Saddle hunting in Ontario

[fawnzy]

Saddles


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[Leadpipefill]

I think most of us that have taken a less expensive route have upgraded.

If you want to go a less expensive route such as a fleece saddlebacks by all means do it. Just make sure you don’t skimp on safety.


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I'll probably end up getting one of the consumer level saddles and forgo making my own. I'm not super pressed right now and I'd rather buy it once kind of thing.
Plus I can buy some of the stuff here in Canada like the ascenders and climbing sticks slowly during the off-season.

 

[fawnzy]

I think you’ll be happier in the end doing it that way.
If you can try some different brands before purchasing that’s a good idea.
We all have our favs but all for different reasons. I don’t think there is a “best” saddle. It’s what works for body, hunting style, budget...........


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[Homebrew454]

Wasn't the Arc saddle made in Canada? Might be an alternative to the duty and international shipping costs? Not sure if the company is still in business or making them though.

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[fawnzy]

They are. Price was good too. I don’t think they have a place to attach a lineman’s belt.



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[Ontariofarmer]

Try before you buy. If you can. Every bodies idea of a perfect saddle is different


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[Ontariofarmer]

I have tried at least a half a dozen saddles. My personal favourite is a JX 3.

I Have tried
The evolution, kestrel, mantis fleece saddle, sit drag and flex. In several sizes too.

Really all hunting stuff is more expensive here.

There are many Canadian saddle hunters and likely some near you. You should visit one near you and try one out



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[Ontariofarmer]

You are about 1.5 hours from me if you want to make the trip here.

There are saddle hunters in London too


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[robstewart]

I think most of us that have taken a less expensive route have upgraded.

If you want to go a less expensive route such as a fleece saddlebacks by all means do it. Just make sure you don’t skimp on safety.


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Yep. My RCH is from MEC and all I do is let my weight into my saddle but still hooked up to the RCH with no appreciable slack. The saddle becomes a comfort thing.

I’m actually not 100% sure I’d trust a proper saddle. I almost feel like an arborist harness would be better. But then I think of the complexity I have in my system now and how light weight and simple I could go with a proper saddle.


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[Ontariofarmer]

Yep. My RCH is from MEC and all I do is let my weight into my saddle but still hooked up to the RCH with no appreciable slack. The saddle becomes a comfort thing.

I’m actually not 100% sure I’d trust a proper saddle. I almost feel like an arborist harness would be better. But then I think of the complexity I have in my system now and how light weight and simple I could go with a proper saddle.


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If you mean commercial saddle when you say proper saddle. I would trust any commercial saddle as much or more than any rock climbing harness. And I have both.

Commercial saddles today are very very well made


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[manitoba450es]

I'm in manitoba. just a bit outside winnipeg. I bought a kestral last year and this year was my first year hunting out of it. there is nothing more comfortable when your freezing half to death than the saddle. hardest part to keep warm is your feet cause its tough to climb trees with giant baffin boots. bow season I dress pretty light even when it's cold but count on my milwaukee heated sweater and 3 batteries to last the day. the biggest thing is that I dont get cold and stiff like sitting in a regular stand. I tried one day just one of my old tree stands and after sitting 2 hrs at -18C I could barely stand and felt like I was gonna fall forward to the ground. my legs didnt work. next sit in that stand I brought my saddle, folded the seat up and leaned back and used it like a platform. much nicer. safer feeling. stayed warmer. not sure why but leaning back I felt way warmer than sitting on the chair of the stand.

I bought all my stuff besides the saddle in canada. rope, ropeman1's, caribeaners, built my own platform, used screw in pole spikes for my pre sets, got a set of API climbing sticks on the way from cabelas USA for $99USD. Turns out to be $189CND once shipping and handling and duty was taken care of.

saddleplooza canada might need to happen. summer though... climbing trees in -30C no matter what your wearing wouldnt be too much fun.

Welcome to saddle hunting. once you get started it becomes an addiction to modding all your gear to become a more efficient hunter. lighter is not always better but it's nice.

Mike

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[robstewart]

Yea the weather can be a huge issue too! I watch there hunting videos and look at hunting cloths here listed as mid or heavy weight and laugh. Apparently no one in the northern US hunts deer in early winter when it’s well below zero!?!

