After hanging around Joebuck for a while I got the urge to try one of these type stands. Did alot of looking online and reading alot of great info. I bit the bullet and ordered one. It came in about 2 months ago and Ive been busy hunting and hadn't really messed with it much. Got it out briefly one day and got about 2 feet off the ground and tried out some different positions. I could tell that it was gonna be a learning curve and decided to shelf it till the off season.
Well today I decided I was burned out hunting. Ive spent more time in a tree this year than any season I can remember. Mainly because house building is nonexistent here. Seen a ton of deer and have been very selective in what I wanted to shoot. That said, I got meat in the freezer. Got the web out and started playing with it. The main thing to consider is how are you going to get to hunting height? several good methods. Screw in steps, sticks, even saw some folks using rock climbing techniques. I saw a clip of a guy using the upper part of a lone wolf hand climber and that got my interest up.
I figure that would be lighter to carry than a set of sticks and with a little practice and a few precautions it would be just the ticket. I took the cushion off my hand climber seat and used a bungee cord to make some stirrups to slide my toes under. I'm using a bridge system with a rope and prussic knot on the tree. I put the climber seat on the tree and put my rope on the tree as high as I can reach. step up on the seat and pull the bungee over my toes. then sit back in the web and pull the climber seat up the tree just like a climbing stand. Stand up , slide rope up and repeat. when I'm 3 to 4 feet from where I want my feet to be, I stop and sit down and put in ez climb steps at 8 and 4 oclock , with me being 6 oclock. I then push off the tree with my hands and slide my feet around the tree a bit which brings the climber seat (which is strapped to my feet) around as well. then I sit back and screw another step in at what will be my 12 oclock and then slip back to my original position. Then I continue up until the seat climber is just below the steps. I have a lanyard attached to platform and up to the carabiner of my bridge. this is to make sure the seat doesn't hit the ground while your 20 feet up in the tree. Then pull up my pack and attach my bow hanger then pull up bow and hang it. Then I pull my feet out of the bungee and step up on the 4 and 8 steps. adjust bridge and sit back and hunt in comfort.When I'm ready to go, I just let my stuff down and then get some slack in my prussic, and bend down and put my toes back under the bungee. Then it's rope down, stand down till I'm back on the ground. I got a few more logistics to work out but I think I'm gonna like this rig. For my permanent spots, I'll go out preseason and put up sticks with a small platform welded to the top section and put in my screw in at 12. then I'm up the tree and in position in no time. the hand climber seat method will be for a run and gun type of hunt if you will. The main thing is to practice at lower heights to get your confidence up to swing out at 20 feet off the ground. I got my son to take a few pics today and will get them up in a few.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/PIC_0117.jpg)
this is the lone wolf seat with bungee for toes and lanyard for saftey.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/PIC_0116.jpg)
This shows my 4 and 8 screw ins as well as my bridge. The bridge makes it easier to turn and make the 2 to 5 shot for right handers.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/PIC_0115.jpg)
This is just the web and bridge on the tree at ground level. (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/PIC_0114.jpg)
Stepping off seat climber and onto the steps.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/PIC_0113.jpg)
I really like this two pc bow hanger from Primos. the hooks are handy for grunt call quiver etc. It has aggressive threads and goes into most any tree with little effort.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/DSC00526.jpg)
This is the money shot. 4 to 2 oclock. Which ever way you expect the deer to come from, you should try and set up for this type shot as it is the easiest to make with little to no movement.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/DSC00527.jpg)
Here I am in position for the 5 to 7 oclock shot. I simply ease around the right of the tree and my left foot is on my 4 oclock step and my right foot is actually above my 12 step. It's a very stable shooting position.
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c222/526don/DSC00525.jpg)
This was the position I was most excited about. by easing around to the left, my feet end up on the 8 and 12 step and I can shoot from 1 all the way around to 8 oclock. I requires very little effort and works for me alot better than turning to the right in the bridge to make those shots from 8 to 2.
