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Wild edge users

POC said:
I bought these used, but I'll try the stretching. Thanks.

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Another tip I will offer is to get to the tree a little earlier than you think you need to. Rushing the process is another thing that will cause problems. Sometimes and on some trees, you may have to make several attempts at the cam over before it is solid.
 
This will be my 4th year useing wildedge steeps. I use a 16 pack, 14 up and 1 on both sides for platform.
 
harold wright said:
This will be my 4th year useing wildedge steeps. I use a 16 pack, 14 up and 1 on both sides for platform.
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Holy cow! That adds up to about the same weight as the climber I ditched to start saddle hunting! One of the many advantages was to cut the weight in half. Hope your trees aren't too far from where you park! Of course you may just be younger and stronger than me, too!
 
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WannaBMonkey said:
Holy cow! That adds up to about the same weight as the climber I ditched to start saddle hunting! One of the many advantages was to cut the weight in half. Hope your trees aren't too far from where you park! Of course you may just be younger and stronger than me, too!
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63 1/2 yrs old, 1 1/4 mile is about as far i go with artificial hipp and knees. I carry everything in my tensing 4000 backpack. run around 35lbs give or take. for 25 yrs i used a original ol man climber. With backpack and stand around 50 lbs. I hunt with a longbow now. i went to wildedge stepps for safty, packability and shooting a longbow out of saddle is easier. All i got is hills and hollows to hunt. Sometimes you got to bow up and go
 
POC said:
My first year with them. I have a hard time getting them tight enough. When I put the swaider on the step rocks to one side, that's a little scary.

And the second day I was using them the strap on the carry bag slipped out of the buckle. I was scared for half a second as something was making a "zipping" sound and sliding around my neck before it crashed to the ground.

I'm interested in a kydex holster.

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I can make them


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lhold450 said:
Wild edge steps or saddle hunting?


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Both.
I'm scared of heights so getting comfortable 4 steps up is hard and tonight I slipped and was stuck hanging from a step.

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POC said:
Both.
I'm scared of heights so getting comfortable 4 steps up is hard and tonight I slipped and was stuck hanging from a step.

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Well apart from hunting from the ground, a saddle is the safest because you’re tied off from the time you leave the ground. It may take some time to trust your equipment though... Wild edge steps are awesome, but they are a more advanced method of climbing


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lhold450 said:
Well apart from hunting from the ground, a saddle is the safest because you’re tied off from the time you leave the ground. It may take some time to trust your equipment though... Wild edge steps are awesome, but they are a more advanced method of climbing


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I've used a climber stand in the past and used a lineman rope with that too.
So I know in theory it is safe, it's just hard to trust new equipment. Especially when you fall.

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POC said:
I've used a climber stand in the past and used a lineman rope with that too.
So I know in theory it is safe, it's just hard to trust new equipment. Especially when you fall.

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Man take it from me, get out there on the tree about 2 ft off the ground and turn yourself upside down, hang upside down, sideways, try to shimmy out of your saddle, etc. Do everything that sounds stupid other than intentionally shock load yourself or your gear. Prove to yourself mentally that the saddle is safe. I was scared to death of falling when I hunted from a climber or a lock on. Not necessarily scared of heights, I worked as a crane technician in a previous job, so I was used to being way up there. But I was scared of the fall absolutely. I'm not scared at all in a saddle. You just have to be able to trust your equipment, and execute things safely.

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POC said:
I've used a climber stand in the past and used a lineman rope with that too.
So I know in theory it is safe, it's just hard to trust new equipment. Especially when you fall.

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You gotta do what you are comfortable and enjoy doing. In the end, your hunting journey is in your hands.

I would like to make a few observations in good spirit.

If you went from climber right to saddle and wild edge Stepps with aiders, you really bypasses some intermediate steps. It may be better to get a 3 pack of sticks and use them without aiders until you are comfortable. Then reevaluate other methods of climbing.

20’ is not some magical number. It co-incides with the number of digits on our hands and feet. Numerous times I have hunted better 6’ to 12’ to my feet. Just high enough to have a good view and have cover.

