Wow…how would you shoot out of that thing?? Maybe ground blind time? Move to another state?lol My heart bleeds for you pal! Come to Wis. lots o nicer trees here. Take care!!
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What is the quickest, lightest, and most affordable climbing method?
- Thread starter BoHuntsKy
- Start date
TommyDee
Well-Known Member
Pine groves are rare where I hunt, but this is the only option on this trail. Point is the answer will depend on the tree, and we have all sorts.
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Just 2TC that tree...seriously! Think of it....you have to use a couple tethers or combo of tether and lineman's belt anyways so why not just keep it simple as you go up!
If you prep it and snap off some branches before hand it can be a great tree in all future opportunities!
goldeneagle
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If your using a platform there is nothing lighter than attaching a two step aider to the platform itself and "one sticking" with it. I have been doing this for a couple years and can't think of a better way for me personally.
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Try a one step aider, lol.
goldeneagle
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Here's a pic of my platform with the aider
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goldeneagle
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I stand corrected. You could in fact use a one step aider
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Platform climbing is a lightweight approach no doubt. Two aider steps are probably better than one, like you said.
I’ve tried that idea but because I use a bigger platform, the aiders are to far away from the tree for my boot tips to lock against the tree. Smaller platform did work fair for me. Just not enough real estate for me on the smaller platform.
casts_by_fly
Well-Known Member
I’ll take a picture next time I am there, but the tree I shot my buck out of this year was similar. Mine was a bit bigger at the base and split into two trunks about 16’ up. I had my tether through the crotch at the split. Also had about double the density of branches. I thought I’d just climb the branches when I saw it but half were dead like yours. I used three full length heliums and cut a couple dead branches on the way up. Dead soft pine cuts quick. All of the little branches on the left side of the tree in the picture will snap off or cut quickly on the way up if they are in the way.
DB4x4
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Buy a set of these and run up the side of the tree like the squirrels do... 
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Rope, platform srt hybrid device and a foot ascender- far from being the cheapest or lightest. I can be up at hunting height in 3-4 movements easily and safely even at 65. Minimal perspiration and effort.
Nohvah
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not as light as some of the 2TC posts here, but I use 12" EWO 1stick with Ultimate Platform, 35' 8mm resctech, safeguard, Cruzr XC saddle. That's it. roughly 6lb of gear to get safely up and rappel down tree.
Here's my method if interested in this gear.
Here's my method if interested in this gear.
Yep….best summary of the situation I’ve seen so far.
Sorry in advance, Anti-Answer coming in hot:
I don’t think any one method addresses all 3 of OP’s conditions equally-enough to be “the answer” to all 3 at once. In other words, my experience is that a single climbing method will answer at least one of them very well, maybe two of them decently, but you will almost always have to concede on one or two of the them. Cheapest? Walmart sticks are mad cheap but they weigh as much as a baby rhino and they’re just as useless for anything but presets. Screw-in steps and bolts are also cheap, but they are not fast by comparison to sticks and they are illegal in most public ground. Lightest? Tethrd One Sticks or a spool of climbing rope, bolts and a drill are all right there at sub-5-lbs, but they all come with their own setbacks in cost and speed, and I have not seen a single person use their Tethrd sticks without modifying them (cost/weight setbacks) so there’s that…Quickest? I have to vote spurs and it’s not even a contest IMO. But good luck using those on public. So sticks with cam buckles or daisy chains, based on universal legality, are quickest. Really good rope climbers can get up there just as fast but it takes a lot more practice.
This is all a baseline that shifts greatly from hunter to hunter. I think you have to decide which of the three areas you’re most likely to make concessions in, and which one of the three is most important.
Quickness, lightness, cost in that exact order are my personal priorities, and I get along with my stock 3-step LW (Novix) sticks just fine, coming in at 7-10 lbs to get me up to 22’, zero guesswork on the tree and overall, inexpensive for the quality. There are some downsides to efficiency packing them in.
If weight/efficient packing is more important, the Novix/Trophyline minis are awesome sticks for a relatively affordable price.
On presets I really like screw-ins where legal. They are undoubtedly a royal pain without a drill, and a drill increases weight (marginally) and noise, which may preclude you from using these in-season depending on your herd’s tolerance to that kinda activity in the woods. It’s doable though. Shot my buck last year out of a preset that I screwed in that morning, came back after lunch and shot him around 3pm. Luck, as I see it.
I’m hoping to start rope-climbing this year, curious to see how I feel about it versus my screw-in presets or LW sticks.
I don’t think any one method addresses all 3 of OP’s conditions equally-enough to be “the answer” to all 3 at once. In other words, my experience is that a single climbing method will answer at least one of them very well, maybe two of them decently, but you will almost always have to concede on one or two of the them. Cheapest? Walmart sticks are mad cheap but they weigh as much as a baby rhino and they’re just as useless for anything but presets. Screw-in steps and bolts are also cheap, but they are not fast by comparison to sticks and they are illegal in most public ground. Lightest? Tethrd One Sticks or a spool of climbing rope, bolts and a drill are all right there at sub-5-lbs, but they all come with their own setbacks in cost and speed, and I have not seen a single person use their Tethrd sticks without modifying them (cost/weight setbacks) so there’s that…Quickest? I have to vote spurs and it’s not even a contest IMO. But good luck using those on public. So sticks with cam buckles or daisy chains, based on universal legality, are quickest. Really good rope climbers can get up there just as fast but it takes a lot more practice.
This is all a baseline that shifts greatly from hunter to hunter. I think you have to decide which of the three areas you’re most likely to make concessions in, and which one of the three is most important.
Quickness, lightness, cost in that exact order are my personal priorities, and I get along with my stock 3-step LW (Novix) sticks just fine, coming in at 7-10 lbs to get me up to 22’, zero guesswork on the tree and overall, inexpensive for the quality. There are some downsides to efficiency packing them in.
If weight/efficient packing is more important, the Novix/Trophyline minis are awesome sticks for a relatively affordable price.
On presets I really like screw-ins where legal. They are undoubtedly a royal pain without a drill, and a drill increases weight (marginally) and noise, which may preclude you from using these in-season depending on your herd’s tolerance to that kinda activity in the woods. It’s doable though. Shot my buck last year out of a preset that I screwed in that morning, came back after lunch and shot him around 3pm. Luck, as I see it.
I’m hoping to start rope-climbing this year, curious to see how I feel about it versus my screw-in presets or LW sticks.
Ahhhhh I didn’t see this when I wrote my long-winded version of it above lol. Oh well. This, 100% all day all climbing methods.
casts_by_fly
Well-Known Member
Buy a set of these and run up the side of the tree like the squirrels do...
Need a pair of those to gut deer. Never have to carry a knife again- just slash and grab. I'd probably save a half of a pound.
How high you want to climb is a big factor.
Also no reason you cannot combine climbing methods.
Example, you climb using 3 sticks with cable aiders. You get to the top and decide you need to get a few feet higher. No reason you can't 2TC or one stick up a move or 2.
Also no reason you cannot combine climbing methods.
Example, you climb using 3 sticks with cable aiders. You get to the top and decide you need to get a few feet higher. No reason you can't 2TC or one stick up a move or 2.