Please do not overlook this

[NWPA22]

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?

 

[drew13]

Like you said, get your whole system down pat so you know where each piece of your kit is located. Only you can figure out what system works for you so practice, practice, practice.

 

[MN_Bowhunter4]

My best advice is practicing like you hunt. That means shooting from height, tethered in, etc. Shooting at dawn and dusk, shooting awkward positions and unknown distances.

I've never personally killed a deer from 20 yards while standing on my patio in shorts in the middle of the day. Not that it can't be done though!

 

[Hail_Southern]

My best advice is practicing like you hunt. That means shooting from height, tethered in, etc. Shooting at dawn and dusk, shooting awkward positions and unknown distances.

I've never personally killed a deer from 20 yards while standing on my patio in shorts in the middle of the day. Not that it can't be done though!

Ill 100% confess if it happens from the patio in shorts!

 

[boyne bowhunter]

Two years ago I had practiced one sticking all summer. I had probably climbed 100 trees throughout the course of the summer, I was positive I had the system down. I wasn't able to hunt opening day but second evening I slipped out after work and headed to an oak grove I've had some past success in. It was drizzling slightly and the trees were wet and slippery (I think I know where the term mossy oak comes from now). I soon discovered a flaw in all my practice climbs . . . the weather was always dry. For the life of me I couldn't figure out to balance myself off the slippery tree and get my foot in the aider. It took me an hour to climb the tree. Once up I sat there wet, sweaty, frustrated and quite a bit humiliated.

Fast forward to last year. The morning that I took my buck last year we had a windy freezing rain overnight. My daughter and I started in about an hour before daylight with only a "sort of" idea where we wanted to setup. I got her set up in a tree over looking a ravine and moved up the hill a quarter mile. The upwind side of the trees were all coated with a 1/4" of solid ice. I ended up climbing one tree and once I was up I didn't care for my position much so I rappelled back down and climbed another and I was still set up before first shooting light. The difference . . . I now have had plenty of slippery tree climbing experience and have developed a system that doesn't rely soley on using the sole of my foot against the tree to stabilize myself.

 

[Paraiso]

Good thread and good reminder. I like to do several practice runs before season. Everything, including the drive to a spot and climb. I do this a few times before the opener and turn it in to a scouting/glassing trip by picking a spot far enough away from the deer. I always find a few things to address before the season begins, even if I haven't changed any gear. In prior years I would figure these things out during the first few hunts of the season. Some hard lessons were learned.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[TreeCreep]

This hits home and I’m trying to get better with the descent on an Aider. Tricky in the dark - also different bark / tree shapes / limbs can really slow me down. Try to smile and slow down.
I have yet to Saddle climb in rain gear In the rain ..... hmmm
Still tweaking my un pack to climb and pack up down To leave, I’m a 2 out of 10 for efficacy .

 

[HuumanCreed]

Not only should you practice in the dark. Try to have an observer with you sometime. My wife is still unconvinced about climbing safety and she watched me climb a few times when I started hunting with a climber until she was at ease. She was able to point out a few things that helped alot. Like how i'm not as good or as quick as I told her.....that I overestimate myself on maneuvers and time. Also helpful was that sounds I assumed was soft and forgiving, she could hear it very clearly even far away. The woman alway had my back and even her critism was for my benefits.