That said - where legal, spurs are so much better than sticks. I haven't touched my sticks since getting comfortable on my spurs.
That said - where legal, spurs are so much better than sticks. I haven't touched my sticks since getting comfortable on my spurs.
Welcome to the site! We are here for whatever moral support you need!
So in your situation, sticks and aiders are the best solution. That is the fastest, lightest, and easiest way to get to hunting height without presets or spurs. Here's my 10 step process.
1. Saddle, clothes, knee pads, accessories all packed in my Alps Pursuit pack.
2. Platform & sticks strapped to outside of pack.
3. Once at tree and unpacked, knee pads go on, and the first stick goes on the tree. The other two sticks are hung from my saddle via 12" nite ize rubber gear hangers attached to saddle via molle loops on each hip.
4. Pack goes back on my back. If I'm using ameristeps they are slung over a shoulder. If I'm using my platform I hang it on the outside of my pack.
5. Bow is attached to bow rope and I start to climb using lineman belt.
6. At hunting height I attach platform and tether. Tether is stored in a pouch on my right hip for easy access. I clip into the tether and climb on platform.
7. I tighten myself to the tree by taking almost all the slack out of my lineman belt. Then I position my tether exactly where I want it.
8. I attach my homemade gear hanger where I need it. It's always stored on my left hip. Hang my pack, pull up my bow, and nock an arrow.
9. Shoot a huge buck that never knew I was there.
10. Post hero pic on SH, win the 2016 hunting contest for team 3, and eat back straps, deer chili, and jerky the rest of the year.
Simple.
This process took me probably 25 minutes at the beginning. Now I can do it in 10-15 depending on the tree.
You could make the 3-step etriers work really easily as well. It's really just personal preference. If I were as tall as you, I think I'd go the 5/4 etrier route.
Keep in mind, you have to have a dual top step for this to work. It looks like the Odin sticks make that easy.
Sure. I'll snap some when I can.G2,
Do you have pictures of your step 3 setup (i.e. 3. "Once at tree... The other two sticks are hung from my saddle via 12" nite ize rubber gear hangers attached to saddle via molle loops on each hip." )
I have been trying to find a way to attach my helium sticks so I don't have to make multiple trips up and down the tree? Does this setup work well?
Thanks!
Sure. I'll snap some when I can.
I have been using a 5 on my first and a 4 on my second. So far so good. Today was one of my worst setups although it had nothing to do with the aiders!This could just be me ( I'm new to this and still learning) but I thought I would throw this out there for someone thinking of using the 4 step... I tried using the 4 step on my second stick and found that it was too long.. if I didn't put pressure down in a straight line directly under the stick it would want to kick off to the side very easily. I cut mine down to 3 step. It is less "sketchy".
I tied paracord around making a loop at the end. I attach my two sticks to my Aero hunter using a carabiner and the loop. One trip up. Unless I drop my platform like I did this morning and had to go back down to pick it up.G2,
Do you have pictures of your step 3 setup (i.e. 3. "Once at tree... The other two sticks are hung from my saddle via 12" nite ize rubber gear hangers attached to saddle via molle loops on each hip." )
I have been trying to find a way to attach my helium sticks so I don't have to make multiple trips up and down the tree? Does this setup work well?
Thanks!
With my heliums I put the first stick on, then one stick goes over my left shoulder, the other over my right and up I go. Last year with my lone wolfs I had a loop hanging on each side of my saddle that I attached the sticks to. I find using any more than 3 sticks to be too many for this reason.G2,
Do you have pictures of your step 3 setup (i.e. 3. "Once at tree... The other two sticks are hung from my saddle via 12" nite ize rubber gear hangers attached to saddle via molle loops on each hip." )
I have been trying to find a way to attach my helium sticks so I don't have to make multiple trips up and down the tree? Does this setup work well?
Thanks!