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Feedback on Set-Up?

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dtaylor60

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2021
Messages
10
Hey folks.

Thanks for all the great posts and info. New to saddle hunting this year and I was hoping for feedback (constructive) on my set up. I'm using a Tethrd Phantom saddle with 4 LW climbing sticks and a Predator platform. System: first stick on the tree, 2nd stick on shoulder (using cable aider as sling), 3/4 sticks attached to saddle using Gear Ties. Sticks have been modified with EWO double-steps and Tethrd Versa Straps. Up the tree with lineman's belt using Ropeman Ascender -- once platform is up, I throw in a bow hook and then use the Tethrd gear strap and S hooks for pack. Tether has also been modified with Ropeman Ascender. Back-up is climbing loop from Prussic knot onto tether carabiner. So far, it seems to work. I worry about not getting enough height -- haven't killed a deer yet -- and how best to judge height from the tree. Are there ways to lighten the overall load? Any suggestions appreciated and thank you in advance for feedback.
 
Do some research on aiders, You can probably drop at least one of the sticks to lighten the load a little bit. As far as hunting height goes, that's going to be dictated by your surroundings and time of the year that you're hunting... Right now in Minnesota the leaves are falling rapidly so it's best to be up higher as to not be in eyesight, but earlier in the season you don't have to get so high because you have some foliage coverage. Personally I hunt anywhere from 12 to 20 ft, just so that I don't have to haul a bunch of gear out to get up higher. One sticking is also an option but has a learning curve. I have done the one sticking method many times and it has worked out well, and there are other times where I just don't want to deal with it anymore.
Climbing sticks always give you the ability to climb just about every tree out there. Also putting a top of stick platform on your stick helps a stick perform double duty, then you could lighten the load not carrying a predator out as well. Right now I hunt with two climbing sticks with a versa button aider that I move along with me and a third stick that has a platform on the top of it. I also have a couple of squirrel steps that I put on either side of the tree at about 10:00 and 2:00 so that I can get 360° around the tree. It's not a perfect method but it's the method that is most comfortable to me. Mobile hunting itself is a neverending journey to find the perfect system.
 
Thank you so much — great ideas. I have some aiders but the one I like best is the EWO wire one. The others are fabric types and aren’t as easy to use. I also have that traveling aider so maybe I will try that. What are the squirrel steps and do you recommend a top stick platform. Finally, what do you see as primary advantage of saddle vs. climber? Thanks again — very helpful!
 
I run two full-length sticks with cable aiders all season. I do carry a screw-in or two in my pocket as well.
 
Welcome to the site!

If you like climbers you should look into the Lone Wolf Hand Climber seat. It's one of my favorite ways to climb and it weighs around four pounds. It's probably too late in the season to start now though.

I think it would be worth it to put a small stand like the scout on the top step to save time and weight.

Squirrel steps are strap on steps that you can put on at platform height so you can walk around the tree.
 
MNMosquitoAssassin said:
Do some research on aiders, You can probably drop at least one of the sticks to lighten the load a little bit. As far as hunting height goes, that's going to be dictated by your surroundings and time of the year that you're hunting... Right now in Minnesota the leaves are falling rapidly so it's best to be up higher as to not be in eyesight, but earlier in the season you don't have to get so high because you have some foliage coverage. Personally I hunt anywhere from 12 to 20 ft, just so that I don't have to haul a bunch of gear out to get up higher. One sticking is also an option but has a learning curve. I have done the one sticking method many times and it has worked out well, and there are other times where I just don't want to deal with it anymore.
Climbing sticks always give you the ability to climb just about every tree out there. Also putting a top of stick platform on your stick helps a stick perform double duty, then you could lighten the load not carrying a predator out as well. Right now I hunt with two climbing sticks with a versa button aider that I move along with me and a third stick that has a platform on the top of it. I also have a couple of squirrel steps that I put on either side of the tree at about 10:00 and 2:00 so that I can get 360° around the tree. It's not a perfect method but it's the method that is most comfortable to me. Mobile hunting itself is a neverending journey to find the perfect system.
Click to expand...
^^^ What he said 100%. It is great to search the forums and glean from others, but ultimately you have to find a system that works for YOU. For example, I watched a YouTube where a guy used a black diamond 4 step aider and three sticks. He made moving the aider with every step look so easy. I bought the aider, and the system did not work so great for me; I was not too fond of it and didn't feel safe. I switched to a single cable aider on each step, and I love it. I am still trying different systems and ways to get it done!. If I like my setup, I will use my setup and be in the woods more, and so will you. Enjoy and stay safe!!
 
