Let's See Your 2020 Archery Setup!

[longbow]

So, what are you going to be using this season, getting anything new or sticking with last years setup? Let's see some pictures!

 

[Wandling]

I’m still using my PSE Vendetta, Kwikee kwiver. HHA Virtus rest. CBE tactic micro sight. Gold tip velocity 300 spine with 40 grain insert weight and 125 grain magnus head. I just got a new Scott talon release and a bowmar nose button.

 

[mowbizz]

Mission MXB 360 with a 420 gr bolt and NAP expandable broadheads.
Haven’t shot it at any game as of yet...hoping to this season!

 

[VTHunter08]

I'm using my same set-up as last year that I had put together for elk. 300spine east axis, with 75gr insert, & 100gr exodus broadhead. Bow equipment is the same, prime rize, fast eddie xl double pin sight and QAD HDX rest. The only thing I'm changing up this year is I'm transitioning to hunting from a saddle instead of a climber. Trying to cut a little pack in weight, and convenience of not having something hanging off my back. Also that much more versatile and mobile. Couldn't tell you how many times with my climber I'd find the "perfect spot", but no trees around that I could get my climber up in. Hopefully I don't have that issue as much with the saddle.

 

[Wandling]

I'm using my same set-up as last year that I had put together for elk. 300spine east axis, with 75gr insert, & 100gr exodus broadhead. Bow equipment is the same, prime rize, fast eddie xl double pin sight and QAD HDX rest. The only thing I'm changing up this year is I'm transitioning to hunting from a saddle instead of a climber. Trying to cut a little pack in weight, and convenience of not having something hanging off my back. Also that much more versatile and mobile. Couldn't tell you how many times with my climber I'd find the "perfect spot", but no trees around that I could get my climber up in. Hopefully I don't have that issue as much with the saddle.

I started using a saddle last season. I will never pack a stand again. If you haven’t already definitely get a platform. It makes a huge difference in comfort. I was standing on screw in steps for most of the season and finally built a homemade platform. It was a bit heavy so I bought the ridge runner.

 

[VTHunter08]

I started using a saddle last season. I will never pack a stand again. If you haven’t already definitely get a platform. It makes a huge difference in comfort. I was standing on screw in steps for most of the season and finally built a homemade platform. It was a bit heavy so I bought the ridge runner.

Oh yeah the ridge runners are nice. I'm going to use the wild edge steps so I purchased one of their Perch platforms and one of their one step aiders too. Had my Cruzr XC saddle delivered last week and love it so far. Now just time to practice practice, practice.

 

[SportsmanNH]

I started using a saddle last season. I will never pack a stand again. If you haven’t already definitely get a platform. It makes a huge difference in comfort. I was standing on screw in steps for most of the season and finally built a homemade platform. It was a bit heavy so I bought the ridge runner.

Oh yeah the ridge runners are nice. I'm going to use the wild edge steps so I purchased one of their Perch platforms and one of their one step aiders too. Had my Cruzr XC saddle delivered last week and love it so far. Now just time to practice practice, practice.

Are you guys part monkey ?
I just watched an instructional video of climbing a tree with a saddle .

It took FOREVER to get up that tree 18-20 feet tying all those foot strap miniature climbing sticks . WAY too many procedures.
Took him a non stop 18 minutes to get up there . Way too many steps to follow hooking up the tie ropes. He wasn't even doing it in hunting clothes.

In 18 min I could set up my loggy bayou , climb that tree , forget something on the ground , climb back down and get it , then climb back up and still have time to spare.
Not to mention I would feel like Im a circus acrobatic act with everyone betting Im going to hang myself from that saddle. They would probably be right !

And this guy was doing it in the daytime ! What about climbing up with a saddle in the dark ?

If you are leaving the small climbing sticks on the tree and coming back to climb up in the dark, I think there is an advantage there for the saddle..
Less noise and better shooting angles once you get over the fear of God hanging sideways from a rope to get the shot angle

Im just giving you guys a hard time . . Its probably a very good setup once you get familiar with it.

But I still am not going to try it !

 

[jacinda]

I’m still using my PSE Vendetta, Kwikee kwiver. HHA Virtus rest. CBE tactic micro sight. Gold tip velocity 300 spine with 40 grain insert weight and 125 grain magnus head. I just got a new Scott talon release and a bowmar nose button. View attachment 23586 View attachment 23585 View attachment 23586

Amazing

 

[mowbizz]

Are you guys part monkey ?
I just watched an instructional video of climbing a tree with a saddle .

