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The good thing is that you can buy them all and sell them for what you paid for them. I've even seen some sell for an upcharge because of the long shipping wait with both companies.

So have you tried the saddle out hunting yet? I have been doing some research on these and may try one for next year. I like the idea of not having to pack a climber especially on far back in hunts in the early season where I am only hunting a few hours.

 

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Been doing the research into saddles lately as I will own one before next season. Seems to me that just about everyone is different in how they like their setup. Not only platform vs ring of steps vs whatever, but also how they like to adjust their saddle, tether height, bridge length, etc. Seems you have to play around with your setup to get it comfortable for yourself. Far different from a treestand where you pretty much set it up and you are done.

 

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If you have facebook,check out artisan outdoor fabrications.He makes a small platform that bolts onto a stick and replaces the top step.I ordered one last night.I'm gonna try it and see if that's better than the way I originally tried it.

Have you tried it out?

 

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No,It's going on three weeks and I haven't received it yet.I did use the saddle with an old gorilla tree seat as a platform and it was way better than just using tree steps.I've been playing around with the one stick method of climbing and I think that may be the ticket once I get that stick platform.

Did you ever get this?

 

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Well Tethrd was running a black Friday deal that started today. Was too much for me to handle so I ordered my first saddle. Got the complete kit with the predator platform. I think it will be a while before I get it as the lead times take a while.

 

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If you have facebook,check out artisan outdoor fabrications.He makes a small platform that bolts onto a stick and replaces the top step.I ordered one last night.I'm gonna try it and see if that's better than the way I originally tried it.

Did you ever get this? Try it out?

 

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I've been looking into these. My conclusion....you guys are friggin nuts!!! :jestera:

I will find out soon enough. My saddle and platform should be here by Christmas. Hoping to try it out on a few hunts in Ohio. Carrying a climber sucks up those mountains really sucks.

 

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It's not something that you use once and say,this is the ticket.You really have to play around with it to make it work.I started using a small tree seat as a platform.It's not ideal but I had it laying around and decided to use it.When I used to use one several years ago,I stood on a ring of steps and tried to sit,which pushed me into the tree.With a small platform,I found that I can stand and just lean back,putting about 20-30% of my weight on my legs.It's not bad at all.A legit platform designed for use with a saddle would be better.I still like a ring of steps for shooting around certain angles of the tree.I just don't like keeping my weight on such a small surface areas.When they become available again,I'm gonna pick up a JX3 hybrid.I have a Quido's web which was very comfortable and eliminates the need for a platform.A ros is all you need because you actually sit.The JX3 seems to have fixed everything I didn't like about the GW.

I ordered the Predator platform when I ordered the saddle. I think the Artisan may be nice for long hikes in early season when you are hunting for just a couple of hours.

 

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That would be my assessment as well.Get some practice climbing with just one stick.It's slick

I don't know about that. I may try it, but not sure if I will do that while hunting. You drop the stick and then you are stuck.

 

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Well I got my saddle today. Tried it and the platform out at ground level tonight. Too windy and cold to climb up and use it. May try it out this weekend in Ohio for the late gun season since my son isn't going to be able to go and I will be hunting solo.

 

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Well went up in a tree tonight for a quick test run. Felt pretty good up there. Will probably hunt this weekend out of it.


Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr

Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr

 

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I sat in mine for about 4 hrs on Saturday morning. Only saw a bobcat. I will say that this will be my mobile hunting setup now. I doubt that I will ever take the climber unless I know the tree I am going to and it is very close to the road. So much nicer to carry in. More comfortable than you would think. Probably did about half the time leaning and half sitting. Did get some hip pinch while sitting after a while. Made some adjustments and it got better but might play around with it some more to find the most comfortable spot.

 

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Mine too. Been watching a lot of youtube videos and I can see the attraction. They seemed to have really developed this in the Midwest hunting the big thickets where there are very few big, straight trees. I certainly can see the advantage of being light and mobile and the ability to get into any tree. I don't see it as being any faster (or easier) than my climber as long as I have a tree that's climbable. If I can't find a tree to climb in a real hot spot, I'll most likely hang a stand. I think the saddle system would really be good when scouting as you hunt a new area.

They are also fairly pricey and there's a number of pieces that I would probably lose or forget . I'm still intrigued.

A climber is quicker and easier to get up the tree, but it didn't take me too long to get up and I should get a little quicker with some more practice. I didn't time it but I was probably about 10 min from start until I was ready to hunt. To me one of the biggest things is the saddle setup is alot easier to carry in and it isn't catching on stuff and limbs aren't cracking off the platform making noise. I still hunted for a while after getting down. I wouldn't have done that with a climber on my back.

I got two pouches that are attached on each side of the saddle to hold all of the pieces, so that way it all stays together. They are pricey considering the amount of material that you get. LOL.

 

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Cspot - were you using a bow or gun? Did you try drawing a bow? How was that?

I was gun hunting (Ohio). I don't see any issue drawing a bow out of it. I think it would actually be easier than a gun to shoot out of.

 

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Also. For those considering. I highly recommend getting a recliner with it. It is pretty sweet being able to recline back in it.

 

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I've only gun hunted a few times compared to several dozen bow sits, but I'm not a big fan of gun shots out of the saddle. Ideally, you can use the tree as a rest, but getting into position to do so can be tough. The shots to my left as I'm facing the tree, most of those are going to be offhand swinging from the tether. Which is ok, I am good offhand out to maximum woods range 99% of the time. Also just the general chaos of it all, I feel positioning urgently creates so much movement. In PA gun season, the deer are often running a zillion miles an hour in big herds, and positioning is tough. It is nice to be able to just rest your gun on your bridge in the ready position though.

Bow I think also takes some time to adjust but I am really comfortable. There is a little window, like 4 to 6 oclock that is tough. But in general in bow I am much more prepared in advance for where my shot windows are going to be. Rifle season a shot window can be there and gone in a few ticks of the clock, and I think in a treestand it's just easier to respond to those quick shots.

I don't normally gun hunt out of a stand either. Where I was hunting the height really didn't help me. I was wanting to try it out though before I start bow hunting again this coming weekend. I left my platform at the same height as my stick so that I could work around the tree and use the tree for a rest if needed. The 4-6 shot would have been tough, but where I was at that was unlikely for a deer to come.

The bobcat was at about 11 o-clock which would have been perfect. When I first saw the movement I thought it was a coyote, but was disappointed when I saw it was a bobcat.