Great post Trevor. Let me think...i have 5 sets of sticks at $40. And 5 stands at $30. Plus a $90 ladder stand. Thats $440 in stands. I can get 1.5 mobile setups like yours out of that. In the future i know for a fact that i will invest in a mobile setup, but for now, i could get at least 2 more lock on stand/stick combos for that.
That's some good thinkin, boys ... I believe I am sold on the LW Alpha and either 5 muddy sticks or 4 LWsticks .... My original thought was several cheap hang-ons and the good sticks .... but I am tilting towards top notch stick AND stands ..
Tony, I'm getting old and I don't like placing my LW sticks too far apart. Those sticks are 32", do the math, thats 10.6 feet of sticks. Let's say you put 18" between sticks and 18" from the ground with the 4th stick level to the base of your Alpha, that's 6 feet of spacing. you're getting 16' up. And 18" is a lot of space. take some screw ins with you. I may need to get a fifth stick next yr.
They pack nicely onto the LW Alpha an can be carried with shoulder straps like a backpack. Not sure if you can stack 5 though. I found that an added bugee cord helps to keep them all together. Go to their website and they have printable and video directions for use.
I have a couple different portable sets but I must say that my ameristep crush, hangs easy and is a caddilac to sit on for long periods.
That crush combo seems interesting, and if its comfortable to sit in VERY interesting, lol....How high can you get with 3 rapid rails though?
Anyone have a suggestion for a big guy? I am 6'6" 250ish... I purchased a Amacker Climb and Carry - was not happy from the moment I took it out of the box, the instructions were horrible there were parts with no instructions etc... Two phone calls to the manufacturer and I was not much happier. Got home today and tried it out - its going back. I felt like a monkey fornicating a football trying to hang it and use it in the front yard- could not imagine trying to get this thing on in the dark after humping it in. So now I am looking for a new tree stand - have a week to burn since I am TAD to North Carolina next week for a conference. I have a Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shops and ****s Sporting Goods on the way home. Suggestions?
I love my crush combo. It is extremely comfortable, and with 3 rapid rails I am sitting right about 16 feet up easily, which is plenty high for me. The only complaint I have is I have to put an extra ratchet at the top of the stand to really get it secure (On every stand I will always use an extra one at the base). I would buy another or suggest one in a heartbeat. Another lightweight stand that I have used this year is the Gorilla Silverback Scout. I have an older model, but the new ones seem pretty comfortable.
I used to be the same way. This year I have 6 hang ons, 2 ladder stands, and a ground blind (Still have 2 sitting in the garage, but one will be up this weekend). These are all in spots where I know I will be spending considerable amount of time in. I purchased my crush combo a little before the season started, and it really is not that much trouble to set up and take down for each hunt. They always say that your best chance of killing a big buck is on your first sit, so why not make each hunt your first sit?
It doesnt have a leveling device on it. I get up close to twenty feet in mine. I put the first one as high off the ground as possible and stretch them out pretty good. I do put my stand a few feet above the last ladder and climb on up. Its got a foot rest and like I said the seat is big and comfy. Packs pretty good to.
I never hunted out of anything but a climber. Is it difficult to hang on to the tree while trying to hang the stand. Do you carry it up sticks with you? I would like to try this kind of set up but it scares me a bit. Thanks
moonedzx9, if you are wearing a safety harness with a linesmens belt or a tree hopper it is no problem at all. Stupid as it is, the first time I set my Muddy sticks and stand, I didn't wear any harness at all and was still able to get everything set-up in under 20 minutes. Tonight I had my harness and belt on while setting up and it didn't take much more than 10 minutes to get my sticks and stand up.
I have 3 of the Ameristep Non-Typical stands. Its the same as the Crush stand, before it was re-named. My quote above was refering to these stands. Yes, the seat is comfy and is easy to set up, but the tubular design has its flaws. If you accidently bump something against it it makes an awful noise with the hollow tubes. I was setting mine up last week and my watch bumped the stand and about made me cry with the ammount of noise that came from it. Two words......Lone Wolf.
Dan.... how would you compare a Muddy to the Ameristep. I have to admit that I have been a little worried about the Muddy when the temps really drop. I have sat in the muddy in 38 degrees temps, but I am a little worried about when the temps drop into the 20's. I have a Rivers Edge and a Big Game hang on, and both of them are very noisey in any temps under 50... hell today I was in the Big Game and it was 73 degrees and still making noise. I am seriously thinking about gettting around a dozen hang-ons this summer and setting them up then just packing my Muddy sticks in. I like my Muddy, but the platform size isn't that great, especially for the price. I really like the Lone Wolfs (except for the seat and price).... but 10-12 of them would cost me an arm and a leg!!!!
Honestly, I can't. I have never sat in a Muddy, only looked at them at shows. The only Muddy products I have are the sticks and harness. But, after looking at them, my concern is the same as yours.....the cold weather.
Well... I appreciate the info Dan. I'm not too worried about the Muddy stands for the majority of the season... but if it ends up like last year where I shot my buck Jan 5th.... I just don't know about the Muddy's. I havn't heard any noise from the Muddy while sitting except for very windy days (20-40 mph gusts) and I am pretty sure the noise that I hear is actually from the sticks... not the stand!
Here's how I look at it now. I spend enough money on licenses, tags, leases, travel, food, etc., why not spend a little extra and have the peace of mind that my stands are going to be absolutely quiet and easy to use?
Why would the sticks be noisy? That would make me puke to spend that kind of scoots and the stand and/or sticks make noise in cold weather ... I live in the Buffalo area for cryin out loud .... any reports on noise from LW products in cold weather?
