Hello

[Mississippi]

I am new to the site and just wanted to say hello to everyone. My name is Drew. I am in my early 40's but I am a relatively new bow hunter. I wish I had found bow hunting 30 years ago. I had a great second bow season this past year and I am really looking forward to October. After reading John and Chris Eberhart's excellent books on hunting pressured whitetails I became very interested in learning about saddle hunting. I have yet to take the plunge as my experience so far has been with climbers and lock on stands and the saddle seems very different. I am really interested in the New Tribe Aero Hunter Evolution.

 

[redsquirrel]

Welcome to the site Drew! Let us know of any questions that you have!

 

[Mississippi]

Thanks redsquirrel.

I am interested in saddle hunting. I first learned about saddle hunting from John and Chris Eberhart's books. The idea of the saddle really appeals to me as I like to carry and use the least amount of equipment that can get the job done safely and comfortably. I have been looking at the New Tribe Aero Evolution saddle for a while now. I have been watching Youtube videos and reading anything I can to get some insight into the system. If I do get a saddle, I will be using a set of Lone Wolf sticks (3) with a 4 step rock aider connected to the bottom stick for climbing. I have these already and have been practicing with them. They are light and work well so far.

I have a couple of main concerns. First is the platform. I have tried standing on screw in steps near ground level while attached to the tree with a lineman's belt clipped into a climbing rope with a carabiner. This was as close to the saddle set up as I could get for a trial run. I did not find the steps particularly comfortable mainly due to the small diameter. They were 1/2 diameter. I found them difficult to get screwed into the tree as well. I have a hard time seeing myself stand on these for 3 or 4 hours. I know some people use the now discontinued Ameristep plastic steps on a ratchet strap. I understand these are difficult to find and expensive. If I were confident in a platform this decision would be much easier.

I guess it would be easier to take the leap into saddle hunting if I knew someone personally who used the system and could see it in use first hand. This is how I learned to use a climbing stand.

I am also concerned with general comfort while in the saddle. I know this is largely a matter of getting the saddle adjusted to the individual. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Autumnrider]

Welcome Mississippi. This is going to b my 2nd year using my guido's web and this saddle style hunting has taken me and my style of hunting to a new way of thinking about set ups that would have never been considered without this style of stand.

 

[Autumnrider]

Oh, by the way, I'm from northeast Mississippi (Corinth)

 

[swampsnyper]

I'm on the coast. Good to see some neighbors here. Welcome.

 

[redsquirrel]

I have a couple of main concerns. First is the platform. I have tried standing on screw in steps near ground level while attached to the tree with a lineman's belt clipped into a climbing rope with a carabiner. This was as close to the saddle set up as I could get for a trial run. I did not find the steps particularly comfortable mainly due to the small diameter. They were 1/2 diameter. I found them difficult to get screwed into the tree as well. I have a hard time seeing myself stand on these for 3 or 4 hours. I know some people use the now discontinued Ameristep plastic steps on a ratchet strap. I understand these are difficult to find and expensive. If I were confident in a platform this decision would be much easier.
Personally, I do not have any trouble standing on screw in tree steps. I have bought a tool, google the ultimate tree step tool, for putting them in and that makes it much easier. I know that others have said they hurt their feet but I have not had any trouble. I think that when you are actually hanging in the saddle as opposed to your temporary setup you will have your weight distributed more evenly between the saddle and your feet and that would help. There are some homemade alternatives for a strap on platform and we are really hoping a couple steps that we have heard about make it to the market but as of now the old ameristeps are the best option.

I guess it would be easier to take the leap into saddle hunting if I knew someone personally who used the system and could see it in use first hand. This is how I learned to use a climbing stand.
Hopefuly you are not to far from one of the other guys who posted in this thread and they would be willing to let you try it out. That is always the best way to get someone hooked

I am also concerned with general comfort while in the saddle. I know this is largely a matter of getting the saddle adjusted to the individual. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
The aero hunter evolution is very adjustable. After you get it dialed I find it to be the most comfortable way to hunt that I've ever found. The aero hunter is more comfortable than the tree saddle and I find all the saddles I have tried more comfortable than any tree stand.

 

[Mississippi]

Thanks for the advice redsquirrel. I feel that I will get into saddle hunting but I may not make the leap this season. With my schedule and the season quickly approaching I will be pressed for time. The learning curve and break in period (for me, not the saddle) may be too much with this short amount of time. Also, I see that as of today if I ordered one it would ship no sooner than the 18th of this month. The lightness and mobility of the saddle is really calling to me so I do see one in my future.

Autumnrider and swampsnyper, thanks for the welcome. Its good to have some fellow Mississippians here.