Oops. That was really close!!

[BrianO]

So I have taken apart a lone wolf alpha and have been playing with making a platform from the seat. Haven't gotten the nerve to cut up the platform yet. I used the 4 pt standoff and one of the v brackets from a spare stick. I put a couple ameristeps on a lone wolf strap to walk around the tree. Seemed very solid. I was testing the side pressure on the platform and the v bracket broke. It caused the bottom of the platform to spin and in turn I lost my footing and spun all the way around the tree. I was in a DIY sit drag and did not have a rock harness on. Again I was only 5 ft off the ground. But I did not fall out. I was actually almost horizontal maybe a little more than horizontal but it became how aparent these things are really a safe way to be in a tree. I said all this to remind everyone that when testing new gear. Especially DIY gear, please oh please use all safety measures and stay safe. It's a great way to hunt and fun to experiment but things can and will break. Now time to order some more standoff brackets.

 

[EricS]

I hung upside down with my sit drag without a belt or anything and it held me fine. I did get sideways one time and the knot on my bridge had me hung up on the carabiner. You could probably sale that stand on Craigslist and buy a predator platform and be money ahead.

 

[bigjoe]

Thank you for sharing

 

[g2outdoors]

Great post. That's almost the worst case scenario during a hunt. It's really hard to fall out of a saddle.

I think the worst case scenario would be transitioning to your platform from climbing method before having your tether set, and the platform completely failed. You'd be totally relying on your LB.

That's why I always set my tether before climbing on the platform.

Glad you're safe and figured this out at home and not during a hunt!

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

 

[redsquirrel]

Most guys are using the xop 6 point standoffs for their platforms. The muddy and lone wolf stick brackets aren't strong enough.

 

[Apex7]

I haven't used a platform yet I like my ameristeps on a ratchet strap. If I were going to buy one it would be from Greg and Ernie at Tethrd Nation . Just think about it they made it tested it and it's ready to hunt out of. I think you would save money too. I think it's a no brainer. Also anytime you practice with something new I would do it at ground level.

 

[ricky racer]

I think the worst case scenario would be transitioning to your platform from climbing method before having your tether set, and the platform completely failed. You'd be totally relying on your LB.

That's why I always set my tether before climbing on the platform.

Greg,
It might not hurt to push that philosophy on the Tethrd website. Myself like most saddle hunters don't set our tethers until we're on our platform (though we probably should). There will probably be a lot of new saddle hunters visiting your website looking for new products and information. Stressing tether hook up prior to stepping on to the platform might be a good way to change the way new saddle hunters develop their habits.
You're a video guy, maybe a quick informational video showing the proper way to use your or any saddle equipment posted on Tethrd website would be beneficial. There's other videos out there but none stressing tether hook up prior to stepping on the platform.

 

[ImThere]

^^ that’s a good idea.
I hunt off a ring of steps. When I reach my top step on my sticks I tether in set my ring of steps about 18” higher than my top step and then step up to my ameristeps and pull my tether tight as I step up. My tether almost always is in the right height this way.


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[donnieballgame]

Man, that is scary stuff regardless of when it happens, glad you didn't get hurt! I always hook up my tether first, and I'm sure g2 or red told me to do that last year, lol. One of the reasons I like SRT and XOP Hand climber is you are always hooked up to a tether or similar rope.

 

[bigjoe]

That is why I am incorporating the Buckingham Tree Sqeeze into my set up. It is an extra step, and takes another minute or so. But the worst that happens is you go a foot or so.

Being tied off and or tethered at all times is a good thing.

 

[buckshideout]

In 06 I had the seat of a lw climber snap a bolt one morning. Been really leery of stands since then. Scared the sh*t out of me. Been practicing shooting out of my saddle every other day and feel so safe in this thing. I like the advice of tethering up before stepping on platform.

 

[Drslyr]

So my question is. What happens if your saddle platform or ring of steps fails completely and falls to the ground. If your smart enough to have hooked in in your tether and bridge your now swinging in the air. Now what? If you haven’t you fall to the limit of the linesman’s belt probably crashing into a climbing stick. ooooowwwwwwwww

 

[elk yinzer]

So my question is. What happens if your saddle platform or ring of steps fails completely and falls to the ground. If your smart enough to have hooked in in your tether and bridge your now swinging in the air. Now what? If you haven’t you fall to the limit of the linesman’s belt probably crashing into a climbing stick. ooooowwwwwwwww

Yep. I always say best practice is to tether from the ground up. Now do I actually do that, no, but if I am feeling sketched out by a tough tree to climb, it's zero dark thirty and cold and rainy, etc. I'll hook my tether up. All about risk assessment.

 

[bigjoe]

So my question is. What happens if your saddle platform or ring of steps fails completely and falls to the ground. If your smart enough to have hooked in in your tether and bridge your now swinging in the air. Now what? If you haven’t you fall to the limit of the linesman’s belt probably crashing into a climbing stick. ooooowwwwwwwww

Keep a spare rope with you or the red squirrel wider. That way you can back down. I bought a tree squeeze to be used in conjuction with me linesman lanyard. So with that and my tether I can get back down. Not as easy as the red squirrel aided though.


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