• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

My plan?

G

GWHGoat

Active Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2019
Messages
142
So here is my plan. I have no saddle experience, but have been using a RC harness to treestand hunt and hang stands for a few years. I was going to wait until after the SW PA meet up to try some stuff out to see what I wanted but I don't see us having one soon enough to allow me to order and practice in time for archery season. I went ahead and ordered an H2 saddle that is a few weeks away from arriving. As far as climbing goes I ordered and have a set of 4 20" Helium sticks. Right now my plan is to add a 2 step aider to attempt to one stick up and would like to rappel down using Oplux for the rappel rope, and possible just use the same rope for my tether. I'd like to use a Scout platform on top of the stick for short hunts and probably going to pick up a Ridge Runner for all day sits. Does this sound like a sound plan? Also, how many feet of Oplux would I need to make up a 24' rappel rope, a tether (just in case) and linesman's belt? Should I go with a safeguard, or something like a Grivel belay device? Since I plan on using the Oplux for all ropes should I pick up a Kong Duck too? I already have some 11mm stiff rope that I'm using with a Ropeman 2 that I might decide would be better for the linesman. Man this rabbit hole gets deep fast.
 
I would use your repel rope for tether. That’s what I do. I have 35’ just in case I want to get a little higher then I usually go. I feel for me that’s plenty. I think your plan sounds solid! Only thing I could say is that my brother in-law got rid of his ridge runner for a predator bc of pack ability. I also run predator and love it. But that’s all personal preference. Yes this hobby/tools gets pretty pricey lol. I would recommend the mad rock safeguard. I climb with my safeguard and repel rope as my tether. I’ve done the switch up in a tree a few times from my 8’ tether to my repel rope and it’s not much fun. Found that climbing with it makes it easier for me. I also run a ropemen 1 on my linemen’s. Use to run a Prusic with a tender worked good too and cheap. I believe my linemen’s is 8’ I’d say add 18”ish to tie your I’s for girth hitching. Your set up sounds pretty close to what my brother in-law runs. I’ve actually started just one sticking with my predator platform and a two step aider works great for me and don’t have to carry any we steps or stick. Best part/ worse part about saddle hunting so many options that all work lol $$$$
 
Last edited:
Your basically going to be doing what I’m doing now and I like it a lot. One stick with a platform on the top and platform for when wanted and using Oplux. I have a kong and rarely use it so I would say you don’t need it, you can use a rappel device, madrock safeguard from dano, and use that as your tether hook up. That way there’s no messing around once your ready to come down and your always hooked up. If you decide one sticking is for you, you can always make some money back selling the sticks you don’t use too. Another thing I started doing is using my predator and one stick almost always together. I put the small platform at the top of my one stick on the opposite side of the tree and it gives me a spot to put my feet when pivoting around the tree. I would say 35’ for rappel rope at minimum. This is what I use as well and have found myself accidentally hunting higher than planned and rappelled to a rope that was 3’ off the ground.


Sent from parts unknown
 
I been using a Klemheist friction hitch attached to my tether/repel line for one sticking, when i want to come down i just wind a bite of line through a figure 8 that i attach to the biner under that hitch. Just a loop of rope for the hitch, a biner, and a $7.50 figure 8, and it tends easy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top