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Newbies need some advice

P

PhilSch

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Messages
79
Location
Sacramento area
My son and I are excited about acquiring equipment to get set up for saddle hunting but we don't know anyone that hunts from a saddle so we have no mentors. Economic challenges will prevent us from buying top of the line to start so economizing has to be the rule of the day. I am considering a Sitdrag or a fleece saddle used in conjunction with a rock climbing harness. Are there any major downsides in going that way? To save money I am willing to put up with some inconvenience as long as safety is not compromised.

There is a rock climbing harness on Amazon that looks pretty nice (at least from my naive perspective) and would like to hear from anyone that could shed some light on buying this particular harness:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076D55MF...olid=32GGOJLQGS1KR&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
I am unfamiliar with that particular RC harness. Either a sit n drag or fleece saddle will serve you well. I've been saddle hunting for over 25 years and I hunted from a fleece saddle all last season. I use a Petzl Corax RC harness, but also own a Black Diamond. Get 50 feet of good rope (you can make 2 sets of tethers and line mans ropes), some prusik cord and a couple carabiners a piece. If you don't already know, learn to tie a figure 8 on a bight , a stopper knot and a prusik. I would recommend a pair of knee pads, as well as some form of back strap (rifle sling/packstrap). You can add and change things as time goes on, but this doesn't have to be a high dollar operation to get started. There are tons of YouTube videos explaining all you need to know. Practice til its 2nd nature and you will be ready to hunt by fall.
 
I hunted out of a fleece saddle most of last season. Then got a kite towards the end like two weeks left. I actually thought my fleece saddle was more comfortable!
 
I used a fleece saddle last year and am going to this year as well. I don't really feel the need to change it up but to be fair, I haven't used a commercial saddle to compare it to. Fleece is just fine to save money just don't skimp on the rope.
 
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