I agree with what’s been already. For me the hardest decision is climbing system. Still not 100% set on that. At height for me was the easier part of it all

lightening the load. The hand climber is an option or ROS. Getting yourself a pack that holds weight more comfortably as well is a big part in my opinion
 
Yes, working on climbing strategies but also how to have the most efficient gear set-up load. EWO is currently out of the wire aiders but as soon as they are in stock, I'm going with all of those on my LW sticks.

Any thoughts on the Ropeman or the best top of stick platform?

Advice already is awesome and much appreciated. Thanks!
 
I like the ropeman on a linesman. I hunt from a stand, so no platform opinions ha
 
dtaylor60 said:
Thank you so much — great ideas. I have some aiders but the one I like best is the EWO wire one. The others are fabric types and aren’t as easy to use. I also have that traveling aider so maybe I will try that. What are the squirrel steps and do you recommend a top stick platform. Finally, what do you see as primary advantage of saddle vs. climber? Thanks again — very helpful!
Click to expand...
Squirrel steps are an aluminum step that is either grouped together with a couple of other ones on a strap to make a ring of steps or you can use them to be on a strap alone and use them as a climbing method... I personally have used the slanted scout and flat scout on the top of stick and I prefer the slanted version but I have settled on an artisan outdoors top of thick platform that is meant to be installed on the front of the stick and go over the top towards the tree, but I have mine on the back side of the stick coming out so it's sort of like a flat scout. I found it to be the most comfortable for me, so far, along with the two steps one on each side. Not only can I one stick with the stick and top of stick platform combo but I can throw it in with a couple of other sticks as a climbing method as well.
 
MNMosquitoAssassin said:
Squirrel steps are an aluminum step that is either grouped together with a couple of other ones on a strap to make a ring of steps or you can use them to be on a strap alone and use them as a climbing method... I personally have used the slanted scout and flat scout on the top of stick and I prefer the slanted version but I have settled on an artisan outdoors top of thick platform that is meant to be installed on the front of the stick and go over the top towards the tree, but I have mine on the back side of the stick coming out so it's sort of like a flat scout. I found it to be the most comfortable for me, so far, along with the two steps one on each side. Not only can I one stick with the stick and top of stick platform combo but I can throw it in with a couple of other sticks as a climbing method as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips.... As has been mentioned, preferences for climbing are all over the map. The more I dig into it, the more it seems like having a one stick in the mix might also be a good thing. Initially to get pretty good height off the ground, eventually perhaps doing the one stick method. Do you think 2 squirrel steps are enough to start?
 
dtaylor60 said:
Thanks for the tips.... As has been mentioned, preferences for climbing are all over the map. The more I dig into it, the more it seems like having a one stick in the mix might also be a good thing. Initially to get pretty good height off the ground, eventually perhaps doing the one stick method. Do you think 2 squirrel steps are enough to start?
Click to expand...
I think that three steps is probably ideal especially if you hunt trees that have a diameter that's bigger than a basketball, but the reason that I use two is that I got them in a deal with somebody off the forum. They are a little spendy, but they are well made and two seems to be just perfect for my setup. The way that my top of stick platform is made it has a "v" cut into the platform that was made to kind of replicate a standoff so that it doesn't interfere with the standoffs on the stick from grabbing the tree. I try to put my scroll steps at the same angle as the "v" so as I'm going around the tree my feet are always planted the same way...?? If you can understand how I'm trying to explain it. That way you have three positions around the tree that you can hunt from pretty comfortably, just by moving the tether not around the tree so that you're hanging from a certain position. I could shoot you a couple of pics when it's light tomorrow.
 
When I used multiple sticks, this is the aider I (and a lot of others) used:
(Ignore the Helium references).
 
This is all great advice, and I'll add that your setup sounds really good and that you should have no problem having a comfortable hunt with your setup. There was only one thing I read that I would comment on, and I admit I might have misunderstood. If you want to backup your ropeman, you should either do so with the prusik above the ropeman, or by tying a figure 8 and hooking that in. In the unlikely event the ropeman fails, it's even less likely it's going to fall off the rope. More likely it's going to slide down the rope, which would push on the prusik from the top and cause it to slide also. I'm assuming you have a stopper knot, as it sounds like you have commercially made ropes. I like keeping the prusik loop on there too as a backup option, so just give that a second look! Good luck and welcome to the site!
 
Welcome from Central Illinois! You might want to give a look at SRT with presets. There are several good videos on this site. It is a bit lighter way to go if you are comfortable using it. Whatever works best for you is what keeps you in the timber. Good Luck, Sir!
 
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