It seems newer saddle hunters are enamored with carrying the least amount of weight to and from a setup. Not sure if having that as the main goal is beneficial. Maybe think about safe, comfortable, fun (in that order). Then think about fine tuning with weight, if that is what you want.

When in a climber, I believe it would be safer to use a tether and advance it every move you make. I don’t think a lineman’s belt is good application with climber.

Have fun this season and do what makes you happy. And stay safe.
 
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POC said:
I've used a climber stand in the past and used a lineman rope with that too.
So I know in theory it is safe, it's just hard to trust new equipment. Especially when you fall.

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And let me tell you, I may feel comfortable in a saddle. But I'm not comfortable climbing with wild edge stepps. I'm a big guy and I don't care how tight I get them to cam over they always seem to shift to one side of the other when I use them. I love the idea of them, and wish like hell they worked for me but they don't. If I had more time to commit to becoming ultra proficient with them I think I would never look back at other climbing methods. Maybe next year.

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sojourner said:
You gotta do what you are comfortable and enjoy doing. In the end, your hunting journey is in your hands.

I would like to make a few observations in good spirit.

If you went from climber right to saddle and wild edge Stepps with aiders, you really bypasses some intermediate steps. It may be better to get a 3 pack of sticks and use them without aiders until you are comfortable. Then reevaluate other methods of climbing.

20’ is not some magical number. It co-insides with the number of digits on our hands and feet. Numerous times I have hunted better 6’ to 12’ to my feet. Just high enough to have a good view and have cover.

It seems newer saddle hunters are enamored with carrying the least amount of weight to and from a setup. Not sure if having that as the main goal is beneficial. Maybe think about safe, comfortable, fun (in that order). Then think about fine tuning with weight, if that is what you want.

When in a climber, I believe it would be safer to use a tether and advance it every move you make. I don’t think a lineman’s belt is good application with climber.

Have fun this season and do what makes you happy. And stay safe.
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My reason for wanting to try the saddle is less weight. When I carry my climber and a backpack, especially later in the year with parka and bibs, I get hot and sweaty and my back hurts. I thought this would be a way to shed some weight.

I did go straight from climber to the steps, I hate to go back to sticks, but maybe I will.

Thanks for the information everyone.

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harold wright said:
63 1/2 yrs old, 1 1/4 mile is about as far i go with artificial hipp and knees. I carry everything in my tensing 4000 backpack. run around 35lbs give or take. for 25 yrs i used a original ol man climber. With backpack and stand around 50 lbs. I hunt with a longbow now. i went to wildedge stepps for safty, packability and shooting a longbow out of saddle is easier. All i got is hills and hollows to hunt. Sometimes you got to bow up and go
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Kudos to you brother! I'm about 3 1/2 years your junior and obviously out of shape. I carry an eight pack and wouldn't hesitate to go the same distance if the situation called for it. But, I must admit, I'm not confident I would be willing to haul 16 that far. I could do it but I would be so sweated up that every deer in the county would smell me! And I still have all factory parts. My hat is off to you! Happy hunting
 
POC said:
My reason for wanting to try the saddle is less weight. When I carry my climber and a backpack, especially later in the year with parka and bibs, I get hot and sweaty and my back hurts. I thought this would be a way to shed some weight.

I did go straight from climber to the steps, I hate to go back to sticks, but maybe I will.

Thanks for the information everyone.

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Don't be opposed to venturing out. Initially, I thought of one sticking as totally ridiculous, bolts, spurs, SRT, DRT, rappelling, etc were all ridiculous. You never know until you try. Experiment until you find what works for you. You can easily sell anything you buy. Hunt with your climber and experiment with different climbing methods in controlled situations until you find one that checks the boxes for you.
 
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Anyone have experience with these “griprs?”
28937561f5e1c79bc3ac1f5ccd35ecf2.jpg



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Jtaylor said:
That's a pretty slick idea! How do they carry up the tree using these clips?
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He is an individual and has developed a system that is pretty slick. This is the website https://genesis3dprinting.com/ ... I haven't tested any of his products. But the "griprs" attach into his "belt style versa hanger" which would be attached to a molle loop on a saddle. He has a product that carries the WEI perch, and then a "gripr" attachs to the clip holding the perch (https://genesis3dprinting.com/products/perch-clip-system).
 
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