Official Predator Platform review thread!!

[Chistavocat]

My predator experience so far.....

Noise
I did a few things, all suggestions from others, to quiet the pings and creaks. First and foremost I glued a square of tubular webbing to the post where it contacts the leveling screw. Major improvement but I still had some noise when shifting just right. Bow string wax on the pivot bolt on the inside of the post (it’s a tight fit) and nylon washers on the bolt and nut sides cured that noise. I also added wax to both sides of the tapered washers, although I don’t believe any noise was coming from them. So far I can’t get it to make a peep.

Performance
I love the size and the weight. I’m not a big guy so I’m not overly concerned with the bit of flex it has. I’m working on the best method to get it into the tree but it looks like I will be climbing with my pack on and be able to pull it out of the “wings” with one hand and without having to remove the pack. One less thing to pull up the tree and this will allow me to store my tether, accessory strap/hooks, and pull rope in my packs waist belt pouches and not on the saddle. The weight adds up fast hanging from your rear.

Aside from a little practice, my one and only hunt was from a perfect basketball sized tree. I want to believe you can shoot 360 from just the platform but I’m having a hard time with the 11-1 0clock shot, particularly from the right-weak side- right handed shooter. Without your tether/bridge set up for a upright leaner, I tend to swing. Im not sure the tether/bridge length is something I want to mess with before setting up for a shot. I’m not trusting the “toe hook” to stop me with rubber boots on when my attention is focused on an approaching deer, trying to limit movement and noise. Even with a tight tether I’m not 100% sold on being controlled with my movements. With that said, I’m more of a sitter and really missed the ability to 1) move to the side opposite an approaching deer with any stability or move to the side just for a change with a simple rotation of the tether 2) stretch my legs or leg to the side of the tree and rest it there 3) stratal the tree without my feet directly under me and 4) I found it hard to keep my knees on the tree with my feet so close together-often with a ring of steps I would place one knee on the tree and extend one leg to the side of the tree and periodically switch, without moving or fighting the tether. Like I said, I haven’t used it much (my first platform) but overall I felt a little cramped and uncontrolled. I can see the benefits of the shots behind you with less movement but previously would twist and lean into the saddle.
Maybe I’m just a ring of steps guy but here is what I’m going to try next. If this doesn’t work out and it comes down to one or the other I’m choosing the one I’m most comfortable and confident with.

Anyone doing this????!

The only problem I haven’t solved with this is how to pack and unpack them quietly. They make a bunch of noise if they hit the platform-way more than them hitting on each other-and with less control. If I end up liking this I will have to cover the steps with something-stealth strips or camo form - or find a way to restrict their movement on the strap.

Any thoughts, positive and negative?




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[Mengle]

My predator experience so far.....

Noise
I did a few things, all suggestions from others, to quiet the pings and creaks. First and foremost I glued a square of tubular webbing to the post where it contacts the leveling screw. Major improvement but I still had some noise when shifting just right. Bow string wax on the pivot bolt on the inside of the post (it’s a tight fit) and nylon washers on the bolt and nut sides cured that noise. I also added wax to both sides of the tapered washers, although I don’t believe any noise was coming from them. So far I can’t get it to make a peep.

Performance
I love the size and the weight. I’m not a big guy so I’m not overly concerned with the bit of flex it has. I’m working on the best method to get it into the tree but it looks like I will be climbing with my pack on and be able to pull it out of the “wings” with one hand and without having to remove the pack. One less thing to pull up the tree and this will allow me to store my tether, accessory strap/hooks, and pull rope in my packs waist belt pouches and not on the saddle. The weight adds up fast hanging from your rear.

Aside from a little practice, my one and only hunt was from a perfect basketball sized tree. I want to believe you can shoot 360 from just the platform but I’m having a hard time with the 11-1 0clock shot, particularly from the right-weak side- right handed shooter. Without your tether/bridge set up for a upright leaner, I tend to swing. Im not sure the tether/bridge length is something I want to mess with before setting up for a shot. I’m not trusting the “toe hook” to stop me with rubber boots on when my attention is focused on an approaching deer, trying to limit movement and noise. Even with a tight tether I’m not 100% sold on being controlled with my movements. With that said, I’m more of a sitter and really missed the ability to 1) move to the side opposite an approaching deer with any stability or move to the side just for a change with a simple rotation of the tether 2) stretch my legs or leg to the side of the tree and rest it there 3) stratal the tree without my feet directly under me and 4) I found it hard to keep my knees on the tree with my feet so close together-often with a ring of steps I would place one knee on the tree and extend one leg to the side of the tree and periodically switch, without moving or fighting the tether. Like I said, I haven’t used it much (my first platform) but overall I felt a little cramped and uncontrolled. I can see the benefits of the shots behind you with less movement but previously would twist and lean into the saddle.
Maybe I’m just a ring of steps guy but here is what I’m going to try next. If this doesn’t work out and it comes down to one or the other I’m choosing the one I’m most comfortable and confident with.

