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Approximate time for setup.

H

Huntandfish va

New Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2018
Messages
3
Gents,

After my first couple of hangs since the season opened I’m sold on the saddle method. Ease of portability to get me back into the marshes I hunt is hands down superior to dragging a climber. That being said I’m curious to see how long it is generally taking you all to get from base of tree to set up and what method for climbing you are using. From base of tree to fully set up it’s probably taking me approximately 20-25 minutes. Length of time is influenced by me trying to be as quiet as possible. My climbing method is two etriers I repurposed from my climbing gear and I can pretty much go as high as I want with just these two.

Anyways looking forward to seeing the times and methods.

Huntandfishva
 
Huntandfish va said:
Gents,

After my first couple of hangs since the season opened I’m sold on the saddle method. Ease of portability to get me back into the marshes I hunt is hands down superior to dragging a climber. That being said I’m curious to see how long it is generally taking you all to get from base of tree to set up and what method for climbing you are using. From base of tree to fully set up it’s probably taking me approximately 20-25 minutes. Length of time is influenced by me trying to be as quiet as possible. My climbing method is two etriers I repurposed from my climbing gear and I can pretty much go as high as I want with just these two.

Anyways looking forward to seeing the times and methods.

Huntandfishva
Click to expand...
To be honest this is kind of an issue for me too. Had my treestand set up down to a science, but setting up my saddle is taking a while.
 
I was stoked today when i was able to tear down in 20 mins. The set up is not so great. The aider thing is my biggest weakness.


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I use 3 sticks with a couple aiders and set 2-4 screw ins for a platform. I usually end up over 20ft and set up in under 15 min. If it s a tree I’ve climbed before it’s faster as I know the height I need to hit.
 
First hunt of this season took me 30 minutes easily. I have got my setup with my wildedge steps dialed in with the knaider and swaider now. I walk in with my bow attached to my pack, then wild edge steps over one shoulder, then the predator over the other. The order is important because the predator needs to come off first. I climb with the pack on.

Depending on the walk-in, I might already have my knaider and swaider on, if not they are in my pocket and take a few seconds to slap on and up I go. I haven't timed it but I'm thinking about 15 minutes to get an arrow knocked
 
See my "bolt climb video" thread. I'm under 15 minutes drilling a new tree in it. After watching that video and making some notes and practicing, I can hit 20ft in a shade over 10 minutes on a good tree.

I did this yesterday about 20 yards from a bedded spike. He got up once I was about 10ft up and started looking around. He browsed for a bit, and eventually kinda trotted off. More of a "bump" than a spook, and I really think he saw a glimpse of me once I got up that high. Thicker cover and I think he would have stayed put.

Gear management is a huge part of setup time. I think that on average, saddle hunters carry more pieces of gear than climber users.
 
I have struggled with this as well the first few outings. Each time I make notes of what sucked and make adjustments.! I have more to go but every time is a learning experience which makes you better and more efficient. I will say the last time I went I setup my 4 Muddy sticks and predator platform first then went back down and out on warmer gear (I’m in northern MN, we have already had snow man!) otherwise I’m sweating bullets by the time I’m setup. I’m guessing it took me 15-20 minutes total. I have bolts and an ez cut but have been worried I will sweat more drilling on site but maybe I need to watch nutters video and try that next time.


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I was 20 minutes with a hang on stand and about 18 yesterday with a saddle. I find I get quicker and quicker as I get used to it. My biggest problem lately has been forgetting to take my gear hanger out of the bag before climbing. There's probably an extra minute of fiddle fartin' around right there. That and not getting the spacing of my sticks right. Once the aider is on sometimes I realize I need to bump my stick height up a bit.
 
Nutterbuster said:
See my "bolt climb video" thread. I'm under 15 minutes drilling a new tree in it. After watching that video and making some notes and practicing, I can hit 20ft in a shade over 10 minutes on a good tree.

