Lone Wolf Climbing Rope and Tree Stand Modification: The strap and buckle that comes with the Lone Wolf climbing sticks and tree stand can be noisy due to the metal buckle. My last video showed how to silence the buckles, but is there a better way? And is there a lighter way?
How to Silence a Tree Stand and Climbing Sticks
There have been a couple different rope modification strategies floating around on the internet. Some people have added cam cleats to copy the Muddy climbing stick attachment method with a buckle-free rope. A link to that strategy is here:
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1941366
Another strategy is to use the UCRs, a constrictor rope system:
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=664190&highlight=constrictors
The basic rope modification with 3/8″ amsteel rope:
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1825660http://
Update: The most common rope options for people looking for low stretch are 9mm static rope and 1/4″ or 5/16″ amsteel blue. The static rope has a bit better abrasion resistance, but is very hard to find in a hunting friendly color by the foot. My arborist friend tells me that amsteel is a good option but is more susceptible to heat and abrasion damage. That being said, many people still use it.
In summary, there are pros and cons to each. The climbing rope modification is lighter and quieter, but it also sags a bit more, takes longer to attach, and likely voids any Lone Wolf warranty. Will I be using the rope modification myself this year? Probably, at least in part. Let me explain… I plan on using the “Two stick climbing method”. Perhaps you’ve heard of the “One stick climbing method” before, where you use a rock climbing harness and one stick to climb as high as you want to go. In order to save time, I plan on using two sticks. One I will strap on the tree right away, and I’ll use a rope. The second stick will be used with the “One stick method.” For that one I’ll stick with the strap and buckle since it’s easier and quicker to tighten, loosen, and adjust on the tree. Most likely I’ll use a rope for the stand as well.