Rebel Darling

Fresh rubs and scrapes in 4L. Just took a walk around. Found a buck bed, and not long after that ticks on me... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Working from home at the moment. Haven't been able to get out since 10/9... Just watched a spike chase a doe after he worked on a licking branch and scrape. The flock of toms saw me as I stepped outside and they hiked it out fast.

I received one for 4L with the same form letter. The first time I've received a doe tag for the area I live in. This is my 5th hunting season up here. I'm excited...

Yes. In my opinion, it would be irresponsible to do otherwise. In addition, I felt the most comfortable I have ever felt (after three years of the LWF hand climber) prepping for my shot on the doe I harvested this year from the saddle. Fluid motion, tied tight to the tree, and I never had to worry about my "foot shuffle" to be careful not to overstep my climber platform. Having hunted from both a saddle and a climbing stand, my preference, for many reasons already enumerated, is the saddle. Hands-down.

Well done! Hope you’ve been out filming more this weekend... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

That is an awful news report. Within the first sentence, the bias is laid plain. The bowhunter is described as “cold hearted” in front of a “sobbing” kid. That’s not journalism, that’s opinionated garbage masquerading as news. The friggin NY Po$t... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Here ya go:

About 40 mins ago, as I was getting the boy ready for daycare, I saw two bucks browsing their way back to bedding. Seemed to be fine in one another’s company up here in 4L. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

There’s not really any rope work; it’s prusik knots with carabiners. If you’re currently using a climber, you’re likely using the same rope as your safety harness tether. The lean is rock solid. I dislike heights, but in the saddle I am leaning from and connected to the tree with my center of gravity. I felt so much more unsure and shaky leaning from a climber, or hang on, in which my harness is loosely tethered above me. With the saddle, the line is always tight, and it’s been a sense of comfort to me knowing that. It’s kinda like (and I think I heard something similar on a video) a harness stops your fall. The saddle prevents a fall. As far as the spikes go, Eberhardt uses them and screw ins, I think. I can’t use them, because I can’t damage the trees... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Straight up on the saddle from my experience using one this year. The following is based on use: - It's more comfortable. Not a debatable subject for me. I am so much more confident and comfortable while in the saddle. I have gotten some shut-eye time in, and don't have to worry about falling over. - It's definitely safer for me. I never liked wondering if my foot movement while repositioning for a shot was going to put me in trouble. I'm totally focused on the shot now, with fluid movement. I am always attached to the tree, even if it's an un-prepped tree I just walked up on. - I have a wider range of trees available to climb. I'm done looking for the perfect, straight tree when I need to be in the slanted tree with branches 15 yards off the trail. - It's been a more quiet setup. Especially if I'm wearing it in, there's virtually no setup time. Attach sticks to tree, and bow to drop rope, then climb. I'm already climbing up the tree when I still would have been unpacking my climber. I currently have a single accessory pouch. In that pouch I have my: 1 - lineman's belt. 2 - tree tether. 3 - gear strap. 4 - coiled drop rope. It requires some planning on how to position them so that they are ready in order of use, but that took 2 minutes to organize. My drop rope when uncoiled is attached to a molle loop on the belt. If I get a second accessory pouch, I'm probably leaving the backpack behind. The fellas from The Hunting Public figured out that they can carry everything they need in their turkey vest. - I have a greater range of shots, and never have to worry about my draw arm hitting the tree behind me. The tree being in front is a plus, not a negative for me. I don't have to turn and reach for any gear; it's all right in front of me, and I have used the tree as cover while reaching for my grunt tube and bow. A COUPLE DOWNSIDES - The price of my outfit is a definite downside. I went with Tethrd. But... I'm getting most of that back when I sell my LW climber. You don't need to buy their lineman's rope, and you can fashion your own saddles and platforms. There's a very active DIY community around saddles with forums, youtube videos, etc. - My climbing sticks are a bit of a pain to carry. I have the LW sticks, and am thinking about cutting them down, and drilling holes in the tubes (again from the DIY community) to lighten them up and make them more compact. I hunt public and private, so I'd like one option that can be used on both without boring into the trees. Looking forward to showing @grampy the setup, and getting his view on it. ----------- I should use lighted nocks. I was reminded of that during my doe kill (from the saddle) a couple weeks ago. I haven't hunted w/ a muzzy yet. I do own one, so, when I'm ready, I'll look at the Blackhorn...

