So all I hunt is public land. I want to place hang on stands and sticks out there now in preparation but am afraid they would get stolen. Any ideas? Also climbers are something i want to avoid.
One trick is to make your first half dozen steps truly be aluminum rods threaded for sure grips and drill the holes. You make them like 8 inches long and you just slide them into the holes when you get there...above that you could do screw in steps if legal, quick sticks or whatever way else, but the ability to remove the bottom steps should limit others from stealing or sitting in your set up.
Maybe try hanging on the stand with a pad lock and chain, take the sticks with you to bring back when you hunt it? Why are you avoiding climbers?
LW Assault with sticks or a Muddy with sticks, put em up and take em down after every hunt. Easy and makes you mobile. I personally love my climber for the mature timber terrain I hunt but if you want to stay away from a climber then I would go the route stated above. On public land guys may hunt your spots if you leave stands/sticks up. The non-typical approach is what I recommend.
I have left like the bottom two sticks off my setups before, then just carry those in with me in the morning... Lot easier to hang the bottom two than all four (or whatever) and sometimes I'll just use screw-in steps for the bottom portion... People could still use their own climbing device to go up and steel your top sticks but if they are going to that much trouble, even trying to lock them up may not be enough...
I would just pick out stand locations and with stix and a muddy or lone wolf you know like a hang on thats easy to put up and just put it up the day of the hunt and take it down when your done. ya its a lot to pack but its worth not losing all that money.
Muddy's Hunter Pro stand or last years model is even a touch lighter, and a set of Middy Sticks or Lone Wold sticks depending on your preference.
You can do the same thing by using muddy sticks at the bottom of your stand and then just take them down when you leave. I simply like using the Muddy Hunter stand or even last years model (lb lighter) like a climber as they are light. Then I would pair them with Muddy sticks or Lone Wolf sticks depending on your preference.
I use a bicycle cable lock. The lock is built into the cable and it is plastic coated. I also take my sticks or steps with me when I leave. If they are going to steal my stand they will have to have cable cutters and steps with them. Have never lost a stand doing it this way.
