I have another question, If the wind dictates that you have to turn to shoot do you turn your back towards wher you expect the deer to come from or do you turn around in the tree to shoot? It looks like it would be hard to shoot in one direction or the other

Bought the tree saddle 3 yrs ago, and haven't used a metal stand since, I think its the best thing since sliced bread. Have had deer under me and they know something is wrong but can't see me because I am behind the tree. Hunt public land in Ohio and go back miles and carry a tree saddle (2pds) and lone wolf mini sticks,(7pds), all in backpack. No more 20 pd stands for me. Here in Eastern NC, I leave screw in steps in tree and just climb up and tie off strap to tree saddle and hunt, wish I could of found this set up 30 years ago. And no problem shooting my 64 in, A&H longbow out of, and tag out every year.

Looked hard at the Web early this year, good friend bought one, really like it but just couldn't get past the weight, almost 10 pounds. With it and the sticks for public land in Ohio I was getting back to close to 20 lbs, again. Now he is looking for a large tree saddle, anybody got one they want to sell, let me know.

Almost 30 years ago, I bought an Anderson Tree Sling....the first treestand I ever bought, and it worked great.  Same idea....I think the Anderson is easily the forerunner of all these others.    I still have it, and still like it.  They are safe, versatile, quiet, comfy and actually quite easy to shoot from and easy to get used to.   The only drawback "facing the tree" is the footrests, and sore knees.  You can overcome the sore knees easily with pads.  I've yet to see a good, lightweight option for footrests.  Treesteps are too spindly, and your body weight eventually tires you out, so something with a wider platform would be best, I think.   Having a branch at foot level helps a bunch, too.   Anyway, thought I'd share that...I've killed a bunch of deer from mine, and even pack it into the mountains to sit at elk wallows.   Great gear....I don't know if they still make the Anderson treesling anymore?

I agree Mark. I bought mine in '84, the year I was wed. You're a few years older!

My thoughts are, like shootin a longbow, you have to want it bad, and pratice with it. It has limits, but can be done! You don't just crawl in it and kill!

But the pros are definetly, light, quiet, and safe to user! And before restraint systems, I was comfortable and safe, when a rope was being used, by most.  Success with both bow and muzzleloader, using mine.

Anyone know or heard of the Vultures nest, system?

QuoteOriginally posted by waiting4fall:
Here is a brand new video, from a bowhunter, using the GW setup.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L4govCoa0KQ  

That is a great setup right there!  I've got a Guido, but have never tried it like that.  I can see several pluses with the bridge and rope.  Thanks for posting this video.

I love my GW!  Sit all day in comfort anywhere i wnat to hunt. It is deadly and the safest trestand i ahve ever used in thirty years.
I do have to say that shots to the right side of the tree are challenging and you must get into position early as there is alot of movement invloved when deer are close.

I dont mean to offend at all, but if your not in shape and athletically inclined it will be a struggle. if u are then enjoy the ability to hunt any tree anywhere and show us pics of those big ole bucks!

btw i know i will alwyas go home to my family everytime i use mine...absolutely the safest method to hunt from a tree!

the Bridge hookup has definitely gained some spotlight with the YouTube vehicle . it was brought from The Tree Saddle Hunters.  basically all the Bridge allows you to is turn your hips left and right.  You can do the same thing in the Guidos without the Bridge by NOT attaching your leg straps allowing your hips to move/ turn in the seat.

I climb with my leg straps then un hook when I get settled in and loosen my shoulder straps allowing my hips  to " twist" in my seat for that awkward right side 1 to 3 o clock shot.  try this before you invest in a bridge.  With the cross hook up , their is absolutely no way to fall through the web, impossible.

Only negative of a Bridge I can see is that when climbing/descending and if you fall. I am not so sure how your trunk ends up? With 2 foot of lateral slack, it would be interesting to how you ended up.  You would not fall but could end up sideways?   Food for thought

Mark touched on the problem of the footrest earlier.  I know a lot of people use the ameristep strap on steps, but they are apparently no longer available - I can't find any.    Screw in steps are hard on your feet unless you wear a boot with a heavy duty steel shank.  Also screw in steps will rotate when you lean out and make noise against the bark.

I have three options I use.  First,  I use the "Step Ladder Steps" which are also no longer available, and generally only use them on prepared stand locations because they can be tricky to tie on correctly in the dark and are heavy and bulky. Three or four at your final elevation allow you to work around most trees.

My second and cheapest option for prepared stand locations is homemade 4x4x8 inch wood wedges with a hole drilled through them attached to the tree with hollow braided rope and a carabineer, or a ratchet strap. A large replacement chain link is a lower cost substitution for the carabineer, it is just not as quick in the tree. No more than 2 blocks per rope or it is hard to get them tight.  These are the most comfortable footrests but are bulky and heavy for moving.

My third option that I use when roaming or hunting new spots that haven't been prepared is a Gorilla Brand steel strap on tree seat.  This provides a nice platform and is big enough you can get by without any other steps around a small to medium tree.  Use additional steps on large trees.  Once again this is more bulky than I would like but is some what portable and easy to hang in a tree when in a new area.  A Lone Wolf Assassin stand is the light weight but expensive version of this.

