How is everyone handling tree stands on public land? Are you using a climbing stand or hauling a non climbing stand and sticks/steps in and out with you each day?
If you are hauling them in and out how are you carrying everything else that you need for the day?
I've never hunted public land until this year and have no idea how to proceed.
Strap on stands and sticks are not that big a deal to carry or to put up once you get the swing of it. We have to take it all down daily on public here.
ChuckC
Here, on State ground you can leave it for the season, but the Federal ground is up/down when you hunt. I get around on most public ground with a climber.
XOP sit and climb
Lone wolf alpha climber
I use primarily lock ons and climbing sticks myself although I hunt from the ground a lot as well. I go in before season and hang most of mine then hang a few if I need to based on food or travel changes. We don't have a time limit on leaving the stands however I pull all of mine a few days before gun season opener. They will disappear. There's never a shortage of thieves for some reason that will take anything they can.lol Then if my tags aren't filled I'll put a few back up til the end of season. We don't have very many old growth woods that you can use a climber and often times the deer are in thick grown up areas so you have to go to the ground.
I use hang ons and lock them to the tree with stand locks and bicycle locks. I use middy climbing sticks, so I pull the sticks every hunt so no one can climb in my stand. I carry the steps in with me every hunt. But I use screw ins higher in the tree so I only have to carry in two steps for each setup.
I carry a lone wolf hang on and 3 lone wolf sticks. I pack in and out on each hunt. I may leave my stand up over night if I will return the next morning.
Lone Wolf Alpha Hang-on or XOP Air Raid and Their sticks that pack nice... Turkey Vest for extra stuff and/or strap to stand.
Hang & hunt, then tear down.
QuoteOriginally posted by Altiman94:
I carry a lone wolf hang on and 3 lone wolf sticks. I pack in and out on each hunt. I may leave my stand up over night if I will return the next morning.
Should have waited one minute Josh, then I could have typed x2...
I was guna stay ground bound this year but I found some public land I like. Problem is with the ground cover its a better area for a stand and with the straight trees it's good for a climber. I bought an X stand climber. Only 11 lbs. I just strap my bag to it and off I go. Hunt wherever I please. Really handy imo
Pack in and pack out...simply no other way to do it
Summit open shot , small pack, catquiver and longbow.
I pack it in and out every sit. Pack and quiver are attached to the foot part of the climber. It packs very well.
When people are allowed to leave stands on trees they basically are staking a claim to ground that is public.
Here when we hunt public you drive to the parking areas and if one or more cars are there depending on the spot you go else where.
Someone was out of bed before you. You do not own or claim public land.
Not everyone respects the fact and sometimes trouble brews.
Lou
I've never been able to use sticks and set up a loc-on style stand even remotely as quickly or easily as a good climbing stand. I've set up a LOT of loc-on sets on private land over the years, and really just can't see the advantage of using that type of "system" over a climbing stand when you are talking in & out set ups. To each their own I guess...
I love the loc-on style when you have the ability to leave the stand in for extended time. But good climbers are so easy to use, sturdy, and super comfortable.
Pack-in and pack-out with a Lone Wolf Alpha Assault and 3 climbing sticks for the reasons given by savage1.
I have modified my system some since this and went with the smaller line wolf stand and lone wolf sticks that are attached to the stand. But the concept is the same and now my speed is even faster.
http://tbwpodcast.com/video-29-super-fast-way-to-hang-a-tree-stand/
Lone wolf assault and 4 sticks. It takes a few times to get used to it but once you do it's not bad.
Climbers work great in some areas but where I live you could walk around all season and not find a tree straight enough to use it.
I like the easy of a climber, but a lock on is way more versital ! I've got 2 spots that I'll be hanging a lock on and will take my climbing sticks out with me each time. And another that is great for a climber. Only problem I have is its a 1 deer limit so I'm waiting for the rut to get here!
In missouri we can leave them all season on public land.
Mine are locked and sometimes I take first couple of sticks with me but only rarely.
Not real concerned as I've yet to see any other hunter go as far in as I do, about 1.5 miles, on the public tract I hunt.
