Setting predator and climbing sticks

[mattfish]

I have been practicing setting my predator using one stick in order to simulate the top of my set. Following G2’s advice on setting the platform to my left.

Here is my concern. When climbing I’m trying to make my set with deer travel in mind. So I’m setting my climbing sticks to ascend the back of the tree. If I set the platform to my left I find I’m hanging off the side of the tree. No cover available.

Do you guys not concern yourself with where your sticks are set? In other words are your sticks set so they stick off the side of the tree hence setting your platform at the back of your tree when setting it to your left?

I try and set the platform up about a foot above my last stick. If I set even, I notice it swings into my stick when hanging it off my linesmen with a gear tie as shown in G2’s video on setting the predator at hunting height.

Your feedback is appreciated. I haven’t come across a video of a simulated climb setting the platform off of a stick. The use your imagination part here leaves me scratching my balding head.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Sticks or bolts is the same for me. I start by figuring out where on the tree that I want my platform. I like to orient in so my shots are on my strong side in the 8 o'clock to 10 o'clock position (I'm right handed). Ideally, the deer will approach from the back side of the tree. By the time they get in the 10 to 8 position, the shot will be broadside or quartering away slightly. The perfect set-up is if there is another tree the deer walks behind and obscures his ability to see me draw.
I always try to climb so I can set the platform to my left. It's just a preference that goes back to all the years hunting out of Screaming Eagle stands. They had their chain and hook welded on so the stand would always be hung to the left of the steps.
The height of the platform in relation to the steps is always slightly lower for my preference. It gives me a spot to reposition my feet during the hunt and also allows a little better control when moving off or back onto the platform. And I also have an Ameristep on the Predator strap on the strong side. Having it on the strap automatically places it above the platform. Having a step at the same height on each side of the platform seems more intuitive to me than if I had one high and the other lower. A step below platform height really can only be used for climbing. Having the step level or better yet, a few inches higher than the platform, allows the top step to do double duty.

 

[mattfish]

I appreciate it Tom!

So just so I’m understand you make your set with the platform position the priority. That makes total sense.

What I have been concerned with is when I do this it seems to leave my sticks more visible. When using ROS it never mattered. I could set my sticks so they were not visible from the direction I believed deer would approach my set. I could climb straight up set ROS and have sticks all but hidden.

When setting the predator as my priority my sticks tend to hang off more to the right side and then seem more visible.
Geez I hope I’m explains this well enough......

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I appreciate it Tom!

So just so I’m understand you make your set with the platform position the priority. That makes total sense.

What I have been concerned with is when I do this it seems to leave my sticks more visible. When using ROS it never mattered. I could set my sticks so they were not visible from the direction I believed deer would approach my set. I could climb straight up set ROS and have sticks all but hidden.

When setting the predator as my priority my sticks tend to hang off more to the right side and then seem more visible.
Geez I hope I’m explains this well enough......

I completely understand your attempt to hide the sticks. I watch deer come thru my yard 365 days a year. Believe me...they notice unnatural stuff. I can hang a tiny Browning trail cam (not turned on) and they notice it when they walk past. I've had deer spot screw-in steps. Will they get used to stuff like ladders and sticks? Sure, but initially, the odds are better than I want that they will see it if they are within bow range. It only takes one time out of 100 to possibly blow the chance at a once-in-a-lifetime buck. Ask @DaveT1963 about dangling straps.
I still place a high priority on having a step on each side of the platform and platform position on the tree is the top priority. Each step needs to only be a few degrees around the tree, usually less than 10" or so depending on tree diameter. When I climb bolts or sticks and I get to platform location, I want to step slightly down and to the left and onto the stand.
Hopefully, we will have the PA-Looza next week and you can see what I do then.

 

[hokiehunter373]

I have been practicing setting my predator using one stick in order to simulate the top of my set. Following G2’s advice on setting the platform to my left.

Here is my concern. When climbing I’m trying to make my set with deer travel in mind. So I’m setting my climbing sticks to ascend the back of the tree. If I set the platform to my left I find I’m hanging off the side of the tree. No cover available.

Do you guys not concern yourself with where your sticks are set? In other words are your sticks set so they stick off the side of the tree hence setting your platform at the back of your tree when setting it to your left?

