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Newbie to Saddle Hunting - Seeking Mentor

WassawBound

WassawBound

New Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Messages
19
Location
Northern California
Hello fellow saddle hunters. I live near San Jose, CA. I plan to hunt zone D-5 general season this year. I have a Thethrd Mantis Saddle on order. Fingers crossed, it arrives in time.

While I'm waiting on the gear to arrive, are any of you willing spare an afternoon and gear for a demo and supervision during my first climb? I have some indoor climbing experience but that's about it.

I can barter a weekend hunting over the gundog I'm training. :) No promises, she's not finished yet.
 
Wish I lived closer. But welcome to the forum and good luck. Lots of great guys on here!
 
Welcome from eastern NC! I don't think I could get further away from you, so sorry wish I could help! Hopefully you will find someone if not the learning curve is not so bad!!! Good luck and be safe!!!!
 
Welcome from Minnesota and good luck finding a mentor, that's a very humble way to get into the saddle game and probably a smart move if you ask me.
 
Thanks for the warm welcomes. This is kinda a bucket list thing for me. Hunting that is. I left GA for CA in my twenties. Was a rebellious teen and never hunted with dad. Now he's too old I'd give anything to hunt with em. The crazier CA gets the more I either wanna be kayak fishing, training my gundog, or hunting. Dad has lots of hunting advice but it's all old school hunting white tails in the GA low country. I'm not sure how much transfers to the blacktail or muleys in CA gold country.

Any advice on getting to my tree with a bear lurking around? Make noise, don't make noise, red light or white?cam3_does.jpegImage-1.jpg
 
Welcome aboard

If you cannot find anyone, set up a camera or phone to film yourself. It already looks like you may already have the equipment
 
I have trained labs for duck and up land hunting. It looks like you have a very promising dog.
 
Welcome from Massachusetts. If i use a white light I filter it through my fingers so just enough light gets through to see to walk. I like the green or red too, and I'll do the same with my hand. I think more importantly is not to shine it around like a beacon. If you keep it pointed down as much as possible it's less noticeable. I'm not sure how the deer perceive the different colors, that's why it's important to choose your routes in and out. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions.
 
Welcome.
I thought saddles caused "Cancer in the State of California" and thus, were outlawed.
Lol.
You can always find cyber help right here on the forum.
Lots of helpful guys on here.
 
Today's latest pic. Pulling the SD cards this weekend should be interesting. I guess I have motivation to get to the range.

Are there any good threads for using rifles with the saddle? I'll be a rifle hunter this season. I want to put grandma's old 30-30 Savage to use before packing it away.

Thanks @bigjoe, Her new trainer thinks so too. I don't have papers so she will be a meat dog. Best craigslist rescue ever. The trainer thinks I got a good one. He explained that her bloodline is likely making up for all the DIY training I've put her through. He also mentioned that in his experience she's up with the top 10% of Weimaraners he's trained. She currently tracks, points and retrieves. She's also not gun shy. Gunfire means look for the bird to her. I hope to keep it that way. Now, I just need her steady to the shot. If she learns to honor, that's just icing on the cake. After steadiness is down, I may put her on some early season duck. Seeing that I've already screwed up by teaching my pointer to sit and all. he he.

Image-1.jpg
 
Welcome! I get to San Diego once and awhile but that's still a hike from you. Wish I could be more help.
 
Momma has a cub. Now what? Do I forgo hunting this property? Do I just make bunch of noise getting into and out of my stand/saddle and hope for the best? She’s hanging out about 50 yards from the cabin. I’ll end up passing the area coming and going 50D09B64-E052-40B6-A3E5-A44E215C1CA6.jpeg3FDD4AB9-9AA2-454F-B332-ACE6B1517FE5.jpeg
 
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