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Is saddle hunting really not as expensive as we make it seem?

HuumanCreed

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Messages
2,648
Location
Westminster Maryland
Not trying to start a forums war, but have accounts at others like AT, RokSlide, Trad, and some guns one just for change of pace. And man, whenever I look at the classified section, some of the $$ being passed around make me feel like I need a second job to keep up. A western elk hunting trip cost A LOT of money, and good gears. Having multiple saddles is nothing compared to the multiple high end packs that some of the guys at RokSlide has, and those guys that buy a new bow every year or even have multiple of the SAME bow on AT or Tradtalk/gang. Wow.

Anyway, it just make me realizes we all have our addictions and as long as you are able to put food on the table, a roof over your head, buy your daughter that Disney's princess dress she wanted, etc...Sometimes I feel like I was spending too much (or all) of my disposable hobbies money on this 'saddle'(hunting in general) craze. But then I realized I don't actually spend money on any other things. That everything I have, they are tools or have the potential to help reach a goal. Which is a lasting memory, that at the end of the day, its moments in life that we remember. Even objects has sentimental values because they remind us of a moment or a person. So I'm just saying as long as you are able to provide for the priorities in life, don't sweat over how much you spend on your passion.

BUT I refuse to buy a $600 flashlight that has 100k lumins....no matter how much pressure you crazies apply!!! Still can't believe flashlight fanatic is a thing....
 
Thank you for giving me that perspective. I’ve bought and sold a lot of hunting gear this year and was feeling a little self conscious about it. I need to remind myself, it’s money spent on enjoying life! I also don’t have multiple packs, an arsenal or more then one bow.
 
If I buy something for $500 and then sell something for $300 I feel like I “upgraded” and only spent $200... but that’s just me justifying spending that money in the back of my mind. Other justifiable reasons that help me pull the trigger would be “it’s safer” “better quality and will last longer” and the famous “it’s a great deal I can’t pass up”

whatever my mind convinces my wallet to do, at the end of the day I made the decision based on my safety first, necessity next and lastly whatever my wife lets me get away with. As long as I don’t have a bunch of gear laying around that I don’t use. I do try to sell off anything I have not used the previous season and use those funds to buy new stuff I might not use this season. It’s a cycle...
 
Its only as expensive as u want it to be....just straight saddle gear I'd be shocked if it was over 200. I am able to make majority of the stuff and I realize not everybody can do that but if u are thrifty u can get everything u need for much less than some of these new hang on stands... If my not be the newest whiz bang or super spiderweb rope but u can kill deer without the most expensive stuff
 
The expenses can definitely get out of hand quick. I’m in my third season of the saddle hunting adventure and spent less on new gear this year. Hoping that as I settle in to just a couple climbing methods it gets cheaper, so my view is there was a big initial investment but it should pay off over time. Like not buying 20 different tree stands over my lifetime. As I get older I’m also appreciating buying quality gear i.e. buy once cry once, not buying crap and then buying it again once it breaks


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The expenses can definitely get out of hand quick. I’m in my third season of the saddle hunting adventure and spent less on new gear this year. Hoping that as I settle in to just a couple climbing methods it gets cheaper, so my view is there was a big initial investment but it should pay off over time. Like not buying 20 different tree stands over my lifetime. As I get older I’m also appreciating buying quality gear i.e. buy once cry once, not buying crap and then buying it again once it breaks


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I thought the same thing


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I agree with a lot said above. Money is a lot more fun if you budget and stick with it. I saved for a full year and bought the whole saddle setup, for us in Canada it is costly getting in the game and didn’t want to DIY this stuff. It costs what it costs but i am satisfied with my gear. Also, if i want, let’s say Tethrd One sticks, i will start this year putting away money for next year. But!! I am saving right now for Simms waders which i will have enough just before trout opener. Read a lot of business and personal budgeting books, completely changed my perspective on money. Don’t get suckered into the hype, that’s what they want.
 
Of course it's not. You can saddle hunt very inexpensively if that's a priority. Plenty of people do, but no one's posting about not buying things. Instead they post about buying things, making things, or hunting.
 
