Tree steps over the dead season

Hi !

I am wondering what everyone is doing with their tree steps over the "dead season"like Jan til Oct.
I always take them out,take them home,keep them in the shed till the spring, clean them from gunk and sap( with hot water or alcohol dipped rag) then oil them,then hot water bath them few weeks before punting them back in them trees(mostly by mid -end of August they are back in the bush again)

Sound like a lot of work-and it is.But i kind of enjoy it(sort of).I feel better about not having them out for too long either,then having them cleaned from stuff(to avoid potential contamination from tree to tree-if any.)

What You guys are doing with your screw in tree steps after the season is over?I know some people leave them out in the same tree for many years,some take them out and toss them in the shed as is,till the next season..........wondering if what i am doing is it worth it.......... if i leave them for years in the tree-DO i take safety risk(rust-then breakage).Thanx

With my public land stands Ive always taken the steps down and just stored them with the rest of my hunting gear. I currently only have one stand on private land and those steps get left up there year round. There are only about 4 steps in that tree though, you climb up the branches for the most part.

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I always take them down.

I use a climber. Nothing left behind.

If you enjoy it and they won’t get stolen then continue doing it. If it brings you some joy in your day then I would keep at it. Enough garbage around. Find the little things and be happy.

public land always take home, private land leave out but maintain them and oil them in the dead season

I back mine out one or two turns to allow for tree growth, then screw them in again if necessary next season. Some of my steps I've had for over 20 years and they still look great, but never more than a few years in a given tree. It wouldn't hurt to take them out and inspect them every few years if you are still in the same spot. I don't paint or oil mine.

I always remove all my stands and accessories immediately after I'm done with them for the year and store them indoors until the next year. I figure the less time exposed to the elements, the longer it'll last.

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Originally Posted by delmer

I figure the less time exposed to the elements, the longer it'll last.

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I'm doing the opposite.....seeing how long a $99 two person ladder stand, I picked up at Walmart 12 yrs ago, will last when left out....it wasn't an intentional test, just that the stand is so far back in I decided to leave it strapped to the old cedar.

I loosen the straps after the season is closed and just leave it (private property). Go back in the summer and do a little maintenance, tighten up a few bolts, replace any that are rusted, make sure no beast has chewed any straps and then good to go for the season.

The funny thing is how many times I've had to add wood blocks under the bottom rung because the stand keeps rising up as the tree grows :)

I'm actually impressed at how well such a cheap stand has held up thru the years.

Not being a d##k but a stand should not grow up with a tree. Trees grow outward as shown by the rings inside it and the new growth is from the top. If your stand went up with the tree, we would have miles of barbed wire fences 50 feet in the air all over the country.
John

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Originally Posted by johnjyb

Not being a d##k but a stand should not grow up with a tree.

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Holy crap do you think my ladder is shrinking from being left out all year round... :)

Definitely erosion.

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Originally Posted by benjhind

Definitely erosion.

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or it's taken on a lean, from growing taller all these years :)

I've was surprised at how well the rivers edge relaxed wide ladderstands hold up after being out a winter, enough that i'm leaving them out again this season. All on private land, would never leave anything on public.

all my bear and moose stands are still out there for the $100 they cost it's not worth the effort hauling them home and back year after year. we use hydro steps.. got a whole shyt load from the bell canada guys years back. actually went to the pole graveyard and unscrewed hundreds. they remove easily with vice grips when if we move stand locations

stands are unstrapped and stashed....... straps are always checked and stored at home

Thanx guys for the impact-appreciate it.

SK33T3R-Hydro steps are an awesome idea.Never thought of that.
Question-if you leave it for few years,would the tree rot around the step ,like making the "hole"somewhat sloppy?

Thanx
GBK

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Originally Posted by gbk

Thanx guys for the impact-appreciate it.

SK33T3R-Hydro steps are an awesome idea.Never thought of that.
Question-if you leave it for few years,would the tree rot around the step ,like making the "hole"somewhat sloppy?

Thanx
GBK

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not really ... what we notice is the tree actually adheres to the step tighter. these steps are 5/8" dia and are 10xs stronger then any screw in steps i've seen..
the outside end is bent up for boot capture. it's a great feeling climbing up those. they're solid

i predrill a 5/8" hole and pound it in then twist boot guardup

they come out with a large set of vice grips

Thank You SK33T3R-would you be able to tell me where can i buy some,used better, but even new???Appreciate it.GBK

i got mine all FREE. i know a couple guys that worked for Bell.

find out in your area where the bell yard is.. where all the used telephone poles go to. then be bold and go ask. these pegs get removed and go for scrap. offer 1$ each and take all you can

if not find out where the bell scrap goes they end up somewhere

i had a friend who drove around in the country looking for those pegs he had a ladder and removed lots from poles

everything bell nowadays is basically bucket trucks

Thank You,appreciate Your help SK33T3R
GBK

What you are doing is lot of work ... lot of respect for you for that ,

You should use ....(Sterile saline - alcohol wipes....)

