Texas Public Hunting Rigs

[homegrown]

The only disadvantage of the ladder stand with wheels is if the area is rough you would be fighting getting it in. With a lock-on/step combo strapped to your back you could go almost anywhere even if its rough country or lots briars etc.

This is very true. High grass is killer and most trails are only one path thru the woods. Two wheels going thru the trails I hunt on are more trouble than they are worth. The wheels on a ladder do make for a good way of getting your game out of the area though. I don't have any pics of my ladder stand setup but its pretty simple. Just used the little jogging stroller wheels on mine with pins on the àxles so that they can be removed. Ill work on pics of my hang-on setup.


HG

[homegrown]

Anyone ever try just using a rope ladder with a hang-on. Ive been wanting to play around with that.

I've done this as well. Used seat belt strap material that I bought online and sewed the steps onto two long pieces that come together at the top with a long single piece that I used to throw over a limb and tie off. The whole thing rolls up and stuffs into my backpack. A little hard to climb being that it sways side to side and you have to climb straight up the thing. I'll work on some pics of it as well.


HG

[gumbl3]

Never seen one like the leverage, cool concept. Bet it's not nearly that easy in the dark

[sqiggy]

I found a lock-on while hunting on a draw hunt at Richland Creek. Wasn't far from the river and the hwy, so knew somebody was slipping in.
But they used a single rope, thrown over a big limb, and on one end, tied a loop in the rope where you could slid in and set down. Then you use the other end and just pull yourself up. Looking at it, you would think "No way". But I tried it and it was very easy to pull myself up.

[TxAgHntr]

Very interesting ideas...for those of you who use a fixed stand with strap steps...could you send a link to the strap steps or a pic of them...most of what I see are ladder sticks and so forth...

I've been hauling in a 30+ climber for a while and looking for something that may be easier this year...or I may just buy an aluminum light weight climber and go with it. The pack in is pretty high grass, briars and salt cedar type brush...I don't think the wheeled ladder stand would work...

Thanks for the input so far!

[Falling]

summit viper all the way.

[Texas Grown]

Carrying weight is everything! Especially when you get older and wore out . I got two ladders with pneumatic wheels (1/2 filled with Slime) for stealth, 5 pop-ups, 3 hang-n stands, Aluminum Rapid Rails, steps, stick ladders, and a Lone Wolf Wide Sit-n-Climb (my third Lone Wolf Climber). I'm ready for anything ! And don't leave any thing out there for someone else to take .

Adapt, and over come!

[big chris]

I found a lock-on while hunting on a draw hunt at Richland Creek. Wasn't far from the river and the hwy, so knew somebody was slipping in.
But they used a single rope, thrown over a big limb, and on one end, tied a loop in the rope where you could slid in and set down. Then you use the other end and just pull yourself up. Looking at it, you would think "No way". But I tried it and it was very easy to pull myself up.

Ok not trying to be a jack wagon but just because you thought some one was slipping u n didn't give you the right to take there stuff. I guess there will just be a lot of lunches eaten in a tree hate the thought of goinh to down to dq and coming back to a tree that USED to have a 300 dollar bill with my name hanging in it.

[Buckshot-73]

Ok not trying to be a jack wagon but just because you thought some one was slipping u n didn't give you the right to take there stuff. I guess there will just be a lot of lunches eaten in a tree hate the thought of goinh to down to dq and coming back to a tree that USED to have a 300 dollar bill with my name hanging in it.

Perhaps you should re-read his post... Never said a word about taking something that was not his.

[big chris]

Very sorry if I misread it or interpreted it wrong I guess I'm so worried about my first experience with public hunting, and well I assumed the worse and thats not right of me and for that I'm sorry.

[topher5999]

First off I have never nor do I ever plan I stealing anyone's stuff on public land. With that said, anyone who leaves there stuff unattended on public land where the rules clearly state do not leave things unattended deserves to have there stuff taken. Rules are rules and they apply to everyone. I pack out my ladder stand every time I hunt on public property unless I draw a tag and know I am they only one allowed to hunt that area for a certain time period when I have double checked it is ok to leave my stuff. I know most of the Corp land I hunt clearly states if you leave your things unattended then it becomes PUBLIC PROPERTY that does not apply to some guys and not others it applies to EVERYONE. I am not condoning the taking of another person's property, it is like leaving something I do not want my Labs to get in the back yard. It is now my fault it is torn up for leaving it there and not taking in the house, not my dogs for tearing it up.

[topher5999]

Back on topic I pack in a Rivers edge Pack and Stack Ladder stand (89.99) every time works very well in most places I hunt. bout 5-10 min to put up (in the Dark) I practiced this before packing it in at night. Otherwise I use a ground blind One of the places I hunt has big Oaks that over hang and a Pop-up works great there. The ladder stand I can leave the bottom part off for a 12ft stand for shorter trees and put the bottom part on (16ft) for taller trees. Here is central Texas we do not have a bunch of trees good for a climber. I have thought about trying the hang-on and sticks but if it ain't broke why fix it.

