Whos had more saddle hunting influence?

[DB4x4]

Who's Scott Hamilton?

That was my first thought. Who the hell is that? Oh...

I had hunted from a climber for years but was growing tired of it. It was heavy, loud, and couldn't get me in the places I really wanted to hunt. I had mediocre success killing does, but could never seem to find decent bucks.

I watched the DIY Sportsman set up sticks and a hang on stand as quickly as I could use my climber. I cut up my old upper-body-only harness from the 90s and switched to a RCH with a lineman belt. I tried hunting from three Hawk Heliums and a light hang on stand, but it was awkward and I still wasn't efficient at it.

Then I saw the DIY Sportsman video where he added a sit drag to the RCH and a light bulb went off. This is the way. I tried it once and decided it had serious potential. Why climb up 3 sticks and then hang a stand when you can just climb up 3 sticks and hunt?

I ordered a Kestrel the following summer, since it was all one piece and there would be less "fiddle factor". I would climb my 3 Heliums and add a primal V step on either side of my top stick for extra mobility. It wasn't perfect, but I realized I could start hunting places that were previously inaccessible to my climber. Even when I went to climber-friendly areas, I opted for the sticks and Kestrel, just to get used to it and get better at it.

I watched Boswell's videos on climbing, setting up, and one of his most helpful videos, in my opinion, rope management and daisy chaining. This made a huge difference in my efficiency.

I saw the DIY Sportsman video on climbing a tree with one stick and thought it would be nice to carry only one, but man that looks like a lot of effort. Then I saw the infamous CBigBear one-stick video... Quick, efficient, quiet. Hell or high water, I was figuring this out. And I did. Lots of practice in the yard. So much so, that my wife thought I had a problem. We had just had our first kid and she thought I was losing it.

This forum taught me a lot, especially about safety. INVALUABLE. I think about all the sketchy **** I used to do in a climber, in a hang on, and even when I started saddle hunting. It's a wonder I'm still alive, haha.

This forum transformed me from a climber-toting bumbling mess into a lean, mean, killing machine. I know that sounds cliché, but it's true. I hadn't killed a buck in a LONG time. I've now killed a buck in bow season that last 7 years in a row... And the last two were absolute PIGS.

I shot my personal best this year by silently setting up on him while he was only 75 yards away, confirmed by cell cam. Had to pick an unfamiliar tree, climb it quietly in the dark. The stars all aligned and I crushed him at 23 yds. Six years of learning and experience culminating into one glorious morning of success.

I appreciate the contributions of John E. I've read his book... But for me it was, in no particular order:

@redsquirrel
Garrett (DIY Sportsman)
Boswell
@Cbigbear

Thanks.

 

[vtbowhunt]

I got started after seeing an article in a Petersons Bowhunting magazine. They I stumbled upon all the YouTube video and I would certainly agree that Boswell had a big influence. DIY Sportsman gave me ideas to start modifications.

 

[ImThere]

Who's Scott Hamilton?

Seriously though, I think lots of people have influenced saddle hunting in lots of different ways. Without question I have to first give credit to my father for using his anderson sling and hanging behind me in it all those times as a kid. That gave me an open mind to the technique from the get go. In 2007/2008 when I first read John's books he reintroduced the idea in the form of the trophyline saddle to me. That timing coincided with my move from central to North Jersey in what ended up being the single most important thing that ever affected my deer hunting. I had to learn how to hunt a new terrain and ultimately it lead to me totally re-evaluating how I hunted and my hunting knowledge to that date. Using the saddle I started going mobile before I knew "mobile hunting" existed by having over 40 trees prepped with screw in states throughout the state. I would periodically check in on archery talk where there was an occasional saddle thread. Around 2013 there was a thread on there about or coinciding with the release of the original aero hunter saddle. The discussion was mainly by the same group of guys and is where I first came in contact with Boswell. One day I decided there was enough of a group of "people like me" and I started saddlehunter. Boswell and Aero hunter were huge contributors to the saddle hunting world around that time and the market wouldn't be what it is without them. I would also give tons of influence to all of the original 500 or so members on here who contributed to that community daily. Together we really came up with some really awesome stuff that you see the results of in the saddle world today. Fast forward to the start of tethrd and you have to give Greg and Ernie a ton of influence. They exploded the saddle hunting industry. I don't even know all of the saddle hunting companies and products anymore which is a very weird feeling for me. From the day I started this site until around January 1st 2019, I had read every single thing that ever got posted on here. At that point it got to be too much and I couldn't do it anymore.

