Sounds like a good idea, Rick.

jcpopejr,

To be honest, the Lone Wolf system is a bit cumbersome to me and involves a bit of extra work -- at least in trips up the tree. Remember that I cut my bowhunting teeth the first five years or so using a hang-on and Cranford screw-in steps; with those, it's extremely simple to have the stand on your back, and just screw in steps as you climb to your desired height. I can get the first three steps done standing on the ground... the first one goes right above my right knee, the second one around sternum height, and the third one goes around nose height... I've only got six more to screw in, and I'll be at 20' or so.

With the LW climbing sticks, the best way I've figured out how to do it so far is to hang the first stick while I'm standing on the ground, then step up onto that and hang the second. I then climb back down to the ground, grab the third stick and climb up onto the second stick and hang that one. I then climb back down again and grab the fourth stick, and throw the stand onto my back. I climb up, hang the fourth stick and hang the stand. I've heard of people putting the last step in their mouths like a dog would carry a bone on the way up, too...

That process takes a couple times of coming back down, and after a year of hunting with the Alpha Hang On and four climbing sticks, it's still a toss-up in my mind as to whether it's easier for me use the LW climbing sticks, or to take the Cranford steps in with me... I will say that it's FAR less bulky and quiet to use the screw-in steps... I need to weigh the LW system on my digital scale, but I'd bet a good sum of money that the Alpha Hang On and four sticks weigh more than my climber, so just a hang-on and nine screw-in steps are much lighter.

I know Todd Pringnitz hangs a ton of these every year; maybe we can talk him into showing exactly how he does it on his next DVD... It'd certainly fit the theme of their concept in trying to show "behind-the-scenes" stuff... Just look at how much interest this thread generated. There's obviously an audience who would benefit from it if they'd film Todd hanging a set... Maybe I'll PM him and let him know of the idea...