I try and set the platform up about a foot above my last stick. If I set even, I notice it swings into my stick when hanging it off my linesmen with a gear tie as shown in G2’s video on setting the predator at hunting height.

Your feedback is appreciated. I haven’t come across a video of a simulated climb setting the platform off of a stick. The use your imagination part here leaves me scratching my balding head.

I appreciate what you're trying to do but I don't think you're going to find a perfect solution. My experience has been that you should be ok as long as the deer isn't coming straight at your tree. Last year, last hunt of the season, I had a shed buck come check out a sign post rub. It was my first sit there and I made the mistake of setting up almost directly behind the rub in relation to how he came in. The deer came in from my 12 to the rub and saw the straps on my tree past the rub. He immediately looked up and saw something he didn't like and bounced out of there. He didn't even see the steps (they were on the back side of the tree), just the straps, but noticed something different and got nervous. I think your priority should be more about being in a tree that isn't in the line of sight of the deer coming on the expected route of travel and then realize that nothing's guaranteed and they can come from whatever way they please lol

 

[mattfish]

Ughhhh!!!
#%*¥$$& deer! I had set last year where I set hang on so I could face stand away from the line of sight. When I went into pull it, I was like
“Crap, my sticks are so visible from this angle”. There was only top three on the tree too.

 

[BCHunter]

Never cared if the deer could see them, never had it be a problem that I could tell. They don't move, I'd worry more about where your scent is blowing and if you set up on the trail correctly.

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[Cougar]

To my eye, the horizontal solid colored strap is the part that sticks out most timed when I notice a stand when scouting. That horizontal line is abnormal for sure. Obviously varied based on rope , strap, buckle style , how much the deer have been pressured from tree stands. I have a 8mm camo rope mod on my LW sticks that I feel blends in fairly well, definitely better than the solid tan stock strap. I'm Climbing to keep the tree between me and likely bedding, and hanging the stand / platform where it needs to be to give me the best cover and shot angles

 

[Allegheny Tom]

To my eye, the horizontal solid colored strap is the part that sticks out most timed when I notice a stand when scouting. That horizontal line is abnormal for sure. Obviously varied based on rope , strap, buckle style , how much the deer have been pressured from tree stands. I have a 8mm camo rope mod on my LW sticks that I feel blends in fairly well, definitely better than the solid tan stock strap. I'm Climbing to keep the tree between me and likely bedding, and hanging the stand / platform where it needs to be to give me the best cover and shot angles

Paying attention to little details eventually pays off.
95% of little details probably won't make or break a hunt, but ignoring the other 5% will kill you.
I try to attend to as many details as possible.

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[dalton916]

One stick.

 

[Cougar]

One stick is a lot of work. I'm a three stick w moveable aider, one trip up kinda guy

 

[DaveT1963]

I don't worry about it - at all. I have had deer walk up and sniff my sticks and never busted. Most walk by and never pay any attention to them. However, movement will draw their attention. i use black amsteel and always wrap the extra up around the stick (I have small bungies on each end and just hook it around the button now. This is exactly why I developed the CAYG aider - because 2 bucks caught my one step aiders in the past and cost me shots.

 

[mattfish]

Thks guys. I try to secure my loose rope as you gents have suggested. I was a little concerned with sticks hanging off the side of my tree. Approaching them from the right angle they seemed obvious.

Trying to remain ghost like while in the woods.

Just no easy way to offset the predator to my strong side, keep me hidden and my sticks hidden as well.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I don't worry about it - at all. I have had deer walk up and sniff my sticks and never busted. Most walk by and never pay any attention to them. However, movement will draw their attention. i use black amsteel and always wrap the extra up around the stick (I have small bungies on each end and just hook it around the button now. This is exactly why I developed the CAYG aider - because 2 bucks caught my one step aiders in the past and cost me shots.

Are you handling sticks with gloves?
I once had a doe smell a single thumb print on a sapling near the base of my tree.
I used to walk the last 60 feet of that approach down a fallen log. One day I was losing my balance while on that log and I steadied myself by putting a single thumb (freshly washed hand) against that sapling.
Because of how I walk, that doe heard my footsteps (as I approached the log) and she came over to investigate. She smelled that ONE thumb print. She became nervous and departed.
Yeah, some deer may accept your odor on a stick, but some might not either. I always assume the worst and plan for the best.

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