• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Recent content by GravityTension

  1. GravityTension

    Leaving rappel rope/tether over night

    Cavers leave fixed lines for years. HowKnot2 has a YouTube video where they test the breaking strength of cave lines decades old and break strength was surprisingly high; above any reasonable saddle hunter's weight. I leave a few fixed 25ft lines of Sterling Canyon 9mm attached to metal...
  2. GravityTension

    Anyone seeing chasing already?

    Also in WNY. I shot a doe in a group of four the other day and two minutes later two bucks ran right down the same path. Would have made it a two'fer but they were on a mission and could not stop them. Definitely chasing the ladies. Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
  3. GravityTension

    is 1 sticking a fad.

    For me all roads lead to fixed SRT with an ascender. I'm only 1-sticking, drilling, or using tree sticks the first time into trees that I'm probably never going to hunt again OR putting a fixed rope or paracord loops into. If I like a spot enough to come back it gets paracord; if I really like a...
  4. GravityTension

    ROS plus Platform?

    I hunted out of a Latitude X-wing with an OCB including 4 squirrel steps all last season and it was very comfortable and stable. The only problem I ran into was that if I had my ROS too tight it was hard to cam over and set the platform (ie. it was TOO stable). It's a very adaptable system...
  5. GravityTension

    Talk me out of bolts

    Why not just use a quick link and ascend with a foot loop? That's mainly how I've been hunting this year and it's pretty light, quick, secure. You can use a tended prusic on a carabiner if you don't want to spend the money, or use a spare Kong duck or Ropeman. Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
  6. GravityTension

    Bolts in softwoods

    Follow up: I bolted a birch tree later today and was absolutely fine. Learned my lesson with willows.
  7. GravityTension

    Bolts in softwoods

    For reference Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
  8. GravityTension

    Bolts in softwoods

    Different methods for different trees is definitely something I've learned this year. Willows are usually trees that I have no problem getting into with ropes and an ascended, but maybe I should keep the bolts for smaller trees or trees with thin bark. I sure as hell wouldn't one stick into...
  9. GravityTension

    Bolts in softwoods

    Slight upward angle (acute angle up). I'll take a picture when I rappel down, but it looks like the bolt settled into the wood a lot, reaching a roughly 90 degree angle in some spots. Edit: 215 lbs, obviously was using a linemans primarily to hold me into the tree. Time for a diet I guess...
  10. GravityTension

    Bolts in softwoods

    Hey all, First time climbing bolts this morning and I had a less than safe experience drilling into a willow tree. Half way up to hunting height I had the realization that this might not be the best climbing style for something with thick bark and a soft interior. Luckily I was also tethered...
  11. GravityTension

    Live from the saddle 2022

    Not usually, but the wind today made it very unlikely that anything was going to come from that direction. I was hoping something would come from my right (heavy cover) so I could get back on the platform for a strong side shot. Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
  12. GravityTension

    Live from the saddle 2022

    Day two Upstate New York private. Chilly morning, even the Amish seem cold.
  13. GravityTension

    Live from the saddle 2022

    NY season is finally open. I made a friend. Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
  14. GravityTension

    Saddle Death… Stay safe out there.

    Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents here. I think there is something to say about how much surface area is present in a saddle or suspension system that we are not fully appreciating. I had a few experiences in a size normal Phantom where the thing either slid up on me or I was in a weird...
  15. GravityTension

    Have you had a fall climbing?

    Closest thing to a fall I had was when I was putting some Ameristep screw ins on an old willow tree. I had just taken my lineman's belt off to pass a limb when the step I just installed shifted position a bit, and I went backwards. Luckily, being a willow, there was a large limb behind me and it...
See more
Back
Top