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N00b from the PA Wilds

I went out this morning and felt more comfortable and confident. I’m learning to trust my LB. Also, the straps being in the correct place on the steps made a big difference in the effort that it takes to cam them over.
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I was able to climb up to about 19’. I even saw a deer, but it saw me as I grabbed my gun. It trotted off, but that was the first deer that I’ve ever seen from my set up. Thank you to everyone who’s pitched in so far.
 
ctluzier said:
Hello.

I’m new here from Central Pennsylvania. I’m new to saddle hunting. I found this forum through a quick google search. I’ve been watching YouTube videos on saddle hunting for years and have been intrigued.

This year, I decided to buy some equipment to get me started. I’m on a budget, so went with the rock climbing harness route. I’ve got the harness and two eight-or-nine-foot lifelines from HSS. I use one for a lineman rope and the other one for a tether. I use Primal v-treesteps and an aider to climb.

So far, I’ve only been comfortable with getting about 12-to-15 feet high. I’ve practiced a few times, and tonight was my first official hunt from the set up. It was an ag tag antlerless deer hunt. I didn’t see anything, but I also didn’t fall. I did fall slightly one time during a practice climb when my foot slipped off of my aider. I was only six feet high and my lineman rope and a tree behind me broke my fall. I hit my head on the tree but not too hard. I thought about quitting right then and there, but I decided to keep trying. I even climbed again that same day.

Tonight, I was planning to climb to at least 20 feet, but I got uncomfortable when attaching my third step to the tree. I hooked up my tether and decided to stay where I was.

That seems to be my toughest challenge - trying to get the step to cam over when I’m relying on my lineman rope. I’m worrying about my lineman rope falling when I crouch down for leverage and pull to get the step to cam over. I’m hoping to find advice and assistance here on the forum.
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Welcome from WV. Are you putting something under your rock climbing harness when hanging, like a fleece saddle or sit drag? That really helps comfort.

Also, I would suggest climbing with your tether and your lineman's both in play. Slide your tether ahead of you and keep it lower slack and use the lineman's as a positioning device. It only adds a few minutes to the climb. Also, it sets you up to easily go around branches. Disconnect the tether and move it above branch and then do the same with the lineman's, so you are always attached by at least 1 thing and usually 2.

I use a stainless delta quicklink for my tether so I don't have to pull the whole tether rope through and can leave it attached to the saddle the whole time.
 
raisins said:
Welcome from WV. Are you putting something under your rock climbing harness when hanging, like a fleece saddle or sit drag? That really helps comfort.

Also, I would suggest climbing with your tether and your lineman's both in play. Slide your tether ahead of you and keep it lower slack and use the lineman's as a positioning device. It only adds a few minutes to the climb. Also, it sets you up to easily go around branches. Disconnect the tether and move it above branch and then do the same with the lineman's, so you are always attached by at least 1 thing and usually 2.

I use a stainless delta quicklink for my tether so I don't have to pull the whole tether rope through and can leave it attached to the saddle the whole time.
Click to expand...
Thanks, @raisins! I have not yet used a sit drag or a fleece saddle underneath my harness. it's something I've considered though. I'm definitely going to want it for those longer hunts. If I were to go the fleece route, what do I attach it to, and how?

I have used the tether/LB combination while climbing and it does help to be more confident/comfortable.

I'll have to check out the quicklink. I've never heard of it. Thanks again!
 
ctluzier said:
Thanks, @raisins! I have not yet used a sit drag or a fleece saddle underneath my harness. it's something I've considered though. I'm definitely going to want it for those longer hunts. If I were to go the fleece route, what do I attach it to, and how?

I have used the tether/LB combination while climbing and it does help to be more confident/comfortable.

I'll have to check out the quicklink. I've never heard of it. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

there's a ton of fleece saddle and sit drag threads here

basically, you put another friction hitch on your tether with a carabiner and then clip it to the bridge of the fleece saddle or sit drag....then adjust it so that you are sitting in the fleece (it takes the weight) but if it broke you'd only fall like 1 inch into your harness
 
ctluzier said:
Thanks, @raisins! I have not yet used a sit drag or a fleece saddle underneath my harness. it's something I've considered though. I'm definitely going to want it for those longer hunts. If I were to go the fleece route, what do I attach it to, and how?

I have used the tether/LB combination while climbing and it does help to be more confident/comfortable.

I'll have to check out the quicklink. I've never heard of it. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

PS....only get a quicklink from a climbing or arborist site that is rated, not one from a hardware store, i don't use amazon or ebay because of the possibility of fake products

also, walmart and places sell fleece small blankets you can double over and use, very low cost
 
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