Thanks,
Scott
See http://www.saddlehunter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=39&start=10 thread for new designs being commercialized by John and others (under the New Tribe brand, I think). Maybe this is the new sling design here: http://newtribe.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=134
Sit down before you read the price, though.
Michigan Dave
I really like the saddle, so easy to shoot from as you can just lean right into it without worry of slipping or losing your balance. If you do it right you can use the straps almost as a shooting rest (if you've never shot a bow from a rest you should try it sometime, does the same thing for bows it does for rifles)
Can shoot 360 around the tree, you can actually hide "behind" the tree to a degree.
Near impossible to fall out of (I don't know how you could honestly, I fall asleep in it all the time)
Will work in trees that a "normal" stand just cannot. Can set up several trees ahead of time, strap on the saddle at the vehicle, walk in, climb up and strap in. All set and ready in no time and no "stand" to steal. The number of "stands" is only limited to how many trees you can set up to climb.
Plus you feel like a "real" predator in them when you move about, heheheh.... I prefer the saddle to any stand, any day.
Problem is as stated they don't make it anymore. They can be bought on ebay, etc. but folks are getting more for them used than when they were new. If you're looking at that route I have two recommendations. First if possible go down in size if any question. I'd say realistically the large shouldn't start until a 36" or 38" better yet, not the 34" it states. And secondly look up all the youtube videos you can on the trophyline tree saddle. A wealth of info and some really good modifications to check out.
My buddy has a Guido's web and personally I don't like it. Way bulkier and heavier than the saddle. Not near as maneuverable. A good deal harder to shoot a bow out of, I felt it was better for a rifle hunter or someone trying to make it more like a traditional stand. If you're even a little athletic the saddle is better.
I have no experience with the new "saddle" that has come out except that it is very expensive. I was expecting a fairly high price tag.... but, yeah, I was still pretty shocked. Maybe it has changed from when I was looking into them.
Yellowjacket's Link
Does summit still make the open shot? If they do anyone reading this should consider the open shot if there in the market for a nice climbing stand
I went through their site and looked over the instructions, etc. I think if I were going to replace my saddle I'd look hard at this one. Might talk my buddy into selling his Guido and trying this one out. =D
The tree rope is pretty much what the treesaddle users have been doing, ditch the clumsy strap and go with the climbing rope and carabiner.
There is a learning curve to setting up your "stand" with these as to alignment to trails and such. And the KEY to the whole thing is setting up foot steps, either with strap on steps, screw in, etc. mostly in combination with natural limbs and features. We normally use 1/2" lag bolts and cordless drills to set up sites, but we are on private land. Usually have to prep a site anyway for any stand as to shooting lanes and personal clearance. Once set up you're good pretty much any time you feel like it.
I use a set of lone wolf sticks on places where I can't drill or want to try a quick hunt. I have a top bar I made for the top stick. A top set of home made strap steps if necessary. There are some really nice steps made from large PVC pipe cut at angles and threaded onto ratchet straps, some home made. A number of ways to do it.
Good knee pads might come in handy, you can adjust your position on the tree propping up a knee or two for comfort on long sits.
I'd still ravage youtube for every video made about trophyline treesaddle. The principles are going to be very similar if not identical in many cases.
Good luck! You're going to be amazed at the trees and places you can use this that you never could with a conventional stand, much less the climbers. And just a few lbs that you actually wear walking in rather than a bunch of gear strapped on your back.....Please check back later and give us an update on the new gear!
Scott
I had a large Ambush and wanted to go down a size, yours was a medium Ambush. Fits much better. They run big on their sizing.
It gets a fair amount of use and have taken several axis with it. Nearly all private land here and many of our spots are very small. Love spot and stalk but in these small places you put much pressure and they move out in a hurry. Stands are the way to go in these areas.
Some time ago we had like 4 or 5 stands stolen in one year and decided to try the saddle route. Never looked back, much prefer them, especially for shooting out of. No worries about falling out of the stand. =D
Also if you need to pee, you will have to come down out of the tree. And if your GW gets soaked by rain or snow it will take several days to dry out, requiring you to wear rain gear on the dry days that fallow a soaking of your GW if you hunt using it, unless you can dry it quickly somehow that wont damage both your web and your dryer. If you hunt mostly public land you will have to come up with a public land legal foot support system. I was lucky enough to find some now discontinued Ameristep plastic tree steps and order a heavy duty ratchet strap to attach them to the tree. If you plan on using this type of foot support system, you will need to use as stiff and thick a strap as you can find otherwise you will have problems with your straps working well and not flipping over and the entire strap step system not slipping on you, I dont exaggerate by saying what you use for a foot support system will make or brake any web system you buy, unless you hunt private land and can use screw in tree steps, but if on public land screw in steps are not a option.
The advantages the web style stands offer are light in weight, super easy transport, built in safety harness, and you can hunt out of a less than perfect tree, IOW, you can hunt out of just about any tree large enough to hold you.
Just make sure a web system is a stand system you actually have a NEED for and will use and not a case of want VS need.
Also if you need to pee, you will have to come down out of the tree. And if your GW gets soaked by rain or snow it will take several days to dry out, requiring you to wear rain gear on the dry days that fallow a soaking of your GW if you hunt using it, unless you can dry it quickly somehow that wont damage both your web and your dryer. If you hunt mostly public land you will have to come up with a public land legal foot support system. I was lucky enough to find some now discontinued Ameristep plastic tree steps and order a heavy duty ratchet strap to attach them to the tree. If you plan on using this type of foot support system, you will need to use as stiff and thick a strap as you can find otherwise you will have problems with your straps working well and not flipping over and the entire strap step system not slipping on you, I dont exaggerate by saying what you use for a foot support system will make or brake any web system you buy, unless you hunt private land and can use screw in tree steps, but if on public land screw in steps are not a option.
The advantages the web style stands offer are light in weight, super easy transport, built in safety harness, and you can hunt out of a less than perfect tree, IOW, you can hunt out of just about any tree large enough to hold you.
Just make sure a web system is a stand system you actually have a NEED for and will use and not a case of want VS need.
Both in use and in set up it's very different than a conventional stand. Mostly you have to plan out where your feet are going to be, figure where to attach to give you the slack and and body angles you want. What lean the tree has as to how to set up. If you plan it right many times you can incorporate natural limbs. If you're going to be able to use 360 you need 360 around for your feet. Facing the tree seems to mess with those used to having their back to it as well. Pick up some good knee pads and you can use them to adjust positions for more comfort.
I know lots of folks that use them once or twice and never again. I know very few comfortable in them the first few times they use them. But once you start to get them dialed in and comfortable then you will see what the folks that use them a fair amount are talking about.
I worked with New Tribe to develop the Evolution. I tested 5 different prototypes over 7 months before the Evolution was complete. So I am slightly bias. Even though I was a pro-staff member for Treesaddle for 5 years. When they went out of business I was given to opportunity to work with New Tribe to develop a sling style stand that would be in production.
I am ALSO currently working with ODIN hunting products who will be making a strap on bracket that will work with there tree step. So hopefully we will have a better platform option in the near future.
Thanks, Boswell
