I’m an adult onset hunter without access to private land, and am going to invest in my first stand setup for this fall (archery in MN and WI). I’d be curious to hear what you guys prefer for a portable setup – a climber or sticks and a hanging stand. Also, if you have any specific stands that you would recommend (or avoid) I’d appreciate any tips as well. Thanks in advance.
I am a public land hunter too! Personally I use a saddle and sticks. I would dump the climber. A hang on and sticks would get you into way more trees. Then you are hunting spots not hunting trees. Not sure what youre looking at for a budget but the lone wolf custom gear stands and sticks would be hard to beat. Granted its an arm and a leg. Personally I use the xop full length sticks right now. There’s a lot of new options hitting the market soon for sticks.
I prefer a climber as it feels safer, but it is a problem finding trees to setup in (fairly straight without major branches), they are noisier and they are slightly heavier I believe. I’m a big guy so the carry weight doesn’t bother me, but the other two are problematic at times. Being a bigger guy climbing the sticks and sitting fully exposed isn’t ideal. Generally I just ground hunt unless I’ve pre-scouted and know exactly where I’m going and what tree I plan to sit in. I’ve learned a ton from watching the Hunting Public on ground hunting, and not sure if I’ll be in a stand on public anytime soon!
Go to saddlehunter.com
Might be enlightening in options for hunting deer.
I use a climber, but will pursue saddle gear at some point also.
Thanks guys- I’ll check out those sites and options. I’m hoping I can buy once cry once, so I’m planning on spending the money to get good gear (plus, I don’t really want to get cheap with the gear that is holding me 20 feet off the ground).
I’ve been watching a fair amount of Hunting Public lately as well – their success with ground techniques is incredible. A New York and a North Dakota video come to mind
Thanks guys- I’ll check out those sites and options. I’m hoping I can buy once cry once, so I’m planning on spending the money to get good gear (plus, I don’t really want to get cheap with the gear that is holding me 20 feet off the ground).
I’ve been watching a fair amount of Hunting Public lately as well – their success with ground techniques is incredible. A New York and a North Dakota video come to mind
I am a stand and sticks guy. I have the Hawk Helium 20 inch sticks which I would highly recommend, affordable nice option. I run a XOP vanish stand, I have contemplated going with a larger stand, but I like how the XOP moves through the brush. Plus with a couple straps I can turn the seat into a platform to put my pack on.
in either case make sure you practice before the season setting it up and also shooting out of it.
Thanks guys- I’ll check out those sites and options. I’m hoping I can buy once cry once, so I’m planning on spending the money to get good gear (plus, I don’t really want to get cheap with the gear that is holding me 20 feet off the ground).
Buy once/cry once is sometimes difficult to do with saddle stuff, depending on your personal outlook. If you’re cool with sticks it’s easy enough, but if you go down the rabbit hole of some of the more compact climbing methods you end up with a lot of choices that are different more in personal taste than in quality. Saddlehunter.com forums are great for buying/trying/reselling for around the cost of shipping, though.
I can’t imagine trying to find the right trees to make a climber work.
I can’t imagine trying to find the right trees to make a climber work.
Yes, this is the only choice that I’d eliminate right now. Maybe out in the west with lots of tall, straight pine trees these things work, but I have enough trouble finding the right tree to do a hang on within 15 yards of where I really want to be. Too small, too crooked, too many low branches, etc, etc.
Also, with any system, you have to practice so you have the right technique down as far as getting up in the tree and getting the stand hung if you go that route. As I found out, practice is required and IMO some extra gear makes it a lot easier to get the stand up in the tree.
Both.
I like them both but I tend to reach for my hang-on and sticks over the climber.
Summitt Viper for a climber
Hawk Helium XL with Hawk helium climbing sticks
(I feel both of these are amongst the best for both styles)
Ease of use goes to my Hang-on. What I like about the hang on is that once I have it up, I can keep it up. I don’t like the work of the climber going up and down after each hunt…I also get super sweaty doing this. It’s not over the top noisy but more so then the hang-on. It takes me quit a bit longer to get up in a climber. With the hang-on if I’m worried about leaving it out, I’ll take the bottom stick with me (if going out for lunch).
The seat on the climber, if you use it, is harder to get out of when needing to quickly. I don’t sit a lot but when I do rest the legs, it’s usually about the time a deer walks by…LOL
Weight: Both a super light weight and you’ll have no issues walking miles with both but the Climber is slightly more awkward.
Climber I feel more secure in.
Climber is about a thousand times more comfy…I could sleep in that thing! I use it more during rifle season cause the chair is so darn good.
If I was in my 20’s, I’d try the saddle but no way anymore. The hang-on’s are so light now days, I don’t see the need for not using them. The Hawk Helium weighs about 12 lbs.
Side note regarding climbers, you’ll be surprised how many trees work with these things. I honestly don’t recall having to move from an area I wanted to hunt due to a lack of tree’s that the climber would work on.
I’ve THOROUGHLY put both through their paces, and if you’re set on a stand vs. a saddle, hands-down go with a light hang on and sticks. Not including trimming out some shooting holes, I can usually hang a stand/sticks in roughly 10-15 minutes depending on the tree. I’ve been stuck in my climber (Millenium M1) upside down during rifle season once and have been quite gun shy of it ever since. I’m going to add another set (Hawk Helium XL and their 20″ sticks) this year as well. I don’t have any experience with the saddles, as I mostly hunt private and don’t have to worry about whether or not to leave stands out, but for someone who solely hunts public I could see where they may be slick.
Depends on what trees you will be hunting. Up in NW MN we have mostly aspen. Very easy trees for a climber.
DT
I dont know how far you are carrying it in or how long it will be there,but have you considered a lightwieght aluminum ladder stand? I have been a sticks,hangon guy forever{not alot of trees allowing use of climbers}here.We can keep stands on most types of stateland for the season,so the last few I have bought are ladders,buy cheap and haul them in on my game cart as most breakdown into 5′ sections.
I still prefer a large platform hang on but am getting used to ladders,and they do go up easy once you have found your spot.
I’ve THOROUGHLY put both through their paces, and if you’re set on a stand vs. a saddle, hands-down go with a light hang on and sticks. Not including trimming out some shooting holes, I can usually hang a stand/sticks in roughly 10-15 minutes depending on the tree. I’ve been stuck in my climber (Millenium M1) upside down during rifle season once and have been quite gun shy of it ever since. I’m going to add another set (Hawk Helium XL and their 20″ sticks) this year as well. I don’t have any experience with the saddles, as I mostly hunt private and don’t have to worry about whether or not to leave stands out, but for someone who solely hunts public I could see where they may be slick.
Not sure but I don’t think you can trim trees on public land in Wisconsin.
Right, which would make the setup even faster than when I hang my stands on our property 
, but makes tree selection a little more critical.
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