I knew more and more accidents were going to happen saddle hunting. It is only going to get worse from here on out given the popularity. More are going to get killed too. I studied for well over a year before I attempted to saddle hunt. The more I studied the more I recognized that this style is not for everyone like it is advertised. The more you learn the more scared you should be. What you see arborists and climbers teach compared to what you see saddle guys do on youtube is frightening. Onesticking is probably the worst offender. Tiny 8mm ropes in the hands of beginners with mechanical devices is not cool. I won't use a screw gate carabiner. Mine are all name brand autolocking.
I am no safety saint by any means. I make my own tethers, linemen's belts, aiders, and soft shackles because I am not paying the ridiculous prices online. I trust my own work over someone in a hurry. I know everything I make is lock stitched properly, has the correct burry length, and is tapered properly. I even whiplock the ends of my ropes for the heck of it. I use 11mm rope mainly and won't go smaller than 10mm. I make my aiders and stick ropes out of 1/4" chinese HMWPE. Again, built correctly and properly lock stitched. This is much safer than 7/64" or 1/8" branded offerings. I have seen braid that size wear out and cut prematurely in other applications and refuse to use it. I think it is crazy for a company to offer anything smaller than 3/16" to the public. Heck, there was a thread I saw the other day where a kid had his 7/64" aider cut on the first use! He didn't tie it on properly, but that still shouldn't have happened. It just shows that size braid shouldn't be used for an aider or tree rope. What the hell is the point of going that small?! You gain nothing and could lose everything.
It would be nice if the saddle industry got together and formed something like the TMA (Treestand Manufacturing Association), and offered some basic safety info like in every other recreation where you life is at risk. I would take the course or review the documents every year. It needs to happen.