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Beginning to wonder if I made a mistake

Birddog said:
Somewhere in the platform section (maybe tree bolts revisited thread?) someone posted a picture of blocks of wood with a single bolt going through them and into the tree. I took 5" treated 2x4 blocks and drilled a 7/16" hole through them (width wise). Then I took a 3/8" bolt and dropped that through the blocks and into the tree. That seems to work pretty well. The block will pivot around on the bolt a little, but you can always put a couple of bolts front and back to give it something to stop against. Hunted from these for all but 2 hrs of daylight yesterday and it worked well. The platform has been the biggest trick for me to figure out with regards to saddle hunting, but this is pretty good. I cut up some scrap 2x4 and made several sets. I left the ones in the tree yesterday.
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I assume this would be for a preset tree more than run and gun. I can give it a try in presets
 
I just started this year with web also. It does get easier, but I am still struggling myself. It seems like what bothered me last week is gone this week as I continue to learn. But each sit/hang I find something new to workout. I gave up on the run and gun for this season and went to presets. Like you it was taking me too long and I could not get it done without breaking a sweat. In the dark would have been impossible.

Keep at it I am and my hope is I run out of new issues to workout.

Tim
 
Anderson treesling said:
I have had an Anderson treesling for thirty years,haven't used it in maybe fifteen years, Iam going to start using it again. I liked it when I did use it, could get in just about any tree, easy to carry and quiet. Dose any one else here use a Anderson tree sling?
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I have one that I have used. I removed the bridge and strap that came with it, hooked up a carabiner on each side with a fixed bridge. It works much better that way.
 
WMA hunter said:
After listening to John E. Talk about saddle hunting I decided to try for myself. I bought a Guidos Web in like new condition and some hawk helium sticks. I rope modded my sticks and am pretty happy with them. I modded my tether for my web to the loop stitched web strap and went with a lighter bridge made of 1 inch web strap. It is pretty quiet and a little lighter now. The issue that I have is that with the sticks it feels just as heavy and bulky as my climber. Once I get to the tree it still takes me 20-30 minutes to get in the tree and once I do it feels like I just can’t get adjusted right. I think my bridge could be too long and maybe I could strap my sticks to my back differently to lower their profile. Right now I am thinking I may only use it on prepared trees and only for gun hunting. I was truly excited for run and gun hunting with this setup. Is it just because I am getting used to it or could it just be wrong for me?
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Just got to stick with it. I kinda thought the same thing since I bought mine new and was a bit cumbersome at first and then I tried mods and then I started getting the hang of setting it up and then I started killing deer out of it and then I discovered the sit drag....and on and on the music plays
 
WMA hunter said:
I assume this would be for a preset tree more than run and gun. I can give it a try in presets
Click to expand...
Correct. However if you use it running and gunning it works ok as well. An EZ cut drill will get you a couple of holes drilled and ready to go pretty quick. The problem I ran into with screw ins was getting hot spots in my feet if I didn't have enough of them, and it was hard to get two or three close enough together to have comfortable feet. The blocks may have solved that. Bolts and blocks are cheaper than screw ins too.
 
Practice practice practice. I do agree, my setup is a bit heavier than I anticipated. Three aidered muddys a platform and my pack. It's not light. I have yet to weigh it. I will definitely set more presets next season, Than i carry one stick and my platform, ditch my saw and pruners as well.
I can set the three sticks and platform in a normally used tree in about 15 minutes or less. If I'm exploring and I need to prune a bit, obviously longer.
Just keep at it and give it a solid 6 tries. Come up with a system. You may surprise yourself
 
Birddog said:
Somewhere in the platform section (maybe tree bolts revisited thread?) someone posted a picture of blocks of wood with a single bolt going through them and into the tree. I took 5" treated 2x4 blocks and drilled a 7/16" hole through them (width wise). Then I took a 3/8" bolt and dropped that through the blocks and into the tree. That seems to work pretty well. The block will pivot around on the bolt a little, but you can always put a couple of bolts front and back to give it something to stop against. Hunted from these for all but 2 hrs of daylight yesterday and it worked well. The platform has been the biggest trick for me to figure out with regards to saddle hunting, but this is pretty good. I cut up some scrap 2x4 and made several sets. I left the ones in the tree yesterday.
Click to expand...

Post a picture


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
WMA hunter said:
After listening to John E. Talk about saddle hunting I decided to try for myself. I bought a Guidos Web in like new condition and some hawk helium sticks. I rope modded my sticks and am pretty happy with them. I modded my tether for my web to the loop stitched web strap and went with a lighter bridge made of 1 inch web strap. It is pretty quiet and a little lighter now. The issue that I have is that with the sticks it feels just as heavy and bulky as my climber. Once I get to the tree it still takes me 20-30 minutes to get in the tree and once I do it feels like I just can’t get adjusted right. I think my bridge could be too long and maybe I could strap my sticks to my back differently to lower their profile. Right now I am thinking I may only use it on prepared trees and only for gun hunting. I was truly excited for run and gun hunting with this setup. Is it just because I am getting used to it or could it just be wrong for me?
Click to expand...
I have a Guido's web and it is little heavier than my Kestrel but it is extremely comfortable it usually takes about half hour or so to set up. You will see more deer you'll be concealed better but Guido's web is a little harder to maneuver around the tree then my Kestrel. I carry for Lone Wolf sticks and I put them in the back of my Guido's web when I'm using the web. It doesn't feel too bad caring the back there I also have steppladders and they are little easier to carry than the sticks. Don't give up bow hunting out of your Guido's web stick with it you will get quicker setting up. Good luck
 