It took FOREVER to get up that tree 18-20 feet tying all those foot strap miniature climbing sticks . WAY too many procedures.
Took him a non stop 18 minutes to get up there . Way too many steps to follow hooking up the tie ropes. He wasn't even doing it in hunting clothes.

In 18 min I could set up my loggy bayou , climb that tree , forget something on the ground , climb back down and get it , then climb back up and still have time to spare.
Not to mention I would feel like Im a circus acrobatic act with everyone betting Im going to hang myself from that saddle. They would probably be right !

And this guy was doing it in the daytime ! What about climbing up with a saddle in the dark ?

If you are leaving the small climbing sticks on the tree and coming back to climb up in the dark, I think there is an advantage there for the saddle..
Less noise and better shooting angles once you get over the fear of God hanging sideways from a rope to get the shot angle

Im just giving you guys a hard time . . Its probably a very good setup once you get familiar with it.

But I still am not going to try it !

I agree...but the I’m pushing 71. I don’t even use the climbers! I stick to a ladder or a blind. Still looks like too many “strings” attached

 

[Wandling]

Are you guys part monkey ?
I just watched an instructional video of climbing a tree with a saddle .

It took FOREVER to get up that tree 18-20 feet tying all those foot strap miniature climbing sticks . WAY too many procedures.
Took him a non stop 18 minutes to get up there . Way too many steps to follow hooking up the tie ropes. He wasn't even doing it in hunting clothes.

In 18 min I could set up my loggy bayou , climb that tree , forget something on the ground , climb back down and get it , then climb back up and still have time to spare.
Not to mention I would feel like Im a circus acrobatic act with everyone betting Im going to hang myself from that saddle. They would probably be right !

And this guy was doing it in the daytime ! What about climbing up with a saddle in the dark ?

If you are leaving the small climbing sticks on the tree and coming back to climb up in the dark, I think there is an advantage there for the saddle..
Less noise and better shooting angles once you get over the fear of God hanging sideways from a rope to get the shot angle

Im just giving you guys a hard time . . Its probably a very good setup once you get familiar with it.

But I still am not going to try it !

I use sticks and I have my bow in hand ready to hunt in 5 minutes. I’m not using all the nonsense some people do.

 

[VTHunter08]

I use sticks and I have my bow in hand ready to hunt in 5 minutes. I’m not using all the nonsense some people do.

Yeah and if it took him 18min he's as new as I am haha. With the aider I can be 18ish feet with 5 steps, and I can do that in about 10min right now. By deer season I want to be able to do that in 5min. Should be interesting, definitely different

 

[Wandling]

Yeah and if it took him 18min he's as new as I am haha. With the aider I can be 18ish feet with 5 steps, and I can do that in about 10min right now. By deer season I want to be able to do that in 5min. Should be interesting, definitely different

I just use 3 lone wolf sticks. No aiders. I bought a hand drill and bolts but I still prefer the sticks. The bolts will be for a couple areas I have a long hike to get to.

 

[Five-0 Taxidermy]

Are you guys part monkey ?
I just watched an instructional video of climbing a tree with a saddle .

It took FOREVER to get up that tree 18-20 feet tying all those foot strap miniature climbing sticks . WAY too many procedures.
Took him a non stop 18 minutes to get up there . Way too many steps to follow hooking up the tie ropes. He wasn't even doing it in hunting clothes.

In 18 min I could set up my loggy bayou , climb that tree , forget something on the ground , climb back down and get it , then climb back up and still have time to spare.
Not to mention I would feel like Im a circus acrobatic act with everyone betting Im going to hang myself from that saddle. They would probably be right !

And this guy was doing it in the daytime ! What about climbing up with a saddle in the dark ?

If you are leaving the small climbing sticks on the tree and coming back to climb up in the dark, I think there is an advantage there for the saddle..
Less noise and better shooting angles once you get over the fear of God hanging sideways from a rope to get the shot angle

Im just giving you guys a hard time . . Its probably a very good setup once you get familiar with it.

But I still am not going to try it !

I just might be that guy!!! I did a video on my first climb using the sticks and a saddle and it took me about 20 minutes. After practicing with the sticks for about a week I got it down to about 10 minutes including attaching my platform. I'm really not concerned about speed though.
I had a climber for quite some time and never felt that comfortable in it. This saddle is like sitting a school yard swing. I'm really starting to like it.
If you have the opportunity to try one give it a chance

 

[longbow]

Climbing sticks are a PITA. My Lone Wolf Hand Climber is light, small, and rock solid. I'll stick to my climber and permanent stands.

