I use the mad rock safeguard with 35FT of canyon elite 9mm(not canyon C4 8mm). Big difference there. The C4 would sometimes slip in the safeguard when rappelling which was not fun, talk about scaring the poop out of ya! the canyon elite never does that.
Yea you definitely want the correct diameter rope for whatever device you will be using
I would put on my saddle at the truck. The only things that weren't attached and packed away in my saddle pouches at that point were sticks and platform. Both easily strapped to the pack I was already carrying in. At the tree I'd put on the first step and then throw two more sticks into loops on the back of my saddle. Then lineman's belt up to the tree and off I go. After a lil practice I went from ground to setup on a new tree in about 12 mins. I had a few spots where I left sticks, I could be setup there in about 6 mins. Never was loud. Worth trying it out
Thanks for the link. They're sold out of the fixed loop version but have the tri glide attachment style. Think it'll work ok with the skeletors? I'd rather attach somewhere other than the step if possible so as not to fray them or compromise in any way.View attachment 252125
Triple Step Sewn Climbing Stick Aider
Comes in Coyote Tan with a step length of 16" long (each step) and width of 7". Aider comes with either a Fixed Loop or Tri-Glide Attachment Style option.hangfree.co
Hang Free website has anything you could possibly need for saddle hunting and has some awesome accessories for one sticking. This link to the triple step sewn climbing aider is a hundred times easier to climb than an amsteel aider I made last year and I use it on skeletor sticks btw. No slipping, not hard to find with you foot, perfect step height, easier to keep your toe into tree, and feels much sturdier.
Also the harken cam cleat mod with the amsteel full bury rope mod from hang free is the way to go as well if you are one sticking. Makes it so much easier to undo your stick and move it up and reattach to the tree quickly and quietly. I switched to this cam cleat and rope mod and it is a game changer. I almost gave up on saddle hunting until I made these changes and a few others to my system.
View attachment 252127
3/16 Full Bury One Stick Rope Mod
Works with both cam cleats and versa buttons! Once 3/16 AmSteel®-Blue is buried it comes to just under an 8mm width. Features a 3.5" fixed loop.
If one stickng up the tree makes you hot and sweaty you need a different method , it takes zero energy and effort to get up the tree
Zero energy and effort. You just pick a spot on the tree and levitate to it? I been saddle hunting right at 15 years I've tried a bunch of stuff. One sticking takes some effort. If it's hot just all the moving has you sweating. Best answer I've found yet is a set of sticks to get up with a ring of steps as a platform if you want to be mobile. Pre set stick ladders with a peg platform is as good as it gets. You can be up the tree and hanging in less than 5 minutes.
It's possible, it's just a little work. I put up stick ladders on my farm in different places then take my ring of steps and can go hunt any of them I want whenever. I use it as a scouting tool more than anything. Once I see if I like that spot or where the stand really needs to be then I just hang a stand there ladder or hang on. I would equate it to putting a climber on a tree the day before and coming back the next morning to hunt it. Takes no time to throw a set of sticks on a tree and less time to climb them when you hunt. I will say this with a longbow a saddle is a game changer. You don't have to worry about hitting a limb on anything its hanging out there free in the air.
It probably would still work. I took a file and smoothed down the edges of the steps where this goes so it doesn't ever fray or cut the aider.
When I first started one sticking last year, I expended a lot of energy and was hard to be quiet and get up to hunting height quickly. What used to take 20-30mins now takes me 5-10mins, minimal effort, and I can be just as or more quiet than a climber.
Also I would think you would want it on the ends of the steps so it is far from the tree as possible, which makes it easier to get you foot in the loops.
Pretty much, hanging on the side of a tree and moving a stick up, tieing it t off than walking up said stick and aiders is zero energy and effort
I will be in Tullahoma next Friday night and Saturday. I will be one sticking at my in-laws place saturday morning. This is my first year doing it, and I absolutely love it. Shot a doe early season, and have had deer in bow range every hunt.
You're welcome!!
Just ordered a Bottomland XC and Mini Seeker this morning. I didn't know they were a TN company til I saw this. I'm ready for the weather to get right here in South MS so I can try them out.
I have the Black version of the XC and wish I had the bottomland color. That is the only thing about it I wish I could change!
