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New guy from Ohio!

AP2020

AP2020

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2024
Messages
14
Location
Central Ohio
Well, after treestand hunting since 1976, I had a Fox Squirrel Climber which was even more dangerous than the Baker Climbers, I am going to try saddle hunting!

I am getting a Hang Free Challenger Saddle, Hunting Beast 20" mini sticks and 12" platform.

Here's my 2024 Ohio 11 point I killed last Tuesday, November 12, 2024!

I also have a YouTube Channel, the video will be released next Monday!

•••Edit•••

 
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Welcome from Mississippi! Funny you mention the Fox squirrel climber. I have a friend who swears he would have had a Zwicky Delta in his back if the plywood seat of the Fox Squirrel had not stopped it. Someone shot him as he was walking out in the dark. This was in the late 70" early 80"s.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
Welcome from Mississippi! Funny you mention the Fox squirrel climber. I have a friend who swears he would have had a Zwicky Delta in his back if the plywood seat of the Fox Squirrel had not stopped it. Someone shot him as he was walking out in the dark. This was in the late 70" early 80"s.
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No doubt!

Yeah, the spring steel band, 5/8" plywood, and metal brackets! Back then, no safety harnesses nor belts. I tied a rope around my waist. Also now hand climber either, you had to bear hug the tree!!
 
AP2020 said:
No doubt!

Yeah, the spring steel band, 5/8" plywood, and metal brackets! Back then, no safety harnesses nor belts. I tied a rope around my waist. Also now hand climber either, you had to bear hug the tree!!
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I remember he talked about being all scratched up from bear hugging the tree. Especially one time when the platform fell out from under him about 20 feet up while he was climbing, and he had to shimmy down the tree without the platform. He said they were very dangerous to use.
 
Welcome! I’ve been subscribed for awhile. What region of Ohio are you based out of? I’m NE, based on the size of that buck I’m guessing you are not NE Ohio haha.

Edit: I’m a stick climber but for anyone new to saddle hunting, just be aware of the safety pros and cons of sticks… lots of good threads on the forum, including static falls. I feed a tether up with me, in addition to a linemans belt.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I remember he talked about being all scratched up from bear hugging the tree. Especially one time when the platform fell out from under him about 20 feet up while he was climbing, and he had to shimmy down the tree without the platform. He said they were very dangerous to use.
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Yeah, I "dropped" the stand once, had to bear hug the tree down from about 12 feet up.

Keep in mind, we thought it was revolutionary to be able to even "climb" a straight tree with no limbs.

The alternative? A bunch of 2 by 4's, and 12d nails!
 
Always good to see another Buckeye, getting into saddle hunting. I've been doing it for 4 years now and have changed climbing methods so many times, it's ridiculous. I believe that I'm settled on the most safest method with the JRB Tree Climbing. :) If you would've told me that I'd be using a rope system of climbing, just 2 years ago, I would've laughed. Always tied to the tree, compared to where I started with one of those Fox Squirrel and Baker Mighty Mite tree stands....it's amazing that I'm still alive to tell about it. o_O

If you have any questions that I can help with, I'm always glad to help a brother out. :cool:
Climber, Saddle, Rappel 15.jpg
 
BowhunterXC said:
Always good to see another Buckeye, getting into saddle hunting. I've been doing it for 4 years now and have changed climbing methods so many times, it's ridiculous. I believe that I'm settled on the most safest method with the JRB Tree Climbing. :) If you would've told me that I'd be using a rope system of climbing, just 2 years ago, I would've laughed. Always tied to the tree, compared to where I started with one of those Fox Squirrel and Baker Mighty Mite tree stands....it's amazing that I'm still alive to tell about it. o_O

If you have any questions that I can help with, I'm always glad to help a brother out. :cool:
View attachment 111316
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Awesome!

Man o man, I had to stop hunting with a recurve years ago (shoulder injury). Thank you!

Knox County

O - H
 
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BowhunterXC said:
Always good to see another Buckeye, getting into saddle hunting. I've been doing it for 4 years now and have changed climbing methods so many times, it's ridiculous. I believe that I'm settled on the most safest method with the JRB Tree Climbing. :) If you would've told me that I'd be using a rope system of climbing, just 2 years ago, I would've laughed. Always tied to the tree, compared to where I started with one of those Fox Squirrel and Baker Mighty Mite tree stands....it's amazing that I'm still alive to tell about it. o_O

If you have any questions that I can help with, I'm always glad to help a brother out. :cool:
View attachment 111316
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Fox Squirrel was my 1st commercial stand. One for me and one for my wife. She was a trooper when climbing with it. I still have both of them but I won't be using them any time soon!
 
Welcome aboard! What a gorgeous buck! Hope to see that grip and grin of one even bigger for your first from a saddle! This community is great here! There is a great wealth of knowledge floating around this forum and most of the guys are more than willing to share! WAY better than any Facebook group! Happy hunting!!!
 
Tim0712 said:
Welcome aboard! What a gorgeous buck! Hope to see that grip and grin of one even bigger for your first from a saddle! This community is great here! There is a great wealth of knowledge floating around this forum and most of the guys are more than willing to share! WAY better than any Facebook group! Happy hunting!!!
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Thanks!

I appreciate that! In Ohio, we are allowed one buck per year. However, I still have several doe tags.

I am excited to try this saddle hunting, I know that there will be a learning curve! But, that's part of the journey!
 
AP2020 said:
Well, after treestand hunting since 1976, I had a Fox Squirrel Climber which was even more dangerous than the Baker Climbers, I am going to try saddle hunting!

I am getting a Hang Free Challenger Saddle, Hunting Beast 20" mini sticks and 12" platform.

Here's my 2024 Ohio 11 point I killed last Tuesday, November 12, 2024!

I also have a YouTube Channel, the video will be released next Monday!

Big 11-point Walkup
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Welcome! I’m not too far from you in West-Central OH.
 
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