Climbing sticks or screw in steps?

[cnelk]

Im in the market for more tree climbing accessories.

Whats your thoughts about climbing sticks vs. screw-in steps?

I currently use both.

 

[bnsafe]

personally i like sticks. not sure bout the trees where you hunt, but the trees in mo are so stinking hard its hard to screw the steps in even when pre drilling them. plus most public areas around here you cannot screw something into a tree. if your looking at nebraska you might wanna check that out.

 

[Don K]

Sticks......

I have seen screw ins snap off, and have seen people slip off them and end up impaling themselves on the screw ins. I used to use them many years ago but find it much easier to grab sticks and climb.

 

[cnelk]

This past fall when I was hunting Nebraska I used sticks and liked them.
When I came home for a week or so I would leave my stand I the tree and remove the bottom 2 sections on my way down.
Then I carried them a ways away and hid them.
When I returned I just picked them up and put them back in place

Worked out well

 

[Bowfreak]

IMHO the safest overall is a climbing stick that pins together and not individual sticks. In the event a strap fails your ladder has a chance to stay attache to the tree via the other straps. In the event that an individual stick has a strap fail, it is coming down. That being said....I use both. When I have a good straight tree I use the long stick/ladder. If a tree is a little crooked I use the individual steps.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

I\'m just a noob when it comes to tree stand hunting but I for one did not like the screw in steps. Either climbers or sticks me next year.

 

[colorado russ]

Another vote for sticks. Plus, if you need to move your stand, sometimes getting those screw in steps out are near impossible.

Plus Brad, you nailed it on taking out 2 pieces and leaving the stand up or just take down all the pieces - simple and lightweight if that\'s all you\'re carrying back in on the next hunt.

 

[WW]

Drill slightly oversized holes in the tree at a slight downward angle and put a piece of rebar in the hole. As you come down, pull the rebar out.

 

[bowhunter]

Drill slightly oversized holes in the tree at a slight downward angle and put a piece of rebar in the hole. As you come down, pull the rebar out.

Great idea! You could also use some long bolts too. I would trust bolts or rebar more than the screw in steps. Bolts and rebar might bend a little if too small but the screw in steps are high tensile steel and they SNAP with no warning. I have had it happen a couple times. Not fun. I had tree rash on my forearms from grabbing the tree and had to remove bark from under my fingernails.

 

[VTHOKEE]

Personally I like the sticks. There are a few companies that make stands and sticks that mate together so its easier to hall them in the woods. Lone Wolf and Muddy are two mfrs that I know do this. I don\'t like the ones that connect together. They are usually a little cheaper made. The sticks you can replace the straps if needed. It is also nice like mentioned earlier to be able and take down the first two sections if you are on public or even private land to try and deter someone from stealing your stand.

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Drill slightly oversized holes in the tree at a slight downward angle and put a piece of rebar in the hole. As you come down, pull the rebar out.

Interesting :idea:

How deep into the tree should the holes be drilled?

 

[WW]

3\"-4\" deep with 4\" or so sticking out works pretty well. I like 1/2\" rebar because it is cheap and not as apt to bend. Terry\'s idea of using bolts is also good.

 

[AaronJohnson]

Sticks if I can get away with it. If your hunting some gnarly twisted tree and have the \"spot\" you must adapt. Carry plenty of screw in steps too and the staggered sticks are a must.

I have 3 sets of 20\' stackables I would make someone a deal on.

I have leverage sticks and will probably buy a set of Hawk brand sticks by July.