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Saddle Tree Setup Discussion

kbetts said:
I'm not worried about my 6 position. It's not hard to take a peak every now and then. I slide the tether to my right which allows more range of motion to the back side. As you can see, a platform can limit your motion. That's why I prefer the ROS.

I'm not climbing anything like a @tailgunner tree. Looks nearly impossible to shoot through.
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Only need 1 lane in a natural sky blind....just like a ground blind.....i could break dance an irish jigg and not be seen....and yes beast i have already posted this pick you photo nazi.dont be jelouse of my mighty Douglas fir trees here in the great north west.. just come out and i will set you up in one.pure columbia blacktail deer,black bears,or black horned big body coastal rosivelt elk.not to mention all the finest beers a southren boy could dream of
 
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tailgunner said:
View attachment 101996
Only need 1 lane in a natural sky blind....just like a ground blind.....i could break dance an irish jigg and not be seen....and yes beast i have already posted this pick you photo nazi.dont be jelouse of my mighty Douglas fir trees here in the great north west.. just come out and i will set you up in one.pure columbia blacktail deer,black bears,or black horned big body coastal rosivelt elk.not to mention all the finest beers a southren boy
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That thick and I'm probably ground hunting.
 
kbetts said:
I'm not worried about my 6 position. It's not hard to take a peak every now and then. I slide the tether to my right which allows more range of motion to the back side. As you can see, a platform can limit your motion. That's why I prefer the ROS.

I'm not climbing anything like a @tailgunner tree. Looks nearly impossible to shoot through.
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So where generally do you put your 6 position when you set up? Have you ever had a deer surprise you and come out of seemingly nowhere? Like "oh crap how did you get there!" If so, Which direction they come from?
 
kbetts said:
That thick and I'm probably ground hunting.
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Yes ...and when you spend 80 Percent of your time ground hunting in areas that are so thick you need to cover ground to get on game your tree climbing gear must be ultralight since it might not get used....however there are places where you cant even see an elk at 6 yards without getting elivated since the brush is so thick and so tall...and you put your 6 o clock in the brush where there is no trail or shot.
Glag you brought that up.
 
I have set up in open timber then looked back at my 4 o clock and a nice buck was standing there stairing right down my lane and i knew he would bust me if i moved.botched it..so after over thinking about being able to pivot around on my ring of steps ...so much so that i even bought a predator platform thinking i could have twirled around like a ballerina...in the end i just had to admit that i set up wrong and should have been off to the side of the travel up the ridge.admitting that im just not as good as i thought and learning from my misteaks has helped me get better than buying more gear or even worrying about that so called weak side shot.i cant hear the deer all the time because the oregon coast is always dripping even without rain.
 
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1simplemann said:
So where generally do you put your 6 position when you set up? Have you ever had a deer surprise you and come out of seemingly nowhere? Like "oh crap how did you get there!" If so, Which direction they come from?
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If I were to get surprised, it'd most likely happen at my 3-5 positions...but that changes depending where your feet are. I setup everything hard off my left side....particularly with a trad bow. Compound and I like keeping the tree between me and the target as the bow stays vertical.
Rarely ever happens that I get snuck. If something comes in quick, I'm already close to the tree. I should hear it before it sees me move. I'm also not 30' in a tree.
 
tailgunner said:
View attachment 101996
Only need 1 lane in a natural sky blind....just like a ground blind.....i could break dance an irish jigg and not be seen....and yes beast i have already posted this pick you photo nazi.dont be jelouse of my mighty Douglas fir trees here in the great north west.. just come out and i will set you up in one.pure columbia blacktail deer,black bears,or black horned big body coastal rosivelt elk.not to mention all the finest beers a southren boy could dream of
Click to expand...
Man that is beautiful country you’re blessed with to hunt in out there!
 
kbetts said:
If I were to get surprised, it'd most likely happen at my 3-5 positions...but that changes depending where your feet are. I setup everything hard off my left side....particularly with a trad bow. Compound and I like keeping the tree between me and the target as the bow stays vertical.
Rarely ever happens that I get snuck. If something comes in quick, I'm already close to the tree. I should hear it before it sees me move. I'm also not 30' in a tree.
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For a trad archer, I can totally see setting up for your strong side. Also I can see you being lower in tree for the shot angle. You can't get away with much movement. For me, I'm probably a bit higher than you so I can get away with little bit more movement. Here the wind blows a bunch. 20-30 mph some days.( I hate those days) . Your not going to hear them coming. Add rain and forget about it. They will slide right in on you and be standing at 15 yds! Your better to see them coming so you have time to prepare. Which is not too hard here since it's mostly open woods. So now if a tree sets up that puts my strong side at the kill area AND puts my 6 at an approach trail.( I'm talking about trails w/ 2 way traffic.) I don't hunt it. I'll find another tree. Every tree is different so sometimes they will let you adjust. Some don't. Anyway, so now I just look for ways to set up w/ my 6 in the least likely direction deer will come from. ( Usually the river) That way I can concentrate on the areas that the deer most likely come from. Once I see them coming, Then I prepare for the shot before they get to me.

PS We don't have Holly's here but I sure do remember them. Great cover trees.
 
Weldabeast said:
Wait a sec.....I could have sworn u said u can't see 100yds it so thick in Oregon
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Those are the Cascade mts.they are thier own kind of magic but it adds 45 minutes to my drive
Totaly worth it though .but i live on the opposite side of the valley on the edge of the coast range so its quicker but more challenging to hunt the coastal rainforest wich is to much sometimes even for locals.many go east to hunt rather than tackle the hardest hunt in the U.S. and thats smart but im not.i dont mind being less succesfull i love this cuz this is where i cut my teeth.these trails take you into the mystic.1000001695.jpg1000001546.jpg

Van Morrison Into The Mystic / Tim O' Flea

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MattMan81 said:
@boyne bowhunter I had to make your diagram more real like a true saddle hunter. (I know. I'm bored. I'm sick sitting on the couch on this beautiful day).
View attachment 101718
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Ok.back on track.this setup is almost perfect.the only problem i have with it is not a decision between a ring of steps or a platform.i have to choose between wearing crocks or ever having 5€x with my wife again.....soooo...crocks are out dude.otherwards this is perfection
 
Good stuff @boyne bowhunter .
I figured this out, maybe too quickly in my first couple saddle seasons and was higher up with deer only yards from the tree I was in and I had terrible recovery/ hit rates those 2-3 seasons.
I did not account enough for angles nor practice adequately for shots near underfoot.

Now since committing to recurves for archery . I’ve really had to revisit my set up’s.14- 15 ft is about the highest I climb and if I can’t get into position as the deer is approaching . I tend to get “stuck “ to the tree as I can’t draw as easily with tree as cover like with a compound / or gun.
more often then not deer hold up just out of range, maybe due to my height. Idk
I have practiced so much each off season I’m prepared for most approaches now. with stand, saddle , platform or ROS. and ground hunts.
 
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