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Saddle comments and questions

lafn96 said:
Happy to see this thread; I've been seriously considering getting a saddle but have zero experience. What YouTube channels do you recommend for saddle hunting?
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IMHO, If you are planning to get into it next season, recommend going to the NWTF show in Feb and trying out the saddles at the show. Or, there is a saddle hunters expo in the spring and I think it's within driving distance where mfgr's will have demo's to try. Unfortunately, I started as cheap as i could 3 yrs ago (saddle, ropes, platform & sticks <$300) . After 3 seasons, I know now what I like and what I don't so in the future I can upgrade, Also, when you get the saddle/sticks/platform, practice a lot to avoid frustration. Practice setting up, climbing trees, descending trees, packing up everything quietly, walking in/out of the woods quietly, shooting bow/gun from all angles...all the things. Also, when you choose equipment, do not be afraid to mix mfgr's. Saddles work with all sticks and platforms....
 
Kevin said:
What makes this dangerous?
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It may not be for some. Was just dangerous for me. Amsteel aiders are nothing more than ropes. They sway back and forth easily as you put weight into them. I also had issues with my boot occasionally gettin stuck within a rung. It never happened to me personally because the Skeletors are great at gripping a tree but I've talked to several others where kickout occurred due to the aider causing a weight shift. If you are a very accomplished climber, sub 40 yr old and game for it, then by all means have a go. For me, it just wasn't worth the risk. I'm 46 now and not in the shape I once was. The man who doesn't know his own limits is a fool. Best way not to have an accident is not to put yourself in a situation with an increased likelihood of an accident. Two girls who need college paid for and Lord willing weddings paid for. A wife that can't fund it on her own. I'm needed alive to slog through the corporate world in misery for a few more years :)
 
UCStandSitter said:
It may not be for some. Was just dangerous for me. Amsteel aiders are nothing more than ropes. They sway back and forth easily as you put weight into them. I also had issues with my boot occasionally gettin stuck within a rung. It never happened to me personally because the Skeletors are great at gripping a tree but I've talked to several others where kickout occurred due to the aider causing a weight shift. If you are a very accomplished climber, sub 40 yr old and game for it, then by all means have a go. For me, it just wasn't worth the risk. I'm 46 now and not in the shape I once was. The man who doesn't know his own limits is a fool. Best way not to have an accident is not to put yourself in a situation with an increased likelihood of an accident. Two girls who need college paid for and Lord willing weddings paid for. A wife that can't fund it on her own. I'm needed alive to slog through the corporate world in misery for a few more years :)
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Not if your life insurance is paid up. 😂

Only kidding. I'm 51 and my kids are grown and out of college with my daughter married but I still don't want to take a tumble. I don't bounce like I used to. 😎
 
UCStandSitter said:
It may not be for some. Was just dangerous for me. Amsteel aiders are nothing more than ropes. They sway back and forth easily as you put weight into them. I also had issues with my boot occasionally gettin stuck within a rung. It never happened to me personally because the Skeletors are great at gripping a tree but I've talked to several others where kickout occurred due to the aider causing a weight shift. If you are a very accomplished climber, sub 40 yr old and game for it, then by all means have a go. For me, it just wasn't worth the risk. I'm 46 now and not in the shape I once was. The man who doesn't know his own limits is a fool. Best way not to have an accident is not to put yourself in a situation with an increased likelihood of an accident. Two girls who need college paid for and Lord willing weddings paid for. A wife that can't fund it on her own. I'm needed alive to slog through the corporate world in misery for a few more years :)
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I gotcha. I currently one-stick, and have a 3 step amsteel aider. The amsteel isnt my favorite, but it doesn't make me feel any less safe. It's annoying more than anything. I will move to a sewn aider next year for sure.

I have 2 girls and boy, and a huge reason I went to one sticking is for the safety aspect of it. I have never felt comfortable in climbers while going up and down, and straps can break on lock ons and ladders.

There is danger anytime you leave the ground, but being tied off with climbing style equipment is what makes me feel the safest, personally.
 
Gravey said:
One more question…what pack are y'all using to transport sticks and platform?
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I dont use a seperate platform, Ive got the sticktop platform from Hawk.
This is the 3 step aider that doubles as the carrying strap. The orange tie things are ziptied to the bottom stick and hold everything together for transport. i sling it over my head and across my back luke you do with a gun.
I wear the saddle into the woods, I put a pair of suspenders on it to keep it up.
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themanpcl said:
IMHO, If you are planning to get into it next season, recommend going to the NWTF show in Feb and trying out the saddles at the show. Or, there is a saddle hunters expo in the spring and I think it's within driving distance where mfgr's will have demo's to try. Unfortunately, I started as cheap as i could 3 yrs ago (saddle, ropes, platform & sticks <$300) . After 3 seasons, I know now what I like and what I don't so in the future I can upgrade, Also, when you get the saddle/sticks/platform, practice a lot to avoid frustration. Practice setting up, climbing trees, descending trees, packing up everything quietly, walking in/out of the woods quietly, shooting bow/gun from all angles...all the things. Also, when you choose equipment, do not be afraid to mix mfgr's. Saddles work with all sticks and platforms....
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Thank you; just looked up the mobile hunter expo and it's Aug 8-10 in Dalton GA - which is only 90 min from me. NWTF is Feb 12-16.
 