I did this yesterday about 20 yards from a bedded spike. He got up once I was about 10ft up and started looking around. He browsed for a bit, and eventually kinda trotted off. More of a "bump" than a spook, and I really think he saw a glimpse of me once I got up that high. Thicker cover and I think he would have stayed put.

Gear management is a huge part of setup time. I think that on average, saddle hunters carry more pieces of gear than climber users.
Click to expand...
Agree 100% on carrying more gear.
 
For me 5ish minutes to over an hour. A preset tree I can have my 4 sticks up and be swinging quick. But two of the places I hunt are planted pines which the other hunters ignore. The pine trees can take a long time for me to get up because I hunt the edges loaded with branches that need trimmed. Trying to trim quietly takes me forever.
 
I haven’t timed it yet, but it probably takes me give or take 10 minutes with 3 sticks and a moveable aider to get set up with either a saddle or a lock on. That includes a 4th arrow arm and camera. Stealth strips and inner tube on the sticks and buckles make a big difference in setting up quick and also quiet.


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My issue is definitely all the pieces of gear and especially all the dang ropes and straps all over the place. My buddy and i did a challenge between climber and saddle set up 3 heliums and an xop platform. The climber smokes the saddle. I gotta get it to where I can convince him it is quicker and better.


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Aeds151 said:
My issue is definitely all the pieces of gear and especially all the dang ropes and straps all over the place. My buddy and i did a challenge between climber and saddle set up 3 heliums and an xop platform. The climber smokes the saddle. I gotta get it to where I can convince him it is quicker and better.


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Click to expand...

Try the race in a tree with branches. See who wins...

The advantage over a climber is not speed up a tree. It’s not carrying the damn thing, and hunting out of trees with branches, which they tend to have.
 
kyler1945 said:
Try the race in a tree with branches. See who wins...

The advantage over a climber is not speed up a tree. It’s not carrying the damn thing, and hunting out of trees with branches, which they tend to have.
Click to expand...
I put myself in a tree yesterday in a GREAT new spot that I wouldn't have ever remotely considered with a climber or a lock on.
 
I take as long as it takes to get up quietly and with little movement. Seriously, I just do not understand the obsession with how fast - that IMO should be one of the last considerations. There are times I stand at the base of my tree for 15-20 minutes watching and listening before I set my first stick. And I cannot tell you how many times I pulled my bow up, while standing on a stick setting things up, and either shot a deer or had a close call.

IMO the folks worried about setting up quickly are also the ones that tend to have really sloppy approached to their stand. I think we all would be amazed if we knew how many bucks we educate on out set ups.... I often set a trail camera up at my stand location after a hunt, especially if I do not plan to come back that season, and I often get pics of nice bucks moments after I leave.... I honestly believe in those cases the buck was in his bed I was hunting and heard or saw me.... and I am careful on all aspects of approach and setting up.
 
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I have about 6 sits in a saddle so far. Each one gets easier, however each tree is different. My biggest issues is the aider, ring of steps, and soon cold fingers trying to get everything set up.

The aider is ususally a balancing act, so I usually keep it hanging off the bottom step. Coming down is much more difficult, and I havent mastered it yet. I'd like to have a 2 or 3 step aider to the first stick and then a 1 step aider on the second and third stick.

The ring of steps is just a guessing game to get it tight and lined up good with the top stick.

I have a feeling cold temps are going to play havoc on my fingers, and getting my numb fingers to work right when frozen is going to be a challenge.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Mechanix-Wea...693686&sr=8-20&keywords=mechanix+brown+gloves

You don't have to get the camo ones, some like the yellow in case they drop them.

But I'll never set another climbing stick, stepp, or ring of steps without gloves on. Cold wet hands getting knuckles torn up sucks. Climbing with gloves makes a huge difference. Also, don't just throw them on and expect to be good with them, they take practice just like your other gear. Losing sensitivity in your fingertips requires some getting used to.
 
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