Side notes on my saddle hunting tree.
-Trophyline (obviously). They were just going out of business around the time I was getting into saddle hunting and unfortunately some of their stock was limited. It took me a ton of effort to find an ambush saddle in medium.
-Guido's web. The one saddle company that stuck around through it all and is now JX3. They have always been a niche in the industry.
-Onehair and the onehair tree seat. Definitely one of the original DIY's. I believe it was first posted on bowsite.

I miss those days. I used to laugh walking though a store looking for something to saddle hunt out of!! If you weren’t around back then. I’m sorry you missed out.
Dave Tom’s has to be in the mix from back then?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bowhuntr09]

Without a doubt, Scott Hamilton has cost me the most money! I’m always finding reasons on this site to buy things.

 

[woodsdog2]

Honestly, Chuck Adams inspired me. In one of his first books on bowhunting, in a chapter on whitetails he referenced treesling systems but overall, I'd have to say John Eberhart is the most influential and one of the earliest pioneers as he popularized using saddles as a complete at height hunting system long before 2013 and more like the late 1990's early 2000's. It is his go to method as was evidenced in his many articles and all of his hunting pressured whitetails books. Anderson Archery out of MI used to sell an Anderson Tree Sling I believe too. That's when I got my first compound and ordered a flipper plunger rest, cushion plunger, catwhiskers, and moleskin for my shelf. Those were the days. I used to look at that catalog from beginning to end probably once a day. Along with the Bowhunters Discount Warehouse catalog. I know, I know. I'm an old buzzard!!

 

[woodsdog2]

And for sure, my previous post does not, in any way minimize the impact that this site has had on saddlehunting whatsoever. I was taking that original OG post about the firstlings. @redsquirrel and this site certainly has had a huge impact on saddlehunting for sure.

 

[Plebe]

Without a doubt, Scott Hamilton has cost me the most money! I’m always finding reasons on this site to buy things.

I could have purchased the Lone Wolf Assassin and tree sling at deep discount numerous times, from the store my cousin worked at that couldn't move them to the final stock sale from Lone Wolf (don't remember them saying they were being discontinued). I really wanted to give the Assassin a try, as I moved around a lot and was bow hunting new public frequently and my climber, albeit comfortable, was a bit heavy and bulky.

When I was finally ready to pull the trigger and jump in, the Assassin was no longer being sold and then this site drove demand above my purchase threshold.

So....

To date, as a result of this site, I have purchased 4 platforms and cut up a climber for a fourth.

I also passed on the Web for years, so I picked up the JX3 to scratch that itch.

Love saddlehunter.com.

 

[BackSpasm]

Honestly, it hard to give credit to @redsquirrel here knowing how much he made off of this site and his endorsement deals. Untold millions are rumored to sit in a New Jersey storage unit and last I heard he gets dropped off in the swamp to hunt his private 5,000 acre marsh by helicopter. I also heard stories of him blackballing saddle companies from here unless they pay him a “protection fee”. Remember when he and the “mods” (enforcers) imposed all those new vendor rules?

Something to think about…

 

[HuumanCreed]

Honestly, it hard to give credit to @redsquirrel here knowing how much he made off of this site and his endorsement deals. Untold millions are rumored to sit in a New Jersey storage unit and last I heard he gets dropped off in the swamp to hunt his private 5,000 acre marsh by helicopter. I also heard stories of him blackballing saddle companies from here unless they pay him a “protection fee”. Remember when he and the “mods” (enforcers) imposed all those new vendor rules?