Eric
Thanks everyone, looks like I will start shopping for a lone wolf stand.
I use a climber mostly. I am from Missouri like the above poster but, I personally don't like to leave stands out. If someone else does be aware that I may use it. I won't steal or damage your stuff but I have found stands in spots I have scouted before set on the perfect tree I've got marked on my maps. If that's the case i'll just stash my climber and use that guy's stand since they've essentially made that tree unusable for my climber all season.
Ps I use a summit open shot and it is very nice only weighs 14 lbs.
I use the Lone Wolf Assault with 3 Lone Wolf climbing sticks. The sticks lock together and then I bunge cord the sticks to the stand. Then my backpack goes over the top of the sticks. Get yourself some nice padded shoulder straps to put on your stand and your ready to go. I've been doing this for quit a few years on public grounds here in Wis. In and out morning or evening.
When we had just a telephone in the center of our homes for doing an information search, the public lands were full of permanent stands, usually left by rifle hunters. Now I would never use modern tree stands in a public place or leave one for a few days. Would disappear for sure.
In Colorado, a stand can be left throughout the season, but it becomes a public stand on public land. That goes for ground blinds too. If you show up and someone is already sitting in "your" tree stand, thats too bad. Better try again another day.
In and out each day. Unless it's a full day and going to same tree next morning.
I use climber and and on and stick Set up.
I have had bad luck using my climber since I hunt with my recurve my limbs hit my railings. So what I do now is climb up like normal then when I get to the top I turn my top piece around and lay it on the bottom facing the other way. Then simply strap on a portable light weigh tree seat and I'm good to go. Will never have to pass on a deer again because of my limbs not clearing. It's the best way for me. I hunt only state and in MI.
I had the issue with the tail type climbers too but, since I went to the open shot no more problems. It is a firearm climber so it does take a bit more energy to climb but, nothing crazy.
I tried a Lone Wolf hand climber last night and it didn't work out well for me. I had issues finding trees to use in the area I was in and I was amazed at how much bark it was removing.
I'm going to try a lock on stand and some sticks next.
Hello Mitch.How do you like that x stand climber. I have been looking at them? I carry a aluminum stand that is 11 lbs with just 3 rope steps. Pack in and out.
Love my chippewa trre stand. light, easy to set up
I've never been a fan of climbers myself either
QuoteOriginally posted by Jakeemt:
I use a climber mostly. I am from Missouri like the above poster but, I personally don't like to leave stands out. If someone else does be aware that I may use it. I won't steal or damage your stuff but I have found stands in spots I have scouted before set on the perfect tree I've got marked on my maps. If that's the case i'll just stash my climber and use that guy's stand since they've essentially made that tree unusable for my climber all season.
I feel the same way, except sometimes these stands have been abandoned and are unsafe. I'm torn about the idea of chain cutting and removing the stand. I just wish stands were removed daily like they are supposed to here.
I will add depending on where I go, sometimes Climbers are just fine but sometimes I wish I had a hang on.
After my big move this winter, I will be investing in a nice lone wolf or similar strap to the tree type of stand.
Some he mentioned it ...but I would never sit in someone else's stand. Not because of "rules" or anything, but because I ha e no idea how well it was put in or how old it may be. I am one of the lucky few to have fallen out of a treestand and walked away relatively injury free. I will not push my luck again. I use a climber or hang my own sets.
Be safe out there.
I use an "X" stand and it's pretty pack able and light. I don't feel totally at ease on it like my old loggy bayou but I've been way up aspen trees and it worked fine.
Lone Wolf Climber - Chippewa Wedgeloc hang on - I use them about equally - The Chippewa I drill trees with a woodpecker drill.
Stand - Double Fanny Loaded - Bow - Quiver - Lunch - ultra light hammock - ALL come in with me and go out each hunt day. Freighter Pack - Deer Cart - Kayak - Johnboat are the methods we use to get in and out. We prefer water entry.
I've been thinking about switching my climber for a lone wolf or XOP hang on with sticks. Would be lighter, more quiet than the climber on the walk in, and I can use it on any tree. In TX majority of the trees are not straight or have split limbs making a climber impossible.