Run N Gun setup recommendation and climbing safety

Hi guys, I've been hunting public land for several years now out of a climber, and now I'm thinking of mixing it up with a hang on stand and some climbing sticks. My climber is a Lone Wolf Sit N Climb with a Hazmore seat and I'm pretty happy with the setup, but I don't like being limited to straight trees or having to setup and take down EVERY time I get in or out of the tree.

I'm thinking of trying out sticks and a hang-on and my first instinct is to get a Lone Wolf Hang N Hunt combo, but MAN that setup is expensive ($400)! I've looked at the Millennium M7, Muddy sticks, XOP stand/sticks, etc. and I just can't decide if I should buy the Lone Wolf sticks and then a "cheaper" hang-on or if I should buy the Lone Wolf Stand and then some "cheaper" sticks, or just say screw it and get the Hang N Hunt combo? I'll probably be packing in/out everyday (or every 3 days at most) so lightweight is important. I try and sit all day during the rut so comfort is appreciated, but not necessarily the most important criteria. Price is always an issue, but not a deal breaker either. What do you guys think is the best stand/stick combo for the money?

Also, I've been using a climbing rope with my climber. I'm considering putting in a few lifelines and leaving them in some of the trees I hunt out of. I figure I can use them with the climber OR with the hang-on... I've watched the videos on installing the lifeline, but it seems like in a lot of those videos, guys are climbing the tree using just the linemans strap. Is this considered "adequate" safety or should they be using the climbing rope, too? I even saw a video where a guy was using his lifeline LIKE a climbing rope and then attached it "permanently" once he got to the top. Wondering what do you guys do?

 

That will be the best money you will spend. It is specifically designed for what you want to do.... buy once, and you'll never look back. I had two LW assault run and gun setups. LOVED them! The hype is real.


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I used to only hunt out of my summit climber then a few years ago I bought a LW hang on and sticks. The summit sits in the building now. I really like my LW setup. After a few times you can get up a tree pretty quick.


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Look into the Hawk Helium sticks. I have them and like them a lot. If you're dead set on 4, you can buy a single stick for a total price of around $130 instead of the higher price for LW. I also really like the double steps instead of single. I don't own a true run and gun stand so I don't have a recommendation there.


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I love my XOP vanish with XOP sticks


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I'm in the same boat, I bought the hawk helium xl hang on and now trying to decide on sticks. I'm leaning to the Hawk helium sticks, but I like the versa button option on the muddy's and LW. Any suggestions? Ever added a versa button to a helium stick?

 

If you're mostly concerned about weight and portability li recommend Lone Wolf sticks and the millennium m7 hang on. That's what I run with. It gets me 16-18 ft up pretty quickly and the total weight is under 20lbs.


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I have a cheap hang-on and Rivers edge climbing sticks. Sometimes on new ground I just move through out the day to see movement and check winds and sun.
For a safty line I use a 1/2 line with a snap link tied on one end. I pitch it up over a limb then hook it so I can hook my harness to the line as I go up. To remove the line as I come down I tie both ends of the line together then feed it through the snap link on my harness. When on the ground un tie and pull the rope down.

 

Hawk helium sticks and stand, I opted for the XL stand. Great stand for a good price. Lw is the top of the market and their prices are what they are because of their track record of quality. However that lone wolf isn't going anywhere that my hawk can't go. Just my opinion.

 

I hunt out of a Lone Wolf Sit and Climb. I have a Muddy hang-on with some pretty nice Muddy sticks. They're a little older and they have the rope cam system. I have to admit, I don't get the allure to hunting with a hang on. It's not nearly as comfortable and no matter how many times I do it, its IMPOSSIBLE for me to hang a set as quickly and quietly as I can get up a tree with my climber.

 

yes you can add versa buttons to hawk helium sticks;
I just got myself into this same situation this fall, sold my steel hang ons and went with the hawk sticks and a xpedition xstand, 22lbs. Millenuim micro lite was a hair lighter and was told they are the most comfortable stand, but he platform was alittle smaller as well... of course i wanted the LW but that was out of my price range..

 

I have a setup for public land. It's the lone wolf alpha ii with 4 sticks, padded straps and foot rest. I bought the hunt ready system.

It is expensive but one thing I learned the hard way is spend more to begin with and keep it for a LONG time. Idk how many cheaper stand and sticks I've bought and I was never happy. Probably could have had 3 of these setups by now if I hadn't of done that.

 

Because my clamp on is small and light and will work on must trees is why I use it to hop around. For a all day set I will carry my tree lounge in. I set my cameras with my climbing sticks. (I hunt public) But safety line from the time your feet leave the ground to you touch back down.

