Revisiting Saddle Hunting/One Sticking (and a Deal Alert!)

[DedDuk]

The Tetherd knee pads have a rubber coating that prevents slipping. Get rid of cam buckles on your sticks and get amsteel rope. (look at what is on the skeletor sticks). Much quicker, quieter, lighter and no packing. Hang Free has the ropes for you sticks.

[Michael]

Awesome! Thanks!

[Low Fence]

I’ve made so many sets of amsteel ropes for people I can crank them out like a sweat shop. Lol

another improvement I made was shorter ropes! Which sounds opposite. I realized 95/100 times I would be in a tree that a 6’ rope was still more than sufficient. That saved virtually 0 oz. lol BUT! allowed for even faster set up with less hang ups in vines that seem to be on most trees I climb.

here’s the cool part… since my 8’ ropes were for all purposes weightless I packaged them in a small crown royal bag Ang kept in my pack. The small crown royal bag weighs more than the 4- 8’ ropes. If I need em… I got em! And IF I wanted to hunt a bald cypress I could girth hitch them together and climb about any tree in North America ( even though my platform strap wouldn’t fit. Lol

knee pads: tethered and latitude both make awesome ones. Mine are cheap amazon atlas believe and the have served me well for several seasons now. I’d buy latitude if I had to order a pair today, with tetherd a close 2nd place

[DedDuk]

I’ve made so many sets of amsteel ropes for people I can crank them out like a sweat shop. Lol

another improvement I made was shorter ropes! Which sounds opposite. I realized 95/100 times I would be in a tree that a 6’ rope was still more than sufficient. That saved virtually 0 oz. lol BUT! allowed for even faster set up with less hang ups in vines that seem to be on most trees I climb.

here’s the cool part… since my 8’ ropes were for all purposes weightless I packaged them in a small crown royal bag Ang kept in my pack. The small crown royal bag weighs more than the 4- 8’ ropes. If I need em… I got em! And IF I wanted to hunt a bald cypress I could girth hitch them together and climb about any tree in North America ( even though my platform strap wouldn’t fit. Lol

knee pads: tethered and latitude both make awesome ones. Mine are cheap amazon atlas believe and the have served me well for several seasons now. I’d buy latitude if I had to order a pair today, with tetherd a close 2nd place

I actually prefer longer ropes. When climbing down, I lower platform and sticks to the ground using the ropes and wrap it all up on the ground. It does make sense that shorter ones would have less snags on tree during the set up.

I went ahead and ordered the Latitude Saddle yesterday. There's a young kid that lives down my dirt road that's been coming over to shoot bows. He's expressed interest in saddles but just can't afford it. He will be getting my old one as a gift.

[Death from Above]

ditch them heavy sticks lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0F5ykXqz4c&list=PLo-1cv2874XPrse16lYjYP8wYL3-OM3Ra&index=69

[Michael]

I’ve made so many sets of amsteel ropes for people I can crank them out like a sweat shop. Lol

another improvement I made was shorter ropes! Which sounds opposite. I realized 95/100 times I would be in a tree that a 6’ rope was still more than sufficient. That saved virtually 0 oz. lol BUT! allowed for even faster set up with less hang ups in vines that seem to be on most trees I climb.

here’s the cool part… since my 8’ ropes were for all purposes weightless I packaged them in a small crown royal bag Ang kept in my pack. The small crown royal bag weighs more than the 4- 8’ ropes. If I need em… I got em! And IF I wanted to hunt a bald cypress I could girth hitch them together and climb about any tree in North America ( even though my platform strap wouldn’t fit. Lol

knee pads: tethered and latitude both make awesome ones. Mine are cheap amazon atlas believe and the have served me well for several seasons now. I’d buy latitude if I had to order a pair today, with tetherd a close 2nd place

Good tip. I was looking at the USA Straps from The Amsteel Guy yesterday and saw that he sells 2' extensions that can be used in the manner you suggest. I like the idea of having a shorter rope with the available extension(s).

[Michael]

ditch them heavy sticks lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0F5...OM3Ra&index=69

I'm not there yet...but I've been intrigued! I will probably give SRT a try at some point, just to have available as another option.

[Katch66]

What is y'alls preferred method for attaching your sticks to the tree? Daisy chain, cam buckle, amsteel rope with prussic knot?

[Michael]

I think it was DedDuk that mentioned the HFAS (hang free attachment system) in another thread. The Amsteel Guy also makes a USA (ultimate stick attachment) system that is similar. I haven't used either, but I'm going to try the USA Pro (second swabish to act as a trucker's hitch for additional tightening) for my platform. I think the either the USA or HFAS would work well for sticks.

[DedDuk]

My only issue with the HFAS attachment is those knots are kind of a pain to loosen once they are tight. I do use it on my platform, but not sticks.

[Death from Above]

I'm not there yet...but I've been intrigued! I will probably give SRT a try at some point, just to have available as another option.

I have a bunch of paracord presets all over my hunting properties.

early October it can be hot getting in a tree but i like the simplicity. No need for lineman belt or tether. Just stay hooked into climbing rope.

i get ropes from a tree arbor supply. Much cheaper than going thru the fad saddle hunting places.

[Arrowsmith]

I'm not there yet...but I've been intrigued! I will probably give SRT a try at some point, just to have available as another option.

Take a look at John RB's info. He is a SRT/DRT expert.....really an overall tree climbing expert. I have learned so much from him. I don't do SRT or DRT, but I do use his Maverick hitch retrievable anchor for my lifeline and I use his Garda hitch foot loop. If you climb enough you will have an Oh **** experience. If you are tied into a lifeline you will probably be fine after your heart rate gets back to normal. If you have a Garda hitch foot loop you will most certainly be able to recover. These incidents can be caused by many things. A stick kicking out, dropping your one stick/platform on a move, your platform kicking out, falling off your platform... especially if you end up on the backside of the tree, having too much slack in your system (tether or climbing line), etc,etc.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/jrbtree/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

https://jrbtreeclimbing.com/getting-started/innovations/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIIu6tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSs-5R2Js24M2DahgRH5Re14jiIPM5CXvrMmwr3EdjCLbqeg0oefQjXXMg_aem_9ZzZx6NjU07AKkNubIP3Jg

[Michael]

I've watched many of JRB's videos. I'm considering using his Maverick Hitch or JRB Cinch in place of a quick link/tether locker.

[Michael]

I have a bunch of paracord presets all over my hunting properties.

early October it can be hot getting in a tree but i like the simplicity. No need for lineman belt or tether. Just stay hooked into climbing rope.

i get ropes from a tree arbor supply. Much cheaper than going thru the fad saddle hunting places.

I've bought quite a few cheap 50' paracords with the intent of using them as presets for my Rappel Rope. I guess it would only be useful in situations where there is a sturdy limb crotch to anchor to?

[Michael]

My only issue with the HFAS attachment is those knots are kind of a pain to loosen once they are tight. I do use it on my platform, but not sticks.

I think that's the benefit of the additional swabish on the USA Pro. (It could be easily added to the HFAS, as well.)