All in all a fun way to spend a sunday afternoon. My accuracy didn't seem to suffer at all using these positions. if you can point your bow arm shoulder at the target, you should be able to hit it. I may take this rig south to the pig swamp soon and try it out there.
Great Idea Don . This was my 1st year in the web. Once I get a few more bugs out of my system I think it will be my favorite.
One real problem I have is taking a leak out of the web with out " contaminating " my self . My only solution so far is to bag it.
Bill
Don, that looks like a suped up sex swing to me.
I bring a Gatorade bottle for "leaking". I've had some deer not care, and others run, so I contain it.
I have a Guido's web, love it for gun, still need to play with it for bow. I've tried it a few times. It's soooo comfy.
I'm trying to find a Web for next year. I have an older Tree Saddle which is great for shorter hunts, but I'm hoping the Web is a little more comfortable for all day hunts.
Using that hand climber has my brain working overtime and cramping lol.
This thread will probably cost me a new Lone Wolf seat$$.....have got to try it.. thats good stuff Don.. good luck on the experiment and keep feeding my gobbler!
Joey, I bet I saw, conservatively , 300 turkeys on that farm last week. every field I went in was full of birds.
Preston, maybe not a sex swing but i'm pretty sure if a deer gets within 25 yards of it and I want to kill it, It's gonna be screwed.
I usually just pee out of my stand. Good enough for Gene and Barry, good enough for me.
Here's a link to where I got the idea for the seat climber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4TXDBmn1U
as long as it doesn't numb the twins i would be game to try it
I work with a guy who uses the treesaddle and he swears by it. Of course that's no longer made so the web is the next best choice. It seems like you have a lot more shooting opportunity around the tree and can minimize movement. He also completes a lot of all day sits that I cannot do in a hang on and I use a lone wolf alpha.
Alti I absolutly love my saddle. YOu dont miss any opprotuntites unless your snoozing. I went many a year without getting drawn on turkeys in a stand. First year in the saddle about the 3rd time out with it killed 2 and could of got alot more.
This season same spot had a shot but shanked it. It and the web are awsome tools.
I use my tree saddle to hang stands, it is good for that purpose. I just like getting into my Body heater suit and that is a problem with the tree saddle.
QuoteOriginally posted by Don Batten:
Here's a link to where I got the idea for the seat climber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-4TXDBmn1U
Do you use the Lone Wolf seat as your main platform to stand on when you reach the height you want to get to or do you use something else? I have a saddle but have yet to try using it.I also have a Lone Wolf climber and may actually try this.
David, take a look at the forth pic in my first post and reread the last paragraph. good luck . DB
QuoteOriginally posted by Don Batten:
David, take a look at the forth pic in my first post and reread the last paragraph. good luck . DB
Thanks Don.I missed part of that the first time I went through the thread.
I haven't used a hand climber before. . .
Would it not be safe to use as a platform? I have hunted out of a tree saddle before and really like it, but still felt the need of having a small platform to rest on instead of just the tree steps.
Don,
I have not used a web before so......
Do you find that you need a hanger that gets the bow quite far out from the tree? Is that why you use the Primos? Would one right up against the tree be in the way of your legs? I would think either way would limit how far you could spin around the tree?
Cheers,
James
Kevin, you could use the climber seat as a platform but if you had to lean out 90 degrees to it, your weight will push it around the tree.
James, I think a hanger up against the tree will work fine and probably be out of the way more than the Primos. I'm sure that's what Joebuck uses and he's the one with all the time hunting in this rig.
I would say to get up 2 feet off the ground in your yard and experiment with different setups to find out what works for you. It's alot like shooting a bow, not everyone will do it the same way. DB
That makes sense. I read somewhere else about rigging up the Web like a tree saddle with the bridge so you can slide side to side. I need to find a Web and try it out. Looks like just the ticket!
I'm ready to pull the trigger on a web and just can't decide if I want to get a LW climbing seat or a set of climbing paws. What says the experts?
