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Small Trees

Grasshopper 22

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
6
I'm looking at purchasing my first saddle this offeason and hoping that switching to saddles will allow me to get into some smaller tress that I wasn't able to with a hang on. What is the smallest size tree (at the point where you tether in) that you are able to get into with your saddle? Also looking for any tips on getting setup in smaller trees - a couple of the spots I will be hunting are swamp with not many big tree options.
Thanks.
 
The smallest I got in for ****s and giggles was about 6 inches in diameter, biggest thing is climbing up and make very smooth movements or the whole tree wobbles
 
Did it once. Got busted by a shooter coming at me. Every movement you make is transmitted to the tree and leaves, and higher you climb the worse it is. Might be okay on a windy day, but being the only tree moving in the forest just doesn't work well on a calm morning.
 
If you can get in a cluster of them and have some in front of you, you will be hidden better. I’ve been in 4-6in trees at tether height. Wind helps cover movement and noise. But also will have the tree swaying if the wind is strong enough. It’s all about cover.
 
I got into saddle hunting last year to hunt one specific tree. Ended up shooting a nice buck out of a 6" poplar. It was a bit of a challenge staying comfortable and I did move a little more than I would have in a larger tree but it was doable. Switching from one knee to the other when sitting worked best for me. Good knee pads are a must. I had good cover so that helped with the movement. . I hunted that tree 3 times and one day is was windy. If you get motion sickness say out of something that small in the wind or it could be bad. It was like fishing 3 foot waves in a 16' boat.
 
If you are using a platform be sure it will work on that small of a diameter tree when you put side pressure on it. You may just want to use the top of your stick as your platform in that situation.
 
The problem is movement. If it's a really small tree, you feel like it's going to break every time you move. I don't like hunting really tiny trees.

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