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Saddle Platform/Climber...Next Big Secret...?

blt348

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Jan 20, 2017
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This has got to be the next “big secret”.....right? A climbing method and platform all in one which equates to the lightest method available for public lands.

Many of us have resorted to the lone wolf or xop hand climbing seats for the time being and they do work very well but I do believe either Out On A Limb, Tethrd, or other saddle hunting accommodating companies could have a GREAT market for such a product!

Think about all the newcomers transitioning from climbing tree stands to saddle hunting and how it would make for a “smooth” transition and familiarity. Don’t you think it might soften the hesitation from making the jump into saddle hunting....?

Not to mention the safety aspect of being tethered in the entire time and no need for a lineman’s belt during the accent or decent.

The speed is quite fast as well. I’m rather new to this method and can be up 20’ in less than 3 minutes and back down in another 3 minutes. Not quite as fast as spurs but for me is much faster than sticks, stepps, and setting bolts.

There are some cons like getting around limbs, getting the platform “solid”, the climbing bands getting stuck/bent, or making noise on certain trees. But any method that has pros also had a set of cons as well...

P.S. I’m up for some field testing if y’all wanna build some prototypes.... Been swinging from trees for over 10 years from these tree diapers and love it! I might also be familiar with some Autodesk Inventor as well...just saying.

We’re just simple saddle hunters looking for more viable options and I truly believe this should be one!

Thoughts, comments, ideas...?




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EricS

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I have a hand climber that gets used on occasion. Half of the people using a saddle are doing so to get away from the limitations of climbing stands. Here’s my view looking straight down from about 25’ up in one of my sets. I’m in the third three way split of the tree. I would like to go just a little higher as deer are bedded on an abandoned railroad track 40 yards to my right that is about eye level with me. If I go higher I would have to pull my bow up twice.
7F5C6FD4-EAE3-4851-9435-6FD1F7E77095.jpeg
The point is I couldn’t get there with a hand climber. I can’t use my hand climber going in blind because I want something that will work in almost any tree.
 

Letemgrowitllshow

Well-Known Member
Jun 23, 2018
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Saint Francis MN
What kinda idea do you have in mind? Right now, I like my lone wolf hand climber seat platform. I run it stock and throw an OCB around it to stabilize it. Can walk around it no problem.
 

Recurveaholic

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2018
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I have a hand climber that gets used on occasion. Half of the people using a saddle are doing so to get away from the limitations of climbing stands. Here’s my view looking straight down from about 25’ up in one of my sets. I’m in the third three way split of the tree. I would like to go just a little higher as deer are bedded on an abandoned railroad track 40 yards to my right that is about eye level with me. If I go higher I would have to pull my bow up twice.
View attachment 18943
The point is I couldn’t get there with a hand climber. I can’t use my hand climber going in blind because I want something that will work in almost any tree.
What climbing method were you using in that tree?
 

blt348

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
Jan 20, 2017
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I have a hand climber that gets used on occasion. Half of the people using a saddle are doing so to get away from the limitations of climbing stands. Here’s my view looking straight down from about 25’ up in one of my sets. I’m in the third three way split of the tree. I would like to go just a little higher as deer are bedded on an abandoned railroad track 40 yards to my right that is about eye level with me. If I go higher I would have to pull my bow up twice.
View attachment 18943
The point is I couldn’t get there with a hand climber. I can’t use my hand climber going in blind because I want something that will work in almost any tree.

I do agree their are surely limitations pertaining to tree selection as that kept me from purchasing a hand climber seat for several years. When I really considered what trees I was hunting with sticks, stepps, and/or spurs, I discovered that I could get the hand climber in all but 10% of the trees I was hunting. I do understand the notion that the “right” tree is the tree we should be in!



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blt348

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Jan 20, 2017
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What kinda idea do you have in mind? Right now, I like my lone wolf hand climber seat platform. I run it stock and throw an OCB around it to stabilize it. Can walk around it no problem.

I too run mine stock with an OCB and find it to be very solid.

I believe attachment points for the ocb buckle should exist and be considered in the design when looking at tension and compression forces while under a load.

I also believe a cable like summit offers may be more conducive for this use as it is typically a bit more rigid and less prone to bending and getting caught on the tree while ascending and descending.

A more angled contour on the edges allowing the hunter to use the front edge of the platform to push off of and pivot to shoot from 10-2 o’clock. Similar to the Predator platform but maybe a bit more pronounced.


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Eaton35

New Member
Oct 8, 2019
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What kinda idea do you have in mind? Right now, I like my lone wolf hand climber seat platform. I run it stock and throw an OCB around it to stabilize it. Can walk around it no problem.

Where did you get your OCB from? I want to do this also as a platform.


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Letemgrowitllshow

Well-Known Member
Jun 23, 2018
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Saint Francis MN
View attachment 18944
I'm still in the trial period but there is no since carrying my predator anymore rock solid double purpose


I tried this last year. Worked ok, but not as well as with the ocb arpund the.platform. can you get that lwhc solod.withoit the climbing belt?
 
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Punkin78

New Member
Sep 28, 2018
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I just use both I strap it with cam buckle platform strap then tilt my toes down push down to set then cam level gtg... Rock solid
 
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blt348

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
Jan 20, 2017
589
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What kinda idea do you have in mind? Right now, I like my lone wolf hand climber seat platform. I run it stock and throw an OCB around it to stabilize it. Can walk around it no problem.

This is my current setup:

Older style LW Hand climber seat with a strap for my feat and a cord to connect to my carabiner/body to prevent dropping the platform during the ascent and descent.

ddc7987d9bc9682625aa827fee9852ca.jpg

06b55448677a2f5ecc86c43c4e418484.jpg

de16622631fccc3e472d89bb3dadd9e0.jpg


After the ocb strap is attached:

b6ef646006dcc607170e7f17f24ddf50.jpg

793edf0b6ff3d4d39489b5cf8c29fb88.jpg


With all #250 lbs on one foot in the corner of the platform and solid

df32725221dc0a97a56743fb32b36ed8.jpg



Sounds and looks like many SH members use this setup...


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Letemgrowitllshow

Well-Known Member
Jun 23, 2018
1,311
1,166
113
29
Saint Francis MN
This is my current setup:

Older style LW Hand climber seat with a strap for my feat and a cord to connect to my carabiner/body to prevent dropping the platform during the ascent and descent.

ddc7987d9bc9682625aa827fee9852ca.jpg

06b55448677a2f5ecc86c43c4e418484.jpg

de16622631fccc3e472d89bb3dadd9e0.jpg


After the ocb strap is attached:

b6ef646006dcc607170e7f17f24ddf50.jpg

793edf0b6ff3d4d39489b5cf8c29fb88.jpg


With all #250 lbs on one foot in the corner of the platform and solid

df32725221dc0a97a56743fb32b36ed8.jpg



Sounds and looks like many SH members use this setup...


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Darn simular to mine
 

Aeds151

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2018
2,448
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Will a cam strap get it as tight as a OCB strap? I am thinking about girth hitching one end of my helium strap to one side and putting a loop of something on the other and clipping this strap to the loop. This way I dont have a loose ocb strap to carry and try and feed the strap through buckle. I tried with out the loop and it did nil for tightest as the helium strap hook didnt really clip over the bars of the platform.


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Blitzboy9

New Member
Nov 8, 2018
36
18
8
36
SW MI, Foothills/Eastern NC
What kinda idea do you have in mind? Right now, I like my lone wolf hand climber seat platform. I run it stock and throw an OCB around it to stabilize it. Can walk around it no problem.
What brand and type of OCB are you using? I just bought a hand climber and need to do the mods. Any tips for a smooth running piece of equipment would be greatly appreciated!
 
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