Well it's official...

[tree_ghost]

I am finished with climbing tree stands after this season. I got picked off today by a doe for nothing more than being a "blob" on a branch less tree. I had a perfect wind, perfect entry, 25' up, and not moving. That's the 3rd time it's happened this season. I will be hanging up my summit in exchange for a mobile hang on. I saw this evening at cabelas a lone wolf alpha 2 on sale for $169. I know there's more options out there and I'd like some feedback from other guys that use a setup like that...


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[catman529]

That's one downside to climbers, but sometimes you can find a good tree that is hidden pretty well.

I love lockons in the few instances where I can set one up and leave it. Like this one I hung last Saturday -

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[Ridgeraider]

I like hang ons better myself. More options of trees to use and in my opinion much quieter. They are pretty portable if you use the right ones like the lone wolf Alpha 2 and the Lone Wolf climbing sticks only about 22 lbs with 4 sticks and quick set up.


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[tree_ghost]

That's a good looking set Catman. I love a big cedar for cover. I have 6 lockons but I love my mobility option. Anyone have a muddy mobile setup? I'm interested in there product also.


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[cozy23]

I found the new Hawk Helium XL or whatever the larger one is called at Academy on sale for $89 earlier in the year. Its 12lbs and it pretty comfy. The older rope style Muddy sticks (they just came out with new ones that are all black) are still on sale in Muddy's Bargain Cave for $129 I think.

That's what I got for this season because even the used LW's are freaking expensive. I haven't moved it around a whole lot this year but you can probably get in almost any tree with this set up.

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[fairchaser]

I was in a climber 25 ft up a naked tree and had a coyote bedded under my tree this morning. They are pretty cagy critters and he or she had no clue. It was an adult coyote. I love climbers but also have a lone wolf alpha locon for special situations. Nothing like the element of surprise a climber gives you.

 

[Matador]

Awh! So nice to be young. Us old farts don't have that problem. We don't use either.

 

[bigtex]

They both have their place. I like a hang on stand for spots I've pre scouted and or know to be good travel corridors etc. IMO they are slower and noisier to set up. That's one reason I usually put them up a month or so before season and leave them up till seasons end. They are quiet getting into and out of once they've been hung.
I still use my Summit now and then if and when patterns change, climbers are more mobile and I can get up and down quietly enough.
I've also been picked off just as much out of either kind. The trick to either one is to get them high as you can and preferably into the tree canopy or with a few smaller trees close by.
Don't rule out a shooting house either, I've never had my best success out of one but they sure are nice on those rainy windy days.

 

[TomBanks]

Get you a lone wolf and 4 sticks and you'll be set. I have an xop lock on and their sticks that are similar to the lone wolfs. Packs in awesome and I can be up the tree with the sticks and in the stand just as quick as my buddies that use climbers. The good thing about the lock on is you can go up any tree. Doesn't matter if it has limbs or if it's straight.

 

[Simpleman.2]

They both have their place. I like a hang on stand for spots I've pre scouted and or know to be good travel corridors etc. IMO they are slower and noisier to set up. That's one reason I usually put them up a month or so before season and leave them up till seasons end. They are quiet getting into and out of once they've been hung.
I still use my Summit now and then if and when patterns change, climbers are more mobile and I can get up and down quietly enough.
I've also been picked off just as much out of either kind. The trick to either one is to get them high as you can and preferably into the tree canopy or with a few smaller trees close by.
Don't rule out a shooting house either, I've never had my best success out of one but they sure are nice on those rainy windy days.

X2

 

[tree_ghost]

Get you a lone wolf and 4 sticks and you'll be set. I have an xop lock on and their sticks that are similar to the lone wolfs. Packs in awesome and I can be up the tree with the sticks and in the stand just as quick as my buddies that use climbers. The good thing about the lock on is you can go up any tree. Doesn't matter if it has limbs or if it's straight.

This is where I think I'm going to be headed...I rarely hunt the same tree twice. How do you like the xop sticks?


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[easy45]

I just have never liked lock ons, I'm a ladder stand person but I do have a climber that I use quite a bit also.

 

[lightsareout]

which summit you got for sale? ;)

 

[280longshot]

I haven't used a climber in over 5 yr just maybe 3 times. I use a ladder or a hang on, much quieter and faster. Cant beat a millennium, I use two with several receivers.

 

[tree_ghost]

which summit you got for sale? ;)

it's a summit dagger


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[TomBanks]

Get you a lone wolf and 4 sticks and you'll be set. I have an xop lock on and their sticks that are similar to the lone wolfs. Packs in awesome and I can be up the tree with the sticks and in the stand just as quick as my buddies that use climbers. The good thing about the lock on is you can go up any tree. Doesn't matter if it has limbs or if it's straight.

This is where I think I'm going to be headed...I rarely hunt the same tree twice. How do you like the xop sticks?


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I love the xop sticks. I actually like them better than my wolf sticks because they lock together so nicely. I have the xop silver stand and I have no complaints with it either. The sticks and stand go together very nicely and are easy to pack in with very minimal noise. If I was doing it over again I would get the same combo. Just make sure whatever lock on you decide make sure it has an adjustable platform.

 

[String Music]

Get an Alpha 2 and the new XOP sticks and never look back! I'd also recommend the Hunt Comfort seat.

