Assuming legal,discuss the pros and cons,safety concerns,theft,weight, portability,price, convenience,etc of screw in steps vs. strap on steps such as Lone Wolf for treestands. My area is mostly pines or cottonwoods and I want mobility and efficiency. I was thinking srew in steps for the season and removing the stand each day hunted because of a hectic work/unpredictable hunt schedule. We used our share of lag bolts in younger days.
I like screw in steps, but will not use them in a cottonwood. Cottonwood bark is very thick, thicker than the screw is long and you need the screw to get well into solid wood. Pine is fine.
The Ezy Climb brand of steps are the best, I like the single folds. In the rod steps, Game trackers screw in the easiest but cost more than the Ameristep. The A-step has the longest screw, still not enuf for a cottonwood, tho.
I prefer screw in steps. I use the Ameristep strap on steps when I have to on public land or when on private land in valuable trees. They are OK but bulky and more trouble to secure to trees. I agree about the cottonwoods and screw in steps.
I prefer the ladder sticks in general. They are more stable to me and easy to put up quickly. I have used the Ameristep screw in steps with good success though.
Ganzer
Screw in steps and I use the ameristep and use them on cottonwoods. That is about the only suitable tree we have in out area to hang stands. I weigh about 220 and have never had a problem. I have one guy who hunted with me a few yeaars ago and he was up around 300 and never had a problem and this is a huge cottonwood. I dont think it will be a problem unless you are well over 300. They are cheap and easy. I do like the ladder stick better but cant afford to crawl 20 feet with them! I had a pair given to me and they are nice so if cost is not an issue then get some!
I used to use screw in steps exclusively, and agree the EZ Climb are the best that I tried. But over the past few years I have converted more of my set ups to ladder stands, and of those that I still use a hang on for I have gone to the strap on sections. Really like the Lone Wolf and Rapid Rails.
Most of my set ups are in oaks, and I had noticed that often times trees that I used the screw in steps on seemed to die within a few years. I'm guessing I was introducing stress or disease to the tree, so I have stopped using the screw in steps completely.
I use lone wolf sticks where screw ins are not legal, sticks are harder to transport and a little bulkey to put up, both work well.
I use strap on steps (I think they are Deer Me) with the chinese knot. Once I got used to these, I use these anytime I am using a hang on stand. They are quickly adjustable on the tree and stay solid once in position. If I am going to leave the stand, I will leave all but the bottom 3 steps and that will keep anyone else away from the stand. They are quick and quieter than screwin.
I have 5 screw-in steps i take with me when hunting on puplic land. I hunt with a climber and when i find the dream spot that dose not have a good tree to climb, i'll pull out my screw steps and with my stand on my back up i go and once i reach a spot to atatch the climbed i'll strap myself to the tree hang the stand on a step. put the stand on the tree and wala.
Its allot of work and i usaly want do that unless i am going to do a all day rut hunt.
I had a perfectly good hunting day ruined once because a guy was using someone's illegal tree stand on public woods, one of the screw-in steps came out and he fell to the ground and popped his hip out of place when he tried to land on his feet. They damage trees and can come lose when you least expect it.
I love the Ameristep strap on ladders. They do not costs too much, and are very secure when you get them set. They are heavy, and I am fortunate I can drive them close to the intended tree. I have always worried about impaling myself on screw in steps.
I lost a friend a few weeks ago when the top screw in step came out. I will not use them!
Benjy
Screw in steps for harder trees-Oak, Maple etc...Strap on dteps for Pine, Cottonwood or softer wood trees.
The one in my post was a burr oak. They have thick bark and I imagine there was not enough bite into the hardwood for it to hold.
I prefer screwins and the best step on the planet is call T-steps they are designed to use your weight to add stablity. the auger is the the middle of the step so starting it into the tree is easier as well
I use both where legal. I prefer the Ameristep screw in jobs for their stability if on land where they are allowed (not all landowners want you screwing their trees). The screw holes can create entry paths for parasites and disease. I'd never put a screw in step in a valuable tree (straight, oak, cherry, or walnut). I also use strap ons even where screw ins are allowed for their portabioity.
I buy the steps after Christmas when they go on clearance. One tip, if you remove a screw in AlWAYS make a new hole the next time you screw them in. Reusing holes can cause step failure.
By the way, my favorite portable "steps" are the aluminum nesting ladder systems. I especially like to use one or two of them to start up the tree and then go to steps (or limbs). I can take these ladder sections down quite easily when I leave making it more difficult for someone to poach my hunting spot.
Skill level has a lot to do with personal preferance. I used to drop off my buddy, walk several hunderd yards, screw in 8-9 steps, set my stand and return. My partner would be prespiring profusely and seemed to always be screwing in his last step. It was tough for him and I am not that proficient at setting stands myself.
