Why I Use the Kong Duck for Saddle Hunting
When you have been looking at kong duck saddle hunting setups lately, a person probably realize that little gear tweaks create the biggest difference when you're dangling twenty feet up a tree. For that longest time, I had been a die-hard Prusik knot guy. It's cheap, it's lighting, and it works—mostly. But after a few seasons associated with fumbling with an iced knot while trying to adjust the tether with a singke hand, I knew We needed something better. That's when I actually finally caved and indexed the Kong Duck.
The particular Kong Duck is one of these tiny pieces of ascending gear that wasn't even built with regard to hunters, yet it's become a staple within the saddle neighborhood. It's a mechanical rope clamp, plus if you haven't tried one yet, it's basically the game-changer for exactly how you manage your own tether and lineman's rope.
What Exactly Is This Little Device?
At the core, the Kong Duck is a compact emergency ascender. It had been designed regarding mountaineering and rescue work, but it fits perfectly in to the planet of kong duck saddle hunting . It's made of aluminum, weighs next to nothing (about 70 grams), and will be designed to work on ropes ranging through 8mm to 13mm.
The particular beauty of it really is in its simpleness. It offers a spring-loaded cam that enables the rope in order to slide through within one direction but locks down small when tension is applied in the other. Unlike a few other mechanical rope grabs apply "teeth" to bite in to the rope, the Duck uses a smooth camming motion. It is a big offer because it won't chew up your own expensive climb-rated rules as time passes.
Why It Beats a Prusik Every Time
I'll become the first in order to admit that the Prusik knot is reliable. It's literally just a loop of cord. But let's discuss the truth of a cold November morning. Your hands are numb, you're wearing thick gloves, plus you need in order to move your tether in the tree because you climb. A Prusik often "sets" so tight that you have in order to use two fingers to break the tension and slide this.
When I'm kong duck saddle hunting , I could adjust my slack with one hand. Because the cam is definitely so simple to manipulate, I can just pull the end of the string to tighten my connection to the shrub, or thumb the cam to let just a little slack out there. Doing that with a friction knot while holding a bow or perhaps a system in the additional hand is a recipe for stress.
Improving Your own Lineman's Belt
Most people start using the Duck on the tether, but it's arguably even much better on the lineman's belt. When you're rising a tree with climbing sticks, you're constantly adjusting the particular length of that belt to obtain around limbs or even to lean back and set your next stick.
Using the Duck here makes the climb feel way more fluid. You are able to lean in, draw the rope with the Duck to tighten up, and feel secure instantly. It takes the "fidget factor" out from the climb. Something that makes you faster and quieter while you're ascending is usually a win in my book.
Let's Talk About the particular Noise
One of the biggest gripes people have got when they change to kong duck saddle hunting is the sound. Since it's the piece of steel, it can clank against your carabiners or your platform if you aren't careful. Silence is every thing when you're trying to sneak straight into a bedding region at 4: 30 AM.
The particular fix is pretty easy, though. Most of us just wrap the entire body of the Duck within some stealth strip or even a bit of athletic tape. You simply have to create sure you aren't interfering with the particular movement of the particular cam or maybe the opening where the carabiner clips in. As soon as you dampen that metal-on-metal sound, it will become as quiet because any knot you've ever used.
Is It Secure for Hunting?
Safety is the particular big question. The Kong Duck is definitely a certified ascending device, which currently puts it ahead of a few of the "tactical" gear you see flying around online. Nevertheless, it's important to remember it's not a fall-arrest wedge. It's a positioner.
In a kong duck saddle hunting scenario, you're utilizing it to hold your weight as you lean against your saddle. It's plenty solid for that. The one thing you should constantly do, though, will be tie a stopper knot in late your rope. When the camera were to somehow fail or in case you didn't have it rigged right, that will knot is your fail-safe. I've utilized mine for 3 months now, and it hasn't slipped just one centimeter, even when the rope was iced over.
Selecting the most appropriate Rope
Not every ropes are made equal. If you're going to run the Kong Duck, a person want to create sure your string diameter is a good match. Many saddle hunters are moving toward leaner, lighter ropes such as 8mm or 9mm diameters (think Sterling Canyon IV or even similar). The Duck handles these like a champ.
If a person go too thick, the rope may be a little "grabby" and won't slide as smoothly. If you go too thin (below 8mm), you're getting into territory in which the cam may not bite as reliably. I've found that a 9mm climbing-rated rope could be the sweet spot regarding a kong duck saddle hunting setup. It's gentle enough to package in easily yet beefy enough in order to feel solid when you're leaning away for a shot.
The Duck versus. The Ropeman
If