I almost exclusively switch to blind hunting once it’s below -5 or so. Last year during November shotgun it was nice the first day. I think the second day it snowed and by the end of the week I was on a blind with a HeaterBuddy!!!


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[boyne bowhunter]

Apparently no one in the northern US hunts deer in early winter when it’s well below zero!?!

Some of us do. I live in the northern end of Michigan's lower pennisula (obviously not quite Manitoba) and I saddle hunt right up to the last day of the season (Jan 1st). I've spent many hunts in trees where the temperature is hovering around 0F without the windchill. I dress for it (wool layers and Baffins) and really don't have to much problems other than my exposed hands when its time to attach those cold metal components (safeguard and biners) to rapel down. I have a thin pair of gloves I use specifically for this but my fingers are usually numb by the time get down. Funny thing is that I don't really have a problem with my hands getting cold when I'm climbing. Maybe its because my body's trying to use those hands as radiators to reduce the heat generated walking.

 

[robstewart]

Some of us do. I live in the northern end of Michigan's lower pennisula (obviously not quite Manitoba) and I saddle hunt right up to the last day of the season (Jan 1st). I've spent many hunts in trees where the temperature is hovering around 0F without the windchill. I dress for it (wool layers and Baffins) and really don't have to much problems other than my exposed hands when its time to attach those cold metal components (safeguard and biners) to rapel down. I have a thin pair of gloves I use specifically for this but my fingers are usually numb by the time get down. Funny thing is that I don't really have a problem with my hands getting cold when I'm climbing. Maybe its because my body's trying to use those hands as radiators to reduce the heat generated walking.

I also tend to wear thing gloves and my absolute favourite pieces of kit are my hand warmer muff and either chemical or a Zippo hand warmer inside! I bought the hunter safety systems one and it’s very soft and warm inside.

The nice thing is I can put my grunt call in there or my cell phone or anything else I want to put someplace quickly. It keeps the phone and the grunt call from freezing of course. Basically it’s like a man-purse lol


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[Ontariofarmer]

Some of us do. I live in the northern end of Michigan's lower pennisula (obviously not quite Manitoba) and I saddle hunt right up to the last day of the season (Jan 1st). I've spent many hunts in trees where the temperature is hovering around 0F without the windchill. I dress for it (wool layers and Baffins) and really don't have to much problems other than my exposed hands when its time to attach those cold metal components (safeguard and biners) to rapel down. I have a thin pair of gloves I use specifically for this but my fingers are usually numb by the time get down. Funny thing is that I don't really have a problem with my hands getting cold when I'm climbing. Maybe its because my body's trying to use those hands as radiators to reduce the heat generated walking.

Northern Michigan is colder that south west Ontario and farther north.


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[robstewart]

Northern Michigan is colder that south west Ontario and farther north.


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Yep. Much of S/Ontario is cradled in the bosom of great lakes which act like a furnace in the winter keeping the temps near the lakes 4-5 degrees warmer. I live about 1000' above lake level and it's always 5 degrees colder BUT we only get -20C or colder a handful of days a year.

 

[MJH]

Northern Michigan is colder that south west Ontario and farther north.
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Lots to cover in this entire thread. Here are my thoughts:

1. I am super excited about Canadian hunters on this site - if I can help anyone out please feel free to contact me. I'm in the Hammer.
2. I am super excited about this site because our American friends have put me on to some great hunting equipment and techniques.
3. While our Yankee friends to have way more deer than us pretty much no matter where you hunt, our hunting opportunities are so much better. It is almost embarrassing talking to them about public land hunting given that Ontario is over 1,000,000 sqkm and 87% crown (public). Now, our tag availability however is not so good, and frankly creates issues.
4. Let's add a measure of sanity to the "Michigan is colder than Ontario" comment. Truthfully south western Ontario is warmed considerably by the lakes, and the UP is for sure colder. Farther north that changes pretty darn quick in my view. I figure by the time you get to Nippissing, that debate is over. I have no interest in a "who's the coldest" **** measuring contest, but lets just keep the facts straight. (Reference the below image of Clark filling in Probert for my views on Ontario vs Michigan - Dec 1st 1992)
5. The cost of US gear is a problem, but getting a good comfortable saddle will bring so many opportunities into the fold, that it will be worth it. For sure finding the right one is necessary, and at these costs "testing the waters" might be problematic. I got lucky and the Kestrel fits my a$$ perfectly and I expect to be hunting out of it for years.

