Another noob from Michigan!

[WhiskeyTango]

Hello all!


Another Michigander here! I live in the Detroit Metro area and hunt primarily just outside Baldwin. I stumbled across this place thanks to DIY Sportsman’s (bowhunter15 here) YouTube channel.


I got interested in climbing methods a few years back after a hunting buddy had a near-miss. Thankfully the only things damaged were his pride and, perhaps, his underwear. While he began to ponder alternative undergarments, I began to think there had to be a safer way to go about this whole thing...


I discovered arborist climbing and then tree camping long before finding saddle hunting. (That’s too bad, because I probably could have saved myself several evolutions and a lot of money, lol!)


I’m still very much in the beginner phase with things. I’m looking towards SRT as my preferred climbing method, but for now am still relying on sticks. My current set are LW’s with a homemade extension on the bottom two. I haven’t transitioned to saddle hunting yet, but that’s where I’m headed. This season, I’m still sitting a ladder stand on public land and elevated box blinds on private.


For climbing gear (aside from the sticks), I’m running a New Tribe Champion saddle (which they quit making this year), a Gri Gri 2, and a DIY lineman’s belt made from BlueWater Ropes’ Assaultline. I also use Assaultline for safety lines on each of the stands I hunt along with prusiks made using HRC 8mm prusik cord. I’ve also got a growing stable of carabiners and a couple of pinto pulleys.


I’m looking forward to learning a lot from you guys! From what I’ve seen so far, this is a great bunch!




WT

 

[redsquirrel]

Welcome to saddlehunter!!

 

[ricky racer]

Welcome aboard! I spent many years hunting near Peacock, just north of Baldwin.

 

[WhiskeyTango]

Welcome aboard! I spent many years hunting near Peacock, just north of Baldwin.

We bought my daughter’s ATV at Peacock’s (on the South end of Peacock Twp) 4 years ago. I know the area! We’re not far from there at all (down near Na-Tah-Ka South on the edge of the Manistee Nat’l Forrest). The deer have been a bit sparse the last couple years, but things are looking better so far this year, and the acorn crop seems to be way down!


WT

 

[ricky racer]

We bought my daughter’s ATV at Peacock’s (on the South end of Peacock Twp) 4 years ago. I know the area! We’re not far from there at all (down near Na-Tah-Ka South on the edge of the Manistee Nat’l Forrest). The deer have been a bit sparse the last couple years, but things are looking better so far this year, and the acorn crop seems to be way down!


WT

My buddy and I owned a hunting camp just down the road from Na-Tah-Ka Tavern by Sable Lake.

 

[Bigterp]

Welcome, sound like you're already neck deep in it!