I bought a ton of stuff in the beginning as I wanted to try it all to see what I liked. Sold everything I didn’t like for a little bit of a loss but I knew that going in and was ok with it

a climber is a cheaper way to go but it also limited me. This was an investment in a hobby I am super passionate about so was easily justified

however saddle hunting has a way for me at least to get out of hand sometimes. I’ve been introduced to new things like certain packs etc. so I’ve spent more money than anticipated or wanted to but as they say you never saw a Brinks truck driving behind the hearse
 
Agree with the spend as much as you want thing too. For me the high costs were trying the various climbing methods to see what I liked best. After settling on SRT though I haven't had to spend much in the way of new money. Except now the JRB climbing method has me intrigued, but coming from SRT I mostly just need to double my climbing rope and replacing used climbing rope over time is not a bad idea anyway. Still doing this tree climbing thing safely is going to cost money over time regardless.
 
This is also my third year of saddle hunting and I noticed this year, even though I changed to onesticking, that I was able to save more money by getting rid of some gear that I had bought in the last 2 years and actually came out ahead instead of it being a loss. Is it really a loss if it’s something I enjoy doing? Not really to a point but that’s a not what I’m getting at. My setup is getting so dialed at this point where I find that I don’t need to spend more and more money on gear and I enjoy getting out and using what works for me more. And the fact that I actually saved some money by selling my Timber Ninja sticks and went to a single Beast Stick and kept my ROS is all gravy in my eyes.
 
Saddle hunting can be cheap if you buy your stuff used and don’t have to have the best. I personally think everyone should have two saddles. One that is extremely comfortable like a JX3 Hybrid or a Dryad Dray. Another that is really comfortable just maybe not an all day type saddle for the quick hit hunts. You also can use Muddy pro sticks or hawk helium’s. Both in my opinion are quality sticks. After that in my opinion it is just want not need.


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For me, it can be a year-round hobby, trying different climbing techniques, etc. As such, it is expensive for me if I only cared about this for a few weekends a year. Being year-round though, there’s more expensive hobbies I could be doing.


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Its just like anything else... You could drive a lambo or a civic. both get the job done but a vastly different. I would say you could honestly probably get into saddle hunting for under $100 to $150...
 
I try to buy used when I can and sell things that I don't like or I don't use to recoup some money for other things. Anymore I lean towards just sitting on the ground. Cheaper overall but not always the best option.
 
BUT I refuse to buy a $600 flashlight that has 100k lumins....no matter how much pressure you crazies apply!!! Still can't believe flashlight fanatic is a thing....
Hee, Hee. I know guys that spend car kind of money on freaking watches….and they have a whole “garage” full of watches. Lol. Gave up a lot of my passion during 30 years in the Navy…..Now I’m retired and the Navy pays the bills so I can go hunting everyday, and I’m making up for lost time! For the first time in my life, I don’t care what it costs.
 
Hee, Hee. I know guys that spend car kind of money on freaking watches….and they have a whole “garage” full of watches. Lol. Gave up a lot of my passion during 30 years in the Navy…..Now I’m retired and the Navy pays the bills so I can go hunting everyday, and I’m making up for lost time! For the first time in my life, I don’t care what it costs.

My brother is in to watches big time. He bought me one im too scared to wear.


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If I buy something for $500 and then sell something for $300 I feel like I “upgraded” and only spent $200... but that’s just me justifying spending that money in the back of my mind. Other justifiable reasons that help me pull the trigger would be “it’s safer” “better quality and will last longer” and the famous “it’s a great deal I can’t pass up”

whatever my mind convinces my wallet to do, at the end of the day I made the decision based on my safety first, necessity next and lastly whatever my wife lets me get away with. As long as I don’t have a bunch of gear laying around that I don’t use. I do try to sell off anything I have not used the previous season and use those funds to buy new stuff I might not use this season. It’s a cycle...

a new justification for me this year (not too crazy) is needing back ups because you can no longer guarantee you can actually find and order something and get it within a week

for instance, i bought a backup release the other day because if my hunting release breaks or is lost then i don't want to wait a month for it mid season

another easy justification is an item you know you'll buy eventually anyway....so might as well be now
 
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