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I Have SO MUCH to Learn

W

WiscoDan

New Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2021
Messages
6
New to the site, equally new to saddle hunting. On Saturday I took advantage of a very poor hunting day but a favorable wind to check out the back side of a suspected bedding area, and since I was already out, I decided to set up a kind of practice hunt on a heavy trail intersection. There was no buck sign in that side of the bedding and I didn’t have a whole lot of hope in the hunt, but it was a great chance to do my first real hunt in the saddle.
I have so much to learn. My gear, my routine, my body positioning. Like a lot of us, I am trying to figure out a way to set up my backpack to attach my platform and sticks. So the learning curve begins now. I have already switched climbing sticks and ditched my over-shoulder bow sling with a regular old pull up rope. I need to silence EVERYTHING. I need to re-work my bow hanging method. I need to practice how to arrange my steps as opposed to my platform.
In spite of all the newbie struggles, once I was set up in the tree I really enjoyed being up there, even without seeing a thing other than squirrels. Looking forward to figuring things out this year. It will be a ton of trial and error.
 
Best advice I can give is to practice in your yard on any tree you can find and do as many different things as possible.

This is my first year saddle hunting and have 30 hours in the saddle over various sits and locations. So far...
I've dropped things
I've relocate my platform mid-sit because I didn't like how I was positioned
Move up/down the tree mid-sit due to lane obstructions
Cut branches on adjacent trees while climbing due to interference
Cut down a sapling because I couldn't get my throwline where I wanted it
Been busted
Had deer come the exact opposite direction I was expecting
Been in the "perfect" spot and had nothing close
Been in a spot I absolutely hated and got my first archery kill
Changed something in my setup with every climb

In short, take each climb and sit as a full length learning lesson. On a side note to all of this, regardless of what climbing method you use, learn how to two tether (2TC) and how to rig this setup with your tether and linemans belt. Regardless of climbing method, I view this as an essential self-rescue skill and have used this method to adjust my position several times this year.
 
the easiest way to get your dream setup fast might be to buy a bunch of stuff and then sell what you don't like, but to keep it reasonable my suggestions are

view it as a total system
keep in mind what your system goals and priorities are.....do you want super light? super comfortable in the tree? etc....because there are tradeoffs and no such thing as a system that hits all points perfectly without compromise
research way more than you buy
unless an item is limited stock or you are positive, sleep on any buying decision you make

i totally changed my system mid season last year, the only way i can think to improve it for me right now is a quieter pack material/zippers and get away from 12 hang on steps and back to 4 sticks with single step aiders for speed of climbing (i'll wait until tethrd or someone else figures out how to make a 1 lbs stick without issues....because right now the 12 hang on steps are much lighter than 4 sticks at 2 lbs each)
 
All great points, thank you. I immediately realized I wanted a double step stick as opposed to the single step loneWolf sticks I have, so my beast minis are arriving tomorrow. Very happy with the predator platform and so far, pending an adjustment to the saddle, I’m very happy with the menace saddle.
I just rigged up a way to strap three sticks and my platform together and attach them to my backpack so all I’ll carry is my bow. I’ll find out how that works next time I’m out.
 
raisins said:
the easiest way to get your dream setup fast might be to buy a bunch of stuff and then sell what you don't like, but to keep it reasonable my suggestions are

view it as a total system
keep in mind what your system goals and priorities are.....do you want super light? super comfortable in the tree? etc....because there are tradeoffs and no such thing as a system that hits all points perfectly without compromise
research way more than you buy
unless an item is limited stock or you are positive, sleep on any buying decision you make

i totally changed my system mid season last year, the only way i can think to improve it for me right now is a quieter pack material/zippers and get away from 12 hang on steps and back to 4 sticks with single step aiders for speed of climbing (i'll wait until tethrd or someone else figures out how to make a 1 lbs stick without issues....because right now the 12 hang on steps are much lighter than 4 sticks at 2 lbs each)
Click to expand...
I just had to go back to 12 steps. Scraped the aiiders, trees in new public are too crooked.
Not a bad idea to have two or more climbing methods.
 