Probably 15 years ago, a good friend of mine who is disabled and can barely bend over to tie his shoes taught me a lesson that I can not still perform today. He would hunt 5 days a week and set-up a new stand every hunt. I just had to watch him put up a stand with those Ezy climb screw-in steps. I put the clock on him. He some how started the thread with his hip and made virtually little movement, was in no hurry and used seemingly little effort. He had eight steps in and sitting comfortably in the stand in 7 minutes. I still don't now he did it.
Used scew In for years but have switched to lone wolf.they are not as easy to carry but I think they are easier to use.
EZY since '85.
Cuz broke a different brand step last week, is OK, fell only 8 ft.
I've never broken an EZY, hammered out a few I've left in too long (what my cuz was attempting to do when the one he was on broke).
If the rivet gets wobbly on an EZY then I trash it, done that to 2 steps, maybe 3. Still have some going strong from my first batch bought 25 yrs ago.
I now pull mine after season and oil them up in storage, probably why some have lasted so long.
Used to leave some out yr round, but don't anymore.
FWIW I reuse holes and have never had one pull out.
But I don't mix steps, use one brand and model.
Have had buds have step "pull out" by mixing brands (different length/diameter and screw shapes).
Buds also don't crank them in fully too, get tired, in a hurry. I seat my steps to max depth, everytime.
EZY single folds, flick the screw out, stick the tree and start cranking. The ONLY problem with EZY's...........the screws stay sharp, will trash your pockets. I carry mine in a fannypack to save my camo clothes.
I like the Simmons woodpecker system myself.I`ve drilled the same tree year after year with no ill effects.RC
folding steps w/ rivets are BAD NEWS!!i mean it !!its not if they will fail --its when!!
i'm not trying to rain on anyones parade--but i've seen them fail while screwing them in -screwing them out-i've been standing on them when they fail--in fact that was the last straw!!i threw over a hundred of them in the dumpster--i could not trust them anymore!!i went to the one piece screw- ins and never had another problem--i've since gone to climbing sticks and ladders[must be gettin old]
do yourself a favor and phase those folding steps out of your hunting system!!
---------------mike
Have you considered tree spurs? I have used Bashlins with tree gaffs (not pole) since 1982 with virtually no problems. Don't worry about thefts as I take my setup out every hunt and have hunted out of the same trees for years with no apparent ill effects to the tree. Takes me less than 5 minutes to be at the base of the tree, up, and setup. It does require a little practice but once you learn to trust the gaff and understand the angles it is a quick setup that's mobile.
When I use a tree stand, which is rarely, is use the Stepp Ladder strap on steps. Each step goes on the tree in just a few seconds with practice and they're big enough to stand on with two feet.
I've actually used them as a tree stand! I think they'd be about perfect if you're using a tree saddle or sneaky sack :)
Screw ins make stealing your stands a lot easier. Take a look at the threads involving theft this year.
I remember seeing a safety video made for the Bowhunters Safety course. It went thru safety features on all kinds of stands and climbing systems. Screw in and single strap on tree steps were deemed to be the most dangerous and the video recommended not using them. I have some of the Lone Wolf 4' sections and they seem very nice. However, I like the ladder type climbing sticks or a regular ladder stand from a safety point of view. I have had some of the screw ins fail on me. Fortunately I was not up very high. Their best use for me now is to use them for making ground blinds. They make it easy to lean brush/logs or whatever against other trees and I can even tie stuff to them if necessary. I don't even consider them for climbing unless they are one of the two bottom steps.
EZY's don't use a rivet in the proper sense, they run a pin that is flared at one end.
I've never had the flare fail, or the pin fail, but have had them wobble after major abuse (hammering them out of a tree-left in too long). Junk anything that doesn't operate as it did new. Like I said before, I might have had to trash 3, after using the snot out of them, then having to abuse them in removal.
I run 3-5 stands, move them often, have for over two decades.
Other folding steps? Seen them fail, also seen problems with rod type steps (rotate under load even when seated fully).
Won't climb a tree with cheap/bargain steps.
I trust EZY, have for 25 yrs and had zero problems with them.
BTW, I usually pull the bottom few steps to lessen the chance that somebody will use or steal my stand.
That means quite a bit of in and out for the lower holes. Again, same brand/model of step, seated fully, never a pull out.
I weigh 180 ish, so maybe that helps with safe step usage, dunno what they're rated for.
Will say I've seen a LOT of people using EZY and other screw ins, who are pretty hefty, and they don't put the steps in all the way.......and people often mix step brands.
Recipe for disaster IMHO.
Not the fault of the steps though.