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Hello from Titusville Florida, on the Space Coast

Welcome from Jupiter...did some fisheries work in the closed area around KSC 20 years ago.....Some truly amazing fishing! Congrats on your retirement by the way!
 
Thanks. In retirement I am hoping to not only do more hunting, but also to do more fishing, and you are right there are some great places to fish (both salt water and fresh water) in this area.
 
I just joined saddlehunter.com. I am doing research so that I can purchase my first (and hopefully my last if I chose correctly) saddle and saddle platform, so I can try saddle hunting. I think I have the other equipment that I will need (at least to get started).

I am from Titusville Florida on the Space Coast of Florida. I bought my first gun, a Mossberg 500, about 43 years ago with lawn mowing money when I was 15. My Dad, my brother and I did a lot of successful squirrel hunting and a little unsuccessful deer and dove hunting. We did not know what we were doing for deer and our location was not great for deer or dove. I then went to college and got focused on things other than hunting.

I started hunting again about 10 years ago with my Dad and my two sons when my sons got into their teen years. We got rifles, muzzle loaders, I got a bow, and my dad got a crossbow (since he has shoulder issues). We did not know what we were doing, and we were hunting on local WMAs, and we rarely saw anything. So, my sons got disinterested, learned hunting was boring, and quit going with us. My dad and I kept at it and slowly learned (mostly through reading) some things. We got into a lease. We got a few hogs and then a few deer. We started hunting with ladder tree stands and blinds, then got into climbers. Unfortunately, my Dad has now aged to a point where he cannot hunt with me anymore (but I do take him fishing). I have 2 close friends who do hunt with me occasionally.

Just this past year I purchased climbing sticks and two hang-on stands since one of my sons and my daughter wanted to sit with me in the woods while I hunted. (We were able to be mobile and hang the two hang-on stands on the same tree so we could sit together in the same tree). That son also bought his licenses and hunted some with me some in GA and FL this year. I expect to get them and the rest of my family more interested in hunting as I become better at it.

On 12/31/20, I retired from the Federal Government after a 34-year career, so now I will have more time to devote to hunting and fishing and other fun pursuits. Hopefully, I will get better at the hunting and fishing.

Five years ago I learned a little about tree saddle hunting from watching John Eberhart's DVDs. This past year, while researching climbing sticks and hang-on stands, I learned that saddle hunting has become popular and a lot of gear options are available. I am very interested in reducing the weight of what I carry in on mobile hunts, so I want to give saddle hunting a try. I joined this group to learn. I appreciate the info that I am sure I will get from following the threads and from you.
Greetings... I am about 2.5 hours north of you in Jacksonville.
Titusville is home to some of the best red and trout fishing in the state of florida. My father and I fished a few IGA redfishTournaments down there about a decade ago in Mosquito Lagoon.... I am new to this site as I just learned about it from a friend at work but I have been saddle hunting for several years now (a little over 4 to be more precise) If you ever want to test out a saddle or perhaps a couple platform options, I might be able to meet up and show you the ropes so to speak ... from what I have read so far, it appears this site is full of knowledgeable saddle enthusiasts who share their opinions and knowledge with new hunters. And believe me it speeds up your learning curve if you have good advice, or can learn from other people’s failures. Happy hanging and hunting!
 
Greetings... I am about 2.5 hours north of you in Jacksonville.
Titusville is home to some of the best red and trout fishing in the state of florida. My father and I fished a few IGA redfishTournaments down there about a decade ago in Mosquito Lagoon.... I am new to this site as I just learned about it from a friend at work but I have been saddle hunting for several years now (a little over 4 to be more precise) If you ever want to test out a saddle or perhaps a couple platform options, I might be able to meet up and show you the ropes so to speak ... from what I have read so far, it appears this site is full of knowledgeable saddle enthusiasts who share their opinions and knowledge with new hunters. And believe me it speeds up your learning curve if you have good advice, or can learn from other people’s failures. Happy hanging and hunting!
Fl Canopy Stalker - Yes, the redfish and trout fishing is good in Brevard county's three estuaries (Mosquito Lagoon, the Indian River, and the Banana River). I hope to fish in those waters more, now that I am retired. As far as hunting, I recently purchased the Tethrd Phantom Saddle, the Predator XL Platform, and as an alternative to having my feet on a platform I also purchased the Eastern Woods Outdoors Ring of SquirrelSteps (with 5 steps). To climb trees I have four Muddy Pro Sticks to which I have attached aiders. I am starting to experiment with my new equipment, and I expect to hunt hogs with that equipment at some local WMAs this month. I thought a lot about going to the Saddlepalooza 2021 meetup and hog hunt that will take place at Fort Stewart later this month. I probably won't be able to attend this year. I know I could learn a lot from the people at Saddlepalooza, and from everyone on this forum (like you) that have experience hunting from saddles. I have already learned a lot, just by reading through the posts, and by watching a lot of youtube videos. I expect to be competent hunting from a saddle before next hunting season starts.
Cary
 
