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First hunt in a saddle

D

Duckclay

New Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
2
Location
Central Florida
Ok, first of all I'm like a lot of folks here and have spent more time lurking than posting but I had to share. This past Friday I took off a little early for my first sit and it was a comedy of errors. Um, stats first I guess. Tetherd Phantom, Predator XL, Hawk sticks (20"), and Ultimaider. LL Bean Hunter's Carryall for a pack. Here's what I learned...

-Don't forget to make sure you have all of your Versalinks. I took 4 sticks and only climbed 3 due to this.
-Spend more time picking out trees. The one I sat in leaned the wrong way and had a double trunk that was too close together for
the height I was at.
-Even though I spent time making sure I had my pack ready I still had too much.
-Unfortunately I also missed one thing that was vital. My finger tab (recurve) was left at camp and no way to get it in time.

Anyway, it's not a glowing report but I did get to do a little recon anyway and spent two hours in the saddle. I was comfortable, felt safe, and I was quiet.
I'm as new as can be but I'd like to offer one point to learn for the other newbies. I wish I'd spent more time finding various trees to assess and climb. Instead
I found one that was perfect for practice but there's no deer there. I guess what I'm getting at is that I wish I had been better able to spot a tree that would
have been more suitable to what I was doing. Next time maybe.

Thank you again to all of you that post on here. This forum was one of may sources of information I looked into when I was in the research phase and it was
the input of you folks that gave me the best data and confidence. Take care and good luck this year!
 
+1 on getting better at picking trees. Or avoiding other trees.
 
Duckclay said:
Ok, first of all I'm like a lot of folks here and have spent more time lurking than posting but I had to share. This past Friday I took off a little early for my first sit and it was a comedy of errors. Um, stats first I guess. Tetherd Phantom, Predator XL, Hawk sticks (20"), and Ultimaider. LL Bean Hunter's Carryall for a pack. Here's what I learned...

-Don't forget to make sure you have all of your Versalinks. I took 4 sticks and only climbed 3 due to this.
-Spend more time picking out trees. The one I sat in leaned the wrong way and had a double trunk that was too close together for
the height I was at.
-Even though I spent time making sure I had my pack ready I still had too much.
-Unfortunately I also missed one thing that was vital. My finger tab (recurve) was left at camp and no way to get it in time.

Anyway, it's not a glowing report but I did get to do a little recon anyway and spent two hours in the saddle. I was comfortable, felt safe, and I was quiet.
I'm as new as can be but I'd like to offer one point to learn for the other newbies. I wish I'd spent more time finding various trees to assess and climb. Instead
I found one that was perfect for practice but there's no deer there. I guess what I'm getting at is that I wish I had been better able to spot a tree that would
have been more suitable to what I was doing. Next time maybe.

Thank you again to all of you that post on here. This forum was one of may sources of information I looked into when I was in the research phase and it was
the input of you folks that gave me the best data and confidence. Take care and good luck this year!
Click to expand...
This is how we learn and hopefully get better. I went back to a few places Ive always want to hunt and selected trees to climb. I tacked them so I can find them in the dark too. Every hunt is also a scouting trip…..especially now that I have a saddle
 
Yesterday was my first time in my saddle. The words of wisdom... "Practice first!!" doesn't apply to me.... I mean, how hard can it be??!!!
Well.... I'm an ass. I modified my original LW sticks with double steps and didn't know how they'd take my weight. (big fat guy)
That actually held me up from trying the saddle. Yesterday, I decided to put my balls on and go for it. The sticks were awesome!!! The versa links were awesome!! Except when coming down, some how I got them in a knot between the 1st link, the link around the tree and the bunge cord. (lesson learned!!) I had my Predator platform on a gear tie, on my Ultimate saddle, behind me, cool....
My only saddle issue is what to do while I'm in it. Do I sit, stand, knees against the tree?? I found myself moving a lot.
In my climber, I sit, all the time. That's it.... oh, my Tenzing backpack has to go, way too heavy!!!
 
My first yr as well and in 4 hunts it’s a lot smoother. I realized I needed to change some things around on how I had them packed etc. I practiced all summer but doing it in the dark changed it for me. I had to simplify things
 
I’ve had a few sits now and just about got the gear hanging figured out. I’ve also settled where I pack stuff so as to make the sequence more repeatable. Just got to get up the tree better
 
you’re in good company. There isn’t a single one of us who hasn’t had a less than perfect sit. My first saddle sit would make you question whether I should even be allowed in the woods. I’ve been saddle hunting for awhile now and I still learn and tweak something every single sit.
 
My first year, my fifth hunt and after weeding things out that i didnt need and adding things that actually worked i must say its getting smoother and quieter each time . As i become more proficient i enjoy it more and more. Im sure ill still fumble but so far ill give saddle hunting 2 thumbs up
 
It took me 3 sits during hunting to feel safe and trust my tether. I have been keeping the lineman on as well for backup. I finally took it off yesterdays hunt and felt safe.
 
Duckclay congrats on a good hunt. This is how we learn and takes time to dial a system in for each person. Yes, selecting tree can be daunting, but don't get to hung up on that or height. "leaving tab", I had this mistake many times over the years, with gloves, headnet, heck one time I got all set and left my linemans line-lol. I found, once I got my system down for me, if I put minimal of 1 spare of the small things (always the little things) in my pack. Having this in there helped save more than one hunt, spare: headnet (or face paint kit), gloves, thermacell fuel/pads, carabiner, 6' oplux, toliet paper, compass and headlamp, spare batteries. Good luck, keep at it.
 
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