? for treesaddle users....how long did it take you ....

[SuperK]

Many thanks for all ya'll who responded.  Ya'll were a big help!

[joebuck]

Super K,If i had to sum things up, TreeSaddle ( Trophyline), Treesuit, Sneaky Sac, Anderson, Vulture Nest and Quidos Webs  basically expose one to a different treestand approach. I persoanally progressed from Treesaddle to TreeSuit to Quidos Web in about a 9 year span for variuos reasons. I also killed deer out of all three. There is little tricks you'll learn but nothing takes the place as backyard practice for me at 2' off the ground. It accelerated my learning curve plus i have stopped traffic several times people wondering what i was doing. I have learned also not to hard sell your buddies on this method of treestand hunting....they either get it or do not have any interest what so ever........My biggest learning curve while hunting was moving in the tree to get ready when i first saw the deer if it appeared it was not coming on side i favored. Now i shoot most deer as it walks past me. I position myself in trees to trails, food and scrapes for that set up. It keeps me hidden behind the tree so well.

[Three Arrows]

joebuck, you provided the best summation of this style of hunting from trees out of all of us.  The biggest learning curve is knowing when and how to position for the shot and staying still.

[SuperK]

Thanks again ya'll.  I bit the bullet and bought a tree saddle!  Now I gotta decide on either the Rapid Rails or Lone Wolf sticks.  When I did a search on them it seems like both are well liked and well made.  So many decisions....so little time  

[joebuck]

Super....may i suggest a tip here? If you have one or two places you will hunt mulitple times, i would buy a Tree Stick ( climbing sticks that connect) of some sort and leave it on the tree. Most have a T bar at the top. They are pretty cheap and most go up to 15'.....now if have to take your climbing steps in........I like my Lone Wolf over my Rapid rails from stand point they are more compact. Also as far as screw in steps..i use nothing but E-Z self tapping folding steps. I put 3 in the tree at 9,12 and 3 oclock so I can walk all the way around the tree. I also screw one about 6 inches above my head as a grab bar...........good luck!

[Bowtechie]

Here's a link to a post I made on AT. It was easier for me to upload the pics there.

 http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1055404882#post1055404882

[JC]

Joey, interested in your input as this will be my first full season hunting out of the saddle.

Are the majority of your setups with the tree between you and the deer as it comes in? It seems the most comfortable to shoot from that angle and the most sense to me but curious what your preferred position is. Also, after using both, do you feel the Guido's only advantage is comfort over the saddle? Disadvantages compared to the saddle?

[joebuck]

Hello JC Snuffer Man!!!!!!First of I am by no means an expert.. but heres IMO.

Yes..majority of my setups i want the deer to come from 12 o'clock to 11 to 10 to 9 to 8 to 7 to 6..Love the 8-6oclock shot.....I can shoot him without moving at 11-5oclock. Does that make sense? Trouble area  12-1-2-3-4-5 if i do not move my feet. If that shot is evident then i twist my body in my seat 1/2 turn to right, switch my feet, swing my bow over to right side of tree and it's a dump shot. That why i put a grab screw in step right above my head to grab if i need to move quick...You will amaze yourself how you can move around on a deer.

Yes your exactly right about Quidos...it is the most comfortable hands down. Also I use the Tether Belt fully attached around the tree when climbing which IMO is safer than a climbing belt on the Saddle or Suit. A huge plus for Quidos also is the 5" t bar that keeps your crotch off the tree when sitting. Also if a step breaks or you slip ,this bar slams into the tree and keeps your body and face from crashing into the trunk.

Out of the box..Quidos is more restrictive and harder to shoot out of than the others ( Treesuit and Trophyline)...I modified my Quidos where it is almost identical to a Saddle except i kept my back rest on Quidos but i slip my shoulder straps off when i shoot??!!!..The Manufacture did not reccomend this.noted here!

I love the compactness of my Saddle. Knee pads are a must. Both attach to tree about the same height.

As far as ideal set up....I'm right handed.....deer trail 18 yards to my left parallel, with deer coming from 12'oclock traveling to 6 o'clock. 15'-18' feet high..i know thats high...deer can not see you till about 8 oclock if he looks up....very very few times have i been busted........be sure to practice your straight down shot....good luck with the saddle...its fun...

[NoCams]

JC,
you gonna luv a shot directly behind you in that saddle. Most comfortable shot there is out of it in my book. Deer might as well get in the back of your side by side UTV !!! Just straighten your legs as you come out of the sitting position, kinda twist, or roll over and your upper body is in the classic upright "T" position for a perfect shot.

Joebuck is correct in that you cannot shoot as far around the clock in the Guidos as the saddle especially if you do not at least slip one shoulder strap off to shoot behind you. However, after hunting last year out of both I personally would not trade my Guiods for 10 saddles due to the comfort and fidget factor. I simply could not sit still in the saddle. Your not going to get a shot if you are moving as much as I was !!! The whole key in my humble opinion is the saddle pinches you in with the webbing conforming around you and the Guidos feels more like my recliner hung from a rope, with the ropes out away from my sides. I cannot imagine how I would have been constricted if it was late season and I would have had on heavy clothes. It was early season and I was in just a long sleeve T shirt. You should try both and are welcome to try my web anytime. Lord knows I owe you that, you have been awful good to me !!! JMHO

nocams  

[joebuck]

JC as NoCams said....6 o'clock is money.. heres my 6 oclock shot in this pic. To get here I took my right foot at 3 o'clock step and stepped behind my left foot to 9 o'clock step and spun my waist about 1/4 turn in my Quido Web..i cut the leg straps off so i can spin in my webb...But as NoCam pointed out..you don't really have to move your feet at all......I love that spot in this pic.. I use the limb above me as my "grab" limb...Notice that dark trunk tree behind me?????????..Looking at this pic...i need some camo UV dimmer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that suit is horrible............

   

[SuperK]

Keep the info coming ya'll... GREAT STUFF!

[Three Arrows]

I just don't care for the webbing of the Guido's Web.  It seems to tangle and not wearable as the Saddle. I might add that I don't have comfort issues with the Saddle once the rear wallet is removed.  I don't feel pinched.  I can actually get it in trees with limbs to stand on like the oaks around here.  Beech trees have great branches to stand on.  The knee pads make napping easy too.  1 o'clock to 5 o'clock on my right hand side is difficult to get to without loosening the tether strap first.  I am able to spin my body inside the saddle to get off a right hand side shot.  I personally think that the Tree Saddle accommodates the slimmer shaped man than the fuller shaped man.  The Guido's will accommodate the fuller shaped man more so than the slimmer shaped man.