How did you hear about saddle hunting?

[Buckshot1822]

I started hunting out of a TL tree saddle around 2007. I am pretty sure I must have seen some John Eberhart ads and stuff and I dove right into the deep end.

 

[cutty]

I found the Anderson Sling in Eddlemans Sporting Goods Montgomeryville PA. early 1980's. Back then we used to build platforms in the crotches of trees or stand on limbs.

 

[denots]

I knew Jeff Anderson ( Anderson tree sling) we hung in the same archery shop before he passed... he gave me a sling which I sold on here not too long ago... I may actually be getting my hands on a few slings still new in package if anyone is interested.

I'm definitely interested. Please send me a PM with details

 

[Dkiss103]

Seen a pic of a Kestrel on Mark Kenyon's Instagram. So i googled it to figure out what in the heck it was

 

[wildotter]

X2 glad I bought that book

Same here! John’s books and videos got me into it around 2007.


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[Freepistol]

I was frustrated with my lone Wolf climber. I kept finding perfectly positioned trees that were too big or too small. I saw the DIY Sportsman video on the one stick climbing method and YouTube led me to saddles.

 

[SwingingGator]

Seen a pic of a Kestrel on Mark Kenyon's Instagram. So i googled it to figure out what in the heck it was

Mark Kenyon as well. He did a public land Nebraska hunt in one that caught my eye and now I have a saddle and sticks in the mail haha


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[DB4x4]

Used a climber for years with an old upper-body-only "safety harness". One day I thought to myself, would this actually save me if I fell? Simulated a controlled fall ~2 feet off of the ground. It was extremely painful and basically collapsed my chest; couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I immediately cut it up so that I wouldn't be tempted to ever use it again.

Started using a HSS full body harness that a buddy loaned me while I researched other options. I read that a lot of guys had gone to rock climbing harnesses, so I ordered a Black Diamond Alpine Bod harness, and I loved it; smaller, lighter, more comfortable, and wouldn't cause suspension trauma.

Then I saw a DIY Sportsman YouTube video where he used a rock harness and sit drag to make a makeshift saddle, so I ordered a sit drag to try it out. Sat in it once and decided this was the way to go. Found the Kestrel online this summer and liked the idea of an overbuilt one piece rig with MOLLE options. Practiced climbing and shooting my bow from it all summer, and hunted out of it exclusively this season. Shot a doe with the bow, then a buck with the bow, and then a second doe in gun season with my 243.

I doubt I'll ever hunt from a normal stand ever again. Still working on getting my wife on saddle bandwagon though...

 

[rutjr]

Used a climber for years with an old upper-body-only "safety harness". One day I thought to myself, would this actually save me if I fell? Simulated a controlled fall ~2 feet off of the ground. It was extremely painful and basically collapsed my chest; couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I immediately cut it up so that I wouldn't be tempted to ever use it again.

Started using a HSS full body harness that a buddy loaned me while I researched other options. I read that a lot of guys had gone to rock climbing harnesses, so I ordered a Black Diamond Alpine Bod harness, and I loved it; smaller, lighter, more comfortable, and wouldn't cause suspension trauma.

Then I saw a DIY Sportsman YouTube video where he used a rock harness and sit drag to make a makeshift saddle, so I ordered a sit drag to try it out. Sat in it once and decided this was the way to go. Found the Kestrel online this summer and liked the idea of an overbuilt one piece rig with MOLLE options. Practiced climbing and shooting my bow from it all summer, and hunted out of it exclusively this season. Shot a doe with the bow, then a buck with the bow, and then a second doe in gun season with my 243.

I doubt I'll ever hunt from a normal stand ever again. Still working on getting my wife on saddle bandwagon though...

Nice!

 

[Colpitts]

One day while cleaning my grandfathers garage out I found an old rig that he used for cleaning windows in commercial buildings. It was pretty much a wooden swing, but very similar to a sit drag. After that anytime I was out in the woods I would eye up trees and think "I should get that old jalopy out and climb that tree...nah that's too sketchy". But then one day I heard someone mention saddle hunting on the hunting beast. I googled it right away and then began researching all the different saddles out there. I almost went with an arborist saddle but in the end ordered a Mantis. It should be here any day now but the best part is that I already have a half dozen trees picked out due to the fact I've been fantasizing about saddle hunting for so long now!

 

[Marc W]

Several years ago when watching bowhunting pressured whitetails was my first introduction but didn’t consider it at the time. When I saw that Warren Womack hunting with one I started asking him questions and was intrigued. He has probably killed more deer than anybody alive so I figured if it’s good for him I should try it.

 

[Rev]

A buddy loaned me a Guido's. It was just too much. Waited a year and tried tethrd products. Very happy with all they sell.
This site has helped advance my diy nature.
Great group