1 Year Saddle Hunting Update - Setup, Safety Redundancy, Tips
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Hey folks! In this video, I discuss and demonstrate how my saddle set up has evolved over the past year. I do an overview of the equipment I added and/or removed and why. I also climb the tree giving you a first person perspective to explain all of my redundancy and how I keep safe in the woods. Hope you enjoy and stay safe my friends!
Michael Anthony
I'm glad to see a saddle hunter putting safety first. I see so many saddle hunters using saddles in ways they were not designed to be used. The biggest one is fall arrest. I see so many one-stick videos where guys climb up on their one stick and where is their anchor? Its at their feet. They've introduced 5-6 feet if not more of slack into their system that in the event of a fall, they are looking at potentially falls of fall factor 2. At minimum, they are going to experience a fall that is going to be a fall factor of 1.5 or more. This means now all their equipment will be expected to act as a fall arrest system rather than a fall restraint system. Falling down for 6 or more feet before your line catches on a static line is going to be very, very, painful with possibly some serious injuries at best for young fit and athletic people. With these short distances, even dynamic lines will not have enough stretch to reduce the impact force on the system. In a worst case scenario, death is very possible, especially for heavier and less fit individuals. People just don't realize how dangerous a fall factor of 2 is. I am no expert at saddle data, but if I had to bet, I doubt there's a single saddle out there that's designed to be a fall arrest system using static lines. Fall factor 2 falls will induce great impact loads on the body and the gear. The question is, will your body hold? If it does, will the gear hold, or vice versa. I think many saddle hunters are clueless to the concept of fall factor and fall arrest vs fall restraint. A saddle is designed to be a fall restraint system, something that prevents one from fall, not a fall arrest system, something that is supposed to stop you in the event of a fall. I am glad to see you taken the time to be safe and for sure, you will get a lot of slack from saddle hunters about it, but it's better to live and hunt another day. The one thing I would like to point out to you is that even with all that doubling that you're doing, you technically do not have redundancy in your system. The only way to have true redundancy is to have two separate independent systems. In saddle hunting, there is no way unless you are using two saddles and the two saddles are completely independent of one another. In your system here, there is no redundancy because if your saddle fails, there's no back up for it, hence, it's not a redundant system. I just want you to be aware of the fact that your system assumes your saddle and its connections will not fail, but the truth is, any part of it could fail. This is why to have true redundancy, you would have to have another saddle or some other harness on like a rocking climbing harness as a backup anchored to it's own independent anchor. Just remember that with any kind of elevated climbing, there is always going to be some element of danger involved. Knowing what these dangers are is the first thing one can do to make sure you return to your family. Stay safe and ignore all those who think what you do is silly. For you, getting home is the most important thing, so do what you feel you have to and ignore all the chatter. Cheers and stay safe friend.
Thank you for the insight my friend! This is great info all around and although I’m no expert either it only makes sense intuitively to double things up. Barely any extra weight to carry in and not much more time to add a second tether, etc. Safety is paramount. Thanks again. Hopefully others read this too!
@@michaelanthonyoutdoors Though I do not saddle hunt, seeing how you and others climb, I would have to say using a platform with an aider is safer. The biggest reason for this is the fact that a platform and aiders have no sharp points sticking out. If you take a fall, you are not at risk of being ripped open or punctured. I see so many steps like yours and I simply cringe when I see them. Something like these, a fall of a couple inches on it could be potentially deadly. I can't imagine wanting to take a fall on to these points. It's going to tear into flesh and that's why I personally would never used any climbing sticks that are thin and narrow. The whole reason behind them is to design something that is strong and light. No one is thinking about the effects of taking a fall on them. I'm cautious of even climbing sticks and they are tubular and have a large 1" tube to spread the load over a larger surface area. These things are narrow and sharp. They can do all kinds of damage if you fall on them. The worst would be falling on the tip of the point. But even falling directly on the length of the step would incur great injury. You are talking one inch vs 1/4" of an inch and maybe thinner, so this means that the force that the body feels per square inch will be quadrupled due to it's thin profile. Here's the kicker though, given the narrow profile, any fall is likely going to result in contact with the point of these steps rather than the length of the step and the length is some 10 times longer than the profile of the point so whatever force is felt, is going to be multiplied 10 times compared to landing on the step across the full length. I have never liked climbing sticks, even though I do use them with my hang-on stands, but the ones I use are traditional tubular ones that integrate into a continuous stick up the tree. Nothing compares to climbing ladders because there are no dangerous points to encounter during a fall.