I'm hunting from a saddle this year. I'm currently using sticks to climb. While in the saddle, it's the most locked-in I've felt while elevated for drawing and shooting. It provides me with a wide-range of angles and positions to shoot from without ever having to worry if I'm about to fall over a platform edge. It's been the most comfortable "sit" (I can literally hang from the tree and nap against it), and it provides me with an easier and safer up and down than the LW climber I was using (I'm always attached to my "stand"). It provides me with way more tree options to climb and hang from. Generally, it feels much more natural, offers more opportunities, and I can wear it in, and wear it out. For hanging gear, I use a LW gear strap around the tree. I hang my pack, my quiver, calls and my bow, and it's all right there in front of me. Minimal movement to reach and ready. I'm with @Buckmaster7600 on the saddles. I ain't going back to a climber. Back to work sitting in a chair, though...

Helpful thread to find.

Realized I diverted from the thread topic. Sorry about that... I clean mine in hot water, using a sponge when necessary, and let dry. I sharpen the next day. Hadn't thought of using some sort of oil/lubricant to prevent rusting. I like that idea.

I’m looking for a better sharpening/honing stone for my broadheads. The G5 stone I bought a few years back lost all its grit, and is now smooth. Any recommendations on durable sharpening stones? I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

The way my property is set up, east winds, north winds, and northeast winds are preferable. I tend to leave it alone on the more common winds and hunt other properties/areas. On a true west wind, the deer can smell me coming a long ways away because of their preferred bedding location on a west wind. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Forgot to mention that the wife and I sometimes head down to Jackson's in Old Chatham for dinner and drinks at the bar. We like the tavern quite a bit. Back on the 4L front, saw a fresh rub this afternoon.

If @BKhunter is still out there looking, that meat has definitely spoiled...

Westkill Brewery Buck Fever Vienna Lager, 5.2 ABV. Perfect name for the way I’m feeling... Westkill is becoming one of my favorite breweries. Their Kaaterskill IPA is awesome. Their location is friggin’ awesome. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Fresh rub, 4L I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Brown’s makes some great beer! I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Captain Lawrence Hop Commander. Almost posted in Live From the Woods... Cheers! I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Woman's prerogative?

Won't hunt this morning, gonna help my neighbors cut up a tree that fell over, root ball up, onto the winter wood, but just got back from getting kindling. Dead quiet up here in 4L. @The Jerkman's got the right idea with his marathon slow walk this morning... Feels like a good day in the woods, though. Good luck, fun and safe hunts to all afield. Looking forward to today's deer pics!

She boosted my scouting confidence 10 fold. I walked into a piece of the Pine Bush I had scouted via map, and when I arrived there, the sign was fresh. I'm hunting from a saddle now, and my tree options expanded beyond what the climber requires. I picked a slanted tree within range of a creek crossing and downwind of a trail that led to bedding. I sat for hours with no sightings, but the sound of acorns dropping 30 yards behind me pocked the sit. I trusted that the deer would be on their feet to feed, answering that dinner bell once the sun dropped below the trees. The first doe cut across the creek at 4:40. She routed away from me, and was in a hurry. I had no time to draw on her. The second doe cut across my field of vision uphill of me, browsing at the edge of someone's lawn about 75 yards away. That was at 5:20. At 5:50 the sun sunk below the trees, the temps dropped, and the groups of deer got up and on their feet. About 100 yards away a group of deer, with at least one large deer, started making their way towards me but never fully came into view, nor closer than 80 yards. All I could see were bodies, and legs moving through the leaves. At just after 6:00 p.m., I heard movement behind me, and two doe were about to cut across the stream, after eating on the fallen acorns. I picked up the bow, and came to full draw at the 25 yard mark. Just as the first doe was about to come into a sizable shooting lane, she stopped dead. She was downstream, and the thermals were most likely taking my scent down to her. I had dropped milkweed from the tree, but the beech saplings around me hung onto them, and I forgot having read about stream thermals in the evening. I adjusted slightly, and arrowed her through a thin opening between two pines. Thwop! Lungs. Post-shot, I shook worse than I had in years. I was pumped about the scouting, and my chosen setup. While it almost failed me right at the end, it did work, and I seared the lesson of that spot's thermals into my memory. The blood tracking story is a fond memory I have with @Canis Latrans, even though it cost him a ton of time. I wouldn't have found that doe nearly as easily without his help, and I'd still probably be dragging that deer up out of there if he hadn't turned around to meet me. I owe him some beer, and hope to hunt with him before bow season ends. In the end, she ran about 80 yards and piled up. She stumbled right after the shot, over some downed limbs, and I had lost the blood trail there in the dark. Canis' torch light picked right up on the blood, and from there, she bled out until he walked right up on her, an easy trail. Here's a poor pic of the deer, and the arrow shot:

Welcome!