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Frustrated so far

Ckwilli

Ckwilli

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
1,294
Newbie to saddle hunting here but a longtime bow hunter. The season started with a nice mature 8 point at 15 yards quartering away. Seconds before I could shoot two stray black labs came busting through hot on his trail. I haven't seen him since. The last two outings I couldn't even get in the tree because some component of my saddle setup was left at home or in the vehicle. I suppose I need more practice and better organization. There is a learning curve that I wasn't expecting. I'll stay at it but I'm pretty frustrated right now.

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My number one frustration last year (my first in the saddle) was my kit. I was super disorganized and forgot things/couldn't find things easily. After a few times though, I learned to put everything in the same place every time and leave it there, even when not hunting. One thing that helped me a ton was taking a few "easy" hunts where I was specifically focused on dialing in my system and was not too worried about killing something. It felt a little like wasting a hunt, but it was worth it in the long run.
 
For sure. The biggest difference I found between the saddle and fixed position stand hunting is with a set stand you could get away with some level of disorganization because the stand and climbing method was there waiting for you. With the saddle you need it all every time, and it's helpful/important to have an organized system.
 
Ckwilli said:
Newbie to saddle hunting here but a longtime bow hunter. The season started with a nice mature 8 point at 15 yards quartering away. Seconds before I could shoot two stray black labs came busting through hot on his trail. I haven't seen him since. The last two outings I couldn't even get in the tree because some component of my saddle setup was left at home or in the vehicle. I suppose I need more practice and better organization. There is a learning curve that I wasn't expecting. I'll stay at it but I'm pretty frustrated right now.

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I had a barn cat mess up one of the nicest deer I've had an opportunity at. All he needed to do was take 4 more steps and it was done. The doe in the field got real spooky looking away from me across the field. I could see at least to the rise in the field and couldn't see anything. The doe eventually blew and cleared the field and all the deer ran directly below me never to be seen again. As I sat there wondering what the heck just happened up over the rise I could see the little cat. The deer must have smelled it for 300yds out. That stupid cat followed the deer directly under my tree and if I would have had a field point I'm pretty sure there would have been 1 less cat to worry about. Very frustrating

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PaTrout1 said:
I had a barn cat mess up one of the nicest deer I've had an opportunity at. All he needed to do was take 4 more steps and it was done. The doe in the field got real spooky looking away from me across the field. I could see at least to the rise in the field and couldn't see anything. The doe eventually blew and cleared the field and all the deer ran directly below me never to be seen again. As I sat there wondering what the heck just happened up over the rise I could see the little cat. The deer must have smelled it for 300yds out. That stupid cat followed the deer directly under my tree and if I would have had a field point I'm pretty sure there would have been 1 less cat to worry about. Very frustrating

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I've had the neighbors tell me to shoot the dogs. I really don't want to do that. I carry a slingshot now to try and discourage them from hanging around.

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Ckwilli said:
I've had the neighbors tell me to shoot the dogs. I really don't want to do that. I carry a slingshot now to try and discourage them from hanging around.

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The more I practice the easier it becomes for pre organizing. The problem I had was spotting a tree across a creek and yesterday discovering it was not suitable for climbing. It was almost light and i decided to hunt from the ground. A 6 or 8 pt came from 30 to 18 yards, nose up the whole time with the wind blowind directly from me to him and yes he bolted before he came out for a shot.
If in a saddle it would have been a different story.
 
I found that to keep organized and not forget anything, I had to simplify. If I really don’t need it, why take it. Adjust my pack to my particular hunt and check it twice the night before. I know all day hunts require more gear, so I have a different pack. But for years I carried more than I needed or ever used. By cleaning out and downsizing my gear, my in saddle frustration has been eliminated
 
fbwguy said:
I found that to keep organized and not forget anything, I had to simplify. If I really don’t need it, why take it. Adjust my pack to my particular hunt and check it twice the night before. I know all day hunts require more gear, so I have a different pack. But for years I carried more than I needed or ever used. By cleaning out and downsizing my gear, my in saddle frustration has been eliminated
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Agreed, simplifying your gear and have a system as to where it goes/stays is key to not forgetting stuff. reorganizing my gear/pack after every hunt makes the next one go smoothly. This is much to me all the same as when i was hunting a stand. The devil is in the details and I can attribute many of my successes in the woods to paying attention to those "little" details...they are often what makes or breaks a hunt IMO. That said, i have had some past hunts where everything seems to go wrong and it still happens :tearsofjoy: That at least helps me keep a positive attitude even when stuff does go wrong because at some point Murphy's Law will come out to play!
 
