First Saddle hunt

Sat in the saddle yesterday for the first hunt. I’m really going to enjoy it . Takes getting accustomed to, me to tweak some things , hate my platform need a bigger one. All in all enjoyed it , way more mobile , quiet and light . Thanks to Coosa1 for answering all my ?’s since last Jan

Heck yeah man, glad I could help! Hopefully I helped you avoid going through as much gear as I did trying to get my system dialed in lol.

For sure!

Hey Coosa, are you one sticking now? If so, how are you liking it?

I am, only way to fly in my opinion. So much lighter and minimalist and still extremely versatile

I'll agree with that. I tried it for the first time this season and really like it, but I tried the hand climber and like it a bit better. I'm debating keeping my predator and one stick setup now. Love saddlle hunting, especially for public land. I highly doubt I ever go back to a traditional treestand or climber.

My only gripe with a hand climber is that I feel like it limits me back to the straight/limbless trees I was having to hunt for when I was climbing with a summit.

Very true. That's my only complaint thus far. Last week I climbed an oak with a limb, climbed up to it and took off the hand climber then reset it above the limb. It wasn't as easy as using a stick, but it wasn't bad. I started rappelling down when I picked up one sticking, so getting down is easy.

Just can’t bring myself to do the saddle. I have got my loc on down to two sticks with cable aiders. Just feel like it would be hard with a recurve.

Do y’all not feel like you are hanging in the wide open.

I feel like I was hidden more than in a stand or loc on due to the fact u are behind the tree

Yep, you can get behind the tree plus climb super limby trees to get into better cover than I ever could with my tree stands

Recurve takes some practice on weak side shots. It’s definitely easier to shoot one out of a lockon. When I’m hunting with my trad bow, I still use a saddle 80% of the time and xop vanish 20%. Ease of use normally outweighs it being a little harder to shoot from.

Thanks, I’m gonna try and get
A 1 stick setup.

What platform are you using?
Rope and belay device?

Ooal Scout
Figure 8
Hollow lock

Was using an EWO stick with double steps and a 2 step aider, now the lone wolf hand climber top. For rope I use 35' of Oplux with a Petzl quicklink and the Petzl Pirahna to rappel.

I still have my stick, I'd be happy to meet somewhere and let you try it out.

I might take you up on that,

Be happy to, just let me know. Sent you a PM with my cell.

New to saddle hunting this year and I feel like it gets more comfortable every time I use it. Finally getting to the point where I can set up and break down about as smooth and easy as I was with my climber. Really enjoying my trophyline covert pro

There's certainly a learning curve. But I think I'm as fast now as I was hunting presets on my mom and dad's place. I can literally walk up to a tree and not have to lay anything on the ground and be climbing in less that a minute. It's a lot of fun for sure.

I LOVE my saddle!!! I one-stick with EWO stick and I rappel down. I can get up past 20' fairly easily and I can climb trees with limbs. I mean I love one-sticking and saddle hunting. If you have poo-pooed it, you need to open your mind and research it. But if you're not detailed oriented or you attempt to buy cheap Walmart stuff, then stay with what you're doing. It's very safe IF you do what you need to do to buy certified climbing rope and gear and do what you need to do to stay safe.

It's changed the way I hunt for the MUCH better. But all my stuff is certified and made FOR rock climbing/rappelling or made to saddle hunt with. And don't buy Hawk products. Geezzzzz, buy Hawk products and you'll spend more money having to buy the item you should have bought the first time!

I’ve got the Hawk sticks cause we’re on sale when starting picking up things for the saddle set up. The buttons are trash, ended up taking a shovel to pry em apart broke all the buttons. The sticks with alders I think work fine for a multiple stick set up. I haven’t got to the single stick setup yet. Just ordered some aftermarket one that I hope solves that. Just used a ratchet strap no issues.

I have a set of hawk sticks.I ditched the factory straps and replaced them with versa buttons and some 9mm climbing rope, huge improvement and you don’t have metal clanking.

I ditched the straps for the sticks and platform, for the versa straps from Tethrd. Use one of the stick straps and zig zag them and pull tight are super snug. I have a old Primos bow sling I’m going to see about figuring out a way to use it as a stick carrier

What do you mean by hand climber? I'm new to this as well, can't decide on which method to try first.

AND... when you're in a tree with lots of limbs, you don't have to climb as high!!!

I just shake my head and smile when I hear guys make fun of me for Saddle Hunting. I've killed more deer the last two years with my bow Saddle Hunting. I'll NEVER go back to climbers and lock-ons... well, lock-ons are a pain to set up but with a Saddle, I can go in quiet and rappel down when I'm done and I don't have to worry about lock-on's over the summer and straps, becoming weak and squirrels chewing on straps, etc...

Been saddle hunting for a few years but question for you guys. How are y'all navigating multiple limbs? Do you have two lineman's belts or some other way to always be connected?

I carry a spare linemans rope in my saddle pouch just for getting over limbs.

I use my tether to attach while I move my linesman belt