I use muddy sticks to get up the tree and 4 climb paws on 1 strap as a plate form. To carry them I just put them between the back and seat of the Web. It's pretty heavy, but i can be up in a tree ready to hunt in five minutes.
I've ordered a lone wolf climber seat and 4 cranford folders. Up next....bridge construction. This is gonna be fun.
Let me know when you can swing like a monkey!!.....Batman used the Lone wolf climber as a base and climber. I am too fat and slow ( out of shape) to climb with it. I use a stick ladder and cranford at the top or Batman platform with bolts drilled in.....or rapid rail with bolts or batman...or??? i use a lot of combos.. But the shape your in Julian, u could probably scale up the tree bear huggin it and then tether in!
I get giddy just thinking about traveling so light and climbing so quiet wherever I want to be on any given morning.
Did you guys buy your bridges somewhere or assemble them at home? I visited the climbing shop this afternoon to make them at home? I can do a prusik and a double fisherman's knot. Does't look to be any more complicated than that?
I did both but like the one I made.. I took two sections of climbing rope and tied loop knot on each end to hook carbiner.. I think my lenth is 16" long. The longer the bridge, the more you lean away from tree thus creating body torque. so recap....
hook your tether strap around the tree. Take a big carbiner and hook on to tree tether.. them hook your 2 carbiners that are on each end of your bridge and hook to your Guido sides and grab middle of bridge rope and hook to tree tehter carbiner....
would show you a picture but mine is at camp... i know i have a picture of this set up somewhere in a quido thread
I've seen enough pics in these posts to understand the design. Many thanks, buddy ro.
Got LW, Cranfords and the Web in now. Swung from a tree at ground level today right after unpacking everything. All I can saw is WOW this is going to be fun. Such high quality stuff too...beyond expectation. Heck, I bet there's $150 worth of carbiners attached to the darn thing. ;)
be careful....Guido is a disease
could some one post a pic or to of there bridge and how to rig it? also what all kind of steps does everyone use? any good strap on ones cant use screw ins on corp ground.
joebuck, can you shoot just as easily out of the guido's web as you can the tree saddle? Also, have you seen the New Tribes Aero? It looks neat, and is made by a company that makes harness for arborists.
I went to REI and bought a Climbing Sling for less than 30 dollars and then a few locking carabnier so I just have to connect the straps to both sides and then hook my carabenier attached to a prussic knot on a rope I secure around the tree. Super fast to attach and it allows me to adjust my height on the tree.
Joebuck is right the stand is absolutely addicting...
This videos shows the setup I copied.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKHZHudYqU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhWJo0dkFMY
JJ. .. I would say no. GUido is a tad more confining than my tree saddle. That is with using the Guido tether. However replacing the guido tetther with the rope bridge system. Its a wash and then the guido comfort shines. I also have a Tree suit. Now that is a really free system!
That New Tribes look really good. I have a tree saddle and a guidos,,, I like the guidos do to the fork but it is noisy as heck (at leaset it is for me due to all the buckles withe sliding pins) and cumbersome and you cannot wear a pack. The tree saddle is nice but kills the knees when sitting all day for several days. I wish someone would come up with a system that has the tree fork but wears like the tree saddle. I may have to purchase the New Tribe and start experimenting... has to be a way of getting the best of both worlds?
Dave, I hear you. I have a padded rest that I bungee to the tree to save my knees. I like the idea of the aero, as my tree saddle is to big. If my climbing harness would spread the weight better, I would just use it.
I don't get the noise comment but I haven't hunted it yet. I did get a chance to start working on my bridge this weekend and just overall adjusting to a relationship with "Guido" at sea level. The Lone Wolf makes this system just slick as eel dung.
