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Tiny hawk hang on as platform?

Gator88

Gator88

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2023
Messages
22
Been seeing a super tiny hawk hang on treestand for sale on eBay. Looked into it and realized the dimensions of the platform itself are pretty close to the trophy line mission. Which is absurd. Or is it? Have any of you done a hybrid with a small factory hang on or a hacked up custom hang on as a platform for a saddle hunt? For an all day sit I can see that this might be the cat’s pajamas.
 
Gator88 said:
Been seeing a super tiny hawk hang on treestand for sale on eBay. Looked into it and realized the dimensions of the platform itself are pretty close to the trophy line mission. Which is absurd. Or is it? Have any of you done a hybrid with a small factory hang on or a hacked up custom hang on as a platform for a saddle hunt? For an all day sit I can see that this might be the cat’s pajamas.
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I have used Hawk at times and it works. Its not the high dollar stuff but as long as you feel its safe what the heck. If you left it in and it was solen it likely won't brake the bank. Beef it up and use some stealth strips to quiet it up. Good luck!
 
Fgirtyman said:
I have used Hawk at times and it works. Its not the high dollar stuff but as long as you feel its safe what the heck. If you left it in and it was solen it likely won't brake the bank. Beef it up and use some stealth strips to quiet it up. Good luck!
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I was just curious really if anyone was running a system similar to that. I wouldn’t be surprised if hybrid hang on/ platform setups took off in coming years. I use a hawk combat and the 3 30” heliums for my mobile hang on stuff and even that thing feels tiny. It packs up slick tho and you can’t beat the price.
 
Newhunter1 said:
I stay away from hawk products for saddle hunting. To much have gone wrong with their cheap imitations.
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I dont own any saddle specific Hawk stuff. Can’t say if it’s any good or no. I got really nice saddle gear and no reason to try theirs
 
I have an xop vanish that I will be using this year with a modified sit drag and treestand harness. Using linemans and webbing for the bridges or unhooking the sitdrag and using the stand as a regular stand.
 
Benb said:
I have an xop vanish that I will be using this year with a modified sit drag and treestand harness. Using linemans and webbing for the bridges or unhooking the sitdrag and using the stand as a regular stand.
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I also took a tree strap that was included in my old stand (xop ambush safety harness) and sewed that onto the sit drag also for fun. Sewing machines can be pretty cool
 
I bought one for rut sits as a hybrid set up but I've tried it once in the yard and it hangs in the garage. I might put it out this year in a funnel or something when I'm out but we'll see. It's hard to go back to carrying a bunch of extra junk with you once you get your saddle/stand or ground set up dialed in.

Hawk Rival Micro $135 on Midway USA

Hawk burned me on their first batch of sticks with the suction cups. Broken out of the box and took multiple calls to get enough replacement parts. Not worth the headache IMO. Hopefully it works out for you. Bummer you’ve gotten burned. All my stuff is Hawk brand. My sticks(4), mini and...
saddlehunter.com
 
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I purchased a Hawk from Midway USA, for $59+tax+shipping = $74. Then I noticed the tree cleat is convex, not concave. :rolleyes: So, it doesn't bite the tree, instead it rocks side to side. I purchased a tree cleat from Tethrd for $12+tax+shipping = $23. I took it into my backyard, strapped it on a tree, but couldn't get the Hawk cinch strap to stop slipping on the tree and their buckle wouldn't bit into the strap and hold it in place. :mad: I just used one of the cinch straps off of one of my Muddy Pro climbing sticks, which worked with the new tree cleat and held just fine. Finally, I get it installed on the tree, get setup and notice that there's no traction on the platform at all, on the edges and top surfaces. This thing is as slippery as wet glass. o_OBack to the house and I spend some time with installing a rope wrap on the edges and center cross bars. This made a huge difference....and made it quieter too. :)
Hawk 1.jpg
Bottom Line: I figure I've got over a $100 bucks in this "economy" platform and it's entirely too small with my hunting boots to be comfortable. I finally broke down and purchased a Trophy Ridge Mission platform. :cool: A total game changer and well worth every penny!!! I have NO regrets....other than I wished I'd went with the Mission in the first place. Lesson learned! :)
Mission 2.jpg
 
I started with the Hawk platform, like you mentioned the concave is opposite the curvature of a tree. Tree bracket pulled from tree and their strap was all that was holding me. That's another thing there straps have stretch and they do slide and their versa button is a weird size and it's hard to get a rope mod to really get tight. So for what I paid for the Hawk hang on, Hawk hanger bracket and Hawk sticks - I should've give that money to a homeless man at least I could've seen him smile.

Went to a Tethrd platform then a Cruzr Seeker. Gave up on saddle hunting until I got the Trophyline EDP.

BTW, that Hawk stand someone is wanting to use above is the one that started popping welds on me opening morning four days ago. Use with caution.
 
Lots of dudes using their saddles in really any kind of treestand or platform. I personally feel like if I can’t hunt something in my saddle, it’s probably not huntable with any safety harness.
 
i feel like people go to saddle hunting for convience....why would you want to bring in a hang on when you're trying to make it easier.....that hybrid stuff makes zero sense to me
 
Chandler96 said:
i feel like people go to saddle hunting for convience....why would you want to bring in a hang on when you're trying to make it easier.....that hybrid stuff makes zero sense to me
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I generally agree. I use a preset hang-on in one tree on pvt land and I hunt it in my saddle. The only reason I would see to “change” to hybrid for mobile hunting is if I just wanted the safety aspects of the saddle but didn’t want to sacrifice the perceived real estate of a hang-on. However, I actually feel more restricted in a hang-on if the shot is anything other than strong-side because side pressure and revolving around the tree are a no-go in a hang-on. or if a deer ends up sidelong to me and can silhouette me more easily because no matter what some treestand proponents say, I think the saddle leaning OR sitting provides more natural 45, 35, 85 etc degree angles to the tree vs mostly 90 degree angles from a stand.
 
Chandler96 said:
i feel like people go to saddle hunting for convience....why would you want to bring in a hang on when you're trying to make it easier.....that hybrid stuff makes zero sense to me
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2 primary reasons for me, some trees just set up better for facing away from the tree than being behind it and several areas I hunt have very limited tree options due to past cutting. The other reason is for all day or most of the day sits. Having a little more real estate and seat goes a long way for keeping me in the tree on those long hunts.
 
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