Saw the new muddy climbing sticks at the wisconsin deer and turkey expo last weekend. These things look like an awesome design I am going to definitely be looking at picking up a set of these this summer. Thanks for the information jfergus7.
I like them also... I just wish they were longer.... It will take 5 or 6 of them to reach hunting height.
Buckeye, I agree with you on that one; it would be nice if they were a little longer. Sure love the design though.
$129.99 retail for about 4 sticks. (Got this from a previous post by Todd of WKP) You can also find a review right here on this very site: http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/post/2009/01/08/ATA-Show-Day-1-Impressions.aspx I will probably buy 1 stick to go with my LW sticks. I will use it as the top step as this is where I have my most difficulty when leaving the stand and not sure what side the step was on with the LW sometimes as I am leaving to descend.
I had a rather lengthy conversation with Larry of Muddy on this exact topic. Due to laws regarding safety Muddy is still working on packaging and coming up with a solution to the issue of 4 sticks not being enough. They are currently looking at other solutions weather it be a single stick or possibly selling them in a 6 pack! I will keep everyone posted if I hear anymore word from Larry about this!
I can say, I would not deal with the hassle of packing in, setting up and taking down 6 steps to only get 18-20 feet. BTW what do laws about safety have to do with packaging?
Agreed. I can get over 20ft with 4 LW sticks and I don't see where these are an improvement over those sticks. Different way of doing something, but not an improvement.
What would be an advantage of buying these sticks over LW? Especially if they don't get you as high or appear to be much cheaper?
No buckle to make noise with will pack better than the LW and will have a hooking system to hook it to your saftey harness if you use the muddy harness and that will make them easier to hang.. Walt
Looks like they have put some nice features on them sticks. Too bad they don't make them longer. I think I would need 6 of them to get me to the same height as 4 of my LW sticks.
Advantage: No metal buckles, a step off each side (no more guessing), multiple packing options on future Muddy Stands, and the best part - in the future you will be able to attach (2) Muddy sticks to a Muddy harness to bring them up the tree with you. Being a shorter design, they will pack better, and you can attach (2) sticks to the tree before you leave the ground. Holster (2) on you're harness, hold one, throw your stand on your back, and climb the tree a single time. Everything already has pending patents! The beauty of shorter sticks compared to longer sticks is that they are safer - less likely to kick-out. Also, they work between branches much easier than the longer sticks, which in many cases will allow you to use branches on trees easier than before. 5 sticks will get a typical "mobile" hunter the same height as 4 of the longer sticks will. Same price. If there is one person on earth who has used the other sticks more than myself, I'd like to meet them. These will be faster, quieter, and safer. We've already passed TMA - and their strength is unequaled!
I think its easier to pack less and safer to hang less. I've never guessed climbing out of my stand, if you have to guess you probably shouldn't be in a tree stand in the first place! I put up my LW EVERY time I hunt, I put it up and take it down, each sit, and I sit a lot! To each his own!
Yeah I agree, after that first step there really is no guessing. And I definetly like having fewer items no matter the size. But it is really whay you prefer.
I could get non-metal buckles but the metal ones haven't been a disadvantage for me. My four LW sticks pack right on my stand without any extra straps or hardware. Don't know how much easier it can be. Like BowHuntingFool, I put my LW stand and sticks up every time I hunt (a lot!) and I have never guessed where I was putting my foot going up or down. This is the first I heard that my LW sticks weren't "safe" LOL. Like anything, if they can be mis-used but that would be the only way I could see them being unsafe. I get up the tree fast enough, quiet enough and quite safe enough with what I have. I am sure the muddy sticks are good and work like they say they do but, that just makes them different, not better.
I like these climbing sticks. But they are more expensive and shorter than the Lone Wolf, which I am partial to. But that is not to say that if someone was to want me to try some and pass them on to me that I would not use them.
Sure would hate to fall even 5 feet wearing that harness with a few of the sticks attached to it, you'd better be tied off to the tree the entire time!