This is why with any kind of climbing, I use a dynamic safety line which is anchored at the base of the tree and is redirected at the top with a top anchor. This way, if I take a fall, at worst, I have 26' or more of elastic rope to catch me. With 18% elasticity, the rope is going to slow my fall with potentially around 6 ft of stretch to cushion any fall I take. This is why I use dynamic rope for all my fall restraint and fall arrest systems. And I never skimpy out on my ropes. I use rated rock climbing dynamic ropes that I know climbers use day in and day out to catch them when they are rock climbing. For me, I simply stick by the big name brand ropes who have a reputation of making quality ropes that are tried and true. My life isn't worth saving even $100. If I want it as a fall restraint, I just cinch it tight so that it doesn't give much and allows me to lean for a bow shot or whatever. This gives you the user feedback unlike a static system. With a static system, it's either their, or it isn't. The only time I use static lines is if I'm climbing with it line when using SRT to climb a tree. If I were to saddle hunt, SRT would be my choice for ascending and descending. My second choice would be using a lower half a of a light and compact climber with a dynamic line that is anchored at the base of the tree and has a moving upper anchor. The upper anchor would be a cinching anchor that grabs when loaded. At minimum, it is always kept chest height or higher and you always keep tension on it because dynamic ropes stretch. The only time there's no tension on it is when you slide it up. Any slack that develops during the process of moving this moveable anchor up is at best 12" or so. If you fall, you are looking at 12" or so before it catches and because your base is at the bottom, the higher up you go, the less and less the fall factor becomes. At 20', the top anchor will be around 26' or so so if you take a 1' fall before the rope catches, your fall factor is only .038. You'd have to fall 26' to experience a fall factor of 1. Even a 10' fall with 10' of slack, something I would never let happen, would be soft on the body due to the dynamic nature of dynamic ropes. At 10 feet, you are looking at only a 0.38 fall factor. This is nothing even remotely close to a fall factor of 1, which is what you will experience if you have 12" of slack and fall 12" before a static line catches. The force your body is subjected to by a 12" fall that is a fall factor of 1 is greater than the force your body will experience falling 10' with a fall factor of 0.38. This is why even when I use my climbers, my backup is a life line with a moving anchor and primary anchor is at the base of the tree. As I move up, my top anchor moves up with me. At all times, it's at minimum, at chest height. This insures that if for some reason my stand experiences catastrophic failure, I'm going to be experiencing a very, very low fall factor fall. For me, what I love about a dynamic line is that every thing I do has feedback. When I climb down from my hang-on stands, I literally load the life line by putting weight on it to ensure my transition off the stand is as safe as possible. This feedback is only possible with a dynamic line unlike a static line. I'm pretty sure most tethers are static lines, but if I were saddle hunting, it'd be a static line that is loaded so I have feedback from the rope 100% of the time. There's going to be no surprises as the rope is talking to be 100% of the time. The only time there's no communication is when you introduce slack to the system. To make sure there's no slack, you just draw the line as tight as possible for your lean position. Anytime you come off that lean, the line is going to draw the line in itself and this is where the communication happens. With a static line, it's like digital communication. Communication is either on(1) or it's off(0). The dynamic line is like an analogue signal. When in the on state(stretched), it's communicating with you and this communication can be subtle(less load), or intense(fully loaded). I thought I'd share with you my thoughts on saddle hunting because for one, you are safety-minded like myself, and two, you seem to want to listen rather than be tribal about saddle hunting. Too often folks are so tribal, and they just shut out everything else if it's different from what they believe in. What works for me isn't going to necessarily work for you or someone else, but that doesn't me that a tiny aspect of what I don't won't help you or someone else. I'm always looking for better and safer systems to ensure I return home safely to my family. When it comes to redundancy, all forms of stands in conjunction with a lifeline is fully redundant as they are two independent systems that can keep a person from falling. As I've pointed out to you in my first post, the only way to have true redundancy in saddle hunting is to accompany the saddle with a rock climbing harness. These are very comfy, light and safe and they can easily be paired with a dynamic line to create a truly redundant saddle hunting experience.
