The Helo is Getting me Out of the Saddle

[kyler1945]

I see how you get there with the linesman and all that included. Still can’t get past the weight. Again appreciate the info.

I hear ya. I still use an original hybrid. I really pushed back on John when he was working on the new design. To me, the new features weren't worth the weight penalty. But I've got a half dozen hunting buddies that are pushing the weight limits of it, and they appreciate the extra comfort.

I essentially cut everything I could off of my Gen 1 without sacrificing the safety harness.

My guess is if you keep an eye out, you'll be able to get one of those for 2-300.00.

I've logged a whole bunch of miles carrying the hybrid in the last 5 seasons. It has been far more enjoyable than carrying the LW Assault around for several seasons before that. Some because its more comfortable to carry the way I have it rigged. But mostly because of comfort in the tree.

Time spent in deer dense woods hunting = dead deer. More time = more dead deer. The hybrid keeps me in the woods.

I know this thread is about stands. I had to do a sanity check this season and spent several hunts in a stand. I simply can't sit STILL comfortably for more than 3-4 hours. And only a couple days of morning and evening sets. The hybrid makes time irrelevant. The force of gravity distributed over a 6x10" area doesn't dictate how much I'm in the woods anymore.

 

[Plebe]

I see how you get there with the linesman and all that included. Still can’t get past the weight. Again appreciate the info.

It is true that many of the mainstream saddles setups are comparable or even exceed the price of a JX3.

JX3 is $450. The Tethed kit isn't that far off at $401. Latitude Method 2 starter kit is $449.99. etc. $425 for Cruzr's.

But, there are still some good values out there in soft saddles.

Wood Hunting Saddles, full kit, $349 w/ dump pouch. I can say, these aren't a discount build. Made my Latitude saddle look like thrift store sewing. Certainly on par with Aerohunter and TX5.

https://woodhuntingsaddles.com/shop/ols/products/kit-saddle-adjustable-bridge-tether-linesman-rope-1-dump-pouch

 

[Plebe]

Also, I think everyone will have forgotten than Dan charged 600.00 for the beast stand in a year.

Everyone will be used to paying 500-1000 for stands (for many reasons).

He just recognized where buying trends were going a year or two ahead. The net result is people will still end up paying the high price. And he’ll have made a few extra bucks, while also managing peoples expectations better.


All that said, we all better buckle in for a very volatile future from a consumption standpoint. Cheap stuff is going to be a relic of a bygone era…

Lol, and Dan waited 10 years to finally release his "field tested" stand because he foresaw major economic change coming and wanted to wet consumer appetites before striking on the cusp of a financial windfall in treestand sales.

 

[Petrichor]

I hear ya. I still use an original hybrid. I really pushed back on John when he was working on the new design. To me, the new features weren't worth the weight penalty. But I've got a half dozen hunting buddies that are pushing the weight limits of it, and they appreciate the extra comfort.

I essentially cut everything I could off of my Gen 1 without sacrificing the safety harness.

My guess is if you keep an eye out, you'll be able to get one of those for 2-300.00.

I've logged a whole bunch of miles carrying the hybrid in the last 5 seasons. It has been far more enjoyable than carrying the LW Assault around for several seasons before that. Some because its more comfortable to carry the way I have it rigged. But mostly because of comfort in the tree.

Time spent in deer dense woods hunting = dead deer. More time = more dead deer. The hybrid keeps me in the woods.

I know this thread is about stands. I had to do a sanity check this season and spent several hunts in a stand. I simply can't sit STILL comfortably for more than 3-4 hours. And only a couple days of morning and evening sets. The hybrid makes time irrelevant. The force of gravity distributed over a 6x10" area doesn't dictate how much I'm in the woods anymore.

I use the drey for a saddle. It’s amazing in comfort but I think I’ll be hunting ground this year for weight savings and mobility. Maybe because I’m young. But I’ve never had an issue with carrying or using a stand all day. Perhaps I will one day, that’s the goal to make it there.

 

[mattpsu1]

Well thanks for info. Probably will grab an m7 at some point, but I’m gonna pass on the jx3.

