I have been in the saddle probably as long as anyone so I thought I would share some things I have learned.
You can reinvent the wheel but you have to keep it round. I get a kick out of the effort spent to make a saddle so complicated. No stand will ever be completely comfortable for long hours. Some things you just have to put up with.
For me, comfort comes from having my tether centered for equal weight distribution. That may not be the center of the tree. The height of my tether is very important. Always start as high a you can reach. For long sits I am a leaner for the first few hours. I slide my prusset down a half inch at a time as the day goes on. I rarely go to a full sitting position as the deer tend to spot me more than when leaning. Pushing the prusset up is tough. I wrap the tag end of my tether several times just above my carabineer. It's a good head rest and I have had some pretty good knaps in the tree.
A good platform for me is the top of my LW sticks and 2 EZY steps that I have modified. The washers make all the difference
I try to always do the same thing the same way. Once I reach my platform and connect my tether, I screw in a bow hook just below the tether before I attempt to sit back. I don't want the rope to slip and mess up my setup. An inch to low can make for an uncomfortable hunt.
Cover is more important than elevation. I hunt the first cover I come to and prefer a limb or 2 below. It gets tougher as the season goes on. In this set up I had a tree at my back that I rested against all morning with another to my right. I love a 3 tree set. I took a doe at 12 yards this day though I was only 10 feet up.
I have tried the Trophyline, I do like the system but prefer my solid setup for long sits. I cut the legs out of my Trophyline as they served no purpose and always rubbed my legs. It does provide insulation for the lower back on cold days.
I tried the TreeSuite also. A good plan but the manufacture had to have searched the world over to find such stiff noisy material .
I used the Anderson a few times. I still have it somewhere.
I have used rope/ons , strap/ons , the woodpecker/bolts. I will put up with the weight of the LW sticks for the safe no hassle quick climb.
I prefer a loop as apposed to the bridge. I took a shot straight down once in a Trophyline. It slipped so far to my left, I nearly didn't get back up.
I prefer to set up with my expected shot slightly behind my left shoulder. I have better accuracy there.
I am not usually able to travel 360 from my setups as most times I will have cover to my right. Just do your scouting.
For close shots be sure and lean into the shot .
Always have a pair of snips to trim up those little limbs that scrap your back and run off your deer.
Good Hunting,
Onehair
You can reinvent the wheel but you have to keep it round. I get a kick out of the effort spent to make a saddle so complicated. No stand will ever be completely comfortable for long hours. Some things you just have to put up with.
For me, comfort comes from having my tether centered for equal weight distribution. That may not be the center of the tree. The height of my tether is very important. Always start as high a you can reach. For long sits I am a leaner for the first few hours. I slide my prusset down a half inch at a time as the day goes on. I rarely go to a full sitting position as the deer tend to spot me more than when leaning. Pushing the prusset up is tough. I wrap the tag end of my tether several times just above my carabineer. It's a good head rest and I have had some pretty good knaps in the tree.
A good platform for me is the top of my LW sticks and 2 EZY steps that I have modified. The washers make all the difference
I try to always do the same thing the same way. Once I reach my platform and connect my tether, I screw in a bow hook just below the tether before I attempt to sit back. I don't want the rope to slip and mess up my setup. An inch to low can make for an uncomfortable hunt.
Cover is more important than elevation. I hunt the first cover I come to and prefer a limb or 2 below. It gets tougher as the season goes on. In this set up I had a tree at my back that I rested against all morning with another to my right. I love a 3 tree set. I took a doe at 12 yards this day though I was only 10 feet up.
I have tried the Trophyline, I do like the system but prefer my solid setup for long sits. I cut the legs out of my Trophyline as they served no purpose and always rubbed my legs. It does provide insulation for the lower back on cold days.
I tried the TreeSuite also. A good plan but the manufacture had to have searched the world over to find such stiff noisy material .
I used the Anderson a few times. I still have it somewhere.
I have used rope/ons , strap/ons , the woodpecker/bolts. I will put up with the weight of the LW sticks for the safe no hassle quick climb.
I prefer a loop as apposed to the bridge. I took a shot straight down once in a Trophyline. It slipped so far to my left, I nearly didn't get back up.
I prefer to set up with my expected shot slightly behind my left shoulder. I have better accuracy there.
I am not usually able to travel 360 from my setups as most times I will have cover to my right. Just do your scouting.
For close shots be sure and lean into the shot .
Always have a pair of snips to trim up those little limbs that scrap your back and run off your deer.
Good Hunting,
Onehair