What part of Wisconsin are you from? I am in SE WI (Sussex) and have held a meetup in August the past 2 years. At this point, I plan to do a third annual again next year. We had a great turnout this year and had most platform, saddle and sticks there to try out along with some great giveaways.

welcome to the saddle addiction!
 
GeoFish said:
I just had to go back to 12 steps. Scraped the aiiders, trees in new public are too crooked.
Not a bad idea to have two or more climbing methods.
Click to expand...

yeah, it just takes so long with 12 steps

i had a weird tree yesterday and from walking to the tree to hanging from the saddle with bow ready it was a whole hour!
 
WiscoDan said:
All great points, thank you. I immediately realized I wanted a double step stick as opposed to the single step loneWolf sticks I have, so my beast minis are arriving tomorrow. Very happy with the predator platform and so far, pending an adjustment to the saddle, I’m very happy with the menace saddle.
I just rigged up a way to strap three sticks and my platform together and attach them to my backpack so all I’ll carry is my bow. I’ll find out how that works next time I’m out.
Click to expand...

double steps are more important to many of us on the top of the stick because that's where you usually stand when applying the next stick or platform....i don't think there are currently any steps with a bottom single step and double top step, but you can make them
 
ofor said:
What part of Wisconsin are you from? I am in SE WI (Sussex) and have held a meetup in August the past 2 years. At this point, I plan to do a third annual again next year. We had a great turnout this year and had most platform, saddle and sticks there to try out along with some great giveaways.

welcome to the saddle addiction!
Click to expand...

I’m originally from Manitowoc. The mean streets of Manty! I grew up most of my childhood years in Sheboygan Falls and moved with my parents up to the Manitowoc area right before I turned 18. I have briefly lived in Milwaukee a couple times too. Started hunting the big north woods as soon as I was old enough but also hunted farm country closer to home when I got a little older and could venture out on my own.
 
WiscoDan said:
New to the site, equally new to saddle hunting. On Saturday I took advantage of a very poor hunting day but a favorable wind to check out the back side of a suspected bedding area, and since I was already out, I decided to set up a kind of practice hunt on a heavy trail intersection. There was no buck sign in that side of the bedding and I didn’t have a whole lot of hope in the hunt, but it was a great chance to do my first real hunt in the saddle.
I have so much to learn. My gear, my routine, my body positioning. Like a lot of us, I am trying to figure out a way to set up my backpack to attach my platform and sticks. So the learning curve begins now. I have already switched climbing sticks and ditched my over-shoulder bow sling with a regular old pull up rope. I need to silence EVERYTHING. I need to re-work my bow hanging method. I need to practice how to arrange my steps as opposed to my platform.
In spite of all the newbie struggles, once I was set up in the tree I really enjoyed being up there, even without seeing a thing other than squirrels. Looking forward to figuring things out this year. It will be a ton of trial and error.
Click to expand...
Woohoo! Welcome to the addiction! I’ve already spent so much buying stuff I may never use again. Plan to one stick the rest of the way with rappelling down…..I’m having more fun than I deserve! Hanging gear , remembering where stuff is, remembering what to do when, what not to do……and keep it light! Good grief, I feel your pain(and excitement)!
I finally figured out my gear hanging and I am using a strap with clips that came with a boat cover……you get a bunch! I painted them up and after I put it around the tree, I add S clips, which I also have several.
when I dropped my ATC, MY HEART SANK! But I put an S hook on a retriever line and fished it up! I forgot to hook that same line to my tether/rappell rope in order to get it down, and let it drop to the ground. Then I realized I’ll never get this rope off this tree without it. I put an S hook on the end of main rope to fish that paracord up……yes so much to learn! Have fun, just be safe!
 
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