Something to think about…

I also heard he get a $1 when someone type 'most comfortable saddle?'

 

[ImThere]

Lol.I want a dollar every time a YouTuber says “game changer” “feed tree” “smoked him” or “smash that like button”!!!
Couldn’t carry all the dollar bills in a dump truck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DB4x4]

I also heard he get a $1 when someone type 'most comfortable saddle?'

I heard @redsquirrel copyrighted the word "Secret"...

 

[Apex7]

I started saddle hunting because I liked the Anderson sling and didn't like carrying a treestand back in the early 80s. As far as influencing saddle hunting I would have to say John Eberhart. He helped Trophyline design saddles awhile back. He's one hell of a spokesman for saddle hunting.

 

[thedutchtouch]

so from reading this thead i now understand that the timberpimp contest was created to try to top @redsquirrel 's sequined leotards? interesting. not sure if i'm supposed to say "pics or it didn't happen" or not...

but in all seriousness, i don't know enough about the history of the industry so will limit things to my personal scope - this forum has done tons more for me learning how to deer/saddle hunt than any single celebrity hunter so thanks to big red again!

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

so from reading this thead i now understand that the timberpimp contest was created to try to top @redsquirrel 's sequined leotards? interesting. not sure if i'm supposed to say "pics or it didn't happen" or not...

^^^^
careful what you ask for

 

[DB4x4]

That was my first thought. Who the hell is that? Oh...

I had hunted from a climber for years but was growing tired of it. It was heavy, loud, and couldn't get me in the places I really wanted to hunt. I had mediocre success killing does, but could never seem to find decent bucks.

I watched the DIY Sportsman set up sticks and a hang on stand as quickly as I could use my climber. I cut up my old upper-body-only harness from the 90s and switched to a RCH with a lineman belt. I tried hunting from three Hawk Heliums and a light hang on stand, but it was awkward and I still wasn't efficient at it.

Then I saw the DIY Sportsman video where he added a sit drag to the RCH and a light bulb went off. This is the way. I tried it once and decided it had serious potential. Why climb up 3 sticks and then hang a stand when you can just climb up 3 sticks and hunt?

I ordered a Kestrel the following summer, since it was all one piece and there would be less "fiddle factor". I would climb my 3 Heliums and add a primal V step on either side of my top stick for extra mobility. It wasn't perfect, but I realized I could start hunting places that were previously inaccessible to my climber. Even when I went to climber-friendly areas, I opted for the sticks and Kestrel, just to get used to it and get better at it.

I watched Boswell's videos on climbing, setting up, and one of his most helpful videos, in my opinion, rope management and daisy chaining. This made a huge difference in my efficiency.

I saw the DIY Sportsman video on climbing a tree with one stick and thought it would be nice to carry only one, but man that looks like a lot of effort. Then I saw the infamous CBigBear one-stick video... Quick, efficient, quiet. Hell or high water, I was figuring this out. And I did. Lots of practice in the yard. So much so, that my wife thought I had a problem. We had just had our first kid and she thought I was losing it.

This forum taught me a lot, especially about safety. INVALUABLE. I think about all the sketchy **** I used to do in a climber, in a hang on, and even when I started saddle hunting. It's a wonder I'm still alive, haha.

This forum transformed me from a climber-toting bumbling mess into a lean, mean, killing machine. I know that sounds cliché, but it's true. I hadn't killed a buck in a LONG time. I've now killed a buck in bow season that last 7 years in a row... And the last two were absolute PIGS.

I shot my personal best this year by silently setting up on him while he was only 75 yards away, confirmed by cell cam. Had to pick an unfamiliar tree, climb it quietly in the dark. The stars all aligned and I crushed him at 23 yds. Six years of learning and experience culminating into one glorious morning of success.

I appreciate the contributions of John E. I've read his book... But for me it was, in no particular order:

@redsquirrel
Garrett (DIY Sportsman)
Boswell
@Cbigbear

Thanks.

To expand on this, I lurked here for a long time before I finally made an account. I don't want to sound like a hipster, but I'm glad I started saddle hunting "before it was cool" haha.

