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Things I've learned my first morning at 9:30am sent from the tree

JCLINE84

JCLINE84

Well-Known Member
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Oct 31, 2017
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First of all, you are not going to buy a saddle, go in to hunt 2 days later, and get up your tree ready to hunt in less than 45 minutes to an hour.

Second, all the junk you pack on a normal hunt from a tree stand is going to have to be cut in half. Possibly thirds.

Third, buy strap on steps and possibly platform for future hunts. Screw in steps are a pain.

Fourth, anything in front pants pockets are dang near stuck there. Took a while to dig my phone out to type this.

Fourth, bow must be hung on left side of tree if you are a right handed shooter. Making the switch from one hand to the other across your bridge is tedious.

Fifth, I am 33, in extremely good shape, lift weights and run every day, look like I could suit up for a college football team right now, and I am exhausted, my legs are cramping, and I don't know if I can even draw my bow back if Mr. Big shows up anytime today. I need to work on my system to make things easier in the future. Also I think there is just a break in period for your body to get used to hanging from a tree this way.

Sixth, I can not in any way make it around the tree to shoot to my right. Mostly my fault because of limbs and my setup. A small saw is a must for the hang and hunt setup.

And lastly, I think I'm already hooked on saddle hunting. Much gear to be acquired and much more practice in the yard before my next hunt. I feel like kind of an idiot for screwing this first hunt up so much but I will stick with it and learn as I go.
 
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Erniepower said:
Lol we've all been there!

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I guess you'e the man to talk to about a part to make a platform. How much is the piece I need and do you still have them?
 
You got it. It takes practice and you need a system. But it’s worth it .
 
This also makes me smile! Sometimes i feel like I always learn the hard way! Hang in there, it only gets better! I think by definition saddle hunters are never completely satisfied with their setups, always tweaking it to make it better!

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This is my first year and it took me quiet a awhile to get it together. For me I realized the leg strain issue the second time I set up to practice in my lawn. To ease it up I need roughly 80% of my weight being held by the saddle. That took me awhile to figure out the tether height to find the sweet spot. My bow hasn't been a problem. My pack however is always in the way, either visually or physically. I've done the same thing with limbs more than once. I have one pine tree I prepped just before season that I literally can't shoot from, that was a wonderful wasted morning. So your not alone. But I'm hooked now. I already sold half my hand on stands.
 
Well I survived, and I even had two does walk within 10 yards of my tree. Surprised me because I spent most of my time in the tree today moving things around, adjusting straps, and just playing with my setup. The good news is my saddle so comfortable and I never felt unsafe. Just gonna keep trying it and keep looking here for good information. Thanks to all you guys that made this a place to find information.
 
You will hear the term “saddle shape” that is what is being referred to! Lol.
My sitdrag showed up I tied a bridge on and went hunting the next morning, in the dark. I was used to using sticks so that wasn’t bad. But I had DIY aiders for the first time and they wore my arse out!!
I had a moment today. I needed more height to get to the split in the tree I was in so I had to climb down and raise all my sticks up and stretch another 18” out of them. By the time I was done I was tired! Lol


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ImThere said:
You will hear the term “saddle shape” that is what is being referred to! Lol.
My sitdrag showed up I tied a bridge on and went hunting the next morning, in the dark. I was used to using sticks so that wasn’t bad. But I had DIY aiders for the first time and they wore my arse out!!
I had a moment today. I needed more height to get to the split in the tree I was in so I had to climb down and raise all my sticks up and stretch another 18” out of them. By the time I was done I was tired! Lol


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Shew same with me!! I know my way around sticks and stands but this is so much different. I was exhausted by the time I clipped in.
 
Root said:
This is my first year and it took me quiet a awhile to get it together. For me I realized the leg strain issue the second time I set up to practice in my lawn. To ease it up I need roughly 80% of my weight being held by the saddle. That took me awhile to figure out the tether height to find the sweet spot. My bow hasn't been a problem. My pack however is always in the way, either visually or physically. I've done the same thing with limbs more than once. I have one pine tree I prepped just before season that I literally can't shoot from, that was a wonderful wasted morning. So your not alone. But I'm hooked now. I already sold half my hand on stands.
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I struggled with my pack also. There just isn' a good place to put it
 
9e21c0768d9d6aa5aa263a9b911b8d2e.jpg

I hang everything from a strap like this


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redsquirrel said:
I can’t promise a timeline guys but I am going to make a video for saddlehunterTV specifically about hanging your pack and bow. I’m just busy hunting hard right now.
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What the heck redsquirrel? Priorities!

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Root said:
Yeah red that doesn't do us much good in March
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Sure it does, for next year lol. Seriously though I am listening to everything you guys say and I have lots of videos I want to make to help everyone out. With a busy job, a 2 year old and actually hunting (cause what’s the point of having a hunting website if you don’t actually get to go hunting ) it is tough to cram it all in.
 
Hang in there I just went back to work after a year being off I broke my L3 burst fracture L4 fracture. Left pelvic shattered and right pelvic broke I have no problem setting in my Kestrel. I've been saddle hunting for many years so the learning care for me was zero like I said hang in there if I could do it you can do it. Give it some time. It is a lot different than hunting from a tree stand but it's great.
 
redsquirrel said:
Sure it does, for next year lol. Seriously though I am listening to everything you guys say and I have lots of videos I want to make to help everyone out. With a busy job, a 2 year old and actually hunting (cause what’s the point of having a hunting website if you don’t actually get to go hunting ) it is tough to cram it all in.
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Have you tried not sleeping? Listening to all of us does make me a little nervous, that video list must be a mile long, lol!! Keep it up @redsquirrel!
 
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