Saddle hunters

Mntbuck38

FNG
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
36
So this year I'm making the switch to a saddle, I'm wondering what everyone is using for a climbing method?
 
OP
Mntbuck38

Mntbuck38

FNG
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
36
I'm thinking about the wild edge steps, but don't know what it will be like to untie when its in the teens!
 

hflier

WKR
Classified Approved
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
3,293
Location
Tulsa, OK
They look interesting, but it seems as though people really like them or really don't and I havent been able to get a good read. I see alot of them for sale on Saddlehunter.com
 

CREillY

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Messages
255
Location
MN
I tried WE steps half a dozen times this year. I went back to climbing sticks for a couple reasons.

- With sticks I only have to go around the tree 3-4 times (once per stick)
- WE steps don't do well with thick barked trees they loosen up and slide and I have a lot of those in my area.
- I seemed to make more noise with the WE steps.

I did use 2 WE steps for my perch a few times and that worked out alright. They are great for packability and weight savings. Some guys use the knaider and swaider technique and get 18ft in a tree with 4 steps. I tried it and it just wasn't for me.
 
OP
Mntbuck38

Mntbuck38

FNG
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
36
I tried WE steps half a dozen times this year. I went back to climbing sticks for a couple reasons.

- With sticks I only have to go around the tree 3-4 times (once per stick)
- WE steps don't do well with thick barked trees they loosen up and slide and I have a lot of those in my area.
- I seemed to make more noise with the WE steps.

I did use 2 WE steps for my perch a few times and that worked out alright. They are great for packability and weight savings. Some guys use the knaider and swaider technique and get 18ft in a tree with 4 steps. I tried it and it just wasn't for me.
Hmmm, that's great information. I have a variety of trees here, but there could be a situation that , the tree you need to be in is this one and it could be a one with bark like you were saying.
This will be a learning year for sure.
 

LilBit

FNG
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
39
I have the WE steps and the Perch. I use a 5 step Black Diamond Etrier as an aider. I'm going to reconsider using that for next season because when I was trying to climb up a not so straight tree, things got tricky with balancing each step I took. I might go with a knaider/swaider combo this year.
 
OP
Mntbuck38

Mntbuck38

FNG
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
36
I have the WE steps and the Perch. I use a 5 step Black Diamond Etrier as an aider. I'm going to reconsider using that for next season because when I was trying to climb up a not so straight tree, things got tricky with balancing each step I took. I might go with a knaider/swaider combo this year.
I'm not familiar with and knaider/ swaider,
 

DWinVA

WKR
Joined
Jun 17, 2014
Messages
578
Location
SW Virginia
Beast sticks most of the season but late season I did the one stick method with a Muddy Pro & single step aider. I’m really liking it so far, much less to carry. Like a lot of things it takes practice.

God Bless
 
Joined
Jan 27, 2019
Messages
74
I got a set of WE steps a while ago and they seem solid. I will for sure be using them for my platform. Either 2 or 3 depending on the size of the tree I’m thinking.


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*zap*

WKR
Joined
Dec 20, 2018
Messages
7,032
Location
N/E Kansas
If you can get comfortable with them the Cranford rope steps are very light weight and low bulk to pack in. I found that using a Q-Safe strap above me I could get very good spacing on the rope steps, large biner on the Q-Safe and use it to help pull up onto the step I just set above me.
 
Joined
Jan 27, 2019
Messages
74
WE Step Rope Mod

Check out this post on saddle hunter. This seems like an interesting mod to WE steps.

This was posted by judd1980 not myself

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Last edited:

Miboy86

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 31, 2019
Messages
123
I use either full length API sticks with lone wolf stand offs because in my opinion the factory ones suck for gripping but I'm also in the process of modding some lone wolfs that are cut down, those will be my main climbing source for future hunts. I have a buddy be that either one sticks it or uses wild edge steps that he loves.
 

Wks41

FNG
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
59
Location
Ga
I run hawk heliums, muddy pros or a combo of both depending on the property and walk distance. The muddy pros are quiet and the quickest for me to put up but the heliums are the most Fock solid sticks I’ve owned. I need to do the versa button mod on them. Either one would would be a good choice. This was my first season in a saddle and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a stand.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
511
Location
South Kakalaki
hawk heliums with a single step aider, either 3 or 4 depending on how high I want to get.

Using sticks was the most comfortable transition for me. I don't generally have to walk more than 3/4-1 mile so weight isn't a huge deal breaker. Hopefully will get really comfortable and start one sticking. But that won't be this year at least.
 
Joined
Aug 5, 2019
Messages
29
Here’s a video I made a while back. I went back to sticks because the WE steps would sink into soft trees and get loose. If I tried to recam, it would just dig deeper. There was too much fiddling when it wasn’t the ideal hard tree.
I’m now using cut down helium sticks most of the time. Using a movable aider became annoying over time. I may look into adding a cable aider like LWCG came out with. It won’t flap in the wind, it’s not very visible, and should pack up easily.


 
OP
Mntbuck38

Mntbuck38

FNG
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
36
Beast sticks most of the season but late season I did the one stick method with a Muddy Pro & single step aider. I’m really liking it so far, much less to carry. Like a lot of things it takes practice.

God Bless
Thank you, I will look into this method, hoping to have everything by end of March or April and practice until season.
 
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