Anyone doing this????!

The only problem I haven’t solved with this is how to pack and unpack them quietly. They make a bunch of noise if they hit the platform-way more than them hitting on each other-and with less control. If I end up liking this I will have to cover the steps with something-stealth strips or camo form - or find a way to restrict their movement on the strap.

Any thoughts, positive and negative?




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Pretty sure I have seen @Peterk1234 cut off the bottom of a sock and slide it over the step or bracket until you have it ready to set. I don't think you have to take it all the way off either, it doesn't mess with the strap.

 

[Drslyr]

So I was bear hunting tonight and my predator was a poppin an acreakin so after I returned home I thought id try the wax method everyones talking about here. It was kinda dark in the driveway as I removed the post bolt to wax it I didn't realize the bushings are tapered.I waxed it all up and now im not sure which position the bushings should be in when the platform is up or down. Anybody got a close up pic?

 

[Bruce G]

The bushings have a mark on them. It’s a small circle. That circle or mark should be facing up on both of them. Hope that helps. Go take a look and if you can’t find it I’ll post a picture tomorrow for you.

 

[Drslyr]

pic when you get a chance please

 

[Bruce G]

I actually posted this somewhere in this thread. Found it.

 

[Bruce G]

Go to the predator first impression thread. Page 12. That’s where I originally posted the picture. Not sure why it’s so small when I attached it just now

 

[Drslyr]

So Bruce the thickest part of the bushings go to the back of the platform when its in the down position?

 

[Bruce G]

The thickest part faces up. Mine moves with the post. Not sure if they are supposed to but they do. Thought I remember Ernie saying somewhere that they shouldn’t move with the post. All I can do is tell you how mine looks. For the most part the thicker part will face up. Put some bow wax on the washers and the bolt and put it back together. Try to keep the thicker part of the washers facing up. Get it nice and tight and then go put it on a tree and try it. You may have to either tighten or loosen the bolt to get it right. My platform made a ton of noise. I did that and now Its silent. Hope that helps. One more thing. Don’t make yourself crazy about having the washers lined up perfectly. Just get the thick part up and try it.

 

[Drslyr]

Thanks Bruce ill try it today.

 

[d_rek]

Gave the predator a workout on state land yesterday. Spent 4~ hours field testing the mantis, predator, and tethrd linemans belt and tree strap.

The predator is... the best commercial platform solution available to date. I say this after having spent the last 4 season trying just about every platform setup available: screw in steps, strap on steps, wild edge stepps, and a DIY xop platform.

I'll just say it: cast platforms are the most comfortable solutions for saddle hunters. If you haven't tried one, or have struggled with foot comfort on other platform solutions, i would advise you place your order for a predator immediately. They are comfortable. Period. Your feet will thank you. But while cycling through standing, leaning, and sitting positions over the course of 4 hours i never had any fear of my feet being uncomfortable while on my predator.

Setting up the predator is also a pretty breezy, and through several trial runs in the yard and now on an actual hunt found it to be rather common sensical in how much force should be applied and how tight it should be to the tree to get the camming action just right. Maybe this is due to previous experience with my XOP platform, but I found that on a whole the predator is much easier to setup since you don't have to fuss with the tension of the strap like you would with a XOP platform. Simply get the predator post and strap snug to the tree, push the post down with your hands, and then cam over the platform. With minimal fuss and a few small adjustments I was able to get the predator rock solid to a 8-10" elm tree. Once set it didn't budge.

Packing it in and out was also an exercise in efficiency. The way it packs down onto itself makes for minimal footprint in a pack. It is also substantially lighter than my XOP platform, and the added weight to my mobile setup was a nil.

One thing I keep hearing a lot about is noise... I have personally not experience any noise from my predator: No creaks, pops, groans, or otherwise. It has been dead silent in that regard, both while testing and on the hunt. Though full disclosure: I completely disassembled mine so I could add stealth strips to contact areas.

