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Anybody ground hunt out of their saddle?

AJHS said:
I know this sounds a little nuts, but has anyone used their saddle, attached to a tree, but from the ground? I am often very uncomfortable hunting from the ground...I cannot really sit on the ground itself...too uncomfortable, and most of the ground hunting seats I have tried are either bulky, heavy or uncomfortable. It occured to me though that I could use my saddle and tether...no platform, or maybe with the platform...still put the tree between me and the deer and...you get the idea. I'd probably put myself in a full ghillie suit. Anybody tried this?
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yep, someone already mentioned the sit drag

it is used as a saddle with a rock climbing harness as an elevated saddle by some folks, but was meant for on the ground

the sit drag, when used as advertised, is like using a saddle on the ground

i've done it a few time, and it limits your movement but keeps me more comfortable
 
I found a bedroom hallway last winter that I want to hunt this year. My plan is to hang on the ground with a stone wall for the main cover as you cannot hunt the area elevated in the early season due to leaves. The bedding area is ledges in a narrow 4 yr old cut that is now covered in super high stem count black birch. The stone wall and the ledges create a nice funnel with lots of cover leading to the bedding on one side of the cut. The bedding is in the middle of the cut. The cut is only 150 yds wide and the opposite side access is all open hard woods and the back side is a rocky knoll that they avoid if the can. The hallway leads to food on the back side of the cut. It will be an uptight and personal, inside 10 yd encounter if the stars (and wind) align. It appears to be year round bedding area as there is a good scrape line starting at the bed, I found a ton of hair in the bed this spring and this summer there has been signs of regular use.
 
I've done it, mostly when taking a break while scouting or just to stop an observe some deer movement. I thought about during turkey season but didn't give it a chance, but this spring it might be my go to setup.
 
I've actually started using my Mini-Drey like this, without the harness, for certain locations; especially during rifle season. It offers semi-concealed movement, added visibility vs. sitting on the actual ground (I don't carry a chair), and more support/comfort and less movement than standing for a few hours.
 
JC3 said:
Add an ASAT suit, virtually undetectable.
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I mentioned this awhile back in a thread, couple years ago I had a doe bust me from 80+ yards dead upwind across a river with me in brush half behind a tree trunk not moving in an ASAT leafy suit. Really shook my confidence!
 
Someone beat me to the sit-drag. I've always ground hunted off of uncomfortable folding stools. Going forward I'll probably leave them in the truck unless I'm hunting a swamp or something with no suitable trees to suspend from.

If the real estate permits it, bring some pruners and set up a couple of brush blinds before season. Stab some branches into the ground or use jute twine (biodegradable) to lash up some cover. 1.5" PVC cut at an angle will stick in the dirt pretty easy; drop your boughs in those for an instant ground blind. Don't forget back cover.
 
I killed a good buck with a bow doing this last year. Was planning on climbing the tree but with how big the trunk was, cover between me and the field edge, and the shooting lanes it worked better to stay on the ground.
 
woodsdog2 said:
Yes Sir! Great for observation sits too during summer scouting forays. Take one stick or your one-stick and your woodchuck gun! I believe @boyne bowhunter turkey hunts from the ground out of his…… been meaning to try that one myself.
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I never thought about using this for turkey hunting, GREAT IDEA!

A saddle platform makes a lot of sense. I switched from a Tethrd Phantom to a Tethrd ESS, I think having 2 panels will make a "ground sit" better. Not sure how the THP guys do it on their knees, I tried and it is not comfortable
 
jgleas114 said:
I never thought about using this for turkey hunting, GREAT IDEA!

A saddle platform makes a lot of sense. I switched from a Tethrd Phantom to a Tethrd ESS, I think having 2 panels will make a "ground sit" better. Not sure how the THP guys do it on their knees, I tried and it is not comfortable
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They are still young and dumb. ;)
 
If I could magically go back and give myself advice as I was first learning hunting I'd tell myself to saddle hunt but I can't buy/build a climbing method or platform/ros until I kill a couple critters first.
 
That’s pretty much all I use my JX3 for (that and private pre set trees during gun season).
But I will get in the short pines where the cover is real low, and hunt at ground level. Using a tether like normal still puts the tree between me and the deer, and allows me hunt those pine thickets that I can’t climb in.

Also do the same for super deep spots on public where I don’t want to haul everything in. I’ll make little ground blinds and sit the JX3 just like i mentioned above. Works great for me


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Jmarzey said:
Also do the same for super deep spots on public where I don’t want to haul everything in. I’ll make little ground blinds and sit the JX3 just like i mentioned above. Works great for me
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Not having a JX3 I'll have to ask you to forgive my ignorance. Could one attach short legs to the seat? Maybe 6" or so long? Sometimes a good spot is a bit swampy, and it's nice to get some airspace between your legs and the mud.
 
Iron_llama said:
Not having a JX3 I'll have to ask you to forgive my ignorance. Could one attach short legs to the seat? Maybe 6" or so long? Sometimes a good spot is a bit swampy, and it's nice to get some airspace between your legs and the mud.
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It doesn’t have legs but I use it just as I would at height. Tether onto a tree to and sit down as normal. If you’re worried about your feet being in the mid then screw in steps are the ticket. If your state doesn’t allow that then squirrel steps would be my next choice.

Make the blind behind me in that situation to conceal movement from behind


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