NWPA22
Active Member
Last year was my first full season in a saddle, I spent months pouring over the threads on this site and watching YouTube videos to get a setup I felt comfortable with. I had read and watched so much content I felt like a seasoned saddle vet. When all of my gear was delivered and assembled I went out in the yard and climbed up. I would sit in my saddle for 15-30 minutes in the evening making adjustments and taking notes on what needed silenced or what process could be streamlined. I would put my targets out, take my bow up with 3 arrows and practice shooting at different angles. Things were looking and feeling good!
Then I saw it, Practice climbing in the dark. The point the OP was making was that you are not truly hunting ready until you can climb to hunting height and have everything pulled up and ready to go QUIETLY, IN THE DARK. Luckily I have a bunch of trees on my property and my backyard butts up to a township owned woodlot. I picked out one tree to make it as real of a scenario as possible and went out early the first morning I was able to. It was laughable to say the least, also lots of swearing....lots. It took 4 tries, some morning and some night climbs to even be close to proficient.
This also highlighted something I try to incorporate in most of my hunting, have an outlined process. For example my ropes are always in the same pouch, my clips always go on my pack loop. That way when you are looking for things in the dark you know where they are and can find them quicker. I plan on practicing climbing and getting situated in the dark a few times again this year before the season opens in PA to knock off any rust.
Besides practicing in the dark is there anything that was extra helpful to you as a saddle hunter?
Then I saw it, Practice climbing in the dark. The point the OP was making was that you are not truly hunting ready until you can climb to hunting height and have everything pulled up and ready to go QUIETLY, IN THE DARK. Luckily I have a bunch of trees on my property and my backyard butts up to a township owned woodlot. I picked out one tree to make it as real of a scenario as possible and went out early the first morning I was able to. It was laughable to say the least, also lots of swearing....lots. It took 4 tries, some morning and some night climbs to even be close to proficient.
This also highlighted something I try to incorporate in most of my hunting, have an outlined process. For example my ropes are always in the same pouch, my clips always go on my pack loop. That way when you are looking for things in the dark you know where they are and can find them quicker. I plan on practicing climbing and getting situated in the dark a few times again this year before the season opens in PA to knock off any rust.
Besides practicing in the dark is there anything that was extra helpful to you as a saddle hunter?