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Making the frustrated bowhunting leap from blinds to Saddle! (I'm willing to get a little wet lol)

F

Fingerlakes257

New Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
16
Hey Everyone,

After many years of bowhunting the Fingerlakes region of NYS in a comfy Redneck blind 15 feet off the ground (warm, dry, and unfortunately frustrated by mature bucks always noticing me somehow) I'm going back to the drawing board and going to give the Saddle a try for the 2021 season. Would love to hear anyone's advice on the following questions as I would love to speed up the learning curve by listening to you guys.

1) I own my property so I will be setting up some trees early spring with pegs for climbing instead of sticks. Does anyone else do this? I have multiple spots I would like to hunt on my property and like the idea of having the steps already there for me when I start rotating locations. Also, does anyone leave their platform up in the tree if you plan on going back to hunt the same spot for multiple days?

2) I've watched a ton of good videos by g2 outdoors and think I can figure out getting the lineman's belt and tether set up but wanted to see if there are any other resources that have helped others get a rock solid understand. Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything once I start practicing a couple feet off the ground. I also plan to use the ropeman assender mechanical instead of Prusik knots for the tether and linemans belt. Tips I should know about?

Any other resources you would recommend for a greenhorn that has an open mind and is willing to learn.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas

Chris G
 
Beautiful area! We’re very fortunate. I’m in Naples off of county road 36 Hunt hollow region.

Chris
 
just a heads up that a ropeman ascender is...an ascender. it is not a fall arrest device. if you fall even with 18 inches of slack, bad things can happen. alot of people use them but it is something to think about and be aware of. i would consider doing a prusik on your tether. Look at the pinned posts in the forum sections. lots of great content to read through. thats how i learned the basics.

I never did like those big blinds. They seem comfy but with any kind of pressure i would think older deer figure it out quick enough. i always do better staying mobile than hunting out of fixed stands
 
Pre set bolts on private is a great tool. Ropeman1 not the best choice. Search distel, Schwabisch and cosmo hitches.


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Welcome from Michigan.
I plan on doing pre sets on the private I get to hunt next year as well. I left my stuff up over night a few times. I enjoyed going in this season and hunting the fresh sign. But you to probably have an idea of where the hot spots are always on your property. I waited for the time and wind to be right to hunt them. You won't have all that cover of a big blind. So since you can preset really think about your backdrop. I got busted more times this year than ever. Plan to get some spots set with good back cover for next year. Good luck!
 
Bolts.
Cordless for presets, and carry a hand drill for on-the-fly sets, or for the inevitable time when yo discover that a bolt needs added or tweaked.
You are about to enter "real hunting". Shooting blinds might be nice and comfy but IMO, you are putting a layer in between you and the real world.
Go out and experience what it's like to hang in a tree, instead of sitting in an elevated building.
 
Welcome from central NY. I also would ditch the ropeman on your tether,but i like it on a linemans belt. A prussik on the tether is easy to adjust since you have both hands available and can unload it too. Also it does not need adjusting very often.
I have the predator platform and do not see the need to leave it in the tree.It sets up so quickly and easily that i never considered it.
 
I use screw in steps and have over 20 spots on the two properties I hunt in PA and Ohio. If the steps are put in correctly they are very safe and in my opinion the quietest method to climb a tree. I do not use a platform because when doing so you are stuck hanging from one side of the tree. This makes it almost impossible to hide behind the tree if a non target deer comes by. I use the larger screw in steps as my platform (ring of steps) I would suggest trying this first then compare it to a platform. A ring of steps is a lot nicer for presets because you don’t have to set anything up, just climb and hunt. If you decide to use a platform then put some screw in steps on the back side of the tree so you can hide. I also use a ropeman 1 just follow the correct rope specs and it will be just fine. Lastly I would try starting with a two panel saddle like the Recon or the ESS. After two years of trying many other single panel saddles a two panel beats them for comfort hands down! Good luck hope you get a setup that works for you because saddle hunting is my favorite way to hunt.
 
Thanks for all the great input guys. I guess my other question would be now that I've got some good feedback is, how safe is using a ropeman for the tether vs a prussik? There seems to be some conflicting views on the safety of a mechanical device vs the prussik. I would prefer to use a ropeman instead of the prussik if possible but if one is safer than another I will definitely consider others advice.

Also does anyone tend to carry 2 linemans with the possibility of having to go up around branches and that it couldn't hurt to have two should somehow the only one you have gets dropped to the ground?
 
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Since you are planning to preset, I see no reason why you shouldn't use 2 linemans just to feel safer because time and sound is not a huge factor because you are not actively hunting that day. Most of the guys who do public land use their tether as the secoundary lineman.

If you can explain why you perfer a ropeman, we can give better opinions on why each of us prefer a method. I was planning to use ropeman too until the introduction of tender for the prussik, which basically overcome the main advantage of the ropeman over a prussik which is one hand operation. I personally feel prussik are safer, which is why most people still have it as a backup even with a ropeman.

Also agree you should try Recon or ESS.

Just my opinion, if I have private lands. I should buy a bunch of ladderstands that are $40 which people are selling in craiglist or offerup for cheap, sometime even free. This would give you climbing and giant platforms. Or build a bunch from lumbers via Lowes etc. It might take some times but they are not going anywhere. BUT REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST!
 
I like the ropeman on my tether (attached to my bridge), but I also have a prussic further down my tether that my waist strap goes through as a backup.
 
I hunt mostly private. I have bolts or sticks pre-set all over my property with bolts set in as an ROS and a safety line (in most cases). It's a great set up. It's like a "luxury" mobile way of hunting. You're still moving around but it's easy....

I saw your question about 2 lineman's. I put a safety line in the tree (a line at the top hanging all the way down). When I get the to the tree, I tie a klemheist to to the safety line and hook it into my saddle or harness. Then, I climb and move the knot up as I go (you have to tie the safety line off at the bottom). I usually don't even put my lineman's belt on until I get to the top and have to set my tether (because I need 2 hands). It's nice to not have to use the lineman's while you climb mostly for noise purposes. With the safety line you're hooked up from the bottom and should be as safe as one can be when fighting gravity.....
 
That’s what I was thinking of doing my self. I like the way you think! Would you mind posting a picture of the setup just to get a better visual? So your Prussik is closer to your bridge that the rope man? Am I following correctly?
 
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Ropeman up high, prussic down lower. I can get a better pic this weekend if you want, but the tether hangs down from here and the prussic is at my waist belt.
 
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How's this? I can still get a pic of it in use this weekend if you want. Of coarse they are normally further apart.
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