I wanted also take this opportunity to share with you my excitement and appreciation for this superior product, the Tree Saddle.  I was intrigued at seeing it for the first time at the ATA show this year and had been wanting to try one for quite a while.  Having just started shooting the bow and spending time traveling and hunting, I just wasn't able to do it.  By the time I did get my hands on one for an afternoon, I realized that they are size dependent and I had borrowed the wrong size from a very tall friend.  After our visit and the lessons you gave (awesome, first hand)  I decided that I would give this a try.  Being safety conscious and a fellow engineer, I could see the benefits but seeing is not enough. You really need to experience this product to understand how it makes the difference.  So here is a story I would like to share with you and everyone at Trophyline USA..

This is my very first bow season in Upstate NY.  I have access to some of the best areas to hunt both within a 5 minute walk to a 100mi radius.  The year has been spent in preparation for this since I met Dave and Peter, my mentors, last November.  The world of archery was opened up at  the ATA show in Jan, trying each and every bow available, discovering that a right handed person may be a left handed archer and how important the fit and feel is personally.  Then there is practice, practice , never enough practice! After a while you shot everything, shape, size material, uphill, downhill in every position you can think of.  Then there is the patience a student must exude while leaving the bow home on a hunt and only watching the master instructor.  This really gives you the time to pay attention to all the other skills you must learn about the environment and nature.  The scent, the glassing, the temperature, timing, the nature of the beast you are after and on and on.  Learning the true value of a great guide is also very important. 

So here I am Oct 18th opening day in NYS and I have watch the progression of the animals. Trail cams have been documenting their path and patterns and I feel by studying the terrain and the wind patterns that I might have half a chance at some good potential.  I have their trails down, sites marked and stands up.  It is now clear to me that the barrier to entry in this sport is not expense or skill (although those come in very handy), but really the time, patience and persistence. I am up and out bright and early this morning along with every other morning and afternoon for the next two weeks.  I wait.  I watch.  I wonder when I will get my first white tail buck here at home, or if ever.  The strategies vary with the daily conditions changing and I find that you need to very versatile and flexible. 

All the time I have the help of my mentors both on the ground and in the tree.  The tree saddle has been helpful in allowing Dave to hang above me and give direction in some questionable shots. Too far, wrong angle, not mature enough, wrong light, even too much wind swaying the tree and lighting storms are probably not going to increase your odds of getting him with a bow.
So here I am yesterday, having only decided to take a shot or two but the score remained ... "the deer were ahead in points and I had no score on the board".  The weather in NY was unbelievable at 70 degrees F and I had the fortune of my brother visiting.  This was his first bow hunting  season also and we thought we might get together for a day or two and try our luck.  Bow hunting, while being a very individual sport allows for interaction before and aft in the field.  The stands we used were well positioned and somewhat isolated.  I wanted to be close on his first strike but not get in his way so after he positioned in, we decided I would use my saddle for the first time, just to watch from about 50 yards out of the field. I was amazed that I could get into the woods undetected and up the tree with only 4 foot pegs in less than 10 minutes.  Once up and harnessed in I was not only out of sight of the deer but also of my brother. This is where the fun began...

Harnessed in the tree I realized the ease of use and secure nature that the saddle gives you.  Unlike a the safety harness which don't lend them self to keeping you in the stand but only become one more thing to remember, keep out of the way and hopefully prevent death or serious injury if you do fall, the saddle secures you and reassures your position.  And speaking of position - they are absolutely unlimited!  360 degrees around that tree with shooting lanes that you may not have even noticed.  So in all my amazement and wonder, I had not noticed the early movement of the deer on this warm afternoon.  I was still swing silently around the tree like a stealth spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew. My attention quickly drew back to the hunt when I hear a slight snap and crash but could not see fully through the woods and out into the corn field.  I could only make out several deer, maybe 10-12, doe and buck grazing and wandering.  What was that noise? Had he shot? If so the deer was probably not down.  Was it a clean miss or injury.  I couldn't tell. I continued to grunt for a few but saw little action. He was in the stand up with bow in hand but all was calm.  No reception on the cell phone to contact him so I could only watch and wait. The deer were all around the stand and great shooters.  This was surely the chance we all hope for and I was glad he could have this moment. 

I glassed comfortable from my swinging seat, as if perched in my living room on the couch watching the hunting channel in HD. I smelled that familiar scent of deer.  I slowly broke my attention and spotted a buck coming my way.  Could this be?  Leaving the pack and venturing in toward me was the last thing I expected.  He mulled around a little looking and sniffing.  He wandered in closer.  I wondered if he had responded to the calls or was injured and was looking to bed in the pines.  Where was my mentor when I needed him? It was impossible to have gone through all the scenarios but one thing was sure - the rangefinder never lies.  He was now in the 30 yard limit I had given myself. He was a smaller 6 point rack but big bodied buck.  

 As he wandered around, I took the opportunity to convince myself that I could lean back, draw the bow and position for a shot, none of which I had yet tried.  Still completely stealth to my prey, I found he was losing interest in his current surroundings and was beginning to head to the deep woods and might soon be out of sight.  I gave one more grunt to give him something to think about.  He was broadside and ready to turn away with a 25-30 yard shot and perfect lane through the trees.  I drew back my Quest swiftly and silently.  At that split second that I released my breath and relaxed I realized how steady I was affixed and secured to this tree.  To be steady at the core and already in an inclined position, there was no need to worry about balance or bending like in a stand.  I was rock solid and the release felt perfect as I was able to concentrate on my upper body form.  Bam - I watch the arrow hit perfect and then gone.  The striker was right on the mark and out the other side.  He leaped and ran about 10 yards before he suddenly stopped, looked back and dropped to his knees.  By this time I was fully armed again.  I watched for a second and realizing his size and strength I hit him again to the finish. 

I paused for a second and wondered if he was already hit or had I just been given that gifted moment in time.  I waited until most of the other deer had moved on and my brother was out of the stand.  I was quickly unhooked and safely down the tree with my bow when we were able to compare stories and secure my deer.  My brother had the chance of the day and had the misfortune of has arrows down.  I had the opportunity to share in this experience with him from yards away on a spontaneous desire.  The tree saddle not only gave me that experience with him but also my first deer with my bow that I will treasure forever.  The experience was priceless!  I was glad that those who cared so much for my safety chose and recommended your product.  I can't say enough about how great the design is to have given me the flexibility and ease of use to make me a better archery hunter.  I find little reason to use any of the stands I have in the field when I can wear this light weight stand, only a couple pounds or so, where ever I chose to travel.

Call Sherry Green and order yours today at 866.444.HUNT (4868) or sherry@trophylineusa.com and tell her DW sent you. 


www.trophylineusa.com

Trophy Line™ Tree Saddles
Go where other stands can't and where major trophy opportunities wait with these time-tested tree saddles. Both weigh about 4 lbs. and easily stow in a pack or vehicle so you're always ready when hunting opportunities knock. The sueded leather of the Road Trips Saddle seat conforms to your body. Saddle up in cushioned comfort with the Team Realtree® Saddle featuring an ultraquiet, brushed, water-resistant shell in Realtree® AP HD™ camo with neoprene padding. The design helps retain heat for all-day, cold-weather hunts. Instructional DVD included.

Tags: Thank You Trophyline G5 & Quest Bows