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Setting predator platform

Halfright

Halfright

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2018
Messages
93
Location
New Hampshire
Hey guys, over the weekend I was practicing with the WE steps and the predator. When you’re climbing up, do you set the predator while you’re on your top step or before and let your lineman’s belt out more to go around the stand?
 
If you don't cam the platform down until you're above it, you shouldn't have to let your your line in order to get above it--or at least not very much. I don't like to cam over the platform until I'm on my last step, have set up my and tied into my tree tether and have stepped down on the platform post to remove any little slop that is left. Only then do I cam the platform over with my feet, inspect for looseness and then step onto my platform. I don't mess with my lineman's belt until I've hauled up all my gear and cam completely set up.
 
I don't have a strict routine, but generally I am setting up my platform either top step of my second stick or bottom of third, reason being I like to have my top stick about even with my platform to use as an additional step to shoot backside of the tree. If I have to one-stick to get a little higher I use the second stick to do so. It varies though, some trees are easy enough I don't need that extra step and I'll step up onto my platform.

I tether in to set up my platform then move the tether up as I step onto it and adjust the positioning. I also tether in if I feel I am at a sketchy point in a climb. It's much better safety-wise to be attached to a tether than just a linesman belt. There's no telling when you'll stop falling with an LB, and you will not find it pleasant being smashed against the tree/climbing sticks.
 
I like to set and get up on my last WE step. I pull my linesman so I'm close to the tree. Then I'll put my tether as high up on the tree as I can. Once I'm tethered I take the platform off the back of my saddle. I use my knees to hold it to the tree as I put the strap around the tree, keeping the strap straight around the tree. I cam the platform down solid, and using my tether pull myself onto the platform with one hand,while tending slack with the other. Once on the platform I move my tether up to head height.
 
I would also like to add that I still use the Gen 1 and original strap with buckle. I can get the platform as tight as it needs to be without the versa strap and toe hooking. The key is in keeping the strap straight around the tree when tightening the strap. I find this method quieter than toe hooking.
 
When I use my WE steps I have a knaider on. So I stand on my top step, cam the predator over, then hook my knaider on it and step up onto it. I set it about 2 feet above my top WE step
 
I like to climb to the top step while I still have the platform hanging on my body. I then attach the tether and check it. I release the LB, then I negotiate down the tether a step or 2 and attach and set the platform right in front of me (to my left). I then move back up the tether (with my ropeman or prussik). Then I step onto the platform and adjust the tether height if need be.

Its very intuitive and natural to me to do it that way.

I've always thought that hanging any type of stand was a pain in the ass while attached with a lineman. The LB always seems to be in the space where the stand needs to set.

Hanging stands while attached via a tether is much less laborious, too. Stands don't always pop right into place securely. There is sometimes an unforeseen issue with the tree...a bump, a knot, a branch or some difficulty that makes for a longer set-time. Hanging from a tether takes 50% of your weight off the steps, and frees up operating space.

And I am more able to shoot as soon as I'm tethered...even when I'm on steps without the platform set yet. If I am still on my step, and I see deer coming before I get the platform set, I can shoot better if I'm tethered as opposed to still being attached via a LB.
Tether asap THEN finish stand hanging and other chores
 
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i stand at the top of my last step. I use the Nite-Ize gear tie that holds the predator closed during transport to also wrap around my linemans belt to hold the predator up and allow me 2 hands to wrap the strap around the tree. I believe this is a common method and g2outdoors has a video on it. But just in case you hadnt seen it. I then set the predator about 1.5-2 ft above my last step. push down. Cam it over. Set tether as high as i can reach. I am still not sure if i will continue to keep my linemans belt attached before i step up. It tends to be cumbersome and sometimes even seems more unsafe because it limits my mobility when stepping up . I prefer to remove the linemans, Grab the tag end of my tether with one hand. wrap the other around the tree. Step up onto the platform while pulling the tag line to take up the slack at the same time. So if any failure happens I wont fall very far. Obviously having a Ropeman1 helps with this. Then once im set i move the tether up to chin height
 
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