Also, I use rope on EZ climb (Cranford) steps because screw in steps are illegal on the public land I generally hunt.  I will use screw in steps on private land with permission.  I am going to try the no step climbing method shown in the earlier posts during the off-season.  Maybe next year I won't need steps, only footrests at my desired height.

What other foot-rest options are there, especially low cost options?

Why not just used 1 or 2 cranford straps as foot rests. Plus if you set them up right You can use them to push you out from tree to make a shot.

QuoteOriginally posted by last arrow:
Mark touched on the problem of the footrest earlier.  I know a lot of people use the ameristep strap on steps, but they are apparently no longer available - I can't find any.    Screw in steps are hard on your feet unless you wear a boot with a heavy duty steel shank.  Also screw in steps will rotate when you lean out and make noise against the bark.

I have three options I use.  First,  I use the "Step Ladder Steps" which are also no longer available, and generally only use them on prepared stand locations because they can be tricky to tie on correctly in the dark and are heavy and bulky. Three or four at your final elevation allow you to work around most trees.

My second and cheapest option for prepared stand locations is homemade 4x4x8 inch wood wedges with a hole drilled through them attached to the tree with hollow braided rope and a carabineer, or a ratchet strap. A large replacement chain link is a lower cost substitution for the carabineer, it is just not as quick in the tree. No more than 2 blocks per rope or it is hard to get them tight.  These are the most comfortable footrests but are bulky and heavy for moving.

My third option that I use when roaming or hunting new spots that haven't been prepared is a Gorilla Brand steel strap on tree seat.  This provides a nice platform and is big enough you can get by without any other steps around a small to medium tree.  Use additional steps on large trees.  Once again this is more bulky than I would like but is some what portable and easy to hang in a tree when in a new area.  A Lone Wolf Assassin stand is the light weight but expensive version of this.

Also, I use rope on EZ climb (Cranford) steps because screw in steps are illegal on the public land I generally hunt.  I will use screw in steps on private land with permission.  I am going to try the no step climbing method shown in the earlier posts during the off-season.  Maybe next year I won't need steps, only footrests at my desired height.

What other foot-rest options are there, especially low cost options?

Just an fyi, the stepladder steps ARE available again for purchase. Youtube stepladder tree steps & you will find the email address. You have to sign a waiver of liability & mail it with your payment.
Just email the man who invented them & he will give you details.

Mysticguido,

I don;t use the rope on steps for foot rests because they shift to much for me.  Kevin Dill sums it up pretty well in this post.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=111557

I've been following this thread for a while, as I had just been looking online at the Guido's web and Tree Saddle systems, due to some of the areas I hunt being either next to impossible to put a stand up due to terrain, or the fact that the deer in one of the areas I hunt love to look up at already hung treestands. I love the idea of quick setup and portability, and that you can set-up just about anywhere.

Has anyone on here tried the CLIMB PAWS strap on steps? I found a link to this system on the GW website. I've been looking at those as an option for steps that don't screw in, as well as maybe using them as steps to create a platform for around the hunting height. I'm interested in seeing how this thread unfolds. Thanks for posting this and thanks to all who have contributed so far.

For you Stepp Ladder users. heres an adjustment i made to my Stepps years ago. The original Stepp had a One point contact for the base. I was never sold on that. It would dig in a soft bark and cant slightly. No disrespect to Jim, he made an ingeniuos product with a niffty knot, but he lives in Maine and weighs a a buck fifty. At 240 with the smell of fried chicken on my breath, standing on the side of the Stepp, i could wiggle some.. So i took my 14 Stepps to local welder and got him to split the prong. add bar for support......bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!......Money!!!!!!!!!!!....i got something Now...give it a try

AmericanHunter.....I actually tried the Climb Paws at Guido's Web shop several weeks ago.. surprised me!!!... They were really solid. I like then but 12 together would be bulky for me and maybe not for others. I could see me however using them for several bases at the top.  they do buckle together which I am sure they use a quality buckle but..........IMO buckles scare me....However as I have said so many  times, if you fall in Guidos it's a comfortable 6" ride!....I NEVER EVER climb with my Guido Not tethered around the tree at all times. I take it a step further also, I do notmclimb with lineman belt but the tether and hooked in.. you don't want to fall with just a lineman's belt because it could be a really rough fall unless you are a trained pole climber ,lumberjack ect.

QuoteOriginally posted by last arrow:
Mysticguido,

I don;t use the rope on steps for foot rests because they shift to much for me.  Kevin Dill sums it up pretty well in this post.

  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=111557  

Wasn't talking about steps, was talking about the cranford strap(s)

Mysticguido - in that picture he's using the webbing loop as an ascender - essentially that's only used for climbing (and personally that'd not be the most comfortable way to climb, as it puts a lot of pressure on the instep and requires you to balance a bit.)  In order for that to work really well, it has to be under tension, otherwise the runner could slip down the tree a bit.

I think my favorite platform/steps for hanging out at the top would be either the footsteps daisy chained around a ratchet strap, or something like an aluminum Gorilla tree seat (not the steel HX models that are out now).

For any of you Step Ladder users:

How easy are they to carry in the field ?

I have looked at the web site and they seem to be a great system.

I think for a stand site that is a permanent site for the season the climbing sticks or similar would be fine but for situations when hunting a new spot I would like to find a system that is extremely light weight, portable and quick to set up on the way up the tree.