Team 14 - DoeThraki

Good to have options. I also have been hunting same property for years. 20 maybe?? I think I have 8 spots ready to crawl in.


Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums

 

At this point I would rather be in a saddle. I feel a lot more steady and connected to the tree. You have to trust your system. Really no way I feel I could ever fall out if tree.


Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums

 

That's a definite bonus, I've never felt uncomfortable about being elevated by any method. Back in high school, I wasn't tethered to the tree at any time, going up, down or while on stand so perhaps that makes me more comfortable than others being in an elevated position (I'm sure many of us fall into this category). The main reason for this additional option was simply that on the opposite side of the tree line where the kill opportunities had been, there aren't any big straight trees that would work with a classic hanger/climber. The saddle, however, will work just fine!

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

I am 73 so I’ll leave the hang ons and saddles to you youngsters . I still use a climber, but mostly ladders.

 

Being in construction heights don’t bother me in the least but getting older I find that it’s just a little more difficult keeping my balance. Being tucked into a bunch of big limbs in a tree where no hang on could go is the ultimate. I just feel more hidden. 360 degree shooting is a bonus also.


Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums

 

5 of us haven't checked in. That's crazy

 

I hope that changes........

 

Here are the issues I think that would make saddle hunting hard for me… I’m very intrigued by the idea and have done some research myself - but here is what I struggle with:

I am always in a hurry or running late. I’m not one to get into the woods 2 hours before first light - I’m also probably not the most stealth hunter in the woods. Feel like I’d make a racket especially in the morning.

Once last light hits - if the coast is clear I’m trying to slide on out of the tree as fast and safe as possible. No set up. No tear down.

I’m a heavy sweater - getting in and out of a tree stand at 35 is not enough exercise to work up a sweat no matter the conditions. But if I’m putting up sticks and maneuvering a harness etc. I feel like the chances of me working up a sweat drastically increase.

Lastly - I’m can’t do these all day sits like some people (another flaw) but when I am on stand I’m almost always sitting and never moving around unless necessary. I feel like the harness might feel more like standing than sitting? It looks more like standing while hunting than sitting. Then with the ability to move around the entire tree would I overdo that to the point that I’m getting picked off without knowing it?

Not being critical of it - definitely open to feedback on the above. Just my observation from afar if you will.

 

I hadn’t had a chance to update it until now. I think we’ve got 4 missing… Which isn’t ideal.

 

This is coming from someone with extremely limited exposure and zero actual hunting experience so it should be taken with a molecule of salt... that being said I feel that the ability to be very mobile out weighs most, if not all of the other issues. You can add sound dampening tape to the sticks for quiet set up and takedown, or if money is less of an issue, have several sets of your favorite sticks in areas that you want to hunt, that way you're just carrying a 3lb platform around. The 'standing' is hardly standing, you're simply stabilizing yourself with your feet while your butt is being supported by the saddle. And if you're positioned correctly in the tree, as you should be with the hanger/climber anyway, you should almost be less exposed/visible because there isn't the large platform sticking off the side of the trees; that, and I don't believe you'd be movin any more or less than you regularly do. I usually can only spend about 30 minutes in the seated position before my butt says that it's time to stand up. Plus my surgically repaired knee also hates a 90° seated position for more that 10-15 minutes anyway so I'm hoping the saddle poisitioning helps with that.

As for the issue of being in a hurry or running late, only you can change that. I am, however, one of those folks that enjoys getting out nice and early to be able to lazily get ready and have plenty of time to be stealthy.

Again, I've got zero actual experience hunting from a saddle, so it'll be interesting how my thoughts about the things you bring up will or won't change.

I'll keep posting about the experiences of a newby saddle bro.


Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

How long do they have? I know my team last year had some late showers


Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums

 

Fortunately I don’t have to worry about the set up part for 90 percent of my sets. I have tree steps already in place so all I have to do is walk in climb up and strap myself to the tree. I do have a set of sticks and ring of steps for 2 sets that I will have to set up but tree is prepped. I wouldn’t like setting up sticks all the time at this point. I just actually got them last year and haven’t had all that many opportunities to use them. I know it’s not for some people but I love it. I’ve actually fallen asleep in it a few times on those really early in days.


Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums

 

See this is helpful - I’ve already got some 15 or so sets of sticks paired with all of my hang on stands. If I’ve got pre hung sticks in place that pretty much eliminates 80% of my objections that I had - so thank you.

As for comment about running late or pressed for time - I mean I guess I can change that if I wanted to? But not really… I have a wife. A fairly demanding sales job. A baby on the way. A house and 5 acres to maintain. It’s not like hunting is my only hobby either I spend a good amount of time bass fishing and golfing throughout the spring and summer months so I try to be as respectful to my wife’s needs and desires for me not to be gone all the time… I guess it’s a balancing act for everyone but I’m juggling a lot.

 

To be perfectly honest - I’m not real sure. I’m thinking September 15 a lot of seasons open up so for some reason that date is sticking in my head but complete guess.

 

Lol.... You don't know busy. At six months old you will pine for the days of these. I have raised 2 kids ( pertnear) my youngest is 13. My life is slowing becoming mine again. But have no doubt when you have that little blessing your life will be much much more hectic. But it's worth it.

 

A few quick shots from my soy bean plot. Some grazing around the perimeter already but seems to be coming in pretty decent. I spot seeded in some areas that didn’t take so we will see if it fills in.

 

I was being a smart ass about the running late aspect. You're absolutely right that eve ahh got balancing acts in terms of the others more necessary things in our lives. Hobbies are just hobbies. I'm right there with you, minus the 5 acres to maintain. Auto finance is time demanding and my schedule is very strict in terms of when I need to be at work. Fortunately, I've got an angel for a wife that is very understanding! Summers are for early morning rounds of golf and lakes in the afternoon on my days off, and falls are for deer hunting. January through May, we do whatever she and the girls want to do.
Congrats on becoming a father! There's nothing like it, my 5 year old asked to go golfing last night for the first time (not being prompted by me), it was definitely one of those proud papa moments you hear about. Hopefully both girls will grow up to be golfing bow hunters! If not, my hobbies will take a bit of a back seat for a while.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

Yeah absolutely looking forward to it so thank you! We’re very excited and she’s very accommodating to my expensive and time consuming hobbies - I got lucky!

It’s one of those things I’ve got to get better at… It’s like two of my properties are so close to the house I just try and squeeze that extra 30 mins of shut eye for morning hunts or those 2 extra chores or work calls before heading to the woods for afternoon hunts. Don’t know if I’m coming or going…

For those not retired - does anyone have any vacation time planned yet?

I have a buddies wedding in Wisconsin October 30 (wish he’d picked a better date) but that first week of November I will be on stand quite a lot.

 

Yeah, I always take the last few days before the Minnesota firearm season off to get out before the orange army, and I typically only hunt that Thursday during the season. Beyond that, no vacation planned. The vacations I take are during the summer to spend time at the lake with the family and the spring break trip in March. Neither hunting related.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk