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Multiple Climbing Methods and Sets of Gear

arm breaker

arm breaker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
645
Location
Arkansas
Does anyone ever find themselves longing for multiple saddles, packs/pouches, and the associated accessories for different climbing methods? This is probably along the lines of not being minimal and worrying more about gear than actual deer hunting, but sometimes I don’t know until I’m ready to leave the truck if I want to multi-stick, one-stick, or SRT/rope climb. At that point I don’t want to fiddle with stuff to get my gear packed, minimized, and organized I just want to go hunting.

Sometimes I think back and say I used to do this with a single LW climber (or alpha and sticks) and no extra gear besides a bow, knife, and small flashlight. Now somehow in an effort to be become more mobile, lighter, and ninjaesque I have dozens of ropes, devices, hitches, and sticks to sort through every time I want to get in a tree. I need help.
 
My advice.
Log off this site and never come back. It's to easy to fall into the "it works for someone else" mind set. Oh, they made a movie with an ultra light set up and climb a tree and are set up in 10 minutes in shorts and their back yard. So let me try it hunting. Oh wait, this sucks because now I have extra clothes on. The tree isn't a perfect telephone pole like my yard. Guess I need to try something else.
But yet we are all in the same boat and it doesn't seem to work. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Then guys get burnt out and go back to a climber, stand, or bucket.
My advice it take a good long thought about what you like about hunting and focus on that. @kyler1945 calls it out a lot about guys chasing gear. Not deer. It's not hard to find deer. But some how we let ideas or possible better ideas block out what the name of the game is. Hunting.
Pick a platform, set of sticks and set your pack up. (Or your climber). Take all your other stuff and put it in a bin out of sight. Hunt with that and focus more on the deer. Not the gear. If your not having more fun and enjoying being out there like you use to. Sell that gear you were using and trying something else.
There is no "perfect" set up that climbs ever tree and locations with out issues. Stop over thinking it and go hunt.
 
I have tried different climbing methods but I am going back to what has always worked for me. A combo of sticks and steps.
Since I only hunt public, I need a flexable method. If I go to my spot and another hunter is their and I go to another spot, I need a system that will work for me on any tree.
 
MattMan81 said:
My advice.
Log off this site and never come back. It's to easy to fall into the "it works for someone else" mind set. Oh, they made a movie with an ultra light set up and climb a tree and are set up in 10 minutes in shorts and their back yard. So let me try it hunting. Oh wait, this sucks because now I have extra clothes on. The tree isn't a perfect telephone pole like my yard. Guess I need to try something else.
But yet we are all in the same boat and it doesn't seem to work. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Then guys get burnt out and go back to a climber, stand, or bucket.
My advice it take a good long thought about what you like about hunting and focus on that. @kyler1945 calls it out a lot about guys chasing gear. Not deer. It's not hard to find deer. But some how we let ideas or possible better ideas block out what the name of the game is. Hunting.
Pick a platform, set of sticks and set your pack up. (Or your climber). Take all your other stuff and put it in a bin out of sight. Hunt with that and focus more on the deer. Not the gear. If your not having more fun and enjoying being out there like you use to. Sell that gear you were using and trying something else.
There is no "perfect" set up that climbs ever tree and locations with out issues. Stop over thinking it and go hunt.
Click to expand...
That’s good advice. I do enjoy reading and talking to folks here so don’t want to just quit the site. I also don’t cruise social media or YouTube at all unless someone sends me something so I am perhaps better off than some on that addictive front. I’ll also say I am likely not alone in just enjoying gear of all kinds, hunting related or not. I also enjoy tinkering and learning, but your overall point rings quite true.
 
GeoFish said:
I have tried different climbing methods but I am going back to what has always worked for me. A combo of sticks and steps.
Since I only hunt public, I need a flexable method. If I go to my spot and another hunter is their and I go to another spot, I need a system that will work for me on any tree.
Click to expand...
Yep. Sticks suck but they work and the more you use them the more proficient you get at using them.


@arm breaker
I dislike climbing, the gear associated with and the constant longing to find the unicorn climbing method so much that I basically only climb when I'm scouting or I'm going to some sort of pre-set. I've been a victim of the trap several times and need a good sweaty difficult climb to snap me back out of it once and awhile.

My dad had a fall from a stand in the 90s that permanently messed his heel up to the point of a noticeable limp. From that point on he committed to ground hunting. He gets nice mature deer every year.

I guess what I'm saying is whatever method you choose, master it and make it yours so you can realize the shortcomings and plan accordingly. There will always be new and improved or there wouldn't be a profitable hunting industry.

I think inherently we all want to hit the easy button but probably need to realize there really isn't one when it comes to getting up a tree. We end up buying more junk and trying it when in reality we need to probably spend that time and effort polishing what we already have. Social media, marketing, friends, fellow hunters, etc. are powerful entities when it comes to persuading us to buy the new ground breaking way up the tree.
 
arm breaker said:
That’s good advice. I do enjoy reading and talking to folks here so don’t want to just quit the site. I also don’t cruise social media or YouTube at all unless someone sends me something so I am perhaps better off than some on that addictive front. I’ll also say I am likely not alone in just enjoying gear of all kinds, hunting related or not. I also enjoy tinkering and learning, but your overall point rings quite true.
Click to expand...
I may have been a little dramatic in that. But you got the idea. It's so easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest. Yet some guys get it done like @Jtaylor dad. Don't over think it. Make a plan the night before and stick with it. If you have to make a change. Roll with it. Don't over think it.
 
I have a bit different approach - if it helps keep things fresh I’ll try it.
I’m not gonna lie I almost quit hunting. For me it had become like a chore, outside of the thrill of seeing deer. The monotony of setting up stands and sticks, moving crap around, getting up stupid early, achy back from the stand, blah blah. I’ve been hunting a long time and it was just getting old. I happened to stumble across an article by John which he was talking about saddlehunting and I thought huh, that’s sufficiently weird I’ll check it out. Then I stumbled upon rappelling from trees and thought huh, I spent years rappelling why didn’t I think about doing it from a tree I’ll try that. Those things together have kept hunting interesting enough for me that I look forward to doing it. I look at kit and methods as life value items ie what value does this add to my hunting life? How will this change what I’m already doing, and for the better? Is it just the new shiny bauble or is it genuinely better than what I’m doing? Once I settle on a system I tend to stick with it, I loath having tons of crap to drag around and stow, thanks Uncle Sam. However I will say sometimes it’s appropriate and unavoidable; I have a late season coyote hunting setup that’s different than my deer hunting setup due to the nature of the beast. I need more space for my caller, kill kit is different, clothing needs are different, etc. I tried running the same kit year round with just addons and found myself forgetting stuff I just gave up.
Guess the point I’m making is saddlehunting is great in that offers a little of something for everyone, you can be a gear junkie or a minimalist curmudgeon. You do you.
 
One thing that's helped me is buying a few platforms and leaving things setup in advance. These are areas where I've killed multiple deer. I mean rope in the tree, platform at height, bow pull up already dangling etc. in some cases, a public land legal bow holder already in place too.

I literally show up with my bow and SRT up. It's especially helpful for when you have to walk 15min +

Packing up is also a lot nicer
 
Plebe said:
Having a variety of gear helps me be a more proficient hunter.

“Chasing gear not deer” is a stereotype and a “hot take”, not a catch all.
Click to expand...
That's a good point too. If you know where you're headed and have the right tool to get up the tree you're already one step ahead.
 
All great advice here and really helps me to read through how others guys are feeling too. Gear is almost like candy anymore for me. You always want to try that shiny new and slightly different flavor of the same “snickers bar” you’ve been eating for years because it might be the holy grail of what you’ve been longing for. The new thing may be better in some ways but almost always you find a couple things you don’t care for also. Then you start to debate whether it’s actually better and start to miss things you liked about your old system or old thing. Then debate whether you should stay where you are or go back to what you had. Gets even harder if you still own the old thing and you fight with yourself about what you actually like better and what you should use and take with you. Then you do all that over and over to the point that you almost don’t feel like hunting anymore.

This is exactly what I’ve been doing to myself lately in the late season this year and it’s been driving me nuts. But it sure helps to talk about it. It’s such a vicious trap to be caught in and can be hard to get out of, but I’m getting there and it feels great to get back to “focusing on the ball” and keeping the flame alive. Keeping gear where it should be in the priority of things (aka not #1 priority- my opinion) sure makes things easier. It is definitely a thing that takes continuous work and effort.
 
Ive barely gotten 2 years into saddlehunting but have always had the plan to stay simple. Still only using 2-4 sticks with either/and 2 moveable aiders, a 1 and a 3 step. But working on getting comfortable with 2TC for more remote hunts at least.

I am constantly seeing interesting gear that would work with these systems but just keep adding them to a "wish list" for when it becomes time to add or change but I love to over research and think about things until I honestly feel I NEED them.

Too many options on hand gaurantees I'd get to a tree and either realize I dont have some little important part or just forget the order of steps to THAT climbing method. Repeatability seems to be key to making any clumbing method work cleanly, quickly, and quitely!
 
TreeRecon said:
One thing that's helped me is buying a few platforms and leaving things setup in advance. These are areas where I've killed multiple deer. I mean rope in the tree, platform at height, bow pull up already dangling etc. in some cases, a public land legal bow holder already in place too.

I literally show up with my bow and SRT up. It's especially helpful for when you have to walk 15min +

Packing up is also a lot nicer
Click to expand...
This is how I've been doing it this season with platforms but I don't trust leaving my SRT rope in the tree so I leave paracord presets. It's the old time vs money.
 
I've considered making 2 exact replica packs and setups. I almost have enough duplicate items to do so.

When I hunt in the rain, I don't like hanging up my gear to dry overnight and then having to get up extra early to repack my gear that has hopefully all dried out.

If I had a second setup, I could just hang up my wet stuff and then sleep a little longer and grab my secondary that is already dry and good to go. Then, when I returned from the second day hunt, in the evening before bed I could repack the first pack with all the gear that has now hung dry for 24 hours and of course hanged up my second setup to dry.

As far as climbing methods and platforms. I have my pack setup so that I can strap 3 to 5 One sticks on the outside OR stick my climbing steps inside, so I can make that change at will. Also, my platform attachment method to the outside of my pack can be made to work with the 3 platforms I have.
 
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I've been saddle hunting for 4 seasons, now, and still use the same setup I started with. As cool as some of the other methods look, I have resisted the urge to try the other stuff because what I have works and I've gotten familiar with using it, even in the dark. I like keeping it simple, even if it's not the latest and greatest.
 
arm breaker said:
Does anyone ever find themselves longing for multiple saddles, packs/pouches, and the associated accessories for different climbing methods? This is probably along the lines of not being minimal and worrying more about gear than actual deer hunting, but sometimes I don’t know until I’m ready to leave the truck if I want to multi-stick, one-stick, or SRT/rope climb. At that point I don’t want to fiddle with stuff to get my gear packed, minimized, and organized I just want to go hunting.

Sometimes I think back and say I used to do this with a single LW climber (or alpha and sticks) and no extra gear besides a bow, knife, and small flashlight. Now somehow in an effort to be become more mobile, lighter, and ninjaesque I have dozens of ropes, devices, hitches, and sticks to sort through every time I want to get in a tree. I need help.
Click to expand...
I don’t necessarily long for the new items , but I have my share of Xtra stuff and duplicates. Where me and you are mostly similar is not knowing what I’m gonna do til I’m ready to leave the truck! And hunting public land myself, ya gotta have back up plans. I need help too!
I just added an SRT Arsenal and when I do that, I planned on using a different pack(smaller) and raising my bow with the end of the rope. 1 sticking, my bow is on my pack and I go up with everything… You talk about making decisions ? Boy I just added a whole lot more confusion to my saddle life!
Here’s my advice and how I live my life. HAVE FUN!

Exhumis said:
I have a bit different approach - if it helps keep things fresh I’ll try it.
I’m not gonna lie I almost quit hunting. For me it had become like a chore, outside of the thrill of seeing deer. The monotony of setting up stands and sticks, moving crap around, getting up stupid early, achy back from the stand, blah blah. I’ve been hunting a long time and it was just getting old. I happened to stumble across an article by John which he was talking about saddlehunting and I thought huh, that’s sufficiently weird I’ll check it out. Then I stumbled upon rappelling from trees and thought huh, I spent years rappelling why didn’t I think about doing it from a tree I’ll try that. Those things together have kept hunting interesting enough for me that I look forward to doing it. I look at kit and methods as life value items ie what value does this add to my hunting life? How will this change what I’m already doing, and for the better? Is it just the new shiny bauble or is it genuinely better than what I’m doing? Once I settle on a system I tend to stick with it, I loath having tons of crap to drag around and stow, thanks Uncle Sam. However I will say sometimes it’s appropriate and unavoidable; I have a late season coyote hunting setup that’s different than my deer hunting setup due to the nature of the beast. I need more space for my caller, kill kit is different, clothing needs are different, etc. I tried running the same kit year round with just addons and found myself forgetting stuff I just gave up.
Guess the point I’m making is saddlehunting is great in that offers a little of something for everyone, you can be a gear junkie or a minimalist curmudgeon. You do you.
Click to expand...
This ^^^^ Sounds like saddle hunting added FUN back into your hunting!
 
I have been saddle hunting for 4 years too. Each year I have used a different system/method. I'm enjoying always trying different things and finding that one style that I like. It works for some and other simply do not change, nothing wrong with that. But what other are saying is true, if you're not having fun trying new methods, then stop and stick with what you are comfortable with.

A LOT of us here are gear whores, myself included. But again, as long as it doesn't get in the way of food being put on the table, do what is fun. Gear innovation by others and what I can do myself is a part of what I find enjoyable. Hunting is not defined by just going out to the wood and killing a deer. Other will disagree with me, dictionaries also probably disagree with me!

I'll be blunt, shooting a deer from your bedroom window as it eat corn from a feeder is not my vision of 'hunting'. But I think we're all within that example and Clay Hayes who stalk an elk with a selfbow for miles. Listen to all, try all, and discover what is important to you in regards to your ideal.
 
MattMan81 said:
My advice.
Log off this site and never come back. It's to easy to fall into the "it works for someone else" mind set. Oh, they made a movie with an ultra light set up and climb a tree and are set up in 10 minutes in shorts and their back yard. So let me try it hunting. Oh wait, this sucks because now I have extra clothes on. The tree isn't a perfect telephone pole like my yard. Guess I need to try something else.
But yet we are all in the same boat and it doesn't seem to work. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Then guys get burnt out and go back to a climber, stand, or bucket.
My advice it take a good long thought about what you like about hunting and focus on that. @kyler1945 calls it out a lot about guys chasing gear. Not deer. It's not hard to find deer. But some how we let ideas or possible better ideas block out what the name of the game is. Hunting.
Pick a platform, set of sticks and set your pack up. (Or your climber). Take all your other stuff and put it in a bin out of sight. Hunt with that and focus more on the deer. Not the gear. If your not having more fun and enjoying being out there like you use to. Sell that gear you were using and trying something else.
There is no "perfect" set up that climbs ever tree and locations with out issues. Stop over thinking it and go hunt.
Click to expand...
Post of the year right here!!!
 
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