Sorry Jeff... I've been in a hospital the whole time since my last post.

Utilization ofscrew-in steps carries a couple advantages with it. First, there's not one single tree that I can't use in the woods with them, not one.

Sticks can be cumbersome and bulky to carry into the woods and navigate through thick brush with; I know,I've had a set of four Lone Wolf sticks for a couple years now, and use them a lot -- and I'm not taking anything away from them; they're a GREAT product.

I can set up quicker with a set of screw-in steps than I can my sticks. Most people who wouldn't believe that have never used quality steps like Cranfords or the Silver Tips Bob mentioned. QUALITY steps are almost effortless to install compared to ones like the junk Ameristep ones painted completely green that Wal-Mart carries mostly.

They're stealthier for two reasons: First is the fact that I mentioned sticks are bulkier. At some point, you WILL clang something on a stick, be it a buckle swinging around and contacting something, or a stick on stick. But primarily, the best reason I like them is I make ONE trip up the tree with them. With sticks, unless I'm holding one under an arm and one in my teeth or some other weird contortionist act (which takes away from the safety issue you alluded to), I have to make at least two trips up and down the tree to get four sticks and a stand installed.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm always concerned on that trip down to get more gear that THAT'S the time a deer will come by. With steps, I just clip my hoist rope to my bow, hook up my lineman's belt around the tree, and go up higher with each step installed. When I reach the height I want to hunt, I take the treestand off my back and hang it. I pull up my bow and I'm done; it's about as easy as you get.

I'm actually surprised that you've mentioned not feeling safe several times, either with the thought of using screw-in steps or in referencing your experience with the Lone Wolf. I know that you, like me, have a pretty athletic background so I don't understand where the feeling comes from. Maybe you're not using the lineman's belt that I mentioned as one of the key steps? Not sure, but I feel enough confidence in my screw-in steps and hanging procedure to let my 5-year-old do it if he wanted to.