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Using climbing stick as platform

G

Grasshopper 22

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
6
I plan on buying my first saddle within the next month and had a question about platforms. Would I be able to get by with using my top hawk helium climbing stick as a platform? With having to drop more than $300 to get into my first saddle I would rather not drop another $200 right away for a platform.
My primary concern is comfort and ability to move around the tree when using a climbing stick. Thanks for any input.
 
Grasshopper 22 said:
I plan on buying my first saddle within the next month and had a question about platforms. Would I be able to get by with using my top hawk helium climbing stick as a platform? With having to drop more than $300 to get into my first saddle I would rather not drop another $200 right away for a platform.
My primary concern is comfort and ability to move around the tree when using a climbing stick. Thanks for any input.
Click to expand...
I haven’t personally tried sits with the top of hawk helium sticks, but I can imagine that it would be uncomfortable and possibly unstable due to the angle of the loads you might put on it. If you want to go the stick platform route guys are having success with a “mini platform” from artisan outdoors that replaces your top step on your top stick. I believe they can be had for around $75 new. Check them out, it may be a viable option for you.

If you’re going to spend $75 though I would go ahead and save another $25 to get the treehopper suit. I don’t have one yet but that will be my next platform. For $100 I think it’d be hard to beat!

Treehopper

www.treehopperllc.com www.treehopperllc.com
 
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I like my top step platform from artisan outdoors. Forgot my ring of steps once or twice and used top step of helium as platform. The different angles of pressure I was putting on the fold down steps during my sit made me uncomfortable about how they would hold up. They are really made for pressure from the top as you climb rather than the angle of a lean. I suppose if you were standing straight up on them the whole time or sitting that would be ok pressure wise. Wasn't very comfortable but fine for a short sit. I'd look at top step platform.
 
I hunted my first two seasons from the top of my hawks and it was great. At least I thought it was. Then I got a predator and I feel like I was missing out on so much for those two years. That being said it’s all personal preference. Try this try that try this and that ultimately your decision.
 
I assume you are coming from a treestand. You can always use your treestand as a platform till you can afford one or decide you like saddle hunting enough to invest in a dedicated saddle hunting platform.
 
gcr0003 said:
I haven’t personally tried sits with the top of hawk helium sticks, but I can imagine that it would be uncomfortable and possibly unstable due to the angle of the loads you might put on it. If you want to go the stick platform route guys are having success with a “mini platform” from artisan outdoors that replaces your top step on your top stick. I believe they can be had for around $75 new. Check them out, it may be a viable option for you.

If you’re going to spend $75 though I would go ahead and save another $25 to get the treehopper suit. I don’t have one yet but that will be my next platform. For $100 I think it’d be hard to beat!

Treehopper

www.treehopperllc.com www.treehopperllc.com
Click to expand...
Thanks. I wasn't aware of that platform option.
 
I used the Artisian top to the hawk helium sticks the whole year. The last 2 hunts of the year I bought a Predator platform. I did not expect to get it before the season ended, but got it within a week. I will tell you from personal experience the platform made it 100% better with reguard to foot fatigue and saddle comfort. For me the platform was a game changer wish I had started with it. I also Got the versa straps and they work great for the platform and the sticks. Here was my set up for the season and I did some long sits. The mini platform is great but the only problem was foot fatigue. My friend used the top of his helium sticks and he struggled with hurting feet until he got the predator platform. Love saddle hunting and wont go back to a treestand. First time in several years I did not have back pain the whole year!
 

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I’ve hunted all year with just the top of my hawk helium sticks. I do add a ring of steps around the tree but most of the time my feet are on the top step. I wear rubber hunting boots with a fairly stiff bottom.

I’d highly recommend you ratchet strap the stick to the tree when you get to hunting height.

I was hanging and shifted my weight and my stick dropped. The self rescue was a pain so after that I started using a 30’ tether. Initially it was for self rescue if needed but in about 10 seconds turned into rappelling down at the end of the day...which quickly turned into SRT on some trees!




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I use the top of my stick in conjunction with with some squirrel steps. Works pretty slick for me. I probably prefer a predator platform, I just don't want to carry it in.
 
robstewart said:
I’ve hunted all year with just the top of my hawk helium sticks. I do add a ring of steps around the tree but most of the time my feet are on the top step. I wear rubber hunting boots with a fairly stiff bottom.

I’d highly recommend you ratchet strap the stick to the tree when you get to hunting height.

I was hanging and shifted my weight and my stick dropped. The self rescue was a pain so after that I started using a 30’ tether. Initially it was for self rescue if needed but in about 10 seconds turned into rappelling down at the end of the day...which quickly turned into SRT on some trees!




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Click to expand...
What tether are you using? Was thinking about a longer tether for that reason.

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Different since you already have hawks, but I put a dbl step from DanO on top of a LW stick. Cost me about $75 total and that's my way up the tree and the platform, unless I'm using the bottom off my climber. Works really well for getting up a tree quick during drives when I just have to sit 30 minutes. Also handy for dragging a deer out with two ppl.
I use the cam buckle strap with an inner tube cover, which pretty much prevents losing the stick, but is harder for single sticking.
I'm a sitter so that helps with the foot fatigue, as do real boots, but I hunt alot of swamp so I mostly hunt in a pair of mucks and that gets old on all day sits so I try to do those with the climber bottom. This year I'm going to add a couple squirrel steps on an ocb so I can straddle the tree more and move better, most of my stands have pretty good directional traffic but some of the really good rut stands are less predictable.

I really like having a big platform, but I have a hard time with the cost and weight most hunts. If I did get one I think I would snag a LW hand climber seat and 40' of oplux for rappelling. The goal being to be moving towards SRT and a dedicated platform and away from sticks and steps.
 
jholmes0521 said:
What tether are you using? Was thinking about a longer tether for that reason.

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Click to expand...

My rope is all made from 11 mm static climbing rope I was able to source locally at an outdoor store.

I bought about 70 feet and cut it down. 30’ plus what’s in the figure 8 is my climbing/rappelling/main tether. Another 8’ or so is my lineman/alternate tether. The remainder is around and used in other projects here and there.

I really like to carry items that have multiple purposes if possible. So my shorter rope is either used as a tether or lineman. My foot loop for SRT is home made from a piece of rated webbing and an 8” piece of garden hose. It doubles as an aider if I’m using a stick and a foot loop for SRT.




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I used the top of my API steps all this season which was also my first year saddle hunting. I don't think i will ever get a platform now. I like the feeling of being a minimalist and being super lightweight with as little gear hanging off of me as possible. one thing i learned this year in my first year saddle hunting is, the spots i am looking to hunt is not what others are able to hunt unless you have a saddle. I am going into the thickest of thick to find a tree to get high enough up out of deer sight. guys on the ground cant see and treestands cant get into these areas without preseason prep.

half way through the year i did add 2 screw in steps to either side of the tree which made a world of a difference sitting and lead me to buying 2 silent approach steps. i've never tried a platform but i don't think sitting could be nearly as comfortable sitting as those two side steps. As for leaning, a platform is a different story i am guessing as you can get some pressure points but i just wore a thick sole boot and alternate between toes, heels, arch, etc... to where these pressure points will be.

This off season i may play around with some aluminum angle and try to get it to a 60 degree angle and through bolt onto the front of my step to help alleviate that small pressure point area.
 
It works, I just used the top of my helium stick all year, a good hard sole or even better a steel shank boot is key, breaks up the pressure from putting weight on such a narrow surface.
It's not ideal, and presents it's own difficulties, like tricky weakside shots.
 
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