modifies it to be more comfortable? How so? I'm interested in the rope attachment. Which do you like, the rope, belt, or chain, and why? I plan to use the Simmons woodpecker or a mini Lithium-Ion 12V drill and 3/8 auger bit with Grade 8 bolts. Your opinions on the drill vs. Woodpecker or similar would be appreciated. I have LW sticks, love them, but looking for something lighter for a longer pack in.
The belt is the only way to go IMHO.
As to the comfort, I don't plan on pulling any all-day sits in my Limit. I'm not sure how you could make it comfortable enough to do so.
Dusty, have you ever used the new speed hitch rope? I had a similar rope on a "Hang-On Lite" stand with knob tighener, but had issues with it not tightening enough. Is the belt a cam lock or rachet style? Is it sturdy enough for you or do you use a second strap at the bottom?
I modified the seat by getting a 12" pc of foam pipe insulation and putting over the bar that the seat is connected to. That helped with that bar taking longer to cut the circulation off in my legs when I sat. I also have the wood pecker and bolts. The WP works great. I will tell you that the drill and bolts are not as light as I thought they'd be for 10 bolts(not sure how much they weigh). I got the set up for long walks. However, I've ended up using my LW Alpha Assault (11 lbs) as it's much more comfortable than the loc on. I sacrificed 3 lbs for comfort.
Good luck,
Kyle
I replaced the rope on my LOC On Sprirt with the strape and it works very well.
It is secure with no slips. I use the LW sticks with mine and the strape helps hold
Them on the stand. It makes a good stand package. As for all day hunts the Sprirt is not
the best stand for that.
Loc On now offers a nice, padded, flip up seat.
I bolted a cross piece of 3/4 angle iron under the seat so that where it contacts the tree wouldnt flex as much and use a 2000lb rachet streap to hold tight against the tree. I've been using the same one for about 10 years now.
Coil,
I bought a speed hitch rope for my Spirit. The way the Limit is set-up, I don't believe you can use anything else but the strap without unbolting the D-ring bracket. You would then have to attach some type of hook for the rope to hook into.
The strap is a cam lock and I do not supplement it with anything else.
Billy,
I may be wrong, but I don't think the super seat is available for the Limit.
Go with the Assault and deal with the few more pounds.
LW Sit and Climb if you can use climbers are good stands also.
Bottom line though is I don't think any stand <18#s will be a comfortable all dayer. JMO though.
I have been using the LocOn since the late 80's. I like em for light weight but the seats are a B*&%h for any long period of time. I changed mine with padding and webbing...
As to the attachment... I tried the "chinese handcuf" rope but did not like it. Two of mine currently have chain on them. I leave those set up all season. The third I mounted a ratchet strap... this one I can move quickly. I am thinking about getting one or two more chain mount stands for this next season as I dont "walk in" much any more and hunt mostly my own property. They are good for me for 3-4 hours.
Thanks Guys, For clarification, I can't do all day sits either, just 2-3 hours- my issue is lower back pain and I think an air pillow behind me may work, along with the padded front bar mentioned. I thought adding a light-weight alum-tubed foot-rest may keep strain off my lower back. I do have a LW climber (swapped the seat for a net) - like it much and added a 2" wide belt around the grip-belt arms that hits my lumbar area quite well-maintaining the arch in my lumbar. I have to stand at times, too, but can shoot comfortably either way. I bought an older LW Assault (seems like 11-12 lbs), but haven't used it yet. The seat is higher than some lock ons, and I believe the Limit's is 20" high, too. I was just looking to spare as much weight & bulk as possible to carry in (stand + climbing method) but be reasonably comfy for a morning or evening sit. Concerned about 12V drill noise, too vs. time savings using the Woodpecker system.
Please keep your ideas/thoughts coming...
I like the chain the best but it is heavier,noisier. I don't like the chinese knot rope. I like the strap. For the seat, I take a six foot piece of carpet padding with me and fold it in thirds. It makes it more bearable. I always glue carpet on all my stands. It is dry here. I don't have problems with moisture and ice(we hunt in August). So the carpet quiets things down. Gary
The newer limits have a expanded alum mesh base. What's the best way to attach carpet and what type carpet (outdoor, indoor, low knap, shagg, or...) do you recommend.
I have a chain on my Spirit and like it best. Specially hunting on public land and locking to tree.
I use the windwalkers. I take climbing gaffs to get up in the tree, no drills or steps. As far as the comfort issue, I stand alot. In fact, I pull all dayers in these stands pretty often. The key to comfort to me is finding a good spot on the tree to hang.
I am one of these folks that think every tree is not made for hunting deer. In a given area that a buck is using, there is one perfect tree, that is about it. When hanging in the tree i look for a spot where the tree is leaning back slightly and hang there. Sometimes there is not a comfortable spot on a tree. I have pulled all day hunts with my stand leaning forward, not comfortable at all, but it is in the perfect spot.
