How About a Tree Saddle Live Hunt?

[Michael]

The more you climb, the more you will learn what you like on a tree. The way they lean, the width (big enough for both knees), how to utilize big branches. You'll learn to visualize everything while you're still on the ground. I love a tree with a big 3 branch split. Tether on one branch, equipment on another, and lean against the 3rd. Get a good pair of trimmers for your pack and make them accessible while climbing.

Definitely! I learn something new every climb and sit hang.) I carry a folding limb saw and had to saw off a fairly big branch yesterday morning (didn’t help with the noise, but it had to go.)Probably wouldn’t hurt to have a pair of hand shears for smaller stuff.

I’m set up this morning in a quadpod in the same area that’s better suited (still not ideal) for the WSW wind. I have a good view of this entire draw and if nothing else it’s a good observation sit. Hannah is in a Krivo overlooking a corn and a protein feeder.

[Michael]

This is a video from last week’s trip that has some video (mostly timelapse) of my first climb attempt. I climbed uo one trunk and had a big branch obstructing my primary shooting lane and had to rappel back down and climb another trunk of the live oak. It also has an overview of the draw and clearing where I’m currently hunting.

[Michael]

Some pictures from the saddle yesterday.



It doesn’t look it, but I was about 15’ up yesterday afternoon.

[Michael]

Hannah had an axis buck in this morning, but it was a mature buck with new growth.

He didn’t stick around long (feeder didn’t throw) so I’m not sure she could have had a shot opportunity anyway. I saw a similar (maybe same) axis cross the clearing 80 yards to the east of me just before 11.

We went back in for a bite and recharge and then headed back out at 2. Animals have been moving mid afternoon so Hannah wanted to get out early.

[Michael]

6 WT does just showed up to my “spilled” corn.

[Michael]

We’ve had a pretty decent black buck showing up the last couple of months. He just came down the draw to about 80 yards and then headed east.

[Michael]

Blackbuck came in about 10 yards from me and walked down draw to my left and behind me before he caught my wind and BOLTED! LOL!

[Bucknaked]

Blackbuck came in about 10 yards from me and walked down draw to my left and behind me before he caught my wind and BOLTED! LOL!

Did he bolt or bounce?

[Michael]

Did he bolt or bounce?

You’re right, I’m sure he bounced! LOL!😝

[Michael]

I’m back in the quadpod and Hannah is in the Krivoman blind. Hannah is leaving today, so I will hunt from the saddle again this afternoon. (I need to get out REALLY early to climb and Hannah would have to sit in the dark for longer than needed.)

[lovemylegacy]

Looking forward to this one

[Michael]

Jnet and I are back at it again this weekend. I’ve been pretty consistently seeing axis down in a clearing down in a bottom near the creek. There is a pond dam above the clearing with a mott of oaks, with trails along the edge. The wind is good this morning so I decided to come here this morning and set up in one of the oaks at the top of the dam, looking down towards the bottom.

I only made one “move” (no transition) and then set the platform and set up on the back side of the tree from the trail. The platform is only about 8’ up the tree, but I’m probably another 10’ above the trails (one at about 25 yards and the other 35.)



I was glassing towards the creek to my left where I expect them to come from, and I looked back to the right of the tree and an axis buck was walking along the trail at about 35 yards, completely unaware. He had a big body with short spikes, but was hard horned. Unfortunately he kept moving and was out of range before I could set up for a shot. The canopy is pretty thick so I can’t see much beyond the trails where he came from. Hopefully the rest of the herd will follow soon, or maybe he’ll come back this way later this morning.

[Michael]

There are 4 axis does feeding along the edge of the creek at 212 yards. They appear to be working the other way.