Saddle Hunting…. What are you using?

[Jsin]

I’ve been running a trophy line saddle for the past 3 years. Using muddy sticks. Sometimes 3 or 4 with a aider. Coming from an arbor care background it was an easy transition. I have been a mobile hunter for 15 plus year trudging around my area with a steel summit viper. I pack everything into my mystery ranch pack and generally jump on my fat bike and bounce around my area. 
 

Just trying to kick this off for us saddle dorks!

[josephmrtn]

I'm personally using a Hawk platform and 20" helium sticks. They have been great but I am thinking about upgrading to XOP sticks next year.

For my "saddle" I actually use a cheap rock climbing harness. I've been using it for 3 years now and it still works great so I have no reason to upgrade, ropes are just a cheap set from Amazon as well.

My pack is a cheap one off of Amazon that works great for hanging my platform and sticks of.

 

Biggest upgrade to my setup in the last couple years has been throwing away my old bow rope that would constantly tangle and getting a 25' retractable dog leash from harbor freight. I keep it in the waist belt pocket of my pack and when I get to my tree simply attach it to my bow and start climbing. 

Edited November 17 by josephmrtn

[escpen]

I’ve been using a latitude classic 2 saddle, LWCG The Fix platform, and LWCG compact sticks (20”) with cable aiders.   It all fits in my Mystery Ranch pop-up pack just fine along with my outer layers.  

I’ve used a Tethrd predator platform, original lone wolf 3 step sticks, and a Tethrd phantom saddle in the past. That equipment worked well for me too. Only sticks I’ve tried that I had trouble with are some sticks from Hawk - I experienced kickout with them multiple times. 

[biggamefish]

The XOP stick are well made but they stack weird for carrying in and out. I stack 2 together and face feet towards each other.  I have a 2 panel saddle from overwatch outdoors. Super comfortable.

Edited November 15 by biggamefish

[The Back 40]

I work in the At Heights industry and have been a climber and rope access technician for a long time. I never really gave saddle hunting much thought until now. I have tons of harnesses and climbing gear and have performed tons of tree work. On the other thread someone @BowmanMike ? mentioned they use a rope to "climb" into position and a throw ball. That sounds like a typical arborist method of accessing trees.

I might need to start giving saddle hunting some more thought. My Petzl Avao BOD would probably be the best choice.

[BowmanMike]

5 minutes ago, The Back 40 said:

I work in the At Heights industry and have been a climber and rope access technician for a long time. I never really gave saddle hunting much thought until now. I have tons of harnesses and climbing gear and have performed tons of tree work. On the other thread someone @BowmanMike ? mentioned they use a rope to "climb" into position and a throw ball. That sounds like a typical arborist method of accessing trees.

I might need to start giving saddle hunting some more thought. My Petzl Avao BOD would probably be the best choice.

Hey,yes,you are correct. I watched a bunch of videos on the JRB tree climbing channel. He has a ton out now which is a little hard to sort through. He has an engineering background so he always is looking for the next best thing. I use a double rope climbing technique, the rope is stationary and I have two friction  hitches and a Garda foot loop. 

Toss the throw ball and throw line over a crotch,hook up my rope,pull it back over and hook up. I have one foot on the tree,one foot in the loop. I stand on the loop and push the hitches up,then sit in the saddle and pull the foot loop up. Stand up again etc.etc. until I am at height. I use the ends of the rope to clip my bow on and also my backpack. I have a phantom saddle and predator platform,those work well for me. 

The best thing about this method to me is the safety. I am tied in before I leave the ground. I can let go of everything and I won't fall or slide. I rappel down using a hunter hitch on my secondary short bridge while still being hooked to the other two,so if I let the rope slip the friction hitches will engage. Good for picking up my platform and in case I pass out,lol.

A lot of people rely on a linemans belt when using sticks,but that is not for me. A linemans belt is a positioning device and not a fall arrest device. Better than nothing but I wouldn't want to slide down a tree waiting to hit the next climbing stick.

I change my trees all the time so I don't have any presets,which would be some paracord left on the tree so you wouldn't have to use the throwball when you want to hunt it. That obviously is not an option in the dark. I have walked in in the dark and then waited for grey light to get my line in. 

Last year I climbed a tree with deer being 60 yds away and they didn't hear me. I did go extra slow then.

A saying for climbing is slow is fast.

No matter what technique you use to climb,one needs a system and practice to become smooth and efficient.

[The Back 40]

23 minutes ago, BowmanMike said:

Hey,yes,you are correct. I watched a bunch of videos on the JRB tree climbing channel. He has a ton out now which is a little hard to sort through. He has an engineering background so he always is looking for the next best thing. I use a double rope climbing technique, the rope is stationary and I have two friction  hitches and a Garda foot loop. 

Toss the throw ball and throw line over a crotch,hook up my rope,pull it back over and hook up. I have one foot on the tree,one foot in the loop. I stand on the loop and push the hitches up,then sit in the saddle and pull the foot loop up. Stand up again etc.etc. until I am at height. I use the ends of the rope to clip my bow on and also my backpack. I have a phantom saddle and predator platform,those work well for me. 

The best thing about this method to me is the safety. I am tied in before I leave the ground. I can let go of everything and I won't fall or slide. I rappel down using a hunter hitch on my secondary short bridge while still being hooked to the other two,so if I let the rope slip the friction hitches will engage. Good for picking up my platform and in case I pass out,lol.