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Fl Canopy Stalker - Yes, the redfish and trout fishing is good in Brevard county's three estuaries (Mosquito Lagoon, the Indian River, and the Banana River). I hope to fish in those waters more, now that I am retired. As far as hunting, I recently purchased the Tethrd Phantom Saddle, the Predator XL Platform, and as an alternative to having my feet on a platform I also purchased the Eastern Woods Outdoors Ring of SquirrelSteps (with 5 steps). To climb trees I have four Muddy Pro Sticks to which I have attached aiders. I am starting to experiment with my new equipment, and I expect to hunt hogs with that equipment at some local WMAs this month. I thought a lot about going to the Saddlepalooza 2021 meetup and hog hunt that will take place at Fort Stewart later this month. I probably won't be able to attend this year. I know I could learn a lot from the people at Saddlepalooza, and from everyone on this forum (like you) that have experience hunting from saddles. I have already learned a lot, just by reading through the posts, and by watching a lot of youtube videos. I expect to be competent hunting from a saddle before next hunting season starts.
Cary
I feel you on saddle palooza. I’d love to go but am unsure if I’ll be able to make it.
That’s an awesome set up that you purchased! I have an older predator and the squirrel steps. I use the slotted squirrel steps and strap them around my platform strap on larger diameter trees so that I can ease my way around for those “weak side shots”. In my opinion you have purchased the best platform and ring of steps out there (especially if you factor weight).
We Floridians are blessed with the second highest wild pig population in the country and I personally love hunting them from the saddle. Looking forward to hearing more from your hunts!
 
Howdy....I have family in Mims. If your schedule permits try to be at fort stewart georgia Feb 20 and u learn lots of neat stuff
Howdy....I have family in Mims. If your schedule permits try to be at fort stewart georgia Feb 20 and u learn lots of neat stuff
Ryan - It was nice meeting you and the other 8 people who showed up at SaddlePalooza 2021. Next season I hope to hunt a lot across Florida and some in Georgia. Camp Blanding sounded interesting. Feel free to contact me via email at cary.j.peaden@gmail.com if you want to go hunting with me or if you want to know something about the WMAs in my East Central Florida area. (I can give you my phone number in email or text message.) - Cary
 
Welcome from Long Island NY and congratulations on your retirement. I just recently decided to get into saddle hunting myself and after much research took the plunge and bought all "the gear". Looking forward to the upcoming seasons to actually get to hunt with the saddle.

BTW,,, the wife and I were in Florida January 2020 for a wedding and happened to stop for lunch in a small restaurant in Titusville called "Steve's Diner". Best fried chicken I ever had in my entire time on this planet.

Anyway, welcome.
 
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Welcome from Long Island NY and congratulations on your retirement. I just recently decided to get into saddle hunting myself and after much research took the plunge and bought all "the gear". Looking forward to the upcoming seasons to actually get to hunt with the saddle.

BTW,,, the wife and I were in Florida January 2020 for a wedding and happened to stop for lunch in a small restaurant in Titusville called "Steve's Diner". Best fried chicken I ever had in my entire time on this planet.

Anyway, welcome.
Steve’s Diner is one of my favorite places to go for breakfast in Titusville, because it is good food and reasonably priced. I also like their fried chicken but because I am trying to lose weight I am avoid fried foods lately.
I am glad your visit to the area went well. We both will learn about saddle hunting by reading through the posts on this site.
 
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