Today was the 9th stand I did that with this year. I enjoy it. I like hanging stands personally. I just wouldn't want to have to do it every time I hunt. I wouldn't want the added movement, attention, sweat, etc. I love being able to walk in stealthy, and sneak up, strap-in, and sit. Hopefully they aren't expensive bow holders, LOL. I use tree steps (Get CASES of them for $0.50 from WalMart when they clearance them) for my bow/pack holders!
UNDER ARMOUR socks!!! I love mine. Yes they are warm, but my favorite thing about them, is that they fight TIGHT and they dont FALL DOWN IN MY BOOT AND GET ALL BUNCHED UP!!!! MOST ANNOYING THING IN THE WORLD!!!
Some of the more expensive stands are more comfortable and quieter. If that means sitting in one for a longer time during the rut, it could spell more success. Or sitting still without having to releave a sore spot or constantly standing up to stretch it could mean more success. One that doesn't squeak or rattle will definately improve your odds. Same goes for some of the top dollar clothing. If it keeps you warmer for a longer time, you can spend more time on stand. And that should help you kill more deer. In other words, some of the higher end products could improve your odds just by making you more comfortable or quieter. But just to spend money on useless things isn't going to buy you more kills.
Everybody's situation is a little differerent in how they set up, public/private, shared land vs exclusive land, tree size/terrain etc., but as a general rule I can' t see how it helps one. I hunt permanent fixed stands and at last count have 19 of them in place plus three ground blinds(which I am still afraid to hunt but thats another story). I have tried about every kind of lock on stand there is at one time or another. I have a LW and without a question it is the absolute "nicest" I have ever used. But is it worth the premium when one is going to leave it in the same tree all year anyway? IMO, absolutely not. I now only buy Gorilla stands as I can buy 2 1/2 of them for the price of one LW. Same with ladder stands. I never pay more than $100 for one and get along just fine. Now as far as the expense in purchasing/maintaining 19 different stand sights as opposed to 3 or 4 then yeah, money played a role as it definitely helps me be more successful. I have some stands that I seldom, if ever hunt until I see a deer I am after working that area, and then I go in without having to do anything "preparation wise".
I tried the permanent route last year. Fail. Im a safety freak, and permanent stands in Ohio are bad news IMO. Plus they stick out bad, and are alot more work.
I tried them as well. Got back there to build one. Picked a tree, then started lugging all my materials up and down the hills to the tree I found. Once I got there is started storming, so I backed out with the intentions of going back the next day. After thinking about it, I decided it was going to be MUCH more convenient, safer, easier, quicker, etc. to just pay the $35 for sticks and $30 for a lock on and be done.
I am not referring to a permanent fixed stand in regards to one that is homemade constructed out of lumber. I just mean I do not use the same lock on in different trees. Therefore the weight of the stand is irrelevant to me so I am not willing to pay a premium for it, where as it might be a big deal to someone that is lugging the thing in and out of the woods everyday. Along these lines, I will buy a lot of cheaper(mid price) lock ons that I can afford to keep in multiple locations at one time.
You guys that keep saying mobile stands are ripoffs, add up how much you have in ALL of your other hang ons, THEN compare it to the mobile stand. It is WAY cheaper and replaces all of them. It is essentially a climber (same in weight and costs for similar quality) and the hang ons have ZERO limits on the tree it can hunt. Climbers not so. Downside vs a climber is that I suck with a climber and I am STILL faster than with my sticks combo. I use both, and will continue to. I LOVE having a set ready and just hunting, and I also love trying out new areas that I wouldn't have enough stands to hunt otherwise. Someone buying a Muddy or Lone Wolf stand to leave it hanging all season long is a fool imo, thats not the purpose. A $30 steel counterpart is just the same in this case. If you MUST spend that extra $150, buy me 5 stick ladders! I developed my favorite method for now in, leaving only a ladder in my best spots and hunting out of my Loggy stand every sit. It works great, setup in 30 seconds or less silently, and I no longer have to buy another stand again if I keep this method. Problem is, I think I will switch to a Millenium for this method in the future for its comfort...that thing is a Lazy Boy wrapped in Aluminum. :D
Trevor, I was thinking, and about the only option I would ever consider, would be to buy the LW sticks, and thats it. I'd probably still buy my CHEAP stands, hang them and leave them up, and then just use the sticks to get into my stands. I'd consider that because that would still be quick, quiet, and fairly cheap (compared to also purchasing the $300 LW stands.). But the biggest plus is that it would also make it nearly impossible for my stands to get stolen or for other people to sit them, which can be an issue in my woods.
My opinion is once you have solid functional equipment and clothing it makes absolutely no difference.If you have equipment that works like it is supposed to and is solid and you have clothing that keeps you warm and dry the rest is just want not need.Especially in Bow Hunting for Whitetails.It is pretty much a 30 yard game for the most part,with any middle of the road bow from the major manufacturers or a used bow from the I have to have a new bow every year guy's will give you your main piece of equipment fairly reasonably.
Here are my essentials: a bow that can accurately shoot out to 30 yards, quality hunting arrows, quality broadheads, a climbing stand. If I can't get it done with those things, then I guess I have to get better at hunting.
[ pass thru....hands down. I don't know if I get any sig upgrades for next year. Food for thought: If you don't have the deer, it doesn't really matter if your ass is sitting in a 500 dollar stand or the 69 dollar special. You are just more comfortable, not successful. For real though, I think it helps to some degree to be able to buy some of the better/nicer things. Even the guys who are "slumming it" and getting it done with tried and true equiptment aren't really scraping the bottom of the equiptment barrel.
My biggest problem is spending money on trail cams and extra layers of camo. As far as buying cheap vs. expensive stands go, I'm about 50/50. I have some cheap stands that I set up in areas that I don't really plan on spending a ton of time in, but it could be beneficial to hunt out of. My best spots are all equipped with my most comfortable stands and the more expensive ones. I have setups that cost me from $80-$160, and then I spent $180 on my Ameristep combo that I use as a run and gun style setup.
As much as I'd like to say "yes" that money helps success... I can't. That would give me a legitimate reason to spend the money I do. What brings success is experience, preparation and execution. The bows, arrows, broadheads, sights, rests, etc... are all secondary to the Indian behind the string. I feel confident that I could pick up 1985 Bear bow and be just as successful as I have been with any other bow. I could stay warm and comfortable in the same clothing my dad stayed warm in 20 years ago. I could kill deer with the Thunderheads that were made 20 years ago. In all honesty, "need" isn't reality in bowhunting (beyond the basics)... we don't need much of anything to get the job done... I just like using cool stuff:D
