halltrail
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2014
- Messages
- 147
OK, I started this post because I'm reading up on the kestrel. I'm thinking, I should buy one and try it. But, I have an evo aero hunter already. Used it on about 60% of my hunts the year before. I also have a GW. But I barely used either this past season. I did have a great season this year. I took 14 deer. No wall hangers this year though.
So was this just an odd year for me? I only used my aero hunter 2 times out of about 85+ hunts. I didnt use the GW at all. I mostly used a lonewolf assualt with a Huntcomfort outpost gel seat pad. The Huntcomfort was crucial. I can hunt in that setup all day. I used to love that NT saddle and I can take the best naps ever in the GW it is so comfy. But, i did prefer the smaller package of the evo for long walks.
A few things that caused me to grab the Lonewolf this year:
1: I made one of those (xop) platforms which I really liked and made shooting out of the saddle a lot better for those unplanned for shots...far right side or behind you. But when I added the weight of the platform, saddle, back support pad, and two or three screw ins, and knee pads...I was pretty much at the same weight of the lonewolf assault.
2. I could drop using the platform...but 50% of the time deer seem to come in a way that they shouldn't. I seem to always take more than a few deer that come in downwind of me for some reason..Or setup with a well used trail off to my left but they come in off the trail and to my right. I hunt in MD...we have good deer numbers but they are under a good amount of pressure. On public land you will never get away with trying to move around too much..you cant even do it on private. No way you can move to get a shot off behind you with the foot work you have to do on just screw ins. You have a much better chance spinning on a platform...and I have been successful doing that. So if I drop the platform, I risk not being able to get a shot.
3. I did drop using the platform last year for a while and went with the balls to wood ...straddle the tree and just 3 screw ins and a the back support strap...that was pretty comfortable..but I often had to move more than I wanted to get into shooting position with deer in close. By the way, straddling the tree is pretty comfy...I had to go this method because my feet on screw ins start to hurt and knees get very sore up against tree even with pads. I did make some custom tree hopper bolts with welded on platforms that did helped my feet...but added weight.
4. I had a lot of weird trees to hunt out of this year...a lot of them had strong leans that to me make hunting out of the saddle uncomfortable. If tree is leaning away from you ....you are forced into the tree and harder to get into shooting positon. Tree leaning in to you just sucks trying to move between screw ins. Leaning sideways is also difficult. The lonewolf can be setup on all types of leans...left right forward and aft...although a forward leaning tree is not very comfortable due to angle your back is at.
5. I really like the saddle with one stick climb or spurs....but I always repel down when using those two methods...so that does add some weight with 35' rope and grigri....but it is a great run and gun setup...but Im able to do that setup just as well with lonewolf assault.
6. late season cold weather. Bulky clothes..i feel I can move a lot quieter in a hang on over the saddle. I also like to use an IWOM on the nastiest of weather days...but this isnt a deal killer for me because Ive always just not used the saddle in those late season conditions...25 degrees and below.
Where did I go wrong...lol. I feel guilty for not using the saddle more...it is such a great tool and now im reading up on the newer version...thinking I should buy it and try it. Maybe I need a push to get over my issues...lol. I guess, I could pull out the evo and spend some time in it while scouting now that deer season is over.
Any one else switch back and forth between saddle and hang on for similar reasons? I know the saddle is a great tool....I love the cover of being behind the tree.
So was this just an odd year for me? I only used my aero hunter 2 times out of about 85+ hunts. I didnt use the GW at all. I mostly used a lonewolf assualt with a Huntcomfort outpost gel seat pad. The Huntcomfort was crucial. I can hunt in that setup all day. I used to love that NT saddle and I can take the best naps ever in the GW it is so comfy. But, i did prefer the smaller package of the evo for long walks.
A few things that caused me to grab the Lonewolf this year:
1: I made one of those (xop) platforms which I really liked and made shooting out of the saddle a lot better for those unplanned for shots...far right side or behind you. But when I added the weight of the platform, saddle, back support pad, and two or three screw ins, and knee pads...I was pretty much at the same weight of the lonewolf assault.
2. I could drop using the platform...but 50% of the time deer seem to come in a way that they shouldn't. I seem to always take more than a few deer that come in downwind of me for some reason..Or setup with a well used trail off to my left but they come in off the trail and to my right. I hunt in MD...we have good deer numbers but they are under a good amount of pressure. On public land you will never get away with trying to move around too much..you cant even do it on private. No way you can move to get a shot off behind you with the foot work you have to do on just screw ins. You have a much better chance spinning on a platform...and I have been successful doing that. So if I drop the platform, I risk not being able to get a shot.
3. I did drop using the platform last year for a while and went with the balls to wood ...straddle the tree and just 3 screw ins and a the back support strap...that was pretty comfortable..but I often had to move more than I wanted to get into shooting position with deer in close. By the way, straddling the tree is pretty comfy...I had to go this method because my feet on screw ins start to hurt and knees get very sore up against tree even with pads. I did make some custom tree hopper bolts with welded on platforms that did helped my feet...but added weight.
4. I had a lot of weird trees to hunt out of this year...a lot of them had strong leans that to me make hunting out of the saddle uncomfortable. If tree is leaning away from you ....you are forced into the tree and harder to get into shooting positon. Tree leaning in to you just sucks trying to move between screw ins. Leaning sideways is also difficult. The lonewolf can be setup on all types of leans...left right forward and aft...although a forward leaning tree is not very comfortable due to angle your back is at.
5. I really like the saddle with one stick climb or spurs....but I always repel down when using those two methods...so that does add some weight with 35' rope and grigri....but it is a great run and gun setup...but Im able to do that setup just as well with lonewolf assault.
6. late season cold weather. Bulky clothes..i feel I can move a lot quieter in a hang on over the saddle. I also like to use an IWOM on the nastiest of weather days...but this isnt a deal killer for me because Ive always just not used the saddle in those late season conditions...25 degrees and below.
Where did I go wrong...lol. I feel guilty for not using the saddle more...it is such a great tool and now im reading up on the newer version...thinking I should buy it and try it. Maybe I need a push to get over my issues...lol. I guess, I could pull out the evo and spend some time in it while scouting now that deer season is over.
Any one else switch back and forth between saddle and hang on for similar reasons? I know the saddle is a great tool....I love the cover of being behind the tree.