I’ve left stuff in the truck or at home such as releases, thermacell, bow, treestand, boots, permit to sign in at check station, etc

Have had to hunt in flip flops

Nothing like showing up to a blackpowder hunt only to find u brought ur rifle cuz the hardcases are similar looking

That’s why u should always keep a good knife handy so atleast u can hunt with it


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Packs, packs, packs! I'm like a woman with her pocketbooks when it comes to packs, I have a dozen or more and just ordered an Eberlestock X2. I use backpacks for hunting, fishing, and metal detecting. I keep my packs loaded with what I need except food and water so I can just grab them and I know I have what I need. One thing I've got in the habit of is I have a loud lime green cord attached my cocking devise for my xbow. I zip up the pocket that I keep it in with the cord hanging out. If I don't see the cord at a glance I know its not there.
 
I found that the organization of "needs at woods entry" and "needs at tree base" and "needs in tree" is essential... and how to pack them so quick access in order of use is important... nothing like getting to spot and having to dig thru pack ... knader and swader in pocket, linemans belt around neck, tether in dump bag on saddle other side is pack hanger on top and then platform and straps, then bowhook(lol before pulling bow up) still learning myself OH YEAH, CHECK YOUR KNOTS and equipment BEFORE leaving home and regularly afield... safety first
 
fbwguy said:
I found that to keep organized and not forget anything, I had to simplify. If I really don’t need it, why take it. Adjust my pack to my particular hunt and check it twice the night before. I know all day hunts require more gear, so I have a different pack. But for years I carried more than I needed or ever used. By cleaning out and downsizing my gear, my in saddle frustration has been eliminated
Click to expand...
That’s me. I use to not like having storage pouches on my saddle. Now that is all I have. No backpack. I’ve got a hydration pack for all day hunts but for my early season preset stuff my bow/rifle hanger, tether, back band, and linesman’s belt go in a sys hauler. A 20oz bottle of water and thermacell go in another pouch in the middle. My Doyle’s gear hoist goes on the other side. If there’s anything else I want I put it in my pocket when leaving the truck but that is all I need.
 
I have to have everything in the same place in my pack each time and a rehearsed sequence to follow.

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I tried to break it down into systems that all stay together. Saddle system all stays together and put away the same each time. Climbing system same way.....etc. they can all interchange but i have to put it all back where it came from. I also try to semi permanent attach things....you can't lose or drop it if it's attached to either you or yoursaddle/backpack/whatever.
In my case i think finding the right way to carry my sticks comfortably had been my biggest frustration. It was easy with the lock on stands cause you kinda have only 1 or 2 choices. My stuff is much lighter now but carries heavy, if that makes any cents, with my current pack. Shoulders have been killing me.
 
Just like waking up and getting ready in the morning. You make you’re own system. ****, shower, shave. (Or whatever you do to get ready to kick the days ass). Think about the order of how you need to do things and set those priorities with you hunting style. I layer my lights, linesman rope, tether with carabiners and what ever mods in my dump pouches on one side, then put phone, snacks, water and whatever I deem necessary for that hunt on the other or in a backpack. Platform on my back, sticks in one hand and bow in the other. The point is, find your ritual and vary from it as little as possible. And tell the neighbors to keep an eye on their fur missiles
 
I'm methodical about my pack and all hunting gear for that matter. Years of hunting remote places and along way from home or any place to get a replacement has made me this way. Adding the saddle and going to a Tree hopper drill and blots for a climbing method added a little to the pack equation but has also added a level of versatility that makes it worth while. I subscribe to the philosophy that one should train as they fight, or in this case practice the way they will be hunting. My suggestion is to get your gear and lay out everything that you think you need. Pack each item in your chosen method of transport according to importance and frequency of use. Important things get their own pocket/pouch that I like to be able to feel if the item is present. This helps in the retrieval and returning that item to the pack in the dark or under stress. This is the only place on/in the pack this item goes no matter what, do not put that item anywhere else.Things less important can get paired together by order of use and or function. Example, release gets its own pocket with nothing else. Grunt tube, range finder, and bow holder are in the same pouch in my pack and come out in the order they are applied in set up. As others have said develop a method of operation form the time you leave the house/camp until you return. Practice that before the hunt and find the holes in your system and fix them. Any new gear gets function tested before it goes to the tree for the real deal. I know this all sounds a little over the top but its just my way of keeping track of my stuff and lets me focus on actually hunting and when the time comes for that item of gear to be used I know exactly where it is and that it will work as intended.
 
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