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N00b from the PA Wilds

ctluzier

ctluzier

New Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2024
Messages
11
Location
Central PA
Hello.

I’m new here from Central Pennsylvania. I’m new to saddle hunting. I found this forum through a quick google search. I’ve been watching YouTube videos on saddle hunting for years and have been intrigued.

This year, I decided to buy some equipment to get me started. I’m on a budget, so went with the rock climbing harness route. I’ve got the harness and two eight-or-nine-foot lifelines from HSS. I use one for a lineman rope and the other one for a tether. I use Primal v-treesteps and an aider to climb.

So far, I’ve only been comfortable with getting about 12-to-15 feet high. I’ve practiced a few times, and tonight was my first official hunt from the set up. It was an ag tag antlerless deer hunt. I didn’t see anything, but I also didn’t fall. I did fall slightly one time during a practice climb when my foot slipped off of my aider. I was only six feet high and my lineman rope and a tree behind me broke my fall. I hit my head on the tree but not too hard. I thought about quitting right then and there, but I decided to keep trying. I even climbed again that same day.

Tonight, I was planning to climb to at least 20 feet, but I got uncomfortable when attaching my third step to the tree. I hooked up my tether and decided to stay where I was.

That seems to be my toughest challenge - trying to get the step to cam over when I’m relying on my lineman rope. I’m worrying about my lineman rope falling when I crouch down for leverage and pull to get the step to cam over. I’m hoping to find advice and assistance here on the forum.
 
Welcome to the forum from Maryland. I see no difference in practicing over and over going from stick 1-2 rather than worrying about going higher while you're still getting dialed in, good work trusting your guy while you get used to it. You've got a long off-season to practice, I would suggest putting one stick as close to the ground as possible (sometimes the root flare makes this harder to set) and practice this transition over and over at like 4-8 feet off the ground. Once you're comfortable with that it'll be easy peasy doing the same thing slightly higher on the tree, and less chance of fall injury during off-season practice. Feel free to ask lots of questions this is a knowledgeable bunch that's generally happy to help. The search work ok as well but using Google and Including site:saddlehunter.com in your search works even better.
 
thedutchtouch said:
Welcome to the forum from Maryland. I see no difference in practicing over and over going from stick 1-2 rather than worrying about going higher while you're still getting dialed in, good work trusting your guy while you get used to it. You've got a long off-season to practice, I would suggest putting one stick as close to the ground as possible (sometimes the root flare makes this harder to set) and practice this transition over and over at like 4-8 feet off the ground. Once you're comfortable with that it'll be easy peasy doing the same thing slightly higher on the tree, and less chance of fall injury during off-season practice. Feel free to ask lots of questions this is a knowledgeable bunch that's generally happy to help. The search work ok as well but using Google and Including site:saddlehunter.com in your search works even better.
Click to expand...
Thank you, @thedutchtouch! I think I’ll do just that. I was thinking about leaving the aider in my pack or at home for a while and just using the steps.

Like you said, more practice from the ground level or only slightly higher is likely in order. No use getting hurt or worse trying to rush successfully taking an animal from the tree set up.

This practice will also help me condition my body into getting used to climbing. As it is right now, I get sore every time I climb.

Another thing I thought to mention, too, is that I’m not yet much of an archery hunter. I don’t own a bow and I hunt primarily with a rifle. Tonight I had my 30-30 up in the tree with me.
 
Hello from Michigan..
Can you tether in when you cam the step? Would be some extra work, but more secure.
Also maybe consider making your Lb have a tree squeeze style instead of being loose. Two friction hitches on each side to snug it up to the tree. I think @Brocky posted some pictures with some ideas. If your trying to save some money. You could do it with some cheap cord I think. It's just to keep your LB in position.
 
Welcome from WNY! Keep tension on your LB by consistently leaning back into it at an angle you are comfortable with. I am constantly adjusting my LB length as I position up and around the tree to set sticks or platforms. Always make sure the LB is at or above your waists as well.

