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Demonstration with Nasty Tree?

GodsCountry

GodsCountry

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2018
Messages
91
Good morning, SH.

Do any of you know of any videos out there of a saddle being set up in tree with a decent amount of limbs?

I’m considering taking the plunge, but every demo I’ve seen is basically a telephone pole. I understand this is mostly for ease of filming.
 
What exactly are you wanting to see?

Like a hang on, wherever you are going to be, there can’t be branches between your platform and tether(coming off the tree in the direction you’re sitting). They can come off sides or opposite side of the tree.

It’s no different in this regard.

If you’re talking about climbing a tree with limbs - it’s no different with a saddle or hangon, climbing is climbing and should be done the same way regardless of butts final destination.

If you can help with exactly what you’re looking to see or accomplish I can probably help
 
I'm working on a series of videos about climbing and setting up. I'll make sure to include a tree full of limbs. The issue I always run into with lots of limbs is how to get my bow up. I generally climb back down and carry it up, but I hate doing it. This isn't really a saddle/t*** s**** issue, it's just a climbing issue and I don't know of a really good fix for it other than climbing with the bow attached to my body.
 
If I get back to the spot I was in last week I will try and film it. But its almost on top of a bed which I didn't see till I was in it. Maybe ruined now. I find limited shooting angles is often the deciding factor for me as well in what tree I use and how high I go.
 
GodsCountry said:
Good morning, SH.

Do any of you know of any videos out there of a saddle being set up in tree with a decent amount of limbs?

I’m considering taking the plunge, but every demo I’ve seen is basically a telephone pole. I understand this is mostly for ease of filming.
Click to expand...
while I don't have a video of it, I use two tethers rigged exactly the same so I climb with one, reach limb, hook second tether up above limb, attach second tether to RCH then detach first tether and move up. If I get time this weekend I may put something together in the form of a quick video. All in all my method NEVER allows for unhooking from the tree during climb and descent.
 
g2outdoors said:
I'm working on a series of videos about climbing and setting up. I'll make sure to include a tree full of limbs. The issue I always run into with lots of limbs is how to get my bow up. I generally climb back down and carry it up, but I hate doing it. This isn't really a saddle/t*** s**** issue, it's just a climbing issue and I don't know of a really good fix for it other than climbing with the bow attached to my body.
Click to expand...

Only thing that I have found that works for me is a grapple hook. Lay my bow down next to the tree, climb up, and drop the hook down and pull it up. Weighs a couple ounces (I think I used a 3oz snagging treble), and can always use it to pull up my pack and extra clothes.

I don't like using it for my bow, but it does work. Just need to take 30 seconds to think about where to lay your bow so its easy to reach. Most trees I can use it, some with crazy branches you might have to carry/strap to your back, but you only need one small spot to pull it up. And honestly I've been able to weave it around branches well, especially cause the grapple hook will let you drop the hook where you want it, and not where you climbed like if you tie it to your saddle.

Food for thought. Think mine cost me like $10 for two hooks and some paracord on amazon with prime.
 
If this doesn’t count as a “nasty tree” then I’m not sure what would lol. A maple with a TON of small branches. Was a complete pain to climb but I made it and the cover was awesome! I just use two lineman’s and leave them both hooked up so I can jump over branches.
36b24f5a5aa030a5ec38db1e193e1df5.jpg




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
flinginairos said:
If this doesn’t count as a “nasty tree” then I’m not sure what would lol. A maple with a TON of small branches. Was a complete pain to climb but I made it and the cover was awesome! I just use two lineman’s and leave them both hooked up so I can jump over branches.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it was a pain to climb, but looks like a great tree for cover. I am leaning toward making a multi-purpose line like the arborists use (tether and linemans or dual linesman), this makes me want to climb a tree like this and try it.
 
Thank you all for the replies, and willingness to help.

My concern is mostly shot opportunities in conjunction with adequate cover, not necessarily the climb. For reference, I’m currently using a LW Assault and sticks.

With a saddle, I envision having to trim the platform side of the tree, AND opposite side of the tree for shot opportunities. I suppose this is the catch 22 of 360 coverage.

I’m don’t have the time to prep 60 trees a year pre-season, but I don’t mind taking 15 minutes to do some minor trimming. I also don’t want to hunt telephone poles. I did enough of that with my summit!

I’d love to see a video demo from any of you. Even a simple oak with limbs to work around.
 
I can't top @sureshotscott not in a million years. But here are some shots of one the trees I practiced on. Once I was past the first 3 limbs @ about 15ft a couple shot angles I couldn't see from the ground opened up. Sorry about the images being dark but nothing I could do about the sun setting. 20181030_192739.jpg20181030_192714.jpg
 
GodsCountry said:
Good morning, SH.

Do any of you know of any videos out there of a saddle being set up in tree with a decent amount of limbs?

I’m considering taking the plunge, but every demo I’ve seen is basically a telephone pole. I understand this is mostly for ease of filming.
Click to expand...

I don’t have a picture or video, but limby trees are my favorite. If I can find a torso sized hole to shoot through I’m a happy camper.

Also, @Scoutman loves setting up in, or against, thick junipers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
GodsCountry said:
Thank you all for the replies, and willingness to help.

My concern is mostly shot opportunities in conjunction with adequate cover, not necessarily the climb. For reference, I’m currently using a LW Assault and sticks.

With a saddle, I envision having to trim the platform side of the tree, AND opposite side of the tree for shot opportunities. I suppose this is the catch 22 of 360 coverage.

I’m don’t have the time to prep 60 trees a year pre-season, but I don’t mind taking 15 minutes to do some minor trimming. I also don’t want to hunt telephone poles. I did enough of that with my summit!

I’d love to see a video demo from any of you. Even a simple oak with limbs to work around.
Click to expand...

With those trees like that you have to treat your shot selection more like a treestand. Rarely will you will able to shoot 360 from a tree like that. You don’t want to cut away all your cover so you have to pick one or two spots you can shoot and hope you picked the right spot when the deer come In. If I don’t think the tree will give me a shot along with good cover I won’t use it. It takes some practice to pick the right tree that’s for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
@flinginairos is right. I would never trim 360 degrees of shooting lanes. I'd just take what the tree gave me. I never *want* to take a weak side shot anyway. I can if I have to, but I'd much rather plan to take the strong side, top shot, or drop shot. Those 3 angles require very little movement.
 
There is a big misconception with a lot of the commonly used phrases tossed around as benefits of the saddle. You can hunt any tree with a saddle BUT you may have to prep the tree before you can hunt it. I.E. not all trees are practical for a mobile hunt. Where there is a will there is a way and you can hunt it with a saddle. You just might have to get the tree ready first. When I hunt preset trees my only limitation in diameter is that I can get my lineman's belt around it. When I hunt mobile I much prefer to hunt smaller trees if I can because they're easier. Prepping trees like this in advance is one thing that separates @John Eberhart from most people. One time when I was talking with him he was telling me about a tree he prepped. I think he said it took something like 8 hours of work to get the spot ready.
 
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