 

[ImThere]

Sticks and a new tribe aero hunter

the one and only "ImThere"

 

[Pinwheeled]

Been debating going this route for a while. For you guys that stay mobile with a stand and sticks, how heavy is your setup? I have a Summit Openshot that weighs about 15lbs. If I could stay around that weight, I might make the switch and leave the climber at home. I love my Openshot but have just grown to despise the thought of climbing when I could just go hop in one of my hang ons.


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[Crosshairy]

I understand the frustration of getting busted - sometimes I think that just comes with the unlucky chance of having an experienced doe that knows what to look for. We've all heard stories about them, and they have certainly busted me many times over the years.

I'm adding a hang-on stand with the Hawk Helium steps to my arsenal at the end of the season. I've had several instances this year where my Summit Viper just couldn't fit on any of the trees I had available, which can get really frustrating if you don't have a particular tree picked out when you walk in.

I don't archery hunt much, so I'm a big fan of the shooting rail. I'm planning on getting one of those add-on shooting rails that clamp independently to the tree, so that I can take a compact hang-on and upgrade it with the rail. That also opens the door for hanging burlap around it for extra concealment.

 

[megalomaniac]

You'll never go back to a climber once you get used to using lock-on's. The best part is you can climb almost any tree, no need to look for the perfect tree that's too far off the trail you want to hunt.

 

[ImThere]

Been debating going this route for a while. For you guys that stay mobile with a stand and sticks, how heavy is your setup? I have a Summit Openshot that weighs about 15lbs. If I could stay around that weight, I might make the switch and leave the climber at home. I love my Openshot but have just grown to despise the thought of climbing when I could just go hop in one of my hang ons.


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I use 3 API sticks with 3 etriers and a sit drag (modified tree saddle) my set up is less than 10 lbs and not for everyone. It is light and comfortable to ME. It is not a summit but serves me well. I can climb any tree almost and can easily be 20+ feet in just a few minutes. Next year I plan on ditching the sticks for a tree strap and will climb similar to a climber and my set up should weigh about 3 lbs


the one and only "ImThere"

 

[cbdunn21]

I've had a Loc-On Limit hang on for 20 years and love it. It's a lot smaller and lighter than a climber, but it appears Loc-On hasn't taken orders in a while. I'm sure climbers have their advantages, but I mostly hunt public land and have long walks so it doesn't seem like a good fit for me.

I mostly use that stand for archery now. For gun, I prefer my tree suit (also not made anymore..) which is similar to the tree saddle, but with a rigid seat. I've been using a bunch of strap-on steps to climb and stand on at the top. This setup is even lighter and much more versatile than my hang on. It even fit in my backpack.

@ImThere: 3lbs sounds phenomenal. What do you use at the top for standing? And can you explain the tree strap you are talking about switching to? I've been searching high and low for alternatives to the strap on steps for a long time now..

 

[ImThere]

Working on copying a video here. Lol

https://youtu.be/GMkAMZo5ggI
Hope it works and I find it interesting with a few mods it should work well
I stand on 4 ameristep strap on steps on 1 ratchet strap

 

[ImThere]

Here are my sticks with etriers sitting about 20 ft up

Here is my modified sit drag

the one and only "ImThere"

 

[Crosshairy]

Is a tree strap about the same thing as a lineman's belt? Basically just loops around the tree to keep you from falling away from it, and then your feet or hands provide the support to keep you up there?

I've read about folks that use a lineman's belt with climbing boots (spikes on the sides to grip the bark) and they just climb the tree up to wherever you are going.

I have thought about some of these extreme lightweight options, and my biggest problem is the loss of flexibility when I'm wearing 4 layers of clothes. I'd be interested in an option that isn't affected too much by that.

 

[ImThere]

Is a tree strap about the same thing as a lineman's belt? Basically just loops around the tree to keep you from falling away from it, and then your feet or hands provide the support to keep you up there?

I've read about folks that use a lineman's belt with climbing boots (spikes on the sides to grip the bark) and they just climb the tree up to wherever you are going.

I have thought about some of these extreme lightweight options, and my biggest problem is the loss of flexibility when I'm wearing 4 layers of clothes. I'd be interested in an option that isn't affected too much by that.

I use a lines man belt. The tree strap for lack of a better description will be a strap a I wrap around the tree with a stick on the bottom. I will put my weight on my saddle them move the strap up the tree then stand on the stick. Move my harness up the tree and then sit on my saddle again same motions as a climber. This does limit my tree selection and I will probably only use it when I walk deep in to the woods opting for my sticks more times than not

the one and only "ImThere"

 

[Headhunter]

No way would I let a deer busting me change my style of hunting. I hunt any way imaginable, from the ground, lock on stands and climber. Occasionally you are going to get busted, it happens.

 

[Headhunter]

You'll never go back to a climber once you get used to using lock-on's. The best part is you can climb almost any tree, no need to look for the perfect tree that's too far off the trail you want to hunt.

HUH? I have over 30 lock ons hanging at heights from 10' to 45' from the ground, hunt them often, but I still use my climber about half the time. Not sure I understand what you mean. I love lock ons and for the most part now, buy climbing sticks and use them. I have over 300 screw in steps, absolutely no issues with them but as I get older, the screw in steps are getting to be to much trouble for me to put in and take out. I can climb most anything with climbing sticks.

 

[markmilvil]

I don't think it is an issue of of climber vs lock on. You can't hunt the same tree and be surprised when you get busted by the same deer. Any stand that is hunted should have good back cover to hide your outline. I have hunted several places in the past where deer often look up into trees ( not uncommon in heavily hunted areas). I prefer my climber 90% of the time due to comfort and safety.


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