First Sit, Thank you, Update, and questions

[caddis75]

Hey all, thank you for the advice earlier. I wanted to share my progress after my first am and pm saddle sits this Saturday.

Going into the woods I wore my DIY kestrel saddle. On my right side, I daisy-chained my TL tether. On my left side, I daisy-chained my TL lineman's rope. I had a small backpack with water, coffee, and a jacket. I carried my three API sticks with a ratchet strap, and a loop to throw over my shoulder. I'd like to come up with an easier way to carry these, without the extra ratchet strap.

I made a small loop of rope on my right and left side of my saddle to carry my second and third stick up the tree. I took two small hooks from my workbench and covered them in electrical tape. I used my ratchet strap as a gear hanger along with the hooks. I watched a few videos on how to set sticks and didn't have any issues. My lineman's rope's prussik was VERY tight and it was hard to adjust even after I took all my weight off it. I need to figure out an easy way to do this as I pulled my shoulder trying to tighten it. I used a distal hitch on my tether and that worked great. I didn't have enough rope to make a figure 8. Since this was my first sit, and I was thinking of redundancy I ran my lineman's loop through my beaner. I know it was probably not needed.

It took me about thirty minutes to climb the tree the first time in the dark and about 20 minutes this second time in the afternoon. I did not have a platform, so I just stood on my top step. Coming down wasn't too bad. The aiders were a bit tricky getting my foot set in.

Overall, it was very comfortable and pleasant. Much more so than a tree stand. No deer though. My ring of steps and knee pads arrived Saturday night, so I will test these out soon.

A few questions:

1. My lineman's rope and prussik were too tight. Even with no weight on it, I had to really push with my other hand. What should I do about this?
2. I'm trying to figure out an easier way to carry my three sticks into the woods, is there a way I can hook them onto my saddle?

Pics-

https://imgur.com/a/aQQR5co

Thanks again all.

 

[rswink]

1. My lineman's rope and prussik were too tight. Even with no weight on it, I had to really push with my other hand. What should I do about this?

Ropeman 1 was where I ended up. Tried a few different ways to handle it but this was best


2. I'm trying to figure out an easier way to carry my three sticks into the woods, is there a way I can hook them onto my saddle?

My wife uses a DIY HYS strap locks it over into a shoulder strap arrangement. I am using WEI Stepps this year. Think I will switch to Bullman's Steps next year.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Macreed]

1. My lineman's rope and prussik were too tight. Even with no weight on it, I had to really push with my other hand. What should I do about this?

-Look into prusik tenders. I use a 3/8" rope thimble behind the prusik and it works great. The Ropeman 1 is better but it is also $50~ compared to $1. Here is the video I watched for the instructions on making one:

2. I'm trying to figure out an easier way to carry my three sticks into the woods, is there a way I can hook them onto my saddle?

-I use a gear tie to secure 3 sticks together and then 2 gear ties on the molle webbing on my pack and secure with the straps on the back of my pack. I do attach the sticks to my saddle when climbing up, but not when walking in. I feel like that would make too much noise walking in with sticks hanging from the saddle.

Hope that helps!

-MaCreed

 

[Alud555]

Definitely try the tender before getting a ropeman. I made mine out of paracord and it works great. Just your tie two loops and you're all set!