Things you've wasted your money on........

[whakm]

When I first got into saddle hunting I bought a few things that I came to discover were not the best option for me.
I know everyone has got to have an example as well. I figured this might help people just getting into it or those of us who don't mind spending money BUT HATE wasting it.
Mine? An aider with an single attachment loop. Apparently my brain cells took a vacation on this one. Aiders with double loops are much more stable and can be left on your stix so there's no bumbling with pulling you aider from on stick to the next ( and heaven forbid you drop it)

[Kirby86]

This feels like one of those shady online confessions posts 🤣. If my wife sees this, I swear I was hacked.

I’ve tried about 5 different bow hangers, all sorts, from Genesis 3D, so giant S carabiners, etc. to finally buying an innovating the outdoors Titan.

This one ain’t really expensive, but I have torn my hair out trying to integrate this one… a Doyle’s gear hoist. I had one break. (Prolly because I dropped it out of a tree). I’ve also had the rope bind up inside the spool, and I HATE how much it weighs but dang it if it’s not handy.

I tend to hunt around a lot of briars, and regular pull ropes get all sorts of tangled and there’s nothing like playing tug of war with your bow as you’re dangling off a tree, midair 🙄. Retractable gear hoists, for all their faults, help with that. There’s also rubber coated wire which works but it’s heavy and doesn’t last long.
Some people love the Doyle’s. Some hate them. I have ruined more than a couple of saddle pouches trying to figure out a better solution, but I’ve yet to find one.

I have a carabiner on the Doyle’s that I hook on the left side, and I use a Genesis 3D C2 hoist with dynaglide. Dynaglide is awesome except that it tangles, but it won’t break. I have 2 hoists, one for my bow, one for my pack. I carry the stand or platform up as I climb.

I’ve ran about 5 different sets of sticks, from hawk heliums, minis, Lone Wolf originals, to finally settling on a set of muddy pro sticks with EWO hardware. Daisy chains on sticks are pretty horrible. If you hunt big trees. You’re better off going with 8mm static line and doing rope mods, but Amsteel is lighter if it matters that much to you.

I salvaged one of my muddy pro sticks to put an OOAL UP on the top of the stick to do a DIY style one stick. Be warned… American made tubing a Chinese tubing have very “different” definitions of square. The top of mine wobbles. To cut it, I’d have to lose the cam cleat, so I just live with it. If I had to do it all over again I would’ve just bought the tubing from EWO.

The thing I wished I had thought more about with saddle hunting, I was super concerned with weight early on. But if you do it long enough, there’s not a ton of difference between wearing a 25lb pack and a 15lb pack. I find that once stuff gets around 40lbs, with camera gear and late season gear, that’s when I start to notice it. It all depends on your size and level of fitness. I figure elk hunters carry in 50lbs at least if they spike camp for a multi day hunt, so I can haul half that if I need to. And that’s not anything in comparison to packing one out.

The thing is, you can spend thousands of dollars trying to shave off 10lbs. I have found that if I have to carry a few more ounces, then the comfort is worth the payoff. But I also am the kind of guy that wants to hunt whatever tree I find that I think might be “the tree”.

One last thing that helped me… Michigan Great Outdoors YouTube channel. Guy does a ton of reviews and they’re solid.

[Arrowsmith]

1. Moveable aider (Backwoods Mobile Gear Versa aider) I have used it a couple of times in 5 years, but it's too unstable for me. I keep in my saddle bag because it takes up very little space.....just in case I need it to get me out of a bind.

2. Tethrd 11mm tether (I now use 8mm Resc Tech tethers that I build myself)

3. Tethrd backband (I used it once. It's a pain to use). For me...I don't need it for comfort. It is one more thing to get in my way while taking a shot.

4. Repel rings to build JRB Cinch (built one and didn't like it. I now use the JRB Maverick Hitch).

5. Knee pads. I have 3 different sets. I still use them for working around the house, but not for saddle hunting. I use a cushion that I attach to the tree.

I sold my Tethrd Phantom saddle, the 11mm tether and the Tethrd back band here to a TBHer.

Best items I have bought....

1. Overwatch Outdoors Orion expandable single panel saddle

2. 8mm Resc Tech DYI tether with 6mm TRC friction hitches

3. 8mm Resc Tech lifeline/repel line with 6mm TRC friction hitches

4. DYI 11mm lineman's rope with Ropeman 1 ascender and Trango carabiners

5. Novix 3 step climbing sticks. I also have Hawk 3 step sticks. The Novix are definitely an up grade, but I have never had a problem with the Hawks

6. Trango Virgo belay device

[Low Fence]

Mine is so minimalist I don’t have a bunch of “that sucks” items. 2 that didn’t last more than 1 hunt were 1. Hawk helium’s and 2. Any version of a daisy chain…. I’d rather nail that &@$*^ to a tree than mess with daisy chains again

[lovemylegacy]

Timber Ninja sticks

[Low Fence]

Oh I forgot! The drill bit and bolt thing for steps. Woodpecker or something like that. I don’t even remember who promoted it (probably John E.) what an absolute horrible way to get in a tree for the first time or the 20th time. There was absolutely nothing positive about that system

[Jmay]

Tetherd HYS strap and bow hangers.

I now use my tether to hang my bow and binoculars and my lineman’s belt to hang my back pack.

[whakm]

Tetherd HYS strap and bow hangers.

I now use my tether to hang my bow and binoculars and my lineman’s belt to hang my back pack.

That just goes to show ya. I really like my HYS strap but Iike the idea of using my tether and lineman's belt. gonna have em with me anyway.

[whakm]

Oh I forgot! The drill bit and bolt thing for steps. Woodpecker or something like that. I don’t even remember who promoted it (probably John E.) what an absolute horrible way to get in a tree for the first time or the 20th time. There was absolutely nothing positive about that system

I thought a drill bit and screw in steps sucked 40 years ago. opinion still ain't changed

[huntmaster]

women n whiskey

[Jmay]

That just goes to show ya. I really like my HYS strap but Iike the idea of using my tether and lineman's belt. gonna have em with me anyway.

Maybe I was little harsh on the HYS strap. It does work well. Just one less thing to carry, put up, and take down.

[Michael]

women n whiskey

Haha!

[Arrowsmith]

Maybe I was little harsh on the HYS strap. It does work well. Just one less thing to carry, put up, and take down.

I have a HYS strap in my pack. I have used it a couple of times on public ground. On my farm and the permission farms I hunt I use a screw in bow hanger for my bow and a screw in bow hanger for my pack.

[Katch66]

Mine is so minimalist I don’t have a bunch of “that sucks” items. 2 that didn’t last more than 1 hunt were 1. Hawk helium’s and 2. Any version of a daisy chain…. I’d rather nail that &@$*^ to a tree than mess with daisy chains again

I have been looking at the daisy chain for my sticks. Them and the HFAS. What did you not like about the daisy chain?

[Low Fence]

There was nothing I liked about them. Catch on everything. You can get them “close” and set them and be nowhere near where you wanted. Double the amount of amsteel for the same length of rope. In theory they are genius! In the woods they suck. I’d honestly stay with a buckle over them…. And I hate the buckles