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To those who use Shikar Sticks

I have the mini shikar with the scout platform, mine doesn't smell like anything and most deer recognize oil smells I'm sure with farm equipment and such. I wouldn't worry about it at all, just get high enough and play the wind. They're great sticks.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I have the mini shikar with the scout platform, mine doesn't smell like anything and most deer recognize oil smells I'm sure with farm equipment and such. I wouldn't worry about it at all, just get high enough and play the wind. They're great sticks.
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Careful with the scout platform on the stick. I just got off the phone with Matt from OOAL and he said he's had a couple sticks bend from people using the scout for more than a couple hours at a time.
 
stone1 said:
Careful with the scout platform on the stick. I just got off the phone with Matt from OOAL and he said he's had a couple sticks bend from people using the scout for more than a couple hours at a time.
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How would a couple hours put anymore stress on the stick than a long sit?
 
woodsdog2 said:
I have the mini shikar with the scout platform, mine doesn't smell like anything and most deer recognize oil smells I'm sure with farm equipment and such. I wouldn't worry about it at all, just get high enough and play the wind. They're great sticks.
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If you hunt farm deer ok.

What about deer in the mountains?

Doesnt matter how high you are. How high is you first stick off the ground?
 
Mike Isbell of Backcountry Mobile Gear did a FB Livestream back in February or March showcasing a lot of equipment and his buddy was definitely a toad with a 13" shoe and he was really giving that mini shikar a workout and it was solid. There was some flex but my RR flexes a little bit too but so does the Wild Edge Perch. I don't have a predator so I can't speak on that. The scout platform was on the bottom of the mini. I like mine so far.
 
enkriss said:
If you hunt farm deer ok.

What about deer in the mountains?

Doesnt matter how high you are. How high is you first stick off the ground?
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Good points but how many guns smell like oil in the woods every year?
 
enkriss said:
How would a couple hours put anymore stress on the stick than a long sit?
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My opinion is the same as yours. I'm just relaying the information I was told.

I don't believe there is an increase in stress, I believe there is a compounding effect that the stick is not meant to be stood on under tension for hours on end. Similar to if you put a kayak on your car for an hour or you leave it on your car for 10 hours, odds are that dent after 10 hours is going to be deeper and harder to get out.


Regarding the scent of the sticks, that is a very easy fix. Degrease sticks, regrease with a scent free oil. I have already taken care of this issue. My only concern at this point is the sticks feeling like they are twisting/flexing under pressure. During a normal climb this is not an issue. As someone said earlier, there is a cost to lighter gear. You will not be able to check every box. Light or Rock Solid. Packable or bulky. Always give and take.
 
I have a shikar mini with scout on bottom. I’ve never had any issues. I climb up on it a few times a week “playing”. It better last all day without issue or I won’t be keeping it.
 
I hit my Shikars with brake clean when I got them, because I wanted them clean for painting. Two birds, one stone. No more smell.


I'm not a fan of the flex, I think a lot of it is from the non-fixed steps & standoffs. I leave my sticks deployed all the time, so I might pick up the fixed kit. Only reason I haven't yet is because I don't feel like breaking out the spray paint for another arts & crafts session.
 
The only problem with removing the stinky ass oil is you need some kind of lube on them or the step is going to stick and make noise and add more fiddle factor and frustration.

As mentioned you could leave them deployed but that defeats the advantage of the Shikars. The compact packing.
 
MIbowhunter49 said:
I hit my Shikars with brake clean when I got them, because I wanted them clean for painting. Two birds, one stone. No more smell.


I'm not a fan of the flex, I think a lot of it is from the non-fixed steps & standoffs. I leave my sticks deployed all the time, so I might pick up the fixed kit. Only reason I haven't yet is because I don't feel like breaking out the spray paint for another arts & crafts session.
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For me, the flex doesn’t come from the steps, it comes from the post. I’ve found if you keep your feet closer to the post on the steps and have your weight distributed down instead of out it helps a lot.


enkriss said:
The only problem with removing the stinky ass oil is you need some kind of lube on them or the step is going to stick and make noise and add more fiddle factor and frustration.

As mentioned you could leave them deployed but that defeats the advantage of the Shikars. The compact packing.
Click to expand...

that’s an easy fix honestly. A drop or two of reel oil and that’s solved. It’s meant for saltwater so it’s not easily displaced.

Definitely have not put these through their paces yet so we’ll see. One thing for certain is there is not a lighter, more packable double step on the market. At least not yet
 
stone1 said:
For me, the flex doesn’t come from the steps, it comes from the post. I’ve found if you keep your feet closer to the post on the steps and have your weight distributed down instead of out it helps a lot.




that’s an easy fix honestly. A drop or two of reel oil and that’s solved. It’s meant for saltwater so it’s not easily displaced.

Definitely have not put these through their paces yet so we’ll see. One thing for certain is there is not a lighter, more packable double step on the market. At least not yet
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What about beeswax for a lubricant on the step assembly?
I also try staying closer to the post for less wiggle action.
 
Guff Dawg said:
What about beeswax for a lubricant on the step assembly?
I also try staying closer to the post for less wiggle action.
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You could. In all honesty, you don't want anything dense to lubricate the bolt/post/spring. Anything too thick and it will not allow the offset to tighten to the extent you would like. Reel oil or Hair Clipper oil, something light and scent-free is more than enough.
 
stone1 said:
You could. In all honesty, you don't want anything dense to lubricate the bolt/post/spring. Anything too thick and it will not allow the offset to tighten to the extent you would like. Reel oil or Hair Clipper oil, something light and scent-free is more than enough.
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Olive and avocado oils work just as well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
enkriss said:
How would a couple hours put anymore stress on the stick than a long sit?
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Well your cycle of loads and duration of loading will affect the fatigue over the life of the stick. This could lead to premature fracturing and failure. This is also dependent on how much strain you are putting on the stick each cycle.
 
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