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Wild Edge Steps as a Platform

B

benf1986

New Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2020
Messages
2
Hey Guys! I'm brand new to the Saddle Hunting game. After a few years hunting from a climber, I've decided to ditch the stand for a saddle. I just bought my first Tetherd Mantis saddle and 8 Wild Edge Steps with an aider. I'm holding off on getting a platform for now and instead I plan to use a few of the WE steps as my platform. Anyone else use WE steps as a platform? And if so, what kind of set up are you working with? Your insight is much appreciated! Thanks!
 
If it helps, I’ve been hunting on the unmodified top of my hawk helium with a ROS that I rarely get involved.

I was thinking about those WE steps and if it would be possible to do a single step climb with an aider the way we do single stick.

If you could do that you’d have several left for a ROS at the top.


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WE Stepps make a great ROS. Most of the time, 2 steps will be enough, 3 is cool, 4 if you have a mondo sized tree and want full coverage. Honestly, never tried it, but I am gunna bet that by the time you tie that 4th step on a big ole tree that you think needs it, you'll probably be frustrated and wish you'd just done 3. So I would stay with 2-3. Even 1 can be enough.

If the WE Stepps are new, you are going to want to go through the stretch routine. Find the biggest tree you can, and leave the steps on overnight. This will save you a little frustration during the learning process.

Watch all of Peter's videos on setting up Wild Edge steps. Get plenty of practice tying the knots. Watch the simplified method by boyne bowhunter

www.youtube.com

pete

www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

 
Definitely watch all of Pete's videos. Also check out his strap mod for the WE steps. I did that to my steps. Got all the straps from@DanO it is so much better you don't have to play around like when using the ropes and they cam over very tight. Also check out his video on using some bullman steps on the strap with the WE step to make a ROS.

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benf1986 said:
Hey Guys! I'm brand new to the Saddle Hunting game. After a few years hunting from a climber, I've decided to ditch the stand for a saddle. I just bought my first Tetherd Mantis saddle and 8 Wild Edge Steps with an aider. I'm holding off on getting a platform for now and instead I plan to use a few of the WE steps as my platform. Anyone else use WE steps as a platform? And if so, what kind of set up are you working with? Your insight is much appreciated! Thanks!
Click to expand...
This was my first year hunting from a saddle and I used WE stepps for climbing with a one step aider and also for my platform. My platform was 3 stepps. 2 I used on the opposite side about 160 degrees apart not 180 and one in the middle but about 6" lower than the other 2. That one was like my step up to the other 2 and could also be used as part of the platform. Try tying the stepps at ground level first and once you feel good about that, try tying them standing on one stepp at 2-3 feet up as you would do at hunting height. It's not the same as with both feet on the ground.
As @pesqimon stated earlier make sure to prestrech the ropes first. Very important step some people don't do ( myself included) . Also check out Peters videos that @pesqimon added before. He has done a lot of trial and error on WE stepps and has a ton of good info. If you want more use the search engine here. Make sure you have a lot of time, there's a lot there.
 
I used WE stepps my first year. They are great once set. A pain to get relatively level and not quick but once in place you can dance around a tree


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Worth trying at low height for sure. A 3 step Wild Edge Steps ROS setup became my preferred method over the WEI Perch last year. The Perch was great but it just ended up being overkill for mobile hunting in 3-4 hour sits like I was doing. No pinching/pointers/numbness/etc in Muddy Woody Sport rubber hunting boots..

Wish I would've bought the 10 step size bag for my 8 steps.

This is worth considering also:
 
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Guys, thanks so much for your input! I appreciate it. There's definitely a learning curve with the steps at first, but after a few days of practice I'm slowly getting it. I have a follow up question with the steps. I've been trying them out on various trees with varying degrees of "bite" from the steps. To test, I set them on a shagbark hickory and they bit the bark, but some slid down a few inches when I put weight on them...Do you have a preferred type of tree to use your steps on?
 
benf1986 said:
Guys, thanks so much for your input! I appreciate it. There's definitely a learning curve with the steps at first, but after a few days of practice I'm slowly getting it. I have a follow up question with the steps. I've been trying them out on various trees with varying degrees of "bite" from the steps. To test, I set them on a shagbark hickory and they bit the bark, but some slid down a few inches when I put weight on them...Do you have a preferred type of tree to use your steps on?
Click to expand...

The harder the bark the better I think. Lots of pines around me and between the soft bark and the sap it is less than ideal but it works. That said, I'd pick the pine in the right spot over the oak in the wrong spot.
 
Also check out Pete's videos on using webbing instead of the ropes on the WE steps. I converted mine all to the webbing so much easier than messing with the ropes and quicker also. And you get a very tight cam over the step isn't moving.
 
benf1986 said:
Guys, thanks so much for your input! I appreciate it. There's definitely a learning curve with the steps at first, but after a few days of practice I'm slowly getting it. I have a follow up question with the steps. I've been trying them out on various trees with varying degrees of "bite" from the steps. To test, I set them on a shagbark hickory and they bit the bark, but some slid down a few inches when I put weight on them...Do you have a preferred type of tree to use your steps on?
Click to expand...
My test tree that I used before hunting was a black walnut. They have a thick bark and if steeps were tight they held fine. Once hunting started I used an ash. Bad idea. Here in NY, all ash trees are dying thanks to emerald ash borer. Hard to tell the status of the tree when leaves were down. Had a hard time climbing with the steeps they chewed through the bark. I had a slow careful climb down because of that. Maples and oaks worked very good. Never tried a pine yet.
 
pesqimon said:
WE Stepps make a great ROS. Most of the time, 2 steps will be enough, 3 is cool, 4 if you have a mondo sized tree and want full coverage. Honestly, never tried it, but I am gunna bet that by the time you tie that 4th step on a big ole tree that you think needs it, you'll probably be frustrated and wish you'd just done 3. So I would stay with 2-3. Even 1 can be enough.

If the WE Stepps are new, you are going to want to go through the stretch routine. Find the biggest tree you can, and leave the steps on overnight. This will save you a little frustration during the learning process.

Watch all of Peter's videos on setting up Wild Edge steps. Get plenty of practice tying the knots. Watch the simplified method by boyne bowhunter

www.youtube.com

pete

www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Click to expand...
Brand new to SH. I’m debating between the WE steps and the new 30” Hawk Helium sticks, or a set of both. Just wondering, would you have any reservations about buying a used (1 season) set of 12 WE steps, $70 cheaper than the new kit, or opt to pay the extra for a brand new set?
 
RoJoHunter said:
Brand new to SH. I’m debating between the WE steps and the new 30” Hawk Helium sticks, or a set of both. Just wondering, would you have any reservations about buying a used (1 season) set of 12 WE steps, $70 cheaper than the new kit, or opt to pay the extra for a brand new set?
Click to expand...
I would no doubt buy used. But WE has stepp ladder sets in the bargain cave on sale. Same exact thing in my opinion. Just cheaper
 
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