Hunting Saddle Modifications - DIY 

The fact that you made a recommendation based on how comfortable it is to rest your head on the predator rope when you nap lets me know that you spend quality time in your saddle. That is exactly the type of inside info we need.

Great info on saddles! As a novice deer hunter it's great information on a piece of kit and style of hunting I knew nothing about.

Very interested in the prusik on the bridge as well. Thank you for all of the videos as they are helping me along the way as I get into saddle hunting.

Love the hitch on the bridge. Innovative!

Wow the bridge idea was a great mod. It can also help with trying to figure what size bridge works best for the person using it

pretty slick to have a detachable bridge... you can use that as a secondary lineman's belt when getting over limbs... i like it!

I agree that the Samson Predator rope works great with the prusik loops that the backband clips into. I had 2 remove mine since I will be using my Kestrel Flex 4 work @ home. Might order a New Tribe saddle if I feel I'm putting too much wear & tear on the Flex. Thanks again 4 your ideas & content .

I archived your video 4 later viewing since I just got my new Predator Flex saddle yesterday that I ordered December 1st. I made a tube that u can carry a few paracord presets on. A nice product I picked up is by Nite Ize. Reusable rubber gear ties. I need more of these since they work great & they come in a neutral tan color. Wesspur had a January special promo where they gave u a free splice. I agree that it is better 2 have them splice the Samson Predator line. I bought 150' & they spliced both ends so I can cut it in 2. 1 will be 4 hunting & the other 4 home arborist work. I just fixed a bunch of fence last year @ this time & I have dead oaks I have 2 trim from up in the tree 2 preserve this fence on the perimeter of the property. It is a work in progress as far as my lines & what I will like 2 use on my new Kestrel. I'll keep u posted.

nice set up look into a Purcell prussic for the adjustable teather I'm new to bow hunting but have been rock climbing for years would be a nice clean adjustable teather also look into the klemheist for friction hitches i prefer it to the prussic bc it tends not to have that blinding problem that the prussic has that me 2cents nice video tho!

Dude, your videos are awesome, thanks man

I have been using a camo rope with a prussic knot 2 clip into a waist belt 4 years on my fixed stands & am planning on adding a saddle 2 my arsenal this year. I have 2 blocks that I put up in the spring in key spots so all I have 2 do is clip the stand into it but the stand is light but large & I think I could eliminate the stand altogether with the saddle

Great information and video. Will save me a lot of time. Thanks.

I like that u added the prussic on the Predator rope & I would be looking into that with my setup 4sure

Good video. You think a lot, try a lot, and share a lot. Thanks.

Can show us how to tie the Prussia and hitch knot onto your bridge loop?

I used my ropeman (2) for the first time today!! OMG never again will I use a prussic... the ropeman on my tether worked so well !! I have another on the way along with 150ft of Poison Ivy 24strand double braided rope!! Can't wait!! I also have a sit-drag on the way, however my homemade saddle worked so well today (someone stole my hang on stand so I stood on top of my top stick( yeah the thief left the sticks🙄) after I relocated to another area( who knows what a thief may do to the old area...) and although I saw no deer I got 5hrs in my new saddle!!! Took a while to trust it at 25ft high and first couple hrs I left linemans belt on as backup... but after I felt like I trust my diy saddle I stowed my lineman belt and got comfy!! The prussic on the bridge sounds like a foot fit as the one on my belt fought me from bottom to top and back down(that's what the second ascender is for) and my tied on bridge seemed too short, great thinking thanks!!! Can't wait for rope to come and I can ditch the sticks and rope up and use small platform!! I also ordered a set of wild edge steps after seeing them on your vid..!! Thanks again!! I am an EX treestand user/carrier into woods and out again(80lbs stand and sticks/1000ft vertical/mile hike=sore body... 6lbs of steps and a couple pounds of rope and saddle, heck yeah I'm sold!!! Thanks brother.. you, G2outdoors and NYSaddle hunters have changed my life!!

Great info buddy!

