34 Years of History

“Jim Stepp The Father of Invention”

Some products change the game the moment they hit the woods. The SteppLadder was one of them.
Invented in 1991 by Jim Stepp, a Vietnam veteran and lifelong bowhunter, the SteppLadder introduced the first-ever cam-over climbing step—a compact, secure, and silent system that let hunters climb trees with confidence and mobility. Long before saddle hunting became a trend, Jim had already engineered a solution for mobile hunters who demanded simplicity and safety in the tree.
Jim began producing the SteppLadder in small batches and quickly caught the attention of some of the most respected outdoor retailers of the time. Before the rise of the internet, the SteppLadder could be found on the shelves of L.L. Bean, Kittery Trading Post, and Jay’s Sporting Goods. But demand soon outpaced what Jim could produce by hand. Without the ability to scale manufacturing, the SteppLadder became a rare, sought-after piece of gear, shared mostly by word of mouth among serious hunters.
One of those hunters was a 14-year-old named Andrew Walter, who met Jim while volunteering as a junior instructor at a Connecticut bowhunter safety course. The two hit it off immediately. Their shared love of hunting turned into a lifelong friendship, and they hunted together every season. Andrew didn’t just learn how to use the SteppLadder—he learned the story behind it.
Years later, a single YouTube video featuring Jim’s original SteppLadder went viral, sparking renewed interest from hunters across the country. The phone started ringing. The emails poured in. People wanted the SteppLadder again.
That moment became the turning point.
Jim turned to Andrew and said, “Run with it.”
In 2015, Andrew founded Wild Edge Inc., bringing the original SteppLadder back into production and building a modern mobile hunting system around it. From that single steel step came a full lineup of American-made climbing gear, ropes, platforms, and saddles, all built on the same principles that made the SteppLadder legendary:

Simple. Silent. Secure.

Today, every SteppLadder is still manufactured in-house at our metal fabrication shop in Connecticut, and Wild Edge gear continues to evolve with the needs of hunters who value innovation, mobility, and trust in their equipment.
From a quiet idea in the hands of a veteran to a complete system trusted by thousands, Wild Edge Inc. is proud to carry on 34 years of climbing history—one step at a time.

ANDREW WALTER
Founder

ANDREW WALTER—FOUNDER AND OWNER OF WILD EDGE, INC.
​
Andrew Walter is the founder, owner, and driving force behind Wild Edge Inc., a company built on craftsmanship, innovation, and a deep respect for the hunting tradition. A former Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army and a lifelong outdoorsman, Andrew brings a rare blend of tactical discipline, field experience, and entrepreneurial grit to everything he builds.
Andrew holds a degree in Wildlife Biology, a foundation that deepened his commitment to ethical hunting, land stewardship, and conservation. His experience extends far beyond the treestand. For over a decades, he worked as a professional sharpshooter with White Buffalo, Inc., conducting urban and suburban wildlife management alongside agencies across the U.S. and abroad. His time in the field—from suburban backyards to international airports—has sharpened his skills, instincts, and appreciation for equipment that works when it matters most.
But Wild Edge started with something more personal: a bond formed in the woods.
As a 14-year-old junior instructor at a bowhunter safety course in Connecticut, Andrew met Jim Stepp, a Vietnam veteran and the inventor of the original SteppLadder climbing step. They became fast friends and hunting partners. When a YouTube video of Jim’s SteppLadder went viral, reigniting national demand, Jim turned to Andrew and told him to "run with it." In 2015, Andrew did just that—founding Wild Edge Inc. and breathing new life into a product that had long flown under the radar.
Today, every metal product is built in-house by Andrew and his team at the Wild Edge fabrication shop in East Haddam, Connecticut. From hand machining and welding to powder coating, Andrew remains hands-on in every step of the build process. His commitment to American manufacturing, quality control, and family legacy is what sets Wild Edge apart.
Andrew isn’t just building gear—he’s building something to pass on. A legacy. A company rooted in family, freedom, and function. At Wild Edge, you won’t find outsourced shortcuts. You’ll find veterans, craftsmen, and hunters fabricating the gear they trust with their own lives in the field.
Because when you hunt with Wild Edge, you’re not just climbing with American-made steel—

You’re climbing with a purpose.