any tips for setting a hang on up? I have never had one. I have had several climers I ordered a new one out of cabelas it should be here friday. How many steps will I need to get up about 15 feet?

That will depend on your height... and what you are wearing (how far you can stretch) this is the method I use when I am hanging my strap on stands. Put the first peg little less the knee height, then climb up on it and put the next peg a little above your knee. Then with yourfeet on both pegs you have installed the next peg should go right at knee level with the highest peg, oppsite side of the tree... Also if you buy the screw in steps be sure to get the ones that are tapered all the way down to the tip... if you get the ones that get fatter and then taper quick they are a huge pain the ass to get in the tree... Hope this helps and good luck with the new stand, you should enjoy not having to lug a stand in everytime you head out into the woods...

hvyhitter got it pretty good, but i'll throw in some tips, anyway. IF you are using screw-ins, try them out before you go so that way you know what you are in for. you might want to take a cordless drill, or a wrench for added leverage. a climbing stick is also an option, but i've never had one. i used to try to 'conserve steps' by making the gaps in-between them rediculously large...not the thing to do. i've also used 2x4's for the first 2 steps. As much i am against being 'safe'<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> you really should use some time of fall restraint during the screw-in process, i've even leaned back with my arms off the tree for some rest.

take some kind of saw for limbs, and maybe a hand pruner for the small stuff( a 2 ft bow saw is stupid to use on twigs) And make sure the stand is comfortable, sit in it for a while after it is hung, you don't want a knot in the tree sticking you in the back all day long.

sometimes i dont see how guys can take a hang on with them everytime thay go.

hope this helps.

I use a cordless drill to make a pilot hole for the steps. Another caution on steps. If the are the 1 piece bent rod type, make sure they are screwed all the way in so the vertical part of the rod is touching the tree. I had one of these snap on me when I was 15ft in a tree. Luckily I was climbing over a large branch and it caught me before I fell. I have since switched to folding steps.

Something else I do with fixed stands is use a rachet strap to tie the base of the stand to the tree better. This helps keep it more stable, especially when you are climbing on and off of it.

I always double strap mine for safety. You never know when the orginal strap is weak from being left out in the aliments to long.

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Try this: Use your climbing stand to help put up your lock-on. Climb up to your preferred height and attach your lock-on to the tree and then screw in your steps as you go down. This will allow you to have balance and cordination when screwing in the steps- it is alot easier too. See if this works.

H Aaron Green

Just one tip to add... If you are using screw in steps, take a hollow piece of metal or hard plastic to put around the 'step' portion of the screw in step. This makes it much easier to screw in to the tree b/c you don't have as much friction btwn your hand and the step.

The hardest part of setting up a hang-on for me is the acual hanging-on part. I use a set of climbing sticks that go together to form a one piece ladder.
When it came to putting up the actual stand, I had trouble holding up the stand while getting the strap around the tree. And then more trouble keeping the stand up while tightening the support strap.

My hint is this.
Use the steps on the climbing sticks to support the weight of the stand while climbing.
loosen the strap more than you need to before going up so you can put it around the tree first. The way mine is, I have to carry the stand up in my left hand, so I just get the strap around the tree and shove it in my right pocket before I go up. That way it's already around the tree and all I have to do is clip it on and tighten it up.

I use my fall protection harness to let me lean back from the tree and have both hands free to position and hold the stand.





Keep 'em all in the Bull.