How to SRT climb for saddle hunters.

Today we are joined by Brandon Taylor to go over a step by step tutorial on how he SRT climbs for saddle hunting.
SRT - Single Rope Technique is one of the safest ways to climb a tree for saddle hunting and may enable you to hunt from trees you otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
While initially it may seem complicated, if you are willing to learn, SRT climbing may be the ticket to harvesting the buck of a lifetime this fall.
For all your saddle hunting needs go to www.canadiansaddlehunter.com
**Disclaimer**
We are not professionals. This video is for demonstration purposes only.
Always inspect your gear before you leave the ground.
Climbing trees in inherently dangerous. Climb at your own risk.
Always do your due diligence and don’t try anything you do not feel comfortable/capable of attempting.

[@swamplife2413]

awesome video ! thanks for this, it was definitely helpful.. im looking forward to trying this method this season.

[@canadiansaddlehunter3445]

@@swamplife2413 thanks! Let me know how it goes

[@warrenhunts]

Good video, that guy has his climbing system dialed.

[@brandont7407]

Thanks. What I didn't get into was how streamline I try to keep everything. Whenever possible I have multiple uses for things. Example my foot loop is actually my bow/gear hangings system. It's a modified HYS strap that I detach from my hand ascender when at hunting height and my tether doubles as my linesman belt if needed. I don't want to have to carry more than I need to but still have backups for critical components of something was to get dropped.

[@canadiansaddlehunter3445]

Thanks! Yes, he really does. How do you usually climb?

[@chadgoebel7476]

Great Video, not sure if I missed it but what length of rope are you using?

[@canadiansaddlehunter3445]

@@chadgoebel7476 Brandon recommends 80ft. It can be done with as short as 40, but if you want to base anchor, longer is preferred.

[@brandont7407]

@@chadgoebel7476 yes depending on how high you want to hunt will dictate how much rope you need. I like the full 80' because it allows me to get as high as I want depending on situation and sometimes the branch it crotch I want to hang from is alot higher up than my hunting height. The rope I use is super light so adding the extra is still less weight than a set of sticks. Incase your wondering my rope is Yale Woodland. If you want to use shorter rope check out the guys at New York Saddle Hunter they do a Half line system that looks like it works well but as I stated sometimes I have to throw a fresh set and don't have a preset. With the half line you are limited to the trees you have already preset. Plus I prefer to base anchor whenever possible cause I'm doing all my connections at ground level and I can make sure my notch quickie is oriented properly to make it as safe as possible. But as I stated the notch is not required for a canopy anchor

[@RedheadZ23]

can you show the smoothness and how loud the hand ascender your using is. its hard to tell.. all the other ones are louder and theres not many videos on the one your using... also what if im using less rope aka 40ft and im leaving paracord pull lines in the tree. can you show how repulling those back up after coming down the tree especially if i girth hitched my main rope to the top so i was able to use less rope.

[@canadiansaddlehunter3445]

Good question. I'll try to have Brandon back out and we can do that. As far as the paracord goes. Don't undo the loop, but girth hitch your climbing rope with your paracord and pull it over/around and then undo your hitches to free your rope before you climb. Hopefully that made sense and you can picture what I'm saying until we do another video. @nysaddlehunter has a number of videos as well which may be helpful.

[@brandont7407]

@@RedheadZ23 hey If you can send me a PM or your email address I could do a short video and send it to you to show the hand ascender more if you want. As for canopy anchoring with a shorter rope with a preset I would recommend checking out the boys at New York Saddle Hunter they do a great job explaining it with a shorter main line and paracord presets. That's pretty much the only way they do things. You would be interested in there half line system. I prefer the full 80' so I can use the paracord loop to pull my line and the tail end of my climbing line is what I use to retrieve my canopy anchor. With the half line system you need to do a little more prep. Please check those guys out they have some great information

[@RedheadZ23]

@@brandont7407 where can I email you because there's no pm on here

[@LIFEONTHELINE-xn8gs]

I would be at hunting height before you started climbing.

[@canadiansaddlehunter3445]

Which method do you find works best for you?

[@LIFEONTHELINE-xn8gs]

@@canadiansaddlehunter3445 So glad you asked kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4nQpJyPbMp1n68

[@brandont7407]

@@LIFEONTHELINE-xn8gs this video is a very slow not real world example. Most times I hunt 25' plus and if we have a preset we can be up to hunting height in 5-8mins. I just watched your video and for me I don't like the idea of needing a pole or being on a linesman belt while making the tether advance. For me it too much time on a system that if my stick slips I'm smashing my face on a tree. With SRT I'm on a tight line the whole way up. Also that method is fine on trees that have no branches but around here I would get 10' up and not be able to advance higher with all the branches. Not knocking your system but like SRT it won't work for all trees but I feel SRT will work for alot more than any other method that's why it's used in the arbour world. It allows for most trees and safer at the end of the day. But you do you! Just wanted to show people an alternative even if it's not the "fastest" it's hard to argue it's not a safer way to climb.

[@LIFEONTHELINE-xn8gs]

@@brandont7407 I meant no offence. I just hate the throw bag routine. I can be at 25ft. in 5-8 min without a preset. I am S.R.T. climbing too. I just push my rope up ahead of me, with a mechanical advantage. Don't get me wrong, I love just going straight up a rope, nothing is easier. But I could go on and on about not needing a throw bag and hunting over fresh sign. I am on a tight line the entire climb. When I advance my rope in the tree, I lanyard on just like an arborist. I never depend on what my feet are on. The stick with no teeth is proof of that. You don't even have to use a stick or a linesman. Just attach another tether to you and the tree when advancing the line. Limbs are no problem at all. I S.R.T. like you for over 12 years. I used climbers before that, never sticks! This will be my 3rd season S.M.A.R.T. climbing. That's Stix Mechanical Advantage Rope Technique. I gave your way a try, try mine. What have you got lose other than the "FUN" of throwing a bag. Good luck this season. God Bless.