I was thinking to buy a arborist tree climber ,

but most of the time I am hunting from the ground

But I have seen some a grown is steps and was fine .

I was thinking to make them from 3/4 steel road and leave them in for a decade ...

Till I retire from hunting .....

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Originally Posted by gbk

Hi !

I am wondering what everyone is doing with their tree steps over the "dead season"like Jan til Oct.
I always take them out,take them home,keep them in the shed till the spring, clean them from gunk and sap( with hot water or alcohol dipped rag) then oil them,then hot water bath them few weeks before punting them back in them trees(mostly by mid -end of August they are back in the bush again)

Sound like a lot of work-and it is.But i kind of enjoy it(sort of).I feel better about not having them out for too long either,then having them cleaned from stuff(to avoid potential contamination from tree to tree-if any.)

What You guys are doing with your screw in tree steps after the season is over?I know some people leave them out in the same tree for many years,some take them out and toss them in the shed as is,till the next season..........wondering if what i am doing is it worth it.......... if i leave them for years in the tree-DO i take safety risk(rust-then breakage).Thanx

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Thank You fr the idea Alfoldivandor..................

I have 1 tree stand in a cedar clump which I made a few 3/4" threaded rod pegs for, sharpen 1 end and double nut the other end so you don't have your boot slip off, pre-drill 6"-8" then hammer it in a bit further. They are at least 10 years old and not rusted at all.
John

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

all my bear and moose stands are still out there for the $100 they cost it's not worth the effort hauling them home and back year after year. we use hydro steps.. got a whole shyt load from the bell canada guys years back. actually went to the pole graveyard and unscrewed hundreds. they remove easily with vice grips when if we move stand locations

stands are unstrapped and stashed....... straps are always checked and stored at home

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Pretty much my thoughts exactly,I’m not lugging a dozen stands in and out every year.I have stands that have been hanging in NB for 15+ years that my buds still use,stands here in Alberta that have been hanging for 7+ years,all on Crown.
If anything,I remove the bottom 3 or 4 screw in steps to deter thieves and always have a 1/2 dozen steps in my pack.Most of my stands are in remote locations,if anybody finds them and wants to go to the effort of stealing them I guess they need the 50 bucks more then I do.(I’ve bought most of my hang-on stands used online from outdoor classifieds)
ive yet to lose a stand to thieves but I’ve lost a couple cameras.:madman:

I was told this tip a long time ago about tree pegs .
Keep the pegs as far apart(side to side) as possible but still be able to climb comfortably. That way if you slip on the way up or down, you wont gut yourself like a fish.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I was told this tip a long time ago about tree pegs .
Keep the pegs as far apart(side to side) as possible but still be able to climb comfortably. That way if you slip on the way up or down, you wont gut yourself like a fish.

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You could also use a climbing strap

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Originally Posted by Fox

You could also use a climbing strap

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Absolutely.
Unfortunately with pegs, you dont have to fall far to do alot of damage.

I am not a fan of those screw in steps. Over the years I've had and used almost every brand made. Great on a softwood trees but you need leather welding gloves and hulk biceps on some hardwoods. And I don't have the shoulders any more to fight getting them in. AND yes I have seen some pull out. Actually had one break. Advertised as break proof, tempered blah blah blah. I started using those 5/8" dia hydro pegs. virtually indestructible. Even if you try to break or bend ...good luck. They require a pilot hole drilled (9/16) then whack them in and twist to get the slip proof end vertical. They encompass your foot even with big Sorels on. And they have a large presence in your hand. No flexing under any weight or jumping. They will not pull out. You can hang a moose off one. how do I know? because it's been done by me personally. Stuck one in at height and attached a 1 ton chain hoist. up went the moose.
Anyway I speak from experience for what it's worth. ps use your safety belt at all times!

I hunt mostly public land. Permanent stands aren't allowed and neither are ladder screws.

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

. I started using those 5/8" dia hydro pegs. virtually indestructible. Even if you try to break or bend ...good luck. They require a pilot hole drilled (9/16) then whack them in and twist to get the slip proof end vertical. They encompass your foot even with big Sorels on. And they have a large presence in your hand. No flexing under any weight or jumping. They will not pull out. You can hang a moose off one. how do I know? because it's been done by me personally. Stuck one in at height and attached a 1 ton chain hoist. up went the moose.
Anyway I speak from experience for what it's worth. ps use your safety belt at all times!

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you wouldn't have a pic of these pegs would you?

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

I hunt mostly public land. Permanent stands aren't allowed and neither are ladder screws.

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I too hunt public land, and I see many permanent stands . Put there I guess, by the guys who think they own the area..... and don't you dare hunt there, types.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

I too hunt public land, and I see many permanent stands . Put there I guess, by the guys who think they own the area..... and don't you dare hunt there, types.

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People like that irritate me to no end,so,I sure get where you're coming from.

Yup, and no matter what they say, it is first come first served. Although some on this forum disagree with that. 'But I have been in this spot for years'.

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Originally Posted by smokeeter

you wouldn't have a pic of these pegs would you?

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HERE YOU GO!

These are some real old ones.

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