With the predator Tethrd notches another win for me with their products.

 

[Erniepower]

So I was bear hunting tonight and my predator was a poppin an acreakin so after I returned home I thought id try the wax method everyones talking about here. It was kinda dark in the driveway as I removed the post bolt to wax it I didn't realize the bushings are tapered.I waxed it all up and now im not sure which position the bushings should be in when the platform is up or down. Anybody got a close up pic?

The smooth side of the washer (one side has 3 ejection tool marks) goes against the post with the fat side up.



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[denots]

When I got my predator I played with it in the yard a few times, no noise. Made my first three and a half hour sit, no noise. Yesterday evening it started to make a little bit of noise every once in awhile but I decided to stick the hunt out. As the Hunt went on it got a little worse. Maybe I should have gotten down, I don't know, but I had a deer walk in which would have been my first saddle kill and my first trad bow kill. When I leaned to reach for my bow the platform creaked, deer spooked and ran off five or six yards, stopped and turned back to look at my direction. I sat there for about 5 minutes and was running out of light fast so I decided to lean the other way and try to get around the side of the tree to get a shot. As I started this shift my position a little the stand creaked again. The deer snorted, blew, and ran off. I've read the other posts that people have made about wax, lubricants, and things of the sort, but I was afraid one of these would wear out on another hunt and I would have a repeat situation. I know what I did will probably void my warranty and I'm not saying that anybody else should do it, but here's how I fixed it. I took my platform apart and drilled out the hole in the post to a 1/2". I then drilled out 3 nylon spacers that made up a total of the width of the platform post to the diameter of the bolt which was 5/16". I inserted the nylon spacers which fit very snug into the post reassembled everything I had to actually tap the bolt through the nylon spacers because they fit that snug. Spent about an hour in the tree in the backyard and so far so good. Hopefully this will be a permanent fix. Worst case scenario I may have to replace some nylon spacers every once in awhile. If the nylon spacers don't hold up I will refill the post with some kind of epoxy and drill it so at least the bolt will be against epoxy and not metal.

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[bigjoe]

I used the Predator for the first time today. No problems. I did notice a slight creaking. With a size 14 foot , at least for me. it could be an inch or so bigger. Overall very impressed. I sat for about 4 hours this evening. I did not see anything. My daughter shot a doe.


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[denots]

When I got my predator I played with it in the yard a few times, no noise. Made my first three and a half hour sit, no noise. Yesterday evening it started to make a little bit of noise every once in awhile but I decided to stick the hunt out. As the Hunt went on it got a little worse. Maybe I should have gotten down, I don't know, but I had a deer walk in which would have been my first saddle kill and my first trad bow kill. When I leaned to reach for my bow the platform creaked, deer spooked and ran off five or six yards, stopped and turned back to look at my direction. I sat there for about 5 minutes and was running out of light fast so I decided to lean the other way and try to get around the side of the tree to get a shot. As I started this shift my position a little the stand creaked again. The deer snorted, blew, and ran off. I've read the other posts that people have made about wax, lubricants, and things of the sort, but I was afraid one of these would wear out on another hunt and I would have a repeat situation. I know what I did will probably void my warranty and I'm not saying that anybody else should do it, but here's how I fixed it. I took my platform apart and drilled out the hole in the post to a 1/2". I then drilled out 3 nylon spacers that made up a total of the width of the platform post to the diameter of the bolt which was 5/16". I inserted the nylon spacers which fit very snug into the post reassembled everything I had to actually tap the bolt through the nylon spacers because they fit that snug. Spent about an hour in the tree in the backyard and so far so good. Hopefully this will be a permanent fix. Worst case scenario I may have to replace some nylon spacers every once in awhile. If the nylon spacers don't hold up I will refill the post with some kind of epoxy and drill it so at least the bolt will be against epoxy and not metal.

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Well I spent a total of about 7 hours on my Predator yesterday and not a single sound. I believe the nylon spacers or working like a charm. I will definitely report back if they give me any problems.

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[Allegheny Tom]

Well I spent a total of about 7 hours on my Predator yesterday and not a single sound. I believe the nylon spacers or working like a charm. I will definitely report back if they give me any problems.

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Pics?

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[denots]

Pics?