Gravey said:
Got any pics of hangers?
I tried to sit sideways with my side up against the tree and maybe I didn't have everything adjusted right but it squeezed me tight.
My platform is a trophyline mission and you can adjust the angle. I assume by putting it at an angle you mean the front part away from the tree down?
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I use S-clips and have little paracord loops around each step and platform. I just grab them by the loops and clip them onto the S-clip (that's attached to my saddle)
 

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lafn96 said:
I've watched a bunch, but I'm such a novice that I have no idea if the channel is giving good advice or not. This helps, thank you
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Look up Greg Staggs. Staggs in the Wild. He is the best in the business IMO.

He has incredibly detailed videos about literally every aspect of saddle hunting.
 
Kevin said:
I gotcha. I currently one-stick, and have a 3 step amsteel aider. The amsteel isnt my favorite, but it doesn't make me feel any less safe. It's annoying more than anything. I will move to a sewn aider next year for sure.

I have 2 girls and boy, and a huge reason I went to one sticking is for the safety aspect of it. I have never felt comfortable in climbers while going up and down, and straps can break on lock ons and ladders.

There is danger anytime you leave the ground, but being tied off with climbing style equipment is what makes me feel the safest, personally.
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Initially why I went to a saddle. I don't care for climbers at all. Had an incident once back in the days of those cumbersome safety harnesses. Wasn't a fun day
 
I was watching an episode of southern outdoorsman I think that's the name. Anyway they were talking with an old fella from Georgia I think. He used the spikes that linemen use on the power pole that you strap on and climb. No sticks at all to carry. Just put them in your pack and on when you get there. Anyone ever use those. I thought about it years ago
 
These helped me tremendously. This is my first year in the saddle. Also the pack I got from you is great also. I use the trophy line double steps each with a cable aider. I found out I don't like using all the aiders, so I only use 2 of them.
 

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killingtime 41 said:
I was watching an episode of southern outdoorsman I think that's the name. Anyway they were talking with an old fella from Georgia I think. He used the spikes that linemen use on the power pole that you strap on and climb. No sticks at all to carry. Just put them in your pack and on when you get there. Anyone ever use those. I thought about it years ago
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I thought about those to but not sure how comfortable it would be to stand there and hang that long dug into the tree.
 
I just can't get comfortable enough to sit still. When I'm sitting I'm at rest… when I'm in the saddle it's like I'm constantly working to hold myself off the tree that my tether is pulling me into. I find myself talking me into getting down earlier than in normally would because I'm fatigued and restless. I still use it a bit, but in probably 45% climber, 45% hang on, and 10% saddle. I like to take my saddle when I'm exploring because it's an easy pack in and I can get in any tree. If I know the tree I'm going to or even the exact area I'm targeting, I'm taking one of the stands
 
The thing that helped me the most comfort wise is putting two squirrel steps on the strap for my platform. This allows you to straddle the tree which for me is much more comfortable, plus helps not get picked off as much as when i lean imo. Sit straddling 85% of the time, knees into the tree 15%.

That plus the backband and i can stay pretty dang still. I still wear knee pads so i can turn myself for shots by putting my knee in the tree and not do all the movement of standing up. But the squirrel steps were a big upgrade
for my comfort
 
killingtime 41 said:
I was watching an episode of southern outdoorsman I think that's the name. Anyway they were talking with an old fella from Georgia I think. He used the spikes that linemen use on the power pole that you strap on and climb. No sticks at all to carry. Just put them in your pack and on when you get there. Anyone ever use those. I thought about it years ago
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I used them for a bit, with a lock-on, before I broke my ankle. But they were a bit of a PITA. Once you get to where you want to place your stand, you either have to take the spikes off (don't drop them), or be very careful how you move around as the spikes get in the way of the stand and can trip you up, but I guess with a saddle you don't need to worry about that. I moved to screw in type of steps, I kept them in a butt pack and could shimmy up a tree pretty quiet, and worked great with my lock-on. But back then, they didn't have any restrictions, except you could not leave any metal in the tree. Now they have some restrictions on screw in type steps in some places, so these would be a no-go.

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