If your looking for lightweight run and gun you can do an all day sit in, I found that I can’t do without the xop platform, the jim stepps weren't comfortable long enough for me. I never sit all day cause I can’t run and gun in the dark but for afternoon to evening it’s worked for me, probably 8 hrs at most, which is about all I can handle anyway. As far as being lightweight I’ve found that one stick with a 5 step aider is the best compromise for speed and weight for me. For this you might need the rock harness and sit drag though, I never tried the kestrel though. One aider, stirrups, climber top were all too slow for me, plus the stick with the platform gives me plenty to shoot all around the tree easy. It still takes me 15-30 minutes to set up when I get to the tree, but going down takes about half the time. Fast and lightweight don’t really go together. This is just what I’ve found after trying a lot of options and I’ve had my fair share of struggles but for run and gun it’s hard to beat. And for what it’s worth I still end up using my lone wolf climber a lot, especially for morning hunts, I don’t think one method will ever suffice for me.
 
WMA hunter said:
After listening to John E. Talk about saddle hunting I decided to try for myself. I bought a Guidos Web in like new condition and some hawk helium sticks. I rope modded my sticks and am pretty happy with them. I modded my tether for my web to the loop stitched web strap and went with a lighter bridge made of 1 inch web strap. It is pretty quiet and a little lighter now. The issue that I have is that with the sticks it feels just as heavy and bulky as my climber. Once I get to the tree it still takes me 20-30 minutes to get in the tree and once I do it feels like I just can’t get adjusted right. I think my bridge could be too long and maybe I could strap my sticks to my back differently to lower their profile. Right now I am thinking I may only use it on prepared trees and only for gun hunting. I was truly excited for run and gun hunting with this setup. Is it just because I am getting used to it or could it just be wrong for me?
Click to expand...

This is my first year saddle hunting even though I have been tree stand hunting for 26 years. I purchased the Evo and Kestrel this year , and I am learning a lot about saddle hunting. I agree it will be for preset trees like John E. , nothing beats it. I was fortunate to purchase six of the lone wolf mini climbing sticks before they discontinued them , I can not imagine having to carry all six of those sticks and then having to set them up plus they weight more than my summit climber. I am very happy I got into saddle hunting and it will be part of my hunting agenda but not the only way I hunt.


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I’m new to saddle hunting also. I have a frame pack from cabelas that I strap summit bucksteps on and 2 lone wolf sticks. The lone wolf sticks go on first and i use the bucksteps the rest of the way. I like the buck steps because i use it as the platform. It takes me 20-30 minutes to be hunting but I don’t think that’s all that bad of a time considering I’m hanging that day.
 
I cut off the Anderson tree tether, kept everything else. Tied tubular webbing to the O rings with a follow through not and use that for my bridge. I use 11mm rope with a Figure 8 follow through on both ends, a Ropeman 1 and 1 carabiner as a a tether. works good so far.
IMG_2038.jpg IMG_2037.jpg
 
sb220 said:
Light weight saddle hunting is really dependent on your climbing method, but you are somewhat limited with the Web. Ive never tried it but I don't see you doing 1-stick, srt or spurs and rappel in a web.

The easiest way to be lightweight with it, is to pre set trees with either screw ins, or drilling holes with an ezkut bit and carrying 20 or so grade 8 bolts. You can also add aiders to your sticks to maybe be able to leave one stick at home and reach the same height.

I don't think the platform is really crucial with the web since you are sitting. Screw ins are fine for it imo


The web is a pretty awesome late season saddle though.....John E probably didn't tell ya, you will have more than one saddle, if you stick with it.
Click to expand...

In the web, you can do it all, from stix, to spurs, one stick, to rappelling) but one thing about the web, you will stay more comfortable.
 
I have EVO Kestrel climber hang on sticks bolts gaffs Trophy steps with aider all with me right now in Virginia for three week hunt. I have used the climber once it sucked. Tried one pre set took it down because from other hunters in area. Bar none for run and gun for me it’s the Kestrel and XOP climber seat top all you need is those two things and knee pads and tether. Reduces you to climber trees but there are plenty where I am. I have put in many all day sits with no problem.


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After a few more sits I have found that I do like it for some situations. Part of my problem was I went to a braided loop web tether which mad adjustment tough for me. I switched back to a pursik teather I made from a lifeline and it is much better. I also added a strap to my sticks for carry which helps and lastly I really enjoy trees with limbs I can climb and stand on. I was in a tree farvtoo small for a climber and comfortable standing on limbs about 12 foot high. I had great cover and I don’t know how many stands I could have done that with.
 
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