I haven't been doing it as long as some of you, but I remember the days of furniture bracket ROS and scooter platforms. I feel bad for the folks who actually needed those brackets and foot rests but couldn't find any in stock because a bunch of goofball hunters were strapping them to trees.

I laugh when I see platforms selling for $200+ and think... Don't they know a $7 primal step and piece of plywood can do the same thing? Or when I see folks talking about how comfortable the Dryad Drey is... It's just a rebrand of the $5 Walmart fleece saddle!

My two biggest gripes about saddle hunting are...

1. I didn't learn all of this sooner. I would've killed SO MANY more deer

2. There are too many people doing it now. I've lost my tactical advantage. I met my first random just the other day. Pull into a parking spot on a piece of public that was previously not well known. Parking lot full now, damn. One guy packing up gear in his vehicle wearing knee pads. I thought, welpppp there goes the neighborhood.

 

[Jay_Disarray]

influence to me personally? without a doubt Garrett over at DIY Sportsman and Boudreaux Boswell. They were my first resource in researching saddle hunting and learning more about it. Boudreaux Boswell was probably the reason I decided to go with a new old stock neoprene trophyline for my first saddle, as there wasnt much info or choice even a few years ago.

in the market as a whole? Eberhart and G2 have basically pushed the entire saddle hunting into an entirely new level. As well as the forums here, and Redsquirrel the other brains behind the scenes

 

[redsquirrel]

2. There are too many people doing it now. I've lost my tactical advantage.

It's funny that you say this as well. This is exactly how I feel. I honestly never cared about growing saddle hunting. I wanted a place that people like me could get together. I definitely feel like I have an advantage hunting out of a saddle and I don't really want to give that up. But I'm fortunate for all of the good friends I've made on here during this journey. Luckily I haven't had a huge influx of saddle hunters in my area. I know there are a few around that I've met through this site, but by home I have never seen one in person. I've only ever found 2 trees prepped for saddle hunting other than my own. Now on my sika hunt I have run into 2 other saddle hunters my last 2 trips.

Edit to add... I must have been doing something right. I made it this far without many people knowing my real identity

 

[redsquirrel]

I miss those days.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You and me both buddy. Things have quieted down a bit but this place has become much more exhausting than it was back then.

 

[redsquirrel]

If influence = saddle hunting leaving counter culture status and reaching pop culture (aka status signal) status, there’s just two - papa squirrel and g2. It’s not close.

Edit - papa squirrel also highly influential on the actual deer killin side. My above might have diminished that fact. Killers helping killers

You should check out my next tik tok where I blend my pop culture status with my hunting abilities. I'll name it Killa's helping Killa's just for you.

 

[DB4x4]

It's funny that you say this as well. This is exactly how I feel. I honestly never cared about growing saddle hunting. I wanted a place that people like me could get together. I definitely feel like I have an advantage hunting out of a saddle and I don't really want to give that up. But I'm fortunate for all of the good friends I've made on here during this journey. Luckily I haven't had a huge influx of saddle hunters in my area. I know there are a few around that I've met through this site, but by home I have never seen one in person. I've only ever found 2 trees prepped for saddle hunting other than my own. Now on my sika hunt I have run into 2 other saddle hunters my last 2 trips.

I used to try and convert everyone when I first started and realized all of the advantages. Mostly I got laughed at and made fun of...

I had someone once tell me, boy that looks dangerous. So I asked them how they hunt...

Them: Stick ladders and hang on stands.
Me: You use a lineman rope to put them up, right?
Them: What's a lineman rope? I just hold on with one arm and tighten all the straps with the other...
Me: Yeah, you're right. My method is definitely more dangerous.

At some point, I stopped voluntarily spreading the gospel because I realized I was just training the competition in my area. If someone I know asks for help or tells me they're switching, I show them everything I know to shorten their learning curve in hopes they don't do the same dangerous **** I did when I started.

... But I don't give up the goods to the locals anymore pro bono.