If i went after comfort not deer, I would have one of those huge padded seat recliners hanging in a tree.
God Bless,
Nathan
More thoughts on the Wood pecker. Like I said I have one and like it. I'm typically drilling into hardwoods. If you take your time, you won't work up a sweat. However, in early season I will usually work up a sweat. So I'll pre-scout and predrill the holes prior to the season and hunting. If you're hunting the same day as drilling just take your time. They're going to smell you anyway if they get downwind! I leave a small twig in each hole so that I can find it in the dark. You may be drilling more into softwoods (?) which we be even easier to drill. Good luck, Kyle
To carpet your stand, coat the stand and the back of the carpet with contact cement. It works great on the mesh stands. I don't know that I would do it if I had a moisture issue (lots of rain or ice). I like a lighter physical weight carpet. Something like a light shag. It also helps keep stuff from rolling off your stand. Gary
I have 3 LEM's that all have a chain, but I tend to leave the stands locked in trees the entire season. My secret weapon is a model that I think was called the Black Lightning and it uses a strap and I like it. I break it out when "sky-gazing" does start picking out my stands before I even hunt them. Bear in mind that these stands are always in cover and I take getting outsmarted by four legged creatures personal (although by no means unusual). That's when I start packing the Lightning(to which I added shoulder straps)in/out on every hunt. When I get busted by a wise old maternal doe, I'll hunt her to the exclusion of everything else to get her out of the gene pool. I often leave old stands up as decoys to distract their attention with good results. I've used the ropes and they're quiet and secure, but I found them frustrating to take down.
I have 3 spirits and 3 lems, 2 have chains and 4 have speed hitch rope. I've used the rope since around 1980 and have never had any problems with it. In fact I prefer the rope for pre-dawn set ups, they are quiet and fast, I even use steps that utilize the same rope on system. In my younger days I could hang 10 steps and my loc-on stand in under 6 minutes and do it without making hardly a sound. These days however it takes me around 10 to 12 minutes, and when my arthritis isn't acting up I'm still very quiet.
Great advice/ideas guys. Thanks. Yes, I get sweaty here in Bama hanging a loc-on, so I'm trying to minimize that, too, and the noise to climb/hang/sit.
Bornagainbowhunter or others - please school me on the gaffs, never used them. Steel/alum/Ti? + Leather/Nylon pads? How hard to master? I'm very safety conscious, and won't use them if too risky,but willing to do it right. How much do a pair w/pads/straps weigh? Are they too loud stomping them into a hardwood near a bedding area? or best used away from bedding? Appreciate your thoughts.
QuoteBornagainbowhunter or others - please school me on the gaffs, never used them. Steel/alum/Ti? + Leather/Nylon pads? How hard to master? I'm very safety conscious, and won't use them if too risky,but willing to do it right. How much do a pair w/pads/straps weigh? Are they too loud stomping them into a hardwood near a bedding area? or best used away from bedding? Appreciate your thoughts. [/QB]
I used pole climbers and on occasion tree climbers (tree climbers have a little longer gaff)for about 20yrs way back when I was younger. So did all my hunting buddies back then (pre tree steps and only way to get up and down tree unless you drove nails or climbed). To me they are the best way to go up and down a tree when using loc on stands. By far the easiest to carry (strap around waist and around each thigh when walking). Very quiet going up and down trees.
In my opinion no more dangerous than tree steps of any kind as long as safety belt is used. Tricky part is getting into stand and out (getting past stand without having to unhook safety belt).
Keep a good angle out from tree to avoid cutting out and beware of gaff placement on thick bark trees such as pines.
Don't know how legal they would be on public land as they do gouge out trees especially if you climb same tree several times.
The ones I use are called sportclimbers. You don't have to stomp them into the trees very hard, so noise is minimal. I think I make more noise with the clothes rubbing the tree than the actual spikes. I like the foam padded ones for weight and low height, they are steel. I don't want the spikes that go up to your knee because of bulk and weight. The climbers i use might weigh 2 pounds together. My stand and gaffs together weigh about 6lbs. You do need 1 strap on step to stand on while hanging your stand just in case the tree you hunt don't have a limb to use. When decending, I don't even gouge the steps into the tree. I just let them grab on the bark and make small fast steps. If you ever get comfortable with them you will hate to use anything else.
Remember, knees always bent and turned out, toes always forward, make small steps and have fun.
God Bless,
Nathan
Good Info....Who uses a 12V compact drill and bolts on private land trees. Looking for tips and techniques to keep it light, quiet, safe, and effective- what you use, how you use it, how you hang your stand while connected (type of climbing strap (leather?? or other) etc...