Last but not least, you may want to consider using a cinching line-man. I see folks using a smaller accessory or paracord and tying it temporarily, but that's really not a cinching line-man. You can use a prussik loop, and connect it with a carabiner for quick release. This way, once you get it to height, just slide the prussik to cinch it to the tree. To free it to move it up, just pull the prussik back. Me personally, I don't like loops as they can't be undone. I like making my only friction hitches by taking 7 or 5mm accessory cord and adding on two bowline knots with a Yosemite finishes to the ends and using these to make whatever friction hitch I want to you use by simply clipping into the knots. When it comes to line-man, I always put on an accessory cord that is used as a friction hitch to allow me to cinch it if I want to. Again, just tossing out ideas. Take what you find to be useful and ignore what you find not applicable for your use case. Cheers!
You Gotta be the safest saddle hunter in the woods
😂 I might be!!
Great video. I'm just starting out at the age of 72. Being safe is top priority. I've hunted out of climbers and loved it. Stay safe.
Thanks Tom! Love it! Great to hear. Enjoy yourself out there and be safe my friend.
I wouldn’t call it redundancy. It’s a second point of contact as a safety. I hate the fact that most saddle hunters don’t see the need to use a safety. Cudos to you for promoting safety. I love it. Keep doing what you’re doing. 👍
Thanks my brotha! Seems like lots of folks do the bare minimum with regard to safety and their saddle gear. Couple extra pieces of gear is barely any weight to carry and can be a world of difference in a dicey situation. Good luck out there my friend!
So this will be my 1st year saddle hunting and I have watched hours of videos to try to take away the best from each one. What I will/am doing is almost exactly what you are now doing with one big exception, all the redundancy. Now like you said, "to each his own" and I agree with that, your safety is your responsibility!
Here are my thoughts on the redundancy, #1 with all the adjustability in saddle hunting I feel like I would get too confused and frustrated making adjustments to two of everything, I have taken the time to learn what is the most reliable products and equipment and also the time to learn and practice good habits to properly and safely use it. #2. I decided to take up saddle hunting at 60 years old to reduce the weight of being as mobile as possible in the woods, all the redundancy will definitely nearly double the weight you are carrying into the woods giving back part of the benefit of saddle hunting.
This was a great video and you did a great job of explaining the best ways to safely use your equipment.
Good luck and have a great season!
Definitely appreciate the input my friend! Sounds like you got a good plan in place too. Good luck out there and stay safe! 👍👍👍
I often set two tethers also. Like hanging weapon right on my tether carabiner , pack on a loop with a carabiner
Great insight my friend! Thanks for sharing!
I like the double bridge idea!
Maybe use your tether hooked up to your bridge and that can be your redundancy while ascending and descending? The only time you'll only have one attached is navigating branches... Before setting my platform, while I'm on top stick, I collapse the platform, fiddle my lineman rope above it, while my tether stays attached to bridge --- then while I make the transition to the platform, I'm still attached twice.
I found that I quickly abandoned my 4 sticks in saddle hunting, switching completely to the SRT climbing method.