[Bowtech1233]

I've had the best success with carrying in a small lightweight hang-on and a bag of strap on steps. The bag of steps straps to the stand which I carry on my back with a golf bag strap. Set-up and takedown only takes a few minutes and there's no metal ladder sections to clang together while in transport. I've also used a ladder with wheels but again, its more noisy getting into the woods with.


HG

This is what I will be trying this year. Never tried the strap steps before, but I got some with a hang-on stand I bought from a guy recently. I am interested to see how they work out. I assume they have worked well for you... ?

[sqiggy]

Ok not trying to be a jack wagon but just because you thought some one was slipping u n didn't give you the right to take there stuff. I guess there will just be a lot of lunches eaten in a tree hate the thought of goinh to down to dq and coming back to a tree that USED to have a 300 dollar bill with my name hanging in it.

Perhaps you should re-read his post... Never said a word about taking something that was not his.

Very sorry if I misread it or interpreted it wrong I guess I'm so worried about my first experience with public hunting, and well I assumed the worse and thats not right of me and for that I'm sorry.

Also, I said this was a "Draw Hunt" at Richland Creek. It's not open to the "public". At RC, they will tell you if you find a stand, to report it and flag it and they will pick it up or watch it and try to catch the guy huntin it.
I just stated that the rope deal was a pretty good idea if you had to pack a stand in a long way. It was simple and easy!!
And no, I didn't take the stand!!!
I took the rope!!!!

[Vermin93]

TxAgHntr - what you are asking is a question that I have spent the past 4 years answering for myself since I pretty much hunt public land exclusively in TX, KS and TN. I have spent too much money on different public land treestand solutions, but I have actually found 4 solutions that I like.

Sorry for linking all the YouTube videos, but they helped me immensely with setting up treestands on public land.

1. A good quality, lightweight climber. These are now available under 20lbs. I use a Treewalker, but I use it in Tennessee where there are countless tall, straight pines and oaks. It is awesome for all-day sits. I have slept in it way too much....

2. Lone Wolf Alpha II hangon and Lone Wolf climbing sticks. The Muddy fans will argue, and I will admit that have not tried the Muddy setup, but the Lone Wolf Alpha II paired with Lone Wolf climbing sticks is arguably the best mobile hunting setup out there for getting deep into public land and setting up near hot sign for a morning or afternoon hunt. It is lightweight, packs very well, is very well made and just flat out rocks. It is not the best for an all day hunt because like most hangon stands, your butt will get sore from the seat after several hrs.

Here's one example of this setup being deployed:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cFvpF_FjXo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cFvpF_FjXo[/ame]

Here's another example of this setup:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76EVLGJ-9L4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76EVLGJ-9L4[/ame]

I copy this guy's method for deploying the Lone Wolf sticks. You must wear a harness and lineman's belt for safety while deploying them. Check out his video:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3clPFGAwB3s"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3clPFGAwB3s[/ame]

This guy does a very lengthy 2-part video of how to quietly enter a stand site and deploy the Lone Wolf setup. It's a lengthy pair of videos, but worth the time to watch them. Although, he is a fool for not using a harness and lineman's belt while hanging the sticks and stand.

Part 1:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJEyFDBV7X4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJEyFDBV7X4[/ame]

Part 2:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gBOa-681Hk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gBOa-681Hk[/ame]

3. Millennium M100 hangon and Lone Wolf sticks. This is an awesome setup. Same concept as the Lone Wolf Alpha II with Lone Wolf sticks, but the Millennium M100 is way more comfortable and can easily work for an all day sit. However, it is a bit heavier than the Lone Wolf Alpha II and it has a straight vertical support section so it requires a straight section of a tree to mount it on. The Lone Wolf Alpha II has a seat leveling system that will let you mount it on trees with a slight angle. It is easy to sleep in a Millennium 100. Maybe too easy....

I copied this guy's mobile hunting setup exactly, including the modifications to the M100. Check it out -

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0aUZ1pTf_U&list=TL744c_JuEyiI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0aUZ1pTf_U&list=TL744c_JuEyiI[/ame]


4. Last, but not least, Guido's web with Cranford Folding Rope Tree Steps that I carry in a Ribz Front Pack. This is my new favorite setup. I used it once last year and expect to be using it for many of my public land hunts this year.

Here are the Cranford rope tree steps. I have also used them with my Lone Wolf Alpha II and Millennium M100 stands instead of the Lone Wolf sticks: http://www.bowhunterssuperstore.com/...ps-p-2566.html

Here is a great video of the Guido's Web treestand in action where the guy uses a unique "simple climb" tree climbing method that I have not tried.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IAgwDkTc0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IAgwDkTc0[/ame]