• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

New from NC

GCTerpfan said:
You can chalk this up as the best piece of advice I read too late.
Click to expand...

Visit Terpfan for stuff to try or Red Squirrel. He has everything

In business innovators often but not always go broke. Sometimes they hit the jackpot.
Early adapters make the most money.
Same for saddle hunters but I am glad we have innovators to try stuff for us.

I have wasted a lot of money. Do you want to buy my climbing paws

Welcome to saddle hunting it is great


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: PJC
Tim W said:
Thx for the tips, much appreciated! I did order x2 Ropeman 1's based on all that I've read on here. My hunting set up over the years has been either the lonewolf hand climber or lonewolf sticks and alpha hangon, so I've been pretty mobile and I'm used to the climbing sticks (however I want to get a set of Helium or Muddy Pro sticks for the double steps). Based on everything I've read I'm thinking that my learning curve is going to be mainly with the saddle and set up in the tree at hunting height? (please feel free to burst my bubble if I'm mistaken and I'm under estimating the change in hunting style...!).
Click to expand...
Welcome to the site! Take this with a grain of salt, I’ve yet to harvest out of my saddle yet. Just got it last week & got 2 sits in. I waited almost 2 months for my kestrel, so it gave me a lot of time to mess with my climbing method. I’m still playing around with platform stuff. I have lone wolf sticks & an Ernie’s xop platform. I like it but still feels like alot of gear........ if your already used to wearing a harness & run/gun with your lone wolf setup then you will live it. Stealthy & comfortable!! Just read & ask a lot of questions, great bunch of guys here!!!
 
GCTerpfan said:
You can chalk this up as the best piece of advice I read too late.
Click to expand...
So true, I spent almost as much on small gear I thought I had to have. While waiting on my kestrel to arrive. Looking back the ropeman1’s were prob the only real upgrade that I find I like the most.......
 
Advice for a new saddle hunter from a fairly new saddle hunter? What to buy so I do not waste money? Spend slowly? Buy it in a month or two.
I think what you end up using depends on your personality and physical condition and hunting situation.
How fit are you?
How thick is the stuff you hunt?
How patient are you when setting up? I am impatient so I like cam cleats on my sticks.
How much time do you have to set up?
Do you hunt where you can use spurs?
Is SRT an option. I cannot easily lift my left arm high due to injury... not an option for me...if I was 20 years old this would be cool.
Are you rich or poor? DIY stuff like the sit drag and a rock harness are reasonable in price
If you are rich - try them all?
Do you lean in a saddle with alot of weight on your feet - then you probably need a decent platform?
What weapon you shoot can have an affect on your platform.
If you sit you have less weight on your feet - so ameristeps work best in my opinion
Can you wait til summer to buy... there are new ideas coming Dan's sticks a cranford platfrom????
Aiders rock for sure - DaveTs ideas and Red Squirrels ideas on aiders
ropeman are a neccessity
The best accessory in my opinion... a doyles huntin hoist...
With a grapple hook.... I use the gear grappler.
Buy one or two of all the climbing methods or try someone elses first
Or use what you have for now - learn - listen to the best saddle hunters... Boswell, Red, Dave T, Bowhunter 15, G2, Flinginairos...I am sure I missed some... they often hunt differently but they are all individuals. One of them might be like you.
 
Last edited:
Good advice for sure. Tim my spending went like this (starting in August):
Kestrel full kit - waited 2 months during which time I read a lot on here and bought the following that were all sitting here waiting on a saddle

Knee pads
2 ropeman1
Wild Edge Stepps 12 pack with aider
Dump pouches for the LB and tether
Qlipter
Petz William carabiner

Most recently: 1" tubular webbing for a bridge and aider

That's it - and everything but the WE aider is a critical piece of my setup. Now that I am using redsquirrel aider system I am realizing the WE aider is going to sit in a bin forever unless I can repurpose it. And I didn't need 12 stepps but I can live with a few back ups or teach a buddy or my son how to use them.

All I feel I "need" still is screw in steps or bolts and drill to do presets but that's an off season spend
Hope that helps

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk
 
Ontariofarmer said:
Visit Terpfan for stuff to try or Red Squirrel. He has everything

In business innovators often but not always go broke. Sometimes they hit the jackpot.
Early adapters make the most money.
Same for saddle hunters but I am glad we have innovators to try stuff for us.

I have wasted a lot of money. Do you want to buy my climbing paws

Welcome to saddle hunting it is great


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Thanks, but no thanks to the climbing paws offer...
 
Ontariofarmer said:
Advice for a new saddle hunter from a fairly new saddle hunter? What to buy so I do not waste money? Spend slowly? Buy it in a month or two.
I think what you end up using depends on your personality and physical condition and hunting situation.
How fit are you?
How thick is the stuff you hunt?
How patient are you when setting up? I am impatient so I like cam cleats on my sticks.
How much time do you have to set up?
Do you hunt where you can use spurs?
Is SRT an option. I cannot easily lift my left arm high due to injury... not an option for me...if I was 20 years old this would be cool.
Are you rich or poor? DIY stuff like the sit drag and a rock harness are reasonable in price
If you are rich - try them all?
Do you lean in a saddle with alot of weight on your feet - then you probably need a decent platform?
What weapon you shoot can have an affect on your platform.
If you sit you have less weight on your feet - so ameristeps work best in my opinion
Can you wait til summer to buy... there are new ideas coming Dan's sticks a cranford platfrom????
Aiders rock for sure - DaveTs ideas and Red Squirrels ideas on aiders
ropeman are a neccessity
The best accessory in my opinion... a doyles huntin hoist...
With a grapple hook.... I use the gear grappler.
Buy one or two of all the climbing methods or try someone elses first
Or use what you have for now - learn - listen to the best saddle hunters... Boswell, Red, Dave T, Bowhunter 15, G2, Flinginairos...I am sure I missed some... they often hunt differently but they are all individuals. One of them might be like you.
Click to expand...

Very sound advice.... All things that I've been thinking about and your words of wisdom are definitely encouraging that I'm on the right path. The names you provided above have been very helpful without me having to even ask a question!! Their videos and posts are packed with great information and tips... My brain housing group has been overwhelmed with information and I've probably watched and re-read all a couple dozen times already!!! lol... A big thank you to all that have posted on this thread with advice and encouragement, it's very welcoming...
 
kelly.jayp said:
I have the Doyles hoist coming for Christmas! But I have to wait....

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I asked this question somewhere else, but, what should I expect to spend on a Doyles Hunting hoist? I see them on amazon for anywhere from $26 to $102. Why such a huge rate difference, Is there something I'm missing? I don't want to spend more than I have to but I don't want to buy something that is not going to perform either.
 
kelly.jayp said:
I paid 39 thru Amazon for the web star version. Was fulfilled by Optics Planet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Same here - Under $40 - Amazon - Webbing version
I see huge price differences on lots of items. Some suppliers probably throw out crazy high prices hoping people will impulse buy without researching.
 
kelly.jayp said:
I paid 39 thru Amazon for the web star version. Was fulfilled by Optics Planet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

All I see on their web site are two rope style, one camo and one black and two strap type, one camo and one black. I had a strap type bow rope from HHS and I didn't like the way it fluttered and got caught up in the wind. The wind would drag it into all kinds of crap and get snagged.
What's the Web Star version?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The best price I could find is on their own web site. $24.99 for black 30' Rope or $29.99 for Cam 30' Rope. The Web style is $29.99 and $34.99 Respectively.
Thanks guys.
 
What kind of knee pads work best. Looking for something that won't absorb odors that I can keep scent free and that won't make noise on tree bark. Maybe I'm asking too much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top