 

[Leadpipefill]

Lots to cover in this entire thread. Here are my thoughts:

1. I am super excited about Canadian hunters on this site - if I can help anyone out please feel free to contact me. I'm in the Hammer.
2. I am super excited about this site because our American friends have put me on to some great hunting equipment and techniques.
3. While our Yankee friends to have way more deer than us pretty much no matter where you hunt, our hunting opportunities are so much better. It is almost embarrassing talking to them about public land hunting given that Ontario is over 1,000,000 sqkm and 87% crown (public). Now, our tag availability however is not so good, and frankly creates issues.
4. Let's add a measure of sanity to the "Michigan is colder than Ontario" comment. Truthfully south western Ontario is warmed considerably by the lakes, and the UP is for sure colder. Farther north that changes pretty darn quick in my view. I figure by the time you get to Nippissing, that debate is over. I have no interest in a "who's the coldest" **** measuring contest, but lets just keep the facts straight. (Reference the below image of Clark filling in Probert for my views on Ontario vs Michigan - Dec 1st 1992)
5. The cost of US gear is a problem, but getting a good comfortable saddle will bring so many opportunities into the fold, that it will be worth it. For sure finding the right one is necessary, and at these costs "testing the waters" might be problematic. I got lucky and the Kestrel fits my a$$ perfectly and I expect to be hunting out of it for years.

Thanks for your kind words and hilarious reference.

I agree the prices are pretty outrageous, I've made the commitment to try and source as many of my saddle setup components here in Canada (i.e. ropes, steps, platforms).
The only thing I see myself buying from the US is the saddle itself (I'm thinking the Mantis).

I hope to interact with my fellow Canucks on this website and openly accept any and all comments from our brothers and sisters south of the border.


Regardless of how cold you think your freakin' winter is.

 

[robstewart]

I’m just north of Toronto and hunt county forests and some private land. None of the private land has been good County forest has a lot of hunting pressure. So far I’m a bad deer hunter. :-(

For a saddle I started with a RCH and added a battle belt with climbing webbing and a bridge tied in. It worked “ok” but now I’m getting ready to try a fleece saddle this weekend hopefully.

I’m off 2 weeks at Christmas and have a doe tag and plan to live in the woods until I fill it. That said, I may opt for the pop up shelter on the ground instead!

For climbing I have tried SRT, single stick and the base from my hawk self climber. No matter how I get up I’ve switched to using a 30’ tether for safety and to rappel down in the dark.

I may go ahead and order a saddle from the US next year. I’d like to get the LWHC seat as well as I feel that would double as a climber and platform.


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[PatG]

I'm in manitoba. just a bit outside winnipeg. I bought a kestral last year and this year was my first year hunting out of it. there is nothing more comfortable when your freezing half to death than the saddle. hardest part to keep warm is your feet cause its tough to climb trees with giant baffin boots. bow season I dress pretty light even when it's cold but count on my milwaukee heated sweater and 3 batteries to last the day. the biggest thing is that I dont get cold and stiff like sitting in a regular stand. I tried one day just one of my old tree stands and after sitting 2 hrs at -18C I could barely stand and felt like I was gonna fall forward to the ground. my legs didnt work. next sit in that stand I brought my saddle, folded the seat up and leaned back and used it like a platform. much nicer. safer feeling. stayed warmer. not sure why but leaning back I felt way warmer than sitting on the chair of the stand.

I bought all my stuff besides the saddle in canada. rope, ropeman1's, caribeaners, built my own platform, used screw in pole spikes for my pre sets, got a set of API climbing sticks on the way from cabelas USA for $99USD. Turns out to be $189CND once shipping and handling and duty was taken care of.

saddleplooza canada might need to happen. summer though... climbing trees in -30C no matter what your wearing wouldnt be too much fun.

Welcome to saddle hunting. once you get started it becomes an addiction to modding all your gear to become a more efficient hunter. lighter is not always better but it's nice.

Mike

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Where in Canada did you purchase all the climbing gear? Eveytime I look online for a ropeman1 I get redirected to Amazom.com (USA)...