 

I just bought the muddy vantage and pro sticks specifically for run and gun on public land. I've loved every second of it so far, however I would say the stand is just a tad heavier then what I would probably get with an XOP or lone wolf. I've never tried anything other then muddy so I don't know that for sure, the only thing I can swear by is the muddy pro sticks. They are the quietest quickest sticks I've ever seen and if I were to ever switch to an XOP or lone wolf the muddy sticks would be making the switch as well.


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Swamp Stalker is on point as usual. I was in your exact spot 3 weeks ago, Chris, and had searched this site for input from prior threads, comparing prices, debating the pros and cons, begging the wife (not really), pissing and moaning about the steep price for LW, etc. etc....Pulled the trigger on LW Assault II, three LW sticks ($350 ish), no quiver, and after getting familiar with the process of hanging it, all I can say is wowwwww. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner. Quick, quiet, solid and easy. I don't know about the other climbing sticks for comparison, but these are solid--surprisingly solid.

 

Lot of good information here. I went with the Millenium M7 Microlite due to it being a bit lighter. Ive used Hawk and Lone Wolf sticks, and I personally think the Lone Wolf sticks are better hands down. Not sure about my thoughts on the Millenium. It is comfortable, but I think the lonewolf is easier to get in the tree just because you dont have the bracket to deal with.

I bought stick talons for the stand and can carry 4 LW sticks with the millenium. Not sure overall weight of the entire setup, but I think its between 25 and 28 lbs. I changed the straps on the sticks for a rope mod, as well as paracording the entire stand in attempt to silence it.

Like i said, I like my setup, I just think a LW stand may be a touch better only due to its simplicity of hanging the stand. Millenium is more comfortable, but I seem to stand more nowadays anyway. Also, the way a LW stand attaches to the tree, you have more options when it comes to getting the in right tree vs. the bracket that millenium has.

Main thing is to get to know your equipment before going into the field. Go through it with the mindset of "what can go wrong" before you go out there. Once you have all the pieces, you can put it together how you see fit. It'll be 10x easier when you actually get to your location.

 

I'm sorry but i think that is the craziest thing i see on the BHOD videos is the lock on stands. i have hung several and when we get them there we leave them. we come back and change straps etc at the beginning of the season. or move them to different trees. they would be a pain to do every time. a summit climber is the way to go. i can see an advantage if you are not in a strait tree or there is a bunch of limbs or maybe a split in the tree. i am not against lock ons but i never go that route when i have to hang it every time. also, most lock ons are very basic and i get about 20-25' and i do not feel near as comfortable in those bare stands.....my fear of heights always keeps me on edge, and the summit has a rail up front.....to me it just makes me feel more stable to stand and shoot.....

 

I decided to go with xop and I love it. The run and gun style public land hunting put so much fun into this season. I went with xop because they are made by the same guy who used to do Lone Wolf for less money and the climbing sticks are a little longer. I like the locking feature on the sticks as well. I have not hunted out of a Lone Wolf but judging by pictures it looks like the XOP seat is much thicker. It is a very comfortable stand as I have sat all day a few times myself. I use a linemans belt for climbing up and down and that fits into my HSS vest well to keep it compact which I important for run and gun style hunting. I also tied two loops on either side of my vest so I can put a stick on either side. I put the first step on the tree on the ground, put the stand on my back, hang the second step and then have my other two steps tied to my vest. One trip up the tree and I am ready


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I hunt mainly public as well but use a climber. What are the benefits of a hang on and sticks? Is this more for states where you can leave a stand in overnight if you want?

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I hunt public land exclusively.

The Lonewolf hang on stands are extremely easy to set up and remove. It also lets you hunt and almost any tree. Certain parts of the country there are plenty of street trees. On farmland in the Midwest straight trees are unheard of so climbers are useless. I am from the Northeast and used to hunt Exclusively out of a climber. I went out to Illinois with my climber and ended up hunting for straight trees rather then deer.

After your practice a few times with a lonewolf hang on, you can be up in a tree in around 10 minutes. And that’s almost any tree, even with branches

The benefit is being able to hunt from almost any tree. Like anything there is a small learning curve, once you practice with it a few times, you can be up in hunting within 10 minutes. I have hunted out of a climber for 20 years, Switching to a Lonewolf hang on and lonewolf sticks, truly changed the way I hunt.

The lonewolf is designed for run and gun hunting. It is designed to hang and hunt, and to take it down at the end of your hunt. After your practice with it a bit, you become very efficient.

This is the reason why the price tag is high. Lower-priced stands are not designed for this, they are meant to hang and stay there, I wouldn’t even think of running and gunning with a lower priced stand. That truly would be a pain in the ass.

That being said, I hunt from the ground now with a ghille suit. Now I truly can hunt anywhere!!




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