 

[sneaky_pete000]

I'm using my same set-up as last year that I had put together for elk. 300spine east axis, with 75gr insert, & 100gr exodus broadhead. Bow equipment is the same, prime rize, fast eddie xl double pin sight and QAD HDX rest. The only thing I'm changing up this year is I'm transitioning to hunting from a saddle instead of a climber. Trying to cut a little pack in weight, and convenience of not having something hanging off my back. Also that much more versatile and mobile. Couldn't tell you how many times with my climber I'd find the "perfect spot", but no trees around that I could get my climber up in. Hopefully I don't have that issue as much with the saddle.

I look forward to learning through you on the saddle. I hope to pick one up early this summer.

 

[sneaky_pete000]

There are a couple places I'd like to bowhunt that are a LONG way from a trail. Carrying a stand out/up there isn't my preferred method. Another thing to keep in mind is that after hunting CT and Ohio, I've learned that the woods are very different. VT has so many hemlocks and so fewer hardwoods you could get a climber up in, your choices are very limited. If you hunt at elevation, forget it. There's no way a climber would get you up anything at all. I'm guessing VTHunter08 is thinking the same thing.

 

[VTHunter08]

There are a couple places I'd like to bowhunt that are a LONG way from a trail. Carrying a stand out/up there isn't my preferred method. Another thing to keep in mind is that after hunting CT and Ohio, I've learned that the woods are very different. VT has so many hemlocks and so fewer hardwoods you could get a climber up in, your choices are very limited. If you hunt at elevation, forget it. There's no way a climber would get you up anything at all. I'm guessing VTHunter08 is thinking the same thing.

I just try to stay as mobile and light as possible. Even around the house I might hunt on 100 yard area 6 times and sit in 6 different trees all depending on time of day, wind, feed, etc and like you said finding a tree to get a climber up 20' can be daunting. I've hunted ohio public land for 8ish years and the majority of my spots are 1+miles in, everyother tree out there is a bean pole you can get a climber in, but carrying a climber on your back that far in the dark, clanking and getting hung up on everything SUCKS! Even with my 13lbs open shot its still 13lbs directly on my shoulders. I haven't weighed my climbing set-up yet but my entire saddle and ropes will be attached to me as I walk in. Only thing I'll need to "carry" is my steps and my bow. Supposedly the steps are 1lbs each, and I'm guessing the perch is another pound. I'll bring 6 steps and my aider (5 steps for climbing, 1 step to use with my platform) so 7lbs. We shall see!

 

[Fixed blade]

I’ve been hunting a saddle 2 seasons now. I feel it’s a huge advantage over carrying my climber. Climbing with 3 lone wolf sticks and a 1 piece movable webbing aider. I put double steps on the top of each stick as well so I can stand both feet on the top as I set the next stick. Tried wild edge Steps and wasn’t for me. Usually hunting 20-25 ft up. Also second the platform. I got one and used it last year. Only hunted my climber twice all other sits in the saddle. The buck I shot in Mass was from the saddle hang and hunt over a mile from where I parked. My guess is 5 min to get To hunting height, setup and bow in tree.

 

[mowbizz]

I’ve been hunting a saddle 2 seasons now. I feel it’s a huge advantage over carrying my climber. Climbing with 3 lone wolf sticks and a 1 piece movable webbing aider. I put double steps on the top of each stick as well so I can stand both feet on the top as I set the next stick. Tried wild edge Steps and wasn’t for me. Usually hunting 20-25 ft up. Also second the platform. I got one and used it last year. Only hunted my climber twice all other sits in the saddle. The buck I shot in Mass was from the saddle hang and hunt over a mile from where I parked. My guess is 5 min to get To hunting height, setup and bow in tree.

Man...I just watched a YouTube vid on a guy using this system and i must say this is a patient man’s game...just setting himself up to enter the woods was like getting into a monkey suit with all the strings and ropes and pouches and sticks hanging off him.
A young man’s game as well as a patient one!

 

[longbow]

Man...I just watched a YouTube vid on a guy using this system and i must say this is a patient man’s game...just setting himself up to enter the woods was like getting into a monkey suit with all the strings and ropes and pouches and sticks hanging off him.
A young man’s game as well as a patient one!

My gosh whatever happened to putting a stool up against a tree and sitting thereLOL. Now you have to be suspended 25 feet up in the tree by your balls LOL