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Interested in Saddle Hunting

Ozarkshunter5106

Ozarkshunter5106

New Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2018
Messages
19
Hey guys I am a third year bow hunter in southwest Missouri. I have been hunting with the xop hang on and sticks and although it is much lighter and more versatile than my climber set up, it still sucks hauling up and down the ridges of the ozark mountains. If anyone has hunted near the Arkansas border you’ll know what I mean. I stumbled on to saddle hunting the other day on YouTube and am extremely intrigued. I am wondering if there is anyone in the Springfield area who would let me try out their saddle just in the yard one afternoon and maybe shoot out of it a little to see if I like it before I drop money.
 
Ozarkshunter5106 said:
Hey guys I am a third year bow hunter in southwest Missouri. I have been hunting with the xop hang on and sticks and although it is much lighter and more versatile than my climber set up, it still sucks hauling up and down the ridges of the ozark mountains. If anyone has hunted near the Arkansas border you’ll know what I mean. I stumbled on to saddle hunting the other day on YouTube and am extremely intrigued. I am wondering if there is anyone in the Springfield area who would let me try out their saddle just in the yard one afternoon and maybe shoot out of it a little to see if I like it before I drop money.
Click to expand...

Here's a map of users you could reach out to.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3978941,-86.4406581,5z/data=!4m2!6m1!1s1GhuYfPZR436tAHCVJAi2Z9oc-oc
 
Welcome to the site, from MD! Sure you could find someone relatively close by. Even if they’re not on the map, post something asking who’s near your area. You’ll find someone......
 
I couldn’t find anyone close but Tjraley2 told me about the fleece saddle. That day I went down to the Walmart and bought 2 yards of fleece and the Summit tree safety line which comes with a 30ft rope with a tied loop on one end and two prusiks with caribiners. Out of that I was able to cut and tie a tether with a prusik, a lineman’s belt with a prusik(although I did have to buy another caribiner), and a bridge. I then cut my 2 yards of fleece in half to make to saddle. At the gathered ends of the fleece, my bridge rope was too thick for a efficient girth hitch so instead I tied uni knots. That is a fishing knot that will cinch down and retains a high percentage of strength, but is also easy to loosen. At that point I was up on the tree in my saddle for $70 because I already had climbing sticks and a harness. I then proceeded to spend all evening climbing up, shooting 6 arrows, and climbing down to retrieve arrows and repeated until I felt solid. I went out for my first saddle hunt last night and man it was the most comfortable I have ever been in a tree. I don’t know if I just got lucky and guess all of the correct rope lengths for my body but I sat for 5 hours and barely moved to stretch. The only thing that was hurting were my feet. I do not have a platform so I was using my top stick and two screw in steps but that will change quickly as I am now committed to bow hunting in a saddle. At dark I had a two year old eight come in and circle my tree. Even though he was getting a pass I took the opportunity to draw back on him several times and practice different shooting angles from the tree. I am confident now that when the ol bruiser comes by I will be able to execute from the saddle!
 
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Welcome from Kansas,Wow your getting dialed in fast, congratulations!

I “loaned” my nephew my old leather tree saddle, he’s north of you a ways in the Camdenton area. And I visit a few times a year and can bring 3 other saddles with.
But it sounds like your fleece is working out well! I haven’t made one yet, but with all the positive reports I may have to.
 
bowbender73 said:
Welcome from Kansas,Wow your getting dialed in fast, congratulations!

I “loaned” my nephew my old leather tree saddle, he’s north of you a ways in the Camdenton area. And I visit a few times a year and can bring 3 other saddles with.
But it sounds like your fleece is working out well! I haven’t made one yet, but with all the positive reports I may have to.
Click to expand...
I have never set in a production saddle but would love to try it out! As of right now though the fleece saddle is extremely comfy and I’m already telling all of my buddies they have to try this
 
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