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I didn't take any brother. I guess when I take my platform back apart I can get some. It's pretty simple to do. The nylon spacers I use are half inch OD and quarter inch ID. I just drilled the post out to half inch, drilled the spacers out to 5/16, and put it back together. I will say that the post is one and a quarter inch thick. The longest spacer I could find was 1 in. I didn't want that quarter inch spacer out on the outside because I figured it would be more likely to deform than a wider spacer. So to make up the proper length I use 2 half-inch inch spacers with a quarter inch spacer sandwiched in between them. Ideally I would like to have a single inch and a quarter spacer, but we'll see how these hold up. I'm going to hunt off my predator probably another 14 or so hours this weekend I'll take it back apart after that to check and see if there's any defamation taking place.

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[kelly.jayp]

When I got my predator I played with it in the yard a few times, no noise. Made my first three and a half hour sit, no noise. Yesterday evening it started to make a little bit of noise every once in awhile but I decided to stick the hunt out. As the Hunt went on it got a little worse. Maybe I should have gotten down, I don't know, but I had a deer walk in which would have been my first saddle kill and my first trad bow kill. When I leaned to reach for my bow the platform creaked, deer spooked and ran off five or six yards, stopped and turned back to look at my direction. I sat there for about 5 minutes and was running out of light fast so I decided to lean the other way and try to get around the side of the tree to get a shot. As I started this shift my position a little the stand creaked again. The deer snorted, blew, and ran off. I've read the other posts that people have made about wax, lubricants, and things of the sort, but I was afraid one of these would wear out on another hunt and I would have a repeat situation. I know what I did will probably void my warranty and I'm not saying that anybody else should do it, but here's how I fixed it. I took my platform apart and drilled out the hole in the post to a 1/2". I then drilled out 3 nylon spacers that made up a total of the width of the platform post to the diameter of the bolt which was 5/16". I inserted the nylon spacers which fit very snug into the post reassembled everything I had to actually tap the bolt through the nylon spacers because they fit that snug. Spent about an hour in the tree in the backyard and so far so good. Hopefully this will be a permanent fix. Worst case scenario I may have to replace some nylon spacers every once in awhile. If the nylon spacers don't hold up I will refill the post with some kind of epoxy and drill it so at least the bolt will be against epoxy and not metal.

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similar story here. several practice climbs - not a sound. Went on first hunt Saturday and for the first hour + not a peep. Then a creak, then another, it seemed to start as I moved. Then it happened just standing still. It got really bad to the point where I had to stand on a bolt I had to the side to not make noise - I was tight to doe bedding, and did not see a thing, I'm not saying that was the reason, but it did not help. Not sure I feel ok on drilling the post - may try the wax first, but to your point not sure that is permanent fix. Would be curious for those who have done the wax how it's holding up after a lot of hours on it.

 

[John Eberhart]

Well...I'll start by saying that I have never loved and hated my postman at the same time until now. He delivered both of these things at the same time today.

Welcome to my world. I'm an elected City Councilman that has council and special meetings all the time. I thought I would do my civil duties for a short period of time and have now been on the Council since 2011.

Jury Duty isn't that bad and it's typically only once every few years.

I just had Greg and Ernie up for the weekend showing me the final production Mantis and Predator platform and I'm very impressed as they did a phenomenal job getting Tethrd up and rolling and without question the Mantis is the lightest and most minimalist saddle ever made commercially.

The Predator blew me away at how compact and light it was. It will actually fit in a medium sized backpack with all your other undergarments and gear. We also did a Facebook live show yesterday afternoon in the cab of their rental truck and it's on the Tethrd Facebook page and will be on mine as well once they send the link.

Great job Ernie and Greg

 

[denots]

similar story here. several practice climbs - not a sound. Went on first hunt Saturday and for the first hour + not a peep. Then a creak, then another, it seemed to start as I moved. Then it happened just standing still. It got really bad to the point where I had to stand on a bolt I had to the side to not make noise - I was tight to doe bedding, and did not see a thing, I'm not saying that was the reason, but it did not help. Not sure I feel ok on drilling the post - may try the wax first, but to your point not sure that is permanent fix. Would be curious for those who have done the wax how it's holding up after a lot of hours on it.

Jay I only had to drill 3/16 off the post so there's plenty of material there left. I feel comfortable that it did not affect the Integrity of the platform whatsoever. As I stated before I'm sure this probably negates warranty/liability of tethered. But I'm okay with that if it's a permanent fix.

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