Saddle hunting is dangerous. People have died doing it. Know that if you hunt from an elevated position, there is a higher percentage of you not coming home to your loved ones than if you stay on the ground. Take the words/ideas of dudes on the internet with a grain of salt; very few of them are experts. I am not an expert. DO NOT run out and climb 20' to attempt what you see below. Some of the concepts you see below may be physically demanding in nature. DO NOT attempt what you see without assessing your own physical abilities and limitations. Think about it. Test it. Proceed with caution.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I'd like to toss out an idea for discussion. Every morning after my shower, I put on my clothes, fill my pockets, put on my watch and affix my bracelet to my wrist with... a jam knot.
Thinking about that made me reflect on the frequency of which I employ the jam knot for various tasks and its overall effectiveness. Made me recall that a jam knot has never failed me. In fact (and interestingly saddle related), I used a jam knot last year to hold my knee pad to the tree.
All this prompted me to remove the delta link from my tether and replace it with a jam knot. Sure enough, it worked for me. It works on the same principle as a Blake's hitch in that the rope binds on itself and doesn't allow the stopper knot at the end to pull through the eye.
I think there are a few pros to the jam knot:
1. It completely does away with the metal noises and weight associated with a delta link.
2. It is stuuuuupid simple to employ. Only thing you have to tie at the base of the tree is an overhand knot.
3. The ball of barrel stopper knot itself can be used as a tether assist handle if you choose. Use your bow hanger as a tether assist handle on the other side.
4. It is simple to untie when you're done if using Canyon or HTP as your tether.
Below are a few pictures geared to start conversation.
Here it is on another tree.
Turns out, it does remarkably well holding all the gears when no load is applied to the carabiner.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I'd like to toss out an idea for discussion. Every morning after my shower, I put on my clothes, fill my pockets, put on my watch and affix my bracelet to my wrist with... a jam knot.
Thinking about that made me reflect on the frequency of which I employ the jam knot for various tasks and its overall effectiveness. Made me recall that a jam knot has never failed me. In fact (and interestingly saddle related), I used a jam knot last year to hold my knee pad to the tree.
All this prompted me to remove the delta link from my tether and replace it with a jam knot. Sure enough, it worked for me. It works on the same principle as a Blake's hitch in that the rope binds on itself and doesn't allow the stopper knot at the end to pull through the eye.
I think there are a few pros to the jam knot:
1. It completely does away with the metal noises and weight associated with a delta link.
2. It is stuuuuupid simple to employ. Only thing you have to tie at the base of the tree is an overhand knot.
3. The ball of barrel stopper knot itself can be used as a tether assist handle if you choose. Use your bow hanger as a tether assist handle on the other side.
4. It is simple to untie when you're done if using Canyon or HTP as your tether.
Below are a few pictures geared to start conversation.
Here it is on another tree.
Turns out, it does remarkably well holding all the gears when no load is applied to the carabiner.
Last edited:
