advice for a hunter

[rzdrmh]

Hello all - found this site while doing some searching - didn't realize there was so much information out there.

Just wondering if anyone might have some advice for me. I'm not a member of the tree care professionals community, but I figured I'd ask the experts!

I'm considering purchasing a bosun chair for bow hunting this year. Recently, I tried using a system that was designed specifically for hunting - a product called a tree saddle, from trophyline. I was very pleased with the flexibility that it offers over traditional lock on tree stands - you're able to make shots at all angles.
here is a link to the product from Cabelas..
http://www.cabelas.com/products/Cpod0024673.jsp

I was doing some reading at a forestry site and I found that this looks pretty similar to a bosun chair, minus the rigid seat.

The tree saddle goes for about $200-$220. I've found bosun chairs for much less. I'm wondering if its reasonable to use a bosun chair for extended periods of time - say - 3-4 hours at a time. With either, I wouldn't be completed suspended for that entire period - the idea is to get 20-25' foot up, next to the trunk of the tree, and either use strap on tree pegs or limbs to rest your feet on and manuever around the tree. My trial period with the tree saddle was only for a few minutes, in which it was very comfortable, but then again, I'm going to use it for hours at a time.

I'm 6'4", 220 lbs, and in pretty decent shape. I understand this might not be the most comfortable thing, but heck, its got to be better than finding a good spot, climbing a tree, and sitting/standing on a limb or in the crotch of the tree.

Any thoughts that you guys might have on using a bosun chair for something like this - I'd appreciate it!

 

[NickfromWI]

For that price you can get a decent arborist saddle and a rope to get you up the tree.

Practice at home before you head out!

love
nick

 

[Nathan Wreyford]

Also, stay away from spikes, etc. You can be much faster without IMHO.

 

[rzdrmh]

thanks guys... do you have a moderately priced aborist saddle that you'd recommend ? one that you can sit in comfortably for a while?

 

[NickfromWI]

Does weaver have a cheap bosun saddle? They tend to make a lot of the less expensive saddles?

 

[rzdrmh]

I've been searching past threads for saddles, etc. - the one thing that I can't seem to find is extended comfort.

Am I being too optimistic to think that I can find something that will allow me to stay in the tree for 3-4 hours? if I'm using limbs, etc for my feet to rest on, I'll be able to stand and sit, my shots would come from a standing position, but I don't want to have to be moving constantly either to be comfortable..

thanks again for the input.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Here are some saddle threads...

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10024&highlight=climbing+saddle

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11410&highlight=climbing+saddle

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9882&highlight=climbing+saddle

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1158&highlight=climbing+spurs

 

[Stumper]

I can't speak to the bosun's chair style seat available on some saddles (never tried one) but if I were going to use a saddle as a tree stand I would choose a NewTribe saddle. Their Ness Work Saddle is extremely comfortable, comes in black and Olive drab for effective camoflage and sells for about $160. The recreational saddle (which would work for your purposes) doesn't have all the snaps and rings of the work saddle and costs a bit less if I remember correctly. Try www.newtribe.com

 

[okietreedude1]

as a pro abo and an archery deer hunter too, I can say I would not like sitting in a saddle for hrs on end waiting for a shot. even with the idea of being able to stand every now and then. I would think about it as a life support but not as a stand.

if you are wanting something like this, why not just get a self climbing stand? You can get a great self climber for the same price as a saddle. Many now even come w/ a body harness for fall protection.

too, many of our saddles have a lot of metal objects on them which would have the tendency to make noise. something which we deer hunter need to avoid.

Good luck! and remember to show us your trophy buck!

 

[Husky288XP]

I have hunted with a rope and saddle, and it sucks. First you carry the gear in, then you get in the tree. After 40 mins pass in the saddle your ass and legs go numb, then you put your feet in a crotch. Thats fine for a few moments, but your feet start to cramp and go numb. So finally you sit on a limb, you see a deer and start to pull up on it to find that you lose your balence on the 10" limb and miss the deer. That night you go to Gander Mountain and buy a tree stand, where you can slumber and wait for your game.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hahahahaaaa!!!! I was gonna say that, but I ain't no Ted Nugent kinda guy. I didn't think a climbing saddle would do any more than get you to yur stand.

 

[ArtB]

Unfortuanately, I see you are in Michigan, a long way from Seattle area. If you were here, I'd let you sit on my 2nd floor deck with a bow in an easy chair (or the swing by the pond)and kill all them nasty garden predators you wanted.

PS: just for practice, made a blunt with a wheel nut on the end of a target arrow, with an 80# bow shot 4 in the neck within 3 minutes a couple of weeks ago - they are so tame here with all the peta people around you can just walk up and pick up the blunt arrow and shoot another one, doesn't even scare'em!!! They just look at you as you take aim as if to ask, where did all the tasty roses go??

 

[Trtd61]

Got to agree with Okie and Husky, use a treestand..

 

[rzdrmh]

thanks for the advice guys!

I primarily use lock on style tree stands. Using a saddle would be for those unique situations.. for example - there is a fairly large area of state ground close by, (around 4200 acres) that has some excellent hunting, but is very pressured. getting to the area that I would like to hunt is about a mile walk through some extremely dense, swampy areas. carrying a stand, even a light one through that area would be taxing to say the least.

other times, i'm walking around on the farms that i hunt, and see a hot spot, without a stand there. in the past, that means scaling the tree, finding a good limb to stand on, etc, and waiting it out . (of course, I always wear a safety harness). given that, I still think a saddle would be more comfortable.

Anyway, I really appreciate the advice! It looks like I can get MUCH better climbing and safety equipment from arborist sites than your average sporting goods shop, for the same money (or less).