It also sounds like you need to develop your climbing “routine.” This can only be developed by doing exactly what you are doing. By practicing over and over again. You will develop a process and system that works for you. Don’t get discouraged!
 
ctluzier said:
That seems to be my toughest challenge - trying to get the step to cam over when I’m relying on my lineman rope. I’m worrying about my lineman rope falling when I crouch down for leverage and pull to get the step to cam over. I’m hoping to find advice and assistance here on the forum.
Click to expand...

There shouldn't be a time that you need to crouch down to cam over the step. Are you trying to place the step at waist level?

Make sure you are always placing the steps at head level, lean back into your LB and cam the step over firmly. It doesn't have to be so tight it's hard to cam over.

And welcome to the forum!
 
MattMan81 said:
Hello from Michigan..
Can you tether in when you cam the step? Would be some extra work, but more secure.
Also maybe consider making your Lb have a tree squeeze style instead of being loose. Two friction hitches on each side to snug it up to the tree. I think @Brocky posted some pictures with some ideas. If your trying to save some money. You could do it with some cheap cord I think. It's just to keep your LB in position.
Click to expand...
Yes, I’ve tethered in and it does help.

I didn’t know there was such a thing as a squeeze style. I’ll have to check that out. Thanks, @MattMan81!
 
woodsdog2 said:
Welcome from WNY! Keep tension on your LB by consistently leaning back into it at an angle you are comfortable with. I am constantly adjusting my LB length as I position up and around the tree to set sticks or platforms. Always make sure the LB is at or above your waists as well.

It also sounds like you need to develop your climbing “routine.” This can only be developed by doing exactly what you are doing. By practicing over and over again. You will develop a process and system that works for you. Don’t get discouraged!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips, @woodsdog2!
 
GCTerpfan said:
There shouldn't be a time that you need to crouch down to cam over the step. Are you trying to place the step at waist level?

Make sure you are always placing the steps at head level, lean back into your LB and cam the step over firmly. It doesn't have to be so tight it's hard to cam over.

And welcome to the forum!
Click to expand...
Yes, I’m placing them around head height. I was watching a video last night and I learned that I may have my straps positioned incorrectly on my steps and I am also trying to cam them with the step below the strap instead of above it. I’ll be switching my straps around asap and seeing if these things make a difference when I’m out there next time. Thank you, @GCTerpfan!

Edit to show the difference in the straps now:
Before:
IMG_2523.jpeg
After:
IMG_2524.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Welcome from Northern Virginia.
Another method you can try when caming over apparatus(apparati? who knows) is to situate the item directly in front of you making sure you linemans belt is above the plane where you are securing your item. Cam over and set like you normally would then rotate 90 degrees on the tree and climb a bit, then rotate back 90 degrees to stand on the step you just set. Wet, lather, rinse repeat. Often times folks have a hard time when they’re just starting out with line management while setting sticks and platforms and such. This will help you with your rhythm and also help you focus more on the task at hand.
 
Exhumis said:
Welcome from Northern Virginia.
Another method you can try when caming over apparatus(apparati? who knows) is to situate the item directly in front of you making sure you linemans belt is above the plane where you are securing your item. Cam over and set like you normally would then rotate 90 degrees on the tree and climb a bit, then rotate back 90 degrees to stand on the step you just set. Wet, lather, rinse repeat. Often times folks have a hard time when they’re just starting out with line management while setting sticks and platforms and such. This will help you with your rhythm and also help you focus more on the task at hand.
Click to expand...
Thanks @Exhumis, but I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Is there a video I could check out to see someone demonstrating this? Sounds interesting.

Also, does anyone know what I’m doing wrong when attempting to add photos on here? I’m on another forum that uses the same platform as this one and I’m able to upload photos from my phone just fine. Here, it tells me that the photos are too big.
 
ctluzier said:
Thanks @Exhumis, but I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Is there a video I could check out to see someone demonstrating this? Sounds interesting. Also does anyone know what I’m doing wrong when attempting to add photos on here? I’m on another forum a lot like this one and I’m able to upload photos from my phone just fine. Here it tells me that the photos are too big.
Click to expand...

There is a 1600x1600 size limit. Screen shot the photo and then upload the screenshot.
 
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