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How long does it take you to get set up?

EricS said:
It’s not a race for me but the longer I spend climbing the hotter and sweatier I am once I get setup. Ten minutes is plenty of time.
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That's the exact opposite for me. The faster I try and go the sweatier I get. Although I pretty much sweat standing still.

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kyler1945 said:
If you’re worried about time, and it matters to you, then you should be taking into consideration how long it takes to come down and pack up too.

When you factor in the complete picture, pretty much all climbing methods and equipment get you into about the same window, plus or minus a couple minutes.

An accurate assessment involves any time spent at home or in truck managing the gear, the additional time spent walking in if it’s a heavier set of equipment, or one that requires you to constantly pull off brush or branches, the time to unpack the method at the base of the tree if necessary, the time to get yourself set up for the climb if necessary, the actual climb up, The actual climb down, the time to pack the method up and get ready to walk out, the additional time spent waking if it’s a heavier set of equipment, or one that requires you to constantly navigate brush hanging on it.

There’s been a few threads on the topic where you can get some good information. Folks have actually timed these things to give you a good idea.

After taking all of this stuff into consideration I use bolts, squirrel steps, and one stick/rappel. The light weight and ability to deploy when I walk up to tree and not have to do anything to prepare to climb, both make up for the increased time to climb.
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I dont necessarily think coming down is an issue. Coming down for a majority of us means the hunt is over for that time period (unless of course your just moving spots).

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Getting to my spot took FOREVER in the dark and I hadn't picked out a tree when I scouted it. 100% my fault. I actually got half way to my spot and just hunted on the ground until daybreak so I could see the rest of the way. Snuck in, found one crappy rotten tree, got two steps up and decided to back out and found a nice maple to hunt out of. Climbing up the tree didn't take long, maybe 10-15 minutes. I learned real fast that scouting and tree prep go a LONG way, also marking your trail going in/out. Once I was up, I loved it and saw three does who never saw me. I immediately noticed the advantages of the saddle.
 
From the time I set my pack down to the time I have an arrow knocked i'm probably averaging 15 minutes.
 
Coming down and packing up matters more to me than setup time. Yes it’s dark and I can’t shoot anything but once there are no deer around me I want to get down and get out of the woods. Especially if I have a long drive ahead of me.
 
EricS said:
Coming down and packing up matters more to me than setup time. Yes it’s dark and I can’t shoot anything but once there are no deer around me I want to get down and get out of the woods. Especially if I have a long drive ahead of me.
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This is what is making think of learning single stick and rappel for next year.
 
Wirrex said:
I used to be real worried about this thinking I have to be up as quick as possible. I stopped worrying about it and just relax. Let the process play out as smooth as it can. It makes for a much more enjoyable hunt.

Same goes for tree selection. I would stress so much. Now I just go with my gut feeling. It seams to work out for the better.
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I need to work on getting into this mindset. Well done.
 
Usually 10 minutes. 5 sticks and platform. The other day it took 20+. Had a heck of a time with those mini versa straps going over my buttons and an even worse time getting back down. Either gonna sell them or try using them as a rope mod. Haven’t decided
 
The tree I hunted last night took me 45 minutes to set up. I had to climb 2 other trees to clear some thorns/dead limbs for shooting lanes and I was taking my time.... it is not a speed race - my advice is to slow down, take your time - quick movements alert all wildlife. My bow is always right beside me and ready whether I am on the ground, on my first stick or up in the tree waiting.
 
Takes me 20 from arriving to the tree to sitting still, 3 LW sticks and a 5 step aider, i go slow and quiet because i am normally a bull in a china shop and i mainly hunt bedding areas.
 
SaddleUpPartner! said:
Getting to my spot took FOREVER in the dark and I hadn't picked out a tree when I scouted it. 100% my fault. I actually got half way to my spot and just hunted on the ground until daybreak so I could see the rest of the way. Snuck in, found one crappy rotten tree, got two steps up and decided to back out and found a nice maple to hunt out of. Climbing up the tree didn't take long, maybe 10-15 minutes. I learned real fast that scouting and tree prep go a LONG way, also marking your trail going in/out. Once I was up, I loved it and saw three does who never saw me. I immediately noticed the advantages of the saddle.
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My third hunt this year, I tried to find the tree I had shot a doe out of the time before. I couldn't find it, the brush was so thick. I had a camo paracord loop in that tree but removed it when I shot the doe since I wasn't sure if I would hunt again this year but then there would be a tree with a loop in it which I can't find. Maybe a blaze orange loop would be good?
 
DaveT1963 said:
The tree I hunted last night took me 45 minutes to set up. I had to climb 2 other trees to clear some thorns/dead limbs for shooting lanes and I was taking my time.... it is not a speed race - my advice is to slow down, take your time - quick movements alert all wildlife. My bow is always right beside me and ready whether I am on the ground, on my first stick or up in the tree waiting.
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Sage advice
 
So far this year, I’ve had a 7 minute trip up, a 12 minute trip up (average for me) and an 18 minute trip up. That final one was in the pitch black and was not my smoothest ascent.
 
Not worried about my speed just curious how long it took others, last night probably took me an hour but I cut a bunch of limbs off a pin oak. Ended up having 3 does within range so it was worth it in the end
 
All depends on the tree As little as 5 and as long as 20 or so.But i like trees with a little more cover than a lot of guys Can’t stand to be in the open.
 
I’m about 15 minutes from arriving at tree till knocking an arrow or chambering a round. But I’ve been know to stop and check the SaddleHunter forum. Hmmmm, that might be a problem
 
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