Hi, this is my first post but I’ve read tons of info from this site in my journey to saddle hunting. I only use my saddle about 50% of my hunts where the trees I want to be in won’t allow me to a set a hang on stand. I have past experience rock climbing so have been salvaging gear from that to go with my Tethrd phantom saddle. I hunt private land at pre-set trees so I climb up on screw in steps or ladder sticks. I’m looking for some critiques on my setup. My goals are safety and simplicity while on stand. I’ll answer any specific questions about any of my gear. If you see from the picture, I’ve attempted redundancy as much as I can without too much added clutter. Should I just go all the way with a 2nd anchor/tether?
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Please critique me
- Thread starter Zielkeda
- Start date
MNFarmHunter
Well-Known Member
I'll let others chime in on the redundant bridge setup as mechanicals vs. hitches illicit strong opinions.
My question is using the parallel limbs for both your tether point and platform. While it would offer alot of movement, what happens if you slip? Do you start swinging and if so, how does that work with a bow and broadhead in your hands?
My question is using the parallel limbs for both your tether point and platform. While it would offer alot of movement, what happens if you slip? Do you start swinging and if so, how does that work with a bow and broadhead in your hands?
Good point! What’s barely visible in the picture is my right shoulder leans against another limb behind me until I’m ready to shoot. Like I said, trees that I can’t put a hang on into. I clip into the orange nylon runner around that limb so that I can swing around for a shot behind the trunk without going so far as to slip off the limb I stand on. Like a movement restrictor.
Kurt
Well-Known Member
Hey there! It looks like you have enough gear to keep you from hitting the ground, my question would be on this particular set up how would you be able to get back to the branch your standing on. It's hard to tell from the picture the distance you would swing. There is a situation called "shorting", it's when you have a safe anchor for where you are but if you change locations abruptly and you don't have enough line length to get back to where you started or enough adjustment to get to another safe spot. Even if it's only a couple of feet if you don't have the slack to get back to a safe spot your stuck two feet away from anything to pull yourself up on sitting in your saddle(don't forget to do up your leg straps).
Yes it’s difficult to tell how the branches are positioned. I’ve tested every possible angle of hanging from that limb and can always recover. I even spin 180 degrees and sit and hang in the saddle to glass across a field the other direction. I couldn’t shoot a bow from that position but no problem getting back on my feet on the branch. The biggest problem
now is that standing on that narrow of a branch for long periods of time starts to hurt my feet. Kind of the only option for this tree though.
now is that standing on that narrow of a branch for long periods of time starts to hurt my feet. Kind of the only option for this tree though.
Kurt
Well-Known Member
Lag bolt a 3/4' ply platform onto that branch.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2021
- Messages
- 348
Since you asked for a critique, I think all that redundancy is unnecessary.. All the devices are rated for crazy amounts of force... You could hang a small car from a single saddle and tether.... If you have past experience in rock climbing, did you double up all your climbing gear? You should know from that experience, that gear is rated for a large margin of safety.... I would not double up any of that.... Biggest safety thing to remember is these are fall prevention devices not fall arrest.... Do not allow excessive (really any) slack in your ropes...
Question about those carabiners you are using for the bridge attached to lineman loops. They look a little small and are wire-gate, are you sure they are rated for the job? With your setup, I see a lot of redundancy which I like, other would say you're over geared or unnecessary, but if it make you comfortable and feel secure, go for it. So why not add in a whole other tether rope to your system? I personally prefer a backup system completely independent of the main system, where they don't share any similar point of failure.