A lot of people rely on a linemans belt when using sticks,but that is not for me. A linemans belt is a positioning device and not a fall arrest device. Better than nothing but I wouldn't want to slide down a tree waiting to hit the next climbing stick.

I change my trees all the time so I don't have any presets,which would be some paracord left on the tree so you wouldn't have to use the throwball when you want to hunt it. That obviously is not an option in the dark. I have walked in in the dark and then waited for grey light to get my line in. 

Last year I climbed a tree with deer being 60 yds away and they didn't hear me. I did go extra slow then.

A saying for climbing is slow is fast.

No matter what technique you use to climb,one needs a system and practice to become smooth and efficient.

What type of harness are you using? and what size rope? For my line of work, we have to use 1/2" (12.5mm) but for rope access and tree work I typically use 7/16" (10.5mm). I know that is way overkill for most situations and I have a bunch of 9mm but most of my equipment is designed to work with larger ropes.

[BowmanMike]

51 minutes ago, The Back 40 said:

What type of harness are you using? and what size rope? For my line of work, we have to use 1/2" (12.5mm) but for rope access and tree work I typically use 7/16" (10.5mm). I know that is way overkill for most situations and I have a bunch of 9mm but most of my equipment is designed to work with larger ropes.

I use 11.4 mil rope which also is overkill. But I like the heft of it and I have more to hold on to. It is what I started with and I have seen no reason to change. I will go smaller when it is time to replace it,just for some weight savings. Then I will have to tie new hitches with cord that is better matched to the smaller rope.  

The harness I use is the tethered phantom saddle. If you already own a harness for tree work that may just be fine. I have heard good things about the cruzer xc saddle and would try that one once I replace my current one.

 

[TT14]

Thanks for creating the thread. I said in the live from chat I use my turkey vest to transport my platform, sticks and use the pockets for all of my other gear. I had tried climbers and hang ons before and haven’t gone back since having the saddle. I enjoy the ability to get into different trees and positioning facing the tree has helped in the past. 
 

I have the original tethrd platform and saddle and don’t see much reason to change. Have the old lone wolf sticks and that might be something I look to upgrade but they do just fine for now. 

[The Back 40]

It seems like the only thing I would need is the platform, I could see the advantage of being able to change up locations anytime you want without having to tear a stand down or carry in a climber. Every time I'm up in a stand I find myself looking at other trees thinking they would be great/better location for a stand.

[biggamefish]

@The Back 40 so saddle hunting is awsome for moving and setting up on the fly. Say you are going into new property and don't have a clue where you are going to set up, it works awsome. You can get into any tree, limbs dont matter.  

I have Realized though it isnt a quicker method to hunting. And if you have stands already set and can use a climber use the climber. Saddles are comfortable but not in comparison to a nice climber, portable or ladder stand.

A huge plus to a saddle though is the animals don't seem to realize you are a threat. Its hard to explain but I have had deer and turkeys looking and passing by, thought I was doomed and they just walk by like nothing is there. Plus you have the ability to use the tree for cover and have a 360 degree shooting ability.

[PBRstGang]

How is the comfort of a saddle compared to a mobile set up? I have a novix helo and novix mini sticks. While the stand is not extremely comfortable, the light weight is nice for long walks. A saddle would be even lighter but i dont want to give up more comfort. 
 

also- when sitting in a saddle, is most of the pressure on your butt, legs or feet? 

[Jsin]

8 hours ago, josephmrtn said:

I'm personally using a Hawk platform and 20" helium sticks. They have been great but I am thinking about upgrading to XOP sticks next year.

For my "saddle" I actually use a cheap rock climbing harness. I've been using it for 3 years now and it still works great so I have no reason to upgrade, ropes are just a cheap set from Amazon as well.

My pack is a cheap one off of Amazon that works great for hanging my platform and sticks of.

 

Biggest upgrade to my setup in the last couple years has been throwing away my old bow rope that would constantly tangle and getting a 25' retractable dog leash from harbor freight. I keep it in the waist belt pocket of my pack and when I get to my tree simply attach it to my bow and start climbing. 

Retractable dog leash! I like it. Is it noisy?

[Jsin]

8 hours ago, escpen said:

I’ve been using a latitude classic 2 saddle, LWCG The Fix platform, and LWCG compact sticks (20”) with cable aiders.   It all fits in my Mystery Ranch pop-up pack just fine along with my outer layers.  

I’ve used a Tethrd predator platform, original lone wolf 3 step sticks, and a Tethrd phantom saddle in the past. That equipment worked well for me too. Only sticks I’ve tried that I had trouble with are some sticks from Hawk - I experienced kickout with them multiple times. 

I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews on hawk sticks. I own a few hawk ladder stands. Just never thought of them as a stick I would want to use. I think there was a recall if I remember correctly…..

[Jsin]

6 hours ago, The Back 40 said:

I work in the At Heights industry and have been a climber and rope access technician for a long time. I never really gave saddle hunting much thought until now. I have tons of harnesses and climbing gear and have performed tons of tree work. On the other thread someone @BowmanMike ? mentioned they use a rope to "climb" into position and a throw ball. That sounds like a typical arborist method of accessing trees.

I might need to start giving saddle hunting some more thought. My Petzl Avao BOD would probably be the best choice.

I’ve been climbing/accessing trees for along time using SRT. Petzl dealer long ago was on speed dial. It is just like anything else the more you do it the easier and more efficient you will get.