Ascending & descending a rope, I found that method to be much easier, and much quieter, than trying to attach tree sticks, especially where I now hunt, choked by dead cedar branches snagging everything carried. The first time I attempted a hunt with my sticks, the tree I selected wasn’t as strait as I had thought by pre scouting & by the time I gave up attempting to climb it in the dark, it was light, & I was forced to locate another spot, tripping & crashing in that process, exhausted & now clumsy by my many failed climbing attempts.
Everything clanged together as I crashed over some stiff dead sticks that tangled between my feet 💥 the noise echoing through the woods.😖
I had to give up my climbing stand for those same frustrating reasons. Either the trees were to big, or branches/thick brush…… made its use impossible.
Thanks for sharing bud! I’m highly intrigued by the SRT method. Like you said, the sticks are noisy no matter what I do. Definitely not ideal. How long does it take to get accustomed to getting your rope up in the tree? Love the insight. Thanks again. Good luck out there this season!
@@michaelanthonyoutdoors
It wasn't to bad at all! Took some practice for sure!
Look up DRT & SRT tree climbing methods. Two friends, one an arborist, explain how they do it.
I chose SRT, not in the best shape any more.
This year, I had to review those specialty knots, cuz I kinda forgot how they were done. 🤦♂️
I used a throw ball, to get a paracord into the tree, then when happy with the spot, tied it off ready for me to return, then when I arrive, I silently pull my climbing rope through the limbs the paracord was through, tied to follow the paracord, tie a special knot with loophole, making sure not to forget to hook the paracord back to that loop incase for any reason, I need to pull it back down, than pull it up to anchor, & ascend the rope with an ascender.
Don't know if I'll ever use my sticks again!
Belaying back down the rope? Now that's the bees knees fun!
With my old climber, it was fall asleep comfortable, but I knew there just had to be a better way!
Good luck back atchya! 😊
Here's a basic SRT demonstration I've done. New York Saddle Hunters "Halfline Mobile System" is where I got the idea from. Except I use different ascender pulley and descender.
ruclips.net/video/mIlN1888JW8/видео.htmlsi=lNkpztu586xfpV_7
Great safety measures. We all have to make it home to our families
Amen to that brotha!
Using a girth hitch on your tether may give you even more security. It keeps the tether tight in place on the trunk. Good video. We can all take a little from everyone and create a system that works well for us
Ah yes thanks for the tip. Like you said picking up little things from everyone and making it our own…gotta love it!
Just getting in to saddle hunting and was a lil worried about the single hookups, I will definitely use your system of doing things. All about safety !!!! Thanks
Good to hear! I been hitting some remote areas of WV public land and I feel so much more comfortable having double tethers, double lineman’s, double bridges. Well worth it! Stay safe and good luck my friend!
Those little steps would be good to use to wrap around the tree to step around the tree while you’re hunting for a better shot. What I do is put my platform at the same high as the top of my top stick so I can use my stick and platform to step on.
Definitely a good idea! Could even slide the steps onto the same strap as the platform. I like the idea of using the top of the stick too. The more angles the better!
Ohio, looks like good woods there, looks like Mississippi
I always carry a backpack, platform is strapped to the back of it and climbing sticks hang below it. I have a military type backpack so plenty of connection points. I strap a pad (foam seat) for my knees and that works great! Love saddle hunting and won’t go back to stands. I still carry a couple strap on steps occasionally for my first couple steps if I want to get higher. Redundancy for safety is better than having an accident any time.
Love it! Thanks for input and good luck out there my friend!
Lineman will not prevent a fall, only holds laterally, not vertically, use a tether with a decent hitch that will not fall without tension, or even use a pole to put a rope up high with a bridge attached, very safe
I have a summit viper without the front rifle bar. Here is a hint on the cable withe the humps. Visit FW Webb and get industrial shrink tube to recover your stand cable. They tend to peal after a while. 👍 Happy hunting. PS I SRT saddle hunt Cruzr with madrock.😁 or skeletor sticks
Awesome! Thanks for the input my friend! Good luck this season.
Thank you.
2 tether is so much less nonsense than sticks. I just throw them over my shoulder. They're dead silent and safer too. I'm connected to the tree with 2 tethers at all times, except when going past limbs.
There's no time fiddling at the base of the tree at all. Just hook up and climb. I'm going to make a video tomorrow
Awesome. Will check out your vid brotha!
That same guy likely also doesn't have a wife and kids at home.... Kuddos to you for having the balls to say the silent stuff out loud.
Haha amen to that my brotha!
Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. Practice the way you play. Set up climbs at various locations and terrains and tree types. Climb in low light in the off season. I actually climb at least twice a month almost every month from March through the end of the season. Climbing in rain or snow is absolutely a different animal in how lineman’s rig slips and grips. Add layering and how you want to be dressed before going up. Only time in field and transitioning from walking in to getting into position in cold weather will teach you what works for you.
Amen to that brotha. Love it.
To each his own but with so much goin on you are more likely to forget a step or hook something up and that’s just as bad!!! Inspect your equipment, use it properly and all will be well. Been doin this stuff for 30yrs between work and hunting and only failure was not inspecting equip properly and I slipped about 3ft before lifeline cinched.
Well said my friend! Great point too!
Trusting the equipment takes some of us longer than others. I’m in my 3rd season and am ditching mechanicals for hitches, no backup bridge either……routine and checks ever time, but that rope ain’t gonna break!
My father in law is one of those people who can't understand why I want to go through all that work when I can just get in a ground blind or one of his ladder stands. I can't even explain it to him in a way that he would understand, but I feel like I am more involved with the hunt when I scout out some sign, find a tree and climb up it. Plus, I really think it is the safest and most effective way to hunt. I one stick now, so I literally go to the exact height where I feel the most cover is and pretty much any tree is open for business. As far as packing in goes, it really depends on how far I am walking. Lately I have rigged up a badlands monster pack to hold my platform and stick, I am really tied to cut down on how much crap I bring to the woods lol. You should try rappelling though, it is easily the safest (and fastest) way down the tree.
I hear that brotha! My 80 year old father-in-law thinks the same of me. He sorta chuckles at all my a different types of stands, climbers, saddles, etc. I’m definitely intrigued with rappelling and eliminating multiple sticks. I know my setup will evolve the more I saddle up! Good luck out there bud!
I too one stick. After getting my pull up rope all in a bunch of briars, losing 2 arrows out of my quiver on the way up, I made a big change. My bow is on my pack and platform on my side. I walk in carrying just my stick. Attach, tether in, climb. At height, set platform. Once there, attach accessories cord, hang pack, then hang bow and knock arrow. I ALWAYS let my bow down first so I don’t forget to attach my rappel rope assist retrieving line.
Im a big fan of the Redundancy. I have the same platfrom where did get that other rope for it? I just got the set up today and climbed to trees so far but really like that extra rope on the platform
Nice! Yea that rope is a truckers hitch mod made by Custom Amsteel Products. Well worth it! Good luck my friend!
By the time you actually get to hunting it will nighttime lol. Just kidding great video
Haha goes pretty quick once you get into a flow. Thanks broski.
doesn't having two tethers reduce your mobility moving around the tree and thus the shots you can take? Particularly the lower tether, the upper teher seems to be "normal" length
I haven’t noticed any limitations with having two tethers. I can still maneuver with ease at all angles. In fact, the back band is more of an issue than anything. But I have it rigged so it can quickly and quietly slip away when needed.
Better to have redundancy and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Amen to that brotha!
It takes this dude 3-5 business days to get all his shit to the tree
😂😂😂 luckily I’m much more proficient now than I was day 1 with that saddle setup.
Wouldn’t a safety vest be even better. I took that 20’ fall from a ladder stand that broke last season and safely hunting is a must. Trust me I know…1 smashed vertebrae and four fractured ones will ruin your season!
I bought a saddle and I’m trying to get my set up figured out. I’ve hunted in it once this year and just the one point of contact isn’t working for me!