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a little advice

Ben_from_PA

Ben_from_PA

New Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2016
Messages
27
Location
Central PA. State college Area
I hunted from my saddle for the first time yesterday. I did about 2.5 hours in it first thing in the morning.

I climbed only about 6 feet up using screw in steps, with 2 steps at the same height at the top for my feet.

My saddle is a sitdrag i modified with an amsteel bridge, probably about 30"in total length. and I use a tree stand safety line with a prussic as my tether with a locking caribiner. I also have a safety harness web belt that i ran through the sitdrag loops, so I am well affixed to the tether, and my lineman loop as I climb.

I was comfortable enough. however as I checked shooting lanes, i found it difficult to position my rifle in a shooting position due to the bridge and tether being in the way right in front of me where the rifle needs to be.

I set the tether as high up as I could reach above my "platform" i'm 5'7" tall so that's like maybe 7feet.

i then shortened my bridge to be about half that length which helped a little since i then had only the tether line in my way instead of the 2 sides of the bridge. but it still is awkward for shooting.

what am I doing wrong?
 
It might be your bridge length. The longer the bridge is, the more vertical of an angle it is going to have coming from your hips to the connection point to the tether. When it is more vertical it can get in the way of trying to shoot. I use a shorter bridge, 24" overall, so 12 on each side of the connection. The bridge length is a balance between finding comfort and maneuverability.
 
redsquirrel said:
It might be your bridge length. The longer the bridge is, the more vertical of an angle it is going to have coming from your hips to the connection point to the tether. When it is more vertical it can get in the way of trying to shoot. I use a shorter bridge, 24" overall, so 12 on each side of the connection. The bridge length is a balance between finding comfort and maneuverability.
Click to expand...

thanks. i'll shorten it for sure. how about your tether height? any recommendations there. as high as I can go, as low, middle?
 
Ben_from_PA said:
thanks. i'll shorten it for sure. how about your tether height? any recommendations there. as high as I can go, as low, middle?
Click to expand...
Mine usually ends up somewhere around the top of my head. You really have to experiment to find what works for you. It can even change on the size of the tree. A larger tree will require a higher tether to give you enough slack to move around the tree. Just try different setups to find what works.
 
thanks. one last question. more of a survey type question since i'm sure it's very individual.... How high do you "sit" above your foot platform? like straight legs and leaning back, or bent legs like you're sitting in a chair? .
 
Ben_from_PA said:
thanks. one last question. more of a survey type question since i'm sure it's very individual.... How high do you "sit" above your foot platform? like straight legs and leaning back, or bent legs like you're sitting in a chair? .
Click to expand...
LOL, you're going to love this answer again. It varies! Some days I sit with my thighs just above horizontal with my knees. Other days I will have my knees a bit straighter. I am never completely standing though. When I get set up in the tree I find what works for any given day by adjusting the tether height and my hookup position. It can all vary based on the size of the tree, and can even be affected by how much bulky clothing I am wearing that day.
 
redsquirrel said:
LOL, you're going to love this answer again. It varies! Some days I sit with my thighs just above horizontal with my knees. Other days I will have my knees a bit straighter. I am never completely standing though. When I get set up in the tree I find what works for any given day by adjusting the tether height and my hookup position. It can all vary based on the size of the tree, and can even be affected by how much bulky clothing I am wearing that day.
Click to expand...
yah i figured. LOL. well i didn't see any bucks yesterday out of mine (buck only in PA until Saturday) but I'm going to be out again over the weekend.

one funny thing about these slings is, for me it really hard to stay still. i kept catching myself gently swinging back and forth or side to side as i got bored. Like as i got antsy I was making myself swing around without thinking about it.
 
HEEE HEEEE

I put one arm through my bridge so I can lean my head on my tether and take a nap :D

It's no wonder I never see any deer!
 
Ben_from_PA said:
yah i figured. LOL. well i didn't see any bucks yesterday out of mine (buck only in PA until Saturday) but I'm going to be out again over the weekend.

one funny thing about these slings is, for me it really hard to stay still. i kept catching myself gently swinging back and forth or side to side as i got bored. Like as i got antsy I was making myself swing around without thinking about it.
Click to expand...
I do the same thing, but I use it to my advantage. I try to get high, and I sway back and forth with my head constantly on a swivel. My goal is to see deer well before they have a chance to see me.
 
redsquirrel said:
I do the same thing, but I use it to my advantage. I try to get high, and I sway back and forth with my head constantly on a swivel. My goal is to see deer well before they have a chance to see me.
Click to expand...

Red you're usually a stickler for safety. I'm not sure I can condone partakin' in the Devil's Tobaccy while in the Saddle. You're better than that.
 
On the other end of the spectrum I have an adjustable bridge and tie my tether chin high and mostly stand the whole time. More of a straight leg lean into the saddle like your leaning against a pool table. No bridge or tether issues, and no unconscious swinging around like Spiderman.:D
 
I lengthened my bridge to 36" and love it. I am left handed so when I have to shoot to my left I put my right arm through bridge. Right handed shots depending on where they are I can shoot just by leaning out a bit


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I use a short bridge, and about a nose/chin height tether. That combo wouldn't work well for sitting, I don't think (hip pinch), but I lean into the seat and it works great for that.


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IkemanTX said:
I use a short bridge, and about a nose/chin height tether. That combo wouldn't work well for sitting, I don't think (hip pinch), but I lean into the seat and it works great for that.


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Click to expand...

X2. And when you bend your knees into the tree to rest, it doesn't seem as hard on your knees. I only wear 1 knee pad now and works great.
 
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