Just saw the Millenium M7 Microlight on Stafford Trading Company for $184. Says free shipping. So of course I had to add one to cart and proceed to checkout. Then I get a message that says, sorry there are no available payment methods for your state. Not sure what to make of that. It does say I could contact them to make alternate arrangements. Kind of killed the impulse buy buzz…for now anyway

 

[neonomad]

I agree about the Millennium M7 Microlite being a nice stand. I've made many an all day sit in mine when I was in that hunting club. It was my go to stand for a number of years along with the preset brackets and 20 foot ladder sticks. I had 18 preset sticks and brackets out at one point.

Just a reply of respect here, with two young kids I could make it my life’s mission to hang that many presets this year and I doubt I could manage half that many. That’s some real work.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Just a reply of respect here, with two young kids I could make it my life’s mission to hang that many presets this year and I doubt I could manage half that many. That’s some real work.

Ha, Rome wasn't built in a day and I didn't set all those in one year. I would say it was over a 4 year period. But with that said, a friend of mine had at least that many. Between the two of us we had about 40. Post season we would go out and loosen all the chain brackets so they didn't get too tight on the trees over the summer (usually during turkey season). Then we would revisit all the stands preseason and inspect ratchet straps, etc and tighten the brackets back down in anticipation of the hunting season. We would also reposition stands at this time if we felt that they were in unproductive spots. He kept a notebook to keep track of his, I had an Excel spreadsheet and kept track of all data like name of spot, location, ladder type, date placed, best wind to hunt, best time of day to hunt (morning spot or evening), deer collected there, etc. I would usually pick up 3 new ladder sticks a year when they went on deep discount at Walmart in February and buy enough brackets to go with them over the summer.

During this time I used first a Summit climber and then a Lone Wolf Assault II hand climber for mobility.

I still have a small contingent of the ladder sets in my shop that I could put out if I pick up some small lease properties in the future. Since going to Public land I have focused on mobility and lightness more and more.

 

[Nate]

This is my 3rd year saddle hunting, I was a tree stand hunter for 30 years. Because most are in this same category you have to give it sometime and try different options. I suffered the first year with the sitdrag, Mantis and Tactisaddle but killed two nice P&Y bucks. The following year I suffered with the H2 and Treehopper Recon but also killed two nice bucks one was the biggest of my life however, at the end of the season I found myself in my local sporting goods store with a treestand back in my hands since I sold all of mine. I swore I wouldn’t go back so I started this season back in the Recon. I always use a ring of steps so I thought I would try using my predator platform in hopes to make it more comfortable and it did to an extent but found I couldn’t shoot 360. I tried the Cruzr XC size three which is a size bigger for me but figured the more surface area the saddle supports the better it should feel and finally…finally I figured it out for me. Now I can sit all day in comfort and shoot 360 on just about every tree. A saddle is like a pair of jeans you try a lot but usually have a one that fits you just perfectly and wear them all the time. You have to put a lot of time in figuring how to make it work for you. In my opinion it’s far superior than treestand hunting for many reasons. Good luck!

Did you decide to go back to the ROS then?

 

[Noonespecial]

Yes I did.

Did you decide to go back to the ROS then?

 

[katiesmom]

So, turning on a platform to shoot the weak side isn't technically a weak side shot as it positions the shooter to execute the shot on their strong side.

That's how I got my buck this year. He came in almost directly behind me. I turned around standing with my tether over my left shoulder and had basically a strong side shot. I'm a lefty.

 

[Heydeerman]

I use the drey for a saddle. It’s amazing in comfort but I think I’ll be hunting ground this year for weight savings and mobility. Maybe because I’m young. But I’ve never had an issue with carrying or using a stand all day. Perhaps I will one day, that’s the goal to make it there.

I used to throw a Viper and loaded pack on my back, walk a couple miles back and run up hills and be set an hour before daylight. Them days are gone. I don’t go as high in the hills, or as far back as I used to. Last year I only got in the saddle twice and hunted on the ground. Killed one on the ground and one in my buddy’s LW stand. I’m in the easy and comfortable crowd now.

 

[BuffaloBill]

I just got one of the Amazon hammock seats. Seems decent for the money. May try it out camping this weekend.

Hammock Seat Chair Camouflage Hunting Seat Chair Portable and Light Weight Stool Camping Chair Hangs On Tree https://a.co/d/bTlmdx5