Another new saddle hunter here. Thanks for all the info. I've been hunting the same public land for 19 years now. It's got some steep hills and I'm over a mile back. I switched from a hand climber to a saddle this year. Started watching THP this spring and finally saw a saddle in action. I'd read a little about them before, but didn't know what it was all about. I bought a Tethrd, so they got at least one customer from THP... Then I found this site, and my mind was blown with how much innovation you guys have been doing. I got my Hawk sticks, cut them down, made my knaider/swaider and started practicing. I also ordered rope and parts for an SRT set up. One hunt with the sticks, and I realized they were a pain to haul and set up. Then I put together the 2 tether set up. One hunt with that, and I realized all my trees are bendy, shaggy bark, and the 2 tether set up is also a lot of sweaty work for my trees. I've gone full SRT now and made a few presets after a morning hunt. I found that in the real woods, it's not as hard as the little creek bottom area behind my house because you have room to stand back away from the tree a little. I'm also rocking my sewn loop strap for holding all my gear, kydex bow and quiver hanger, and countless other ideas I got from here. I don't know how I ever bowhunted without them in the past.
Anyway, I had this guy on Halloween corralling a doe and running other bucks off by me for 4 hours, but never got closer than 45 yards. I had to sneak out to get home for trick or treating. I saw him again on Nov 7. I gave a few doe bleats, which I don't think he heard, so I gave him a grunt. He eventually worked his way to me, tearing up scrapes and thrashing trees along the way. I shot him at 30 yards and watched him fall over at about 100 yards. I carted 2 bucks out of this spot last year, and decided I had to do something different. I used my saddle gear and hoisted him up a tree, skinned him, quartered him, and packed him out. It still sucked, but not as bad. I did my version of the gutless method - the elevated gutless method. Next time, I just need to pick a little higher branches so his head is all the way off the ground.
Anyway, I had this guy on Halloween corralling a doe and running other bucks off by me for 4 hours, but never got closer than 45 yards. I had to sneak out to get home for trick or treating. I saw him again on Nov 7. I gave a few doe bleats, which I don't think he heard, so I gave him a grunt. He eventually worked his way to me, tearing up scrapes and thrashing trees along the way. I shot him at 30 yards and watched him fall over at about 100 yards. I carted 2 bucks out of this spot last year, and decided I had to do something different. I used my saddle gear and hoisted him up a tree, skinned him, quartered him, and packed him out. It still sucked, but not as bad. I did my version of the gutless method - the elevated gutless method. Next time, I just need to pick a little higher branches so his head is all the way off the ground.