I understand how to attach a dump pouch to a saddle using the Molle system (assuming they both have the correct parts of the Molle system). I did not understand what you were saying about using the zip ties to connect dump pouches.

Great video man. Thank you

Thanks for your video! Couple questions... what size spliced eye do you think would be sufficient? How long of predator rope with the spliced eye would be sufficient? Thanks again

Go to hobby lobby and buy Tye Dye powder....you can easily dye your bright green rope a more drab color!

Love watching your videos! Just bought my first saddle, the mantis, and can't wait to get it. My question is, for a first timer, is the amsteel bridge the mantis comes with going to be the right length? I see in many videos that a lot of people prefer a bridge that is adjustable for comfort.... Or is comfort more attributed to the tether length? My last question is how long is your typical lineman's rope? Thanks much!

What would cause your bridge length to change? Or do you only use the adjustable bridge for easier transport and an additional safety rope for getting around limbs?

In your opinion which is more comfortable the kestrel or the kite saddle ??

Can you do a detailed video of how you did the Bridge rope mod, specifically the prussick end.

I just ordered an XOP Renegade saddle because it is so cheap ($99 for saddle and everything) and I have family members who want to hunt with me from saddles this season, so I/we needed another saddle. Unfortunately, the Renegade does not have any Molle loops on its belt, so I don't know how I am going to attach a dump pouch on that saddle. (I am hoping one of you DIY youtubes will give me the answer. ) I am considering learning how to manually sew so that I can add Molle loops to the saddle I have ordered. Or, the zip tie attachment solution you mentioned might help me, but I don't really understand how they help you. Any suggestions you have are appreciated.

Hey couple questions. 1 is the Prusik knot rope smaller than the main line rope? It looks like it probably is with it being a different color. 2. How did you attach the main line rope to the bridge loops?

Great info!

What knot did you use to create the loop connecting the bridge to the saddle on your Right side?

Nice idea with the friction hitch on the bridge, what style hitch did you use and what knot to attach it to the Kestral?

Did you make your own friction hitched did you take it off an old summit rope?

Have you used the Mantis Saddle? If so which do you like better? I am still deciding if i should give saddle hunting a try.

have you done any modification to reduce hip pinch with this with a bar that goes across the bridge to widen it out?

Great info

You have a very well sorted out system. Are you at all concerned about creating a human odor "scent wick" by draping your bridge and safety tether around your neck? Do you treat the lines as often as you do your clothes? Do you have any recommendations for keeping the Kestral as scent free as possible?

Why did you choose the ropeman 2 for the linemans belt vs the use of the ropeman 1 for the tether? Thanks.

Do you consider this saddle any more comfortable than the original Tree Saddle?

What knots did you use to tie your bridge to your saddle. I Prussic cord is 3 wraps. It’s hard too tell what the other two are.

Good video. How about a "how to" on how you made the bridge mod, for us knot tying noobs.

What did you tie for the free end that is tied into the saddle? Found at 3:28. Thanks for the info

Thank you

I have a few questions. How did this work for you this year ? Did you stay with this modification with the friction hitch? I just got a kestrel and the bridge is long , so for now I just reduced the size of the figure 8 knot. I have a few things I'm looking to do and Id like to order a predator rope spliced on one end and order camo prusik from Everson which will eliminate the knot on the bridge and the carabiner. Then add the friction hitch like you did here ,Im really not worried about the removable bridge. Im just interested in knowing how this worked out for you this year.

any reason why your linemans belt couldn't become your bridge at hunting height?

How long do you make your tree tether?

How many mm is the rope for the friction hitch?

What is the name of the saddle or saddle seat??

Subscribed!

Just watched the video on the SitDrag Looked like a good economic alternative to the more expensive saddle. Why did you switch? Or do you still use the sitDrag?

Can you use the Ropeman 1 with the 8mm cord ? I have 2 of 1st gen models and was wondering if they would work in the application ?

Any idea when the mesh will be available for purchase? Thanks Tom. Cheers 👍

Way too much money to SADDLE Hunt.