
Best to get their Auger bit. I used a regular one that I marked with tape but their's has a depth guide on it.
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Pick up a cheap drill bit stop and solve that problem. You could put the drill bit together much cheaper than their setup.
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Scoutman said:
Red,
Drilling would work good for you, just pre-drill trees. Carry bolts and platform with you. Put them in and hunt, take them to another tree the next day.
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Scoutman said:
You use cordless drill with 3/8 bit, drill 2" in tree, you can set up a tree in less than 5 minutes. During season you use a hand drill from ez cut products to be quiet.
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Sorry, I should have been more specific. I do have some places where I hunt where I am only allowed to have 1 tree set up at a time, so I do put holes for the bolts and carry them in and out every time.

But I have 40 trees set up on state land using screw in steps. I am always finding new spots and breaking down old, but I can never have enough spots or tree steps. I always by the cheap steps on sale but can't do much better than $1.60 a step. If I buy the bolts that I use in bulk I could get them cheaper than that. I prep most of my trees in the winter and spring and don't go back to them until the fall. Some trees I don't even hunt every year depending on the circumstances. I have been wondering if I stocked up on bolts in bulk if I could use them to replace screw in steps, although they would then become permanent in the tree.
 
You and I have a lot in common, lol. I'm not sure what to say as you have a lot of skin in the game, I have 2, 5 gallon buckets full of ameristeps and cranfords along with 75 + bolts. I tend to over prepare. Doesn't include climb paws, ezy climb rope steps,etc.
 
Scoutman said:
You and I have a lot in common, lol. I'm not sure what to say as you have a lot of skin in the game, I have 2, 5 gallon buckets full of ameristeps and cranfords along with 75 + bolts. I tend to over prepare. Doesn't include climb paws, ezy climb rope steps,etc.
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That is the beauty of the saddle! Anyways, I have a system that works, but I'm never satisfied and always looking for something better.
 
What size grade 8 bolts are you getting for $1.60? That's unbelievably cheap.
 
Wow, they other hardware that's grade 8 always seems expensive, thanks.
 
Man... I keep noticing one common thread here for preset trees. $$$$ I just leave parachord or black tarline in a tree I like and mark it my gps. Then I can come back to it anytime I like. Cost me like 6-10 and some change for 6-10 set trees depending on how high up I am. I've got about 7 active trees set one right on the edge of a main trail in a persimon tree. People walk past it all the time and never see the line. Hell I've left bright yellow line in a tree for a year and no one noticed it. Maybe people are just unobservant...
 
I have an extra auger but that I should do that with.
Just marking the bit doesn't work nearly as well as an auger with a stop. Some trees really need the auger to get the hole cleaned out.

IkemanTX said:
Pick up a cheap drill bit stop and solve that problem. You could put the drill bit together much cheaper than their setup.
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Just a question guys. Sorry if this sounds dumb but what's an XOP platform ? I use ameristeps and prep all my trees. I'm on private land and it's only me a couple other guys that can hunt around 800 acres so prepping isn't an issue. I like the lone wolf sticks with etriers 5 step, hanging from each stick then use a ratchet and 5 plastic steps for unexpected hot spots that I don't have a tree prepped for. Always looking to improve my mobile set up. Thanks


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