So here’s my thoughts. They’re worth less to you than they are to me, but I like em alright, so I figured I’d share:
There isn’t a great, almighty, one-size-fits-all, “if you’re not doing it this way, you’re a booger-eater” method to get up a tree.
Spurs: nice and deadly. Excellent on poplars, sweet gums, younger oaks and hickory trees. Ok on pines. Light weight. Takes skill (practice equals betterness, betterness is better). Putting them back on from a ring of steps requires a minimal beer belly (if ya ain’t there yet, keep living).
Screw in steps: pre-season (where legal) or private land middle of the day set up. It’s possible to put them in quietly, but expect to sweat. Period. I’ve read oodles of warnings about them breaking, but if ya follow the directions, things seem to work out. They tend to stick out a little too far for my particular lineman’s belt, but I may be nit-picking. Great for presets in pines on private land.
Sticks (plural) - soooooo yesterday. Proven. Heavy-ish. Bulk is more my issue.
Stick (one) - Purdy darn snazzy. Noisy as a climber, but I've killed deer from a climber, so... Takes a little skill, really just takes a lot of practice. And a rope to rappel down, unless you like to always be the last one back to camp to prove you really waited till it was surenuff dark before you came down from the stand.
Bolts - hmmmm. Not bad. Not as quick as spurs or a practiced one-sticker. Can be super quiet. Great for presets since bolts are cheaper than steps.Left them in and the tree grew? You lost a half inch of foot space instead of weakening/breaking a tree step. Pretty decent for the impromptu “this tree looks good” type of hunt, just plan for a 10 minute trip to the top.
So them’s ma thoughts. Those are the methods that I’ve tried. Each has its place. I think we keep searching for the one method that is the best, particularly when starting out (so we don’t waste money). I don’t think there’s a best overall. I think it depends on the day, the tree, and the you.
Need to get in super deep and super quiet? Should’ve preset.
Going light and fast in the hardwoods? Try one stick or bolts.
Etc, etc, etc.
Rambling over. Carry on.
There isn’t a great, almighty, one-size-fits-all, “if you’re not doing it this way, you’re a booger-eater” method to get up a tree.
Spurs: nice and deadly. Excellent on poplars, sweet gums, younger oaks and hickory trees. Ok on pines. Light weight. Takes skill (practice equals betterness, betterness is better). Putting them back on from a ring of steps requires a minimal beer belly (if ya ain’t there yet, keep living).
Screw in steps: pre-season (where legal) or private land middle of the day set up. It’s possible to put them in quietly, but expect to sweat. Period. I’ve read oodles of warnings about them breaking, but if ya follow the directions, things seem to work out. They tend to stick out a little too far for my particular lineman’s belt, but I may be nit-picking. Great for presets in pines on private land.
Sticks (plural) - soooooo yesterday. Proven. Heavy-ish. Bulk is more my issue.
Stick (one) - Purdy darn snazzy. Noisy as a climber, but I've killed deer from a climber, so... Takes a little skill, really just takes a lot of practice. And a rope to rappel down, unless you like to always be the last one back to camp to prove you really waited till it was surenuff dark before you came down from the stand.
Bolts - hmmmm. Not bad. Not as quick as spurs or a practiced one-sticker. Can be super quiet. Great for presets since bolts are cheaper than steps.Left them in and the tree grew? You lost a half inch of foot space instead of weakening/breaking a tree step. Pretty decent for the impromptu “this tree looks good” type of hunt, just plan for a 10 minute trip to the top.
So them’s ma thoughts. Those are the methods that I’ve tried. Each has its place. I think we keep searching for the one method that is the best, particularly when starting out (so we don’t waste money). I don’t think there’s a best overall. I think it depends on the day, the tree, and the you.
Need to get in super deep and super quiet? Should’ve preset.
Going light and fast in the hardwoods? Try one stick or bolts.
Etc, etc, etc.
Rambling over. Carry on.