When I first started saddle hunting in 2020, I wasn’t super crazy about it. I started with a Hawk, then Tethrd and then Cruzr. The Cruzr saddle was fine but the Hawk sticks I was using gave me major heartburn and I hated hanging sticks so much I hated the saddle.
I tried different attachment methods and their stock straps are sketchy to begin with. Plus they are SO FAR off advertised weight. My 30” sticks with rope mod were 3.4lbs. So my local shop carries Trophyline. I recently bought their sticks and it was so much better I decided to try a hang on. I can’t use my climber on my property. I bought the Hawk Ultra Lite that started out as 7#, went to 9# and the box now says 11#. Well mine weighs 13.24#.
These Trophyline/Novix sticks bite like nothing I’ve ever had. I guess that LW batwing thing just works. I no longer hate hanging sticks and instead of settling for and aider on the bottom of one Hawk 30” and stretching the second and just using two sticks, I actually hang all four of these mini sticks.
I did something I haven’t done in years, I prehung my stand and just walked in and got in for yesterday’s season opener. I climbed about an hour before light. About 45 minutes in I hear some loud popping. I was more annoyed by the noise because according to my cameras I was expecting deer any minute. I bought the Cruzr bracket Hawk sells for ease of hanging. In testing it at home I had to leave it at home because the yellow “covering” over that bolt will not fit into the hole on the stand. I could probably whittle it a bit but would rather have a refund. Only problem is it’s still on a tree in the back lawn because the ratchet strap won’t disengage. May wind up cutting the strap and trashing it.
Back to the popping - when it gets light I discover the source, the mesh grate welded on the platform was popping welds and they were folding up. While I was seated, not standing on it. So two little deer walk in and I wait until they’re gone planning to climb down and run to the archery shop and just buy another saddle setup.
I go to climb down about 8:30 and the stand has ratchet strap up top and cam strap on bottom. Ratchet strap won’t let go. I cut it and dropped it to the ground. Drive 48 miles to the shop and picked up a Trophyline EDP (picked it over the bigger Mission) and they are sold out of saddles. Owner gives me his out of his truck and I go back for an afternoon hunt.
First off the Trophyline sticks and platform bite unbelievably. I’m assuming it’s because they’re Novix and allowed to use the batwing. I was never fully sold on the Cruzr seeker because it didn’t bite like I wanted. If I would’ve started out with these type sticks and a platform that just flat didn’t move, I would’ve never stopped saddle hunting. I couldn’t tell any difference between the Covert Lite 2.0 and my previous Cruzr XC, but may spring for the Venatic. My first platform was a Hawk and I won’t even go into that.
I was back in a tree at 1:50 and climbed down at 7:19. So I’ll either have another Cruzr XC (they’re local to me and I can stop and pick one up) or my shop is getting some Monday or Tuesday and Ill get one of those.
Hawk gets a lot of crap on forums and I have defended them to a degree, but enough is enough. I’ll no longer defend or buy their products. If they work for you I’m glad you didn’t waste your money and pray you stay safe no matter what you hunt out of.
I tried different attachment methods and their stock straps are sketchy to begin with. Plus they are SO FAR off advertised weight. My 30” sticks with rope mod were 3.4lbs. So my local shop carries Trophyline. I recently bought their sticks and it was so much better I decided to try a hang on. I can’t use my climber on my property. I bought the Hawk Ultra Lite that started out as 7#, went to 9# and the box now says 11#. Well mine weighs 13.24#.
These Trophyline/Novix sticks bite like nothing I’ve ever had. I guess that LW batwing thing just works. I no longer hate hanging sticks and instead of settling for and aider on the bottom of one Hawk 30” and stretching the second and just using two sticks, I actually hang all four of these mini sticks.
I did something I haven’t done in years, I prehung my stand and just walked in and got in for yesterday’s season opener. I climbed about an hour before light. About 45 minutes in I hear some loud popping. I was more annoyed by the noise because according to my cameras I was expecting deer any minute. I bought the Cruzr bracket Hawk sells for ease of hanging. In testing it at home I had to leave it at home because the yellow “covering” over that bolt will not fit into the hole on the stand. I could probably whittle it a bit but would rather have a refund. Only problem is it’s still on a tree in the back lawn because the ratchet strap won’t disengage. May wind up cutting the strap and trashing it.
Back to the popping - when it gets light I discover the source, the mesh grate welded on the platform was popping welds and they were folding up. While I was seated, not standing on it. So two little deer walk in and I wait until they’re gone planning to climb down and run to the archery shop and just buy another saddle setup.
I go to climb down about 8:30 and the stand has ratchet strap up top and cam strap on bottom. Ratchet strap won’t let go. I cut it and dropped it to the ground. Drive 48 miles to the shop and picked up a Trophyline EDP (picked it over the bigger Mission) and they are sold out of saddles. Owner gives me his out of his truck and I go back for an afternoon hunt.
First off the Trophyline sticks and platform bite unbelievably. I’m assuming it’s because they’re Novix and allowed to use the batwing. I was never fully sold on the Cruzr seeker because it didn’t bite like I wanted. If I would’ve started out with these type sticks and a platform that just flat didn’t move, I would’ve never stopped saddle hunting. I couldn’t tell any difference between the Covert Lite 2.0 and my previous Cruzr XC, but may spring for the Venatic. My first platform was a Hawk and I won’t even go into that.
I was back in a tree at 1:50 and climbed down at 7:19. So I’ll either have another Cruzr XC (they’re local to me and I can stop and pick one up) or my shop is getting some Monday or Tuesday and Ill get one of those.
Hawk gets a lot of crap on forums and I have defended them to a degree, but enough is enough. I’ll no longer defend or buy their products. If they work for you I’m glad you didn’t waste your money and pray you stay safe no matter what you hunt out of.