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How did you hear about saddle hunting?

patriotoutlaw said:
. A few yrs later, I met a dude at the Whitetail Classic who was selling an "improved" Anderson, called The Bulldog. It had an aluminum frame for the seat to attach to, a back rest strap, and a sliding bar between your legs, as a standoff, against the tree, instead of knee pads. It is very comfortable and addressed the sore knee problem of the Anderson. The spurs are mostly retired, but as for the Bulldog, I have used it ever yr. since.
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I need to see pics of this Bulldog!
 
patriotoutlaw said:
Back in the late 80's, I ran into some little old grizzled dude, at the mart. We were both buying all of the Thunderhead 125's we could get at $5 a box from the Wal-Mart year end clearance aisle. I actually split up the available boxes between us, so we could both buy the same amount. The dude asked me where I hunted, then proceeded to tell me that he hunted public, exclusively. He told me to go get this particular Bowhunting magazine, where I would find an add in there for an Anderson Tree sling. He informed me that, once I bought one, it would forever change the way I hunt. I bought the magazine. then once I got home I ordered the sling and a pair of Buckingham climbing hooks and away I went. Back then, I could hunt two complete days before the arches of my feet and the insides of both knees were so sore, that I would need a day or so break. A few yrs later, I met a dude at the Whitetail Classic who was selling an "improved" Anderson, called The Bulldog. It had an aluminum frame for the seat to attach to, a back rest strap, and a sliding bar between your legs, as a standoff, against the tree, instead of knee pads. It is very comfortable and addressed the sore knee problem of the Anderson. The spurs are mostly retired, but as for the Bulldog, I have used it ever yr. since. I never saw the old boy again, but if I ever had, I'd a shook his hand.
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Can you post a picture of the Bulldog? I've never heard of it!
 
I believe John was the one to plant the seed in my head. I couldnt afford a tree saddle so i tried to make my own and failed. But while searching for "tree saddle alternatives" i somehow stumbled across this site and found New Tribe.

Once i looked into the Evo i started saving up my pennies, bought one and never looked back! Now my hunting crew likes to call me crazy lol.

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I'm not sure of the date but I think it was around the year 2000 and was at the deer and turkey expo in Lansing, Mi. The inventor of the TL, a older gentleman, was on a post hanging from the saddle. I could see this old man hanging there through out the entire show for several hours. I figured if he could sit in that, then I could to. Not long after that, I saw John Eberhart on Michigan out of doors using the saddle and thought, " I have one of those!" bought his books and the rest is history. I still use the original (leather) saddle, but have started to experiment with the DIY's
 
I saw an ad for an Anderson tree sling in the 80s and the saw the Treesuit and that's what started me in saddlehunting .I still use my treesuit from time to time but I also use my Guido's web and most of the time I use my Kestrel . Been at it for a longtime and it is the best way to hunt.
 
My brother bought a Trophyline tree saddle years ago and told me how light, mobile, and comfortable it was. He didn't use it much the last few years and I just got started back hunting and came across an interview John Eberhart did with Big Buck Registry podcast. Heard him talk about hunting out of a saddle. Started researching. Now I have a kestrel :)
 
Neat thread. Thanks for posting.

In my teens I had heard about saddle hunting but thought no way it can be as comfortable as my summit climber. From then on I kept hunting out the summit and did for 13 years. Two years ago all of the private property I have permission to hunt got logged in the same year. Property isn’t very big and I have to share it and deal with trespassers and “brown it’s down” neighbors. Well obviously all those nice trees I used got picked for logging and I had a horrible time finding a place to hunt with cover. Around the same time I started listening to podcasts, mostly wired to hunt. Heard Eberhart and it sparked my interest this time as I knew I had to make a drastic change to find success. Started lurking this forum and asking a few questions, got a sitdrag and some ameristeps and hawk heliums. Hunted this past season a lot from my sitdrag and loved it. Now I have a kestrel and my hawks are modded.

I read daily on here and am now constantly tinkering around with saddle stuff. Got my dad into it as well and it’s all we talk about and do. One thing my dad and I noticed is that we always have stuff in our amazon cart ready to order but we keep finding and adding stuff to it. Oh and the thing we used about “it’s cheaper” to our wives to get them on board...that went out the window but they don’t know that lol.

Saddle hunting is seriously a game changer and made me even mentally take my deer hunting to a new level. I’m never looking back, this is the most effective way to hunt pressured mature bucks!


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I was at cabelas in wheeling wv. Looking to buy a new tree stand,when I noticed a crowd of people,Walked over and owner of trophy line tree saddle was hanging out doing a demonstration. I Watched him for awhile and walked out with one!My wife thought I was nuts hanging in backyard that afternoon, lol

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It all started with John Eberharts book in 2009 for me. I found a medium Ambush saddle on EBay for $75 and jumped on it! Hunted from it until 2014 then modified a treesuit (dang comfortable) and hunted from that until recently. Have since tried an evolution but found it to be too complicated for my liking. I now am using a modified sitdrag and love it due to its minimalist nature, mobility and comfort level.

This forum literally rocks! Wish it was around years ago...So much great info and plenty of good people? This type of space can do nothing but good towards spreading saddle/sling/harness love. Why sit in a treestand?...tree hanger for life here!


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Here are some pics of the Bulldog. Sorry, it took me a while to obtain a camera. It is pretty self explanatory. Between the back support and post between the legs, it was quite the improvement over the Anderson tree sling.
 

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patriotoutlaw said:
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Here are some pics of the Bulldog. Sorry, it took me a while to obtain a camera. It is pretty self explanatory. Between the back support and post between the legs, it was quite the improvement over the Anderson tree sling.
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I love it!! I wonder how many of those bulldogs are out there.

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John Eberharts books....then DIY Sportsman's channel. Safety for my children is my priority now and the saddle fits that bill. I don't want them getting used to treestands. I want them in a saddle. My son is using it for the first time this year and I can't wait to see how he does in it. It literally makes hunting more fun.
 
Eberhart’s book. I read a ton and listen to pod casts (DIY Sportsman and Wired to Hunt) while commuting from Tulsa to San Fransico for work. Heard him on a few podcasts and bought his books. Being a climber and mountaineer I was home.
 
John Eberharts podcast was the start of it all, bought all of his books and read them all while hunting fall of 2017. I found G2 Outdoors, DIY Sportsman, Boudreaux Boswell, and Wired2Hunt on Youtube. Love the lightweight run and gun/packability. Pulled the trigger on a Kestrel which should be here within a week.
 
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.
 
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Mark Kronyak said:
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 have be getting my hands on a few slings still new in package if anyone is interested.
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INTERESTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INTERESTED!!!!!!!!
 
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