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/Dutch4duck/guido1_zpscd49aa26.jpg) (http://s78.photobucket.com/user/Dutch4duck/media/guido1_zpscd49aa26.jpg.html)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/Dutch4duck/guidopose_zpsd54081b0.jpg) (http://s78.photobucket.com/user/Dutch4duck/media/guidopose_zpsd54081b0.jpg.html)
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/Dutch4duck/guidorelax_zps806dd7b4.jpg) (http://s78.photobucket.com/user/Dutch4duck/media/guidorelax_zps806dd7b4.jpg.html)
I have a "Swing Seat" that I made and have used for close to 25 years. Go to the "other" site and do a search for swing seat. I have a thread showing how to make it. At least twice a year it comes back up or I get a note from someone wanting to build one.
Duckbutt - The noise comes from when you take tension off the buckles/adjusters and also from the velcro. Mine is just too noisey when I drop the seat platform in early morning calmness. The velco is just unnecessary and loud.
Onehair - cool idea - I may look into building one :)
One hair ...Found it!....your designs reminds me of the Old Bowsniper design. I think a fellow made them in Al or La in mid 80's. There is a guy in Tuscaloosa that still hunts with his, Dr. Bob Shepard. He has written abook about deer hunting and killed over a 1000 deer with this system.. good read....
There are 4-5 different "saddle" systems out there to test which is the fun of it. I still have not settled on what climbing system i like best with these saddles after 18+ years. But i have settled on using a platform ( sort of a half stand) at the top. My buddy Battman made me some and they work so well.
Joebuck -- do you have a picture of the platform that Batman made for you?
Texas.... heres is link to one thread
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=092019#000000
there is also a thread titled "Alternate Tree Stands .... something another that has a finished pic on the Batman Platform.
Thanks.......do they still make the SteppLadders?
Do you know of any small platforms (like the ones Batman made) that you can buy?
I just recieved my guido's yesterday and trying to figure out my setup.
Appreciate the info.
Texas....for starting out...i recommend 4 lone wolf sticks and 2 Extra Long Cranfor E-Z steps. You can use the top of Lone Wolf stick as 1/2 platform for one foot and screw in a Cranford at 9 and 3 oclock.
Coooool
Joebuck I don't have a 1000 but at least a 100 out of mine. I think I have tried every way to climb a tree including the seat climber. I used the woodpecker drill all over North MS. Over the last 10 years or so it's been the LW sticks and 2 EZ screw ins. The worst idea was the strap on steps. A foot will slip off those real quick.
Joebuck I've used the lonewolf but have to say that I swapped to the Muddy sticks in the middle of last year.I have to say, with 5 sticks that fold up the same width as my back it sure does make packing in and out a lot easier and with it all folded up in the back of the web it is very comfortable and reasonably light weight... I'm debating on a sixth stick just for that time I may need it but for the time being 5 sticks get me from ground to 20ish feet in a matter of minutes...
I also use 5 folding crawford steps on a ratchet as a mobile platform, or 3 xl screw in steps of different makes.
I have a few permanent sets that have bigger platforms modeled similar to your set up... (by far my favorite way to use the web...
Dang sure agree that rope step was a disaster for me also . I gotagotanew mouse trap late last year. I bought a several sets of close out Ameristep X Wide Rapid rail. The are great. I use the top for my base. It will hold both my feet. 3 get me 16 feet. Down side. A little bulky to tote. I counted last night that I had 2 grasshopper and one woodpecker drill sytem retired. Cordless rigid 18v drill is what I like now.
QuoteOriginally posted by joebuck:
Texas....for starting out...i recommend 4 lone wolf sticks and 2 Extra Long Cranfor E-Z steps. You can use the top of Lone Wolf stick as 1/2 platform for one foot and screw in a Cranford at 9 and 3 oclock.
Thanks
Joebuck
What is the deal on the SteppLadders?
Do they still make them? Are they good?
yes you have to email Jim Stepp directly eamil: jstepp1@maine.rr.com. He was still fofering them 8 months ago
QuoteOriginally posted by DaveT1963:
yes you have to email Jim Stepp directly eamil: jstepp1@maine.rr.com. He was still fofering them 8 months ago
Thanks.....I sent him an email at that address. No response but he may be away from home.