I attended a tethrd teach-n-train session today and there was some great information and demonstrations of the different aspects of saddle hunting. If you are new to saddle hunting, as I am, I highly recommend attending one of these sessions if there's one near you. Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
That’s good to hear. I plan on going to the one here in WI at the end of July. It’s 20 minutes away which is really nice. It’s at the vortex HQ. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sup SaDdLe BoIz??!! I'm leaning towards switching up my climbing method and platform for the upcoming season. As most of you know, I use my modded summit viper platform and can be up in a tree hunting in under 10 minutes. This method works great for me as I hunt in an area that is loaded with straight trees. The viper platform also doubles as a gear rack on my back with the XOP treestand transport system. I walk 2-2 1/2 miles (Yes I've measured it) to get to my desired hunting area and usually just wear shorts and a t-shirt for the walk in to cut down on sweating. I bungee cord all of my cold-weather gear to the stand and use a waist pack (No, I'm not gay) for my other gear. As I've stated this method works great for me and I've been hesitant to change. However, seeing what I saw last year, I know I need to go in a bit deeper, into the swamp. The tree selection there from what I can tell is not like the hardwoods as there are many odd-shaped trees. What has stopped me from shifting to sticks and a small stand was the fact that I still have to carry in all my cold-weather gear and I'm not about to spend a couple hundred dollars on a backpack/frame. What I'm leaning towards is using a single shorty LW stick with an OOAL stick top scout platform, and use a knaider/swaider. That way, I can hunt in any tree and be a true saddle Boi. I also will be rappelling from the tree this year for descending, which is also great in case of an emergency. To address the gear-hauling issue, I am thinking of getting an ALICE frame and shoulder pads/backpack straps and bungee my cold-weather gear to it like I do now to the summit platform. It will also ultimately cut down my weight by 7-8 pounds (The summit platform weighs 9 pounds by itself).
Wild Edge Steps with a three or four step aider may also be a good option. After watching several videos on youtube, I don't think the one method is for me. It looks slower getting up a tree than using multiple sticks.
If I remember you had some height issue? Just remember with the small platform you do get your feet completely under you, not like the platform your using now. It also can make shooting the bow different. I use a small platform and have to have my feet under me to take a shot. If I'm completely hanging in my saddle and take a shot, my form breaks down and I make bad shots. I kind of hybrid it now like you with tiny lock on and saddle. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
What do you plan on using as a descender break? Also a wild edge step with DIY platform insert. May be worth it to give you a bit more added foot space.
I thought about the WE steps, but don't like how the carabiner attaches to the rail, there's a lot of room for it to slide around.
Height issue, as in how tall I am? I've over come my fear of heights and completely trust my gear. I did some wack stuff stretching out to trim shooting lanes last season, and also disconnected my platform to bring it around branches. I use the tether for climbing, no linesman belt for my method, so I'm 99.9% safe at all times. I might just stick with my method. I can climb some pretty ugly trees as it is. Just makes me nervous like when I drove 2100 miles to Illinois with only a climber and couldn't find but 3 straight trees on a 400 acre farm.
I have a figure 8 and have rappelled a few times with an autoblock. I was thinking of getting a Gri-Gri to be safer. I do have a WE step, or the knock-off one with a homemade platform I made. I wanted to keep things super simple like how my setup is now, one climbing method that doubles as my platform.
Very true. I've been using the camo hockey stick tape to silence stuff for years, but that would do the trick!
That and beer, pretty much solves everything. Unless its early in the morning, then its coffee and hockey tape.
Very similar to the U.S.A. answer to everything, WD40 and duct tape. If it moves and shouldn't, duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, WD40. I believe I'll go to a hybrid of the two. Beer and duct tape. The beer may not free things up like the WD40, but after several I doubt I'll care.
