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Feedback on my proposed first saddle setup

TommyDee

TommyDee

Active Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2020
Messages
199
Location
Somerset/Morris/Hunterton NJ
First, thanks to all on here for taking the time to answer rookie questions, there are a lot of us here due to Covid 19. Was a short-time PA rifle hunter as a youth, out of the game 25 years, live in Jersey, just completed my first year bowhunting. I've been blessed with a clean doe harvest, and really enjoying the limited sits I've had this fall chasing buck. I'm running lone wolf sticks and a cheap, noisy, heavy hang on that i'm getting tired of lugging into the woods. I know that i'd be happier in a saddle. Planning to buy now, and scout/hunt some new areas in our winter bow season, so come next season i can jump right into it come September. So, I'm good with 5-6 week lead times, since that is what it's looking like. Would appreciate any guidance with the plan below I'm 6'1", 195, 34" waist, Probably need the most help on a platform choice :

1. Saddle: Treehopper recon $160
2. linesman belt: reuse the one with my muddy harness...upgraded with ropeman 1. (rope is a bit snaggy on bark, though) 0
3. Treestrap for gear - repurpose muddy harness safety tehter, use carabiners.... 0
4. Tree tether - where to buy a la carte? (Treehopper doesn't carry, best source that is safe, but not overly pricey? $50?
5. Platform or ROS to start? i guess i'll splurge on the TL mission, since i'm a size 13 boot. $170 (other options? anyone try the $99 one that treehopper sells?) Also considered getting the lone wolf handclimber, since i can use that in lieu of the sticks about 50% of the trees i encounter....but some recent posts make that seem a bit risky.
6. bow hook?

I guess that gets me going for about $400, which i can live with. Missing anything? (recon comes with a dump pouch, and i usually just shove the linesman belt in my front left pocket.)

If you want to sell me something, feel free to PM me.
 
Welcome to the club!

If money is a consideration, you can make your own tether for less than $50. Also, you can use a prusik tender instead of a ropeman.

For a platform, I use a primal step with plywood (search the site for info) and it works great. I haven't used the ambush but it seems awesome.

The only thing I can think of is how are you doing to climb the tree?
 
I’ve got lone wolf sticks for my stand, I run 3 with an aider on the bottom of 1, and push the spacing. Thanks for taking the time, going to check out the plywood route, have a nice scrap piec.


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Last edited:
When the lone wolf becomes available (currently sold out) I will be hopefully switching to it if I can get my hands on it..."stick" and platform all in one. Rappel down the tree with an ATC and Prussic as a safety. YouTube it. If I can't get my hands on a lone wolf hand climber I will cut one of my hawk's down to 20" and add an aider for one stick.

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TommyDee said:
First, thanks to all on here for taking the time to answer rookie questions, there are a lot of us here due to Covid 19. Was a short-time PA rifle hunter as a youth, out of the game 25 years, live in Jersey, just completed my first year bowhunting. I've been blessed with a clean doe harvest, and really enjoying the limited sits I've had this fall chasing buck. I'm running lone wolf sticks and a cheap, noisy, heavy hang on that i'm getting tired of lugging into the woods. I know that i'd be happier in a saddle. Planning to buy now, and scout/hunt some new areas in our winter bow season, so come next season i can jump right into it come September. So, I'm good with 5-6 week lead times, since that is what it's looking like. Would appreciate any guidance with the plan below I'm 6'1", 195, 34" waist, Probably need the most help on a platform choice :

1. Saddle: Treehopper recon $160
2. linesman belt: reuse the one with my muddy harness...upgraded with ropeman 1. (rope is a bit snaggy on bark, though) 0
3. Treestrap for gear - repurpose muddy harness safety tehter, use carabiners.... 0
4. Tree tether - where to buy a la carte? (Treehopper doesn't carry, best source that is safe, but not overly pricey? $50?
5. Platform or ROS to start? i guess i'll splurge on the TL mission, since i'm a size 13 boot. $170 (other options? anyone try the $99 one that treehopper sells?) Also considered getting the lone wolf handclimber, since i can use that in lieu of the sticks about 50% of the trees i encounter....but some recent posts make that seem a bit risky.
6. bow hook?

I guess that gets me going for about $400, which i can live with. Missing anything? (recon comes with a dump pouch, and i usually just shove the linesman belt in my front left pocket.)

If you want to sell me something, feel free to PM me.
Click to expand...
I am right there with ya buddy. I went from a LW sit and climb to LW sticks and an assault II. Now, tired of hauling the heavy stand miles into public land, I am getting into the saddle game. I opted for the Trophyline Recon Lite and then, once released (on Black Friday), the Recon. For a platform, I went with the Tethrd Predator. For linesman belt, I built my own using 10mm Sterling HTPO Static rope from Eastern Woods Outdoors (11' @ ~$11.98), Ropeman 1, and auto locking Black Diamond carabiner I got on sale from REI. My current tether is the HSS rope style tether with another on sale carabiner and Ropeman 1 (contemplating on changing soon to a Predator Tether rope from Eastern Woods Outdoors). The only aspect of my system that I am not sure of is a pack...lots of good options but the only "great" options I see is the Kifaru Stryker and that is way too expensive!! lol. Check out the DIY sportsman website or the same name on YouTube...dude is a goldmine for information! Good luck to you!!
 
Thanks, man, great info! I’ll be honest, I was going nuts trying to mix and match, checking the classifieds, ....then latitude Black Friday hit, and I decided there was good value there....and their starter kit makes the lineman’s belt and tether a foolproof way up the tree for not much more than buying the parts separate. I’ll try their prusik tenders first, I’ve already clanked my ropeman1 a few times, and it’s too fat for my new opilux

The other factor, the woman in my life reacts better to one more expensive hunting gear package showing up than 6 little ones, even if the cost of the 6 little ones combined is 1/2 of the one big one. Go figure.

I’m managing to get up my lonewolfs strapping in a steel Walmart style stand. (At least you have one from this millennium)

Love my lonewolfs....but Getting them through the thick stuff has been a challenge in some places where I’m hunting. This time of year public, NJ, you need to bushwhack to get to where the deer might be, so my guess is I’ll be pawning them for some shorter double steps before too long....the lone wolf hand climber doesn’t seem reliable enough. Seems too likely to end up hanging from the tether with the platform busted or at the bottom of the tree.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TommyDee said:
Thanks, man, great info! I’ll be honest, I was going nuts trying to mix and match, checking the classifieds, ....then latitude Black Friday hit, and I decided there was good value there....and their starter kit makes the lineman’s belt and tether a foolproof way up the tree for not much more than buying the parts separate. I’ll try their prusik tenders first, I’ve already clanked my ropeman1 a few times, and it’s too fat for my new opilux

The other factor, the woman in my life reacts better to one more expensive hunting gear package showing up than 6 little ones, even if the cost of the 6 little ones combined is 1/2 of the one big one. Go figure.

I’m managing to get up my lonewolfs strapping in a steel Walmart style stand. (At least you have one from this millennium)

Love my lonewolfs....but Getting them through the thick stuff has been a challenge in some places where I’m hunting. This time of year public, NJ, you need to bushwhack to get to where the deer might be, so my guess is I’ll be pawning them for some shorter double steps before too long....the lone wolf hand climber doesn’t seem reliable enough. Seems too likely to end up hanging from the tether with the platform busted or at the bottom of the tree.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
That funny, my wife is the exact same way!! lol.
 
Id suggest a visit to Eastern Woods Outdoors. (Doublesteps.com)A few of your equipment questions can be researched here and believe me you will end up upgrading/ replacing as you go , on here anyway.

Predator is a good enough platform that I feel do not need to upgrade!
Im only a size 9.5 - yes you want an XL style.
Ropes - buy on classifieds here
 
Hey guys, new to the site and bought my first saddle setup to start using with my post season scouting. Been using a summit climber for the past three years, yes thats my entire hunting career at 38 years young. Got it to it late but trying to make up for lost time with forums like this and as much info from others as possible. I went the package route and got a tethred phantom setup without the platform. Im going to use pre set locations with tree steps to get up and steps for a "platform".

I was wondering if this set will come with any issues I should be aware of. The more I read on here the more I see a lot of mix and match or diy modifications.

Either way I am happy to not be lugging that heavy noisy climber on my shoulders anymore.

Thanks and good hunting from Canada !!
 
Come to the light, the JX3 tree saddle light..............
Don't be afraid, you will sit from dark to dark very comfortably, be able to snooze when you want, no dreaded hip pinch, no back aches, you can shoot 360° around the tree.
No platform required, only a ROS, no knee pads required, no sore knees, built in pack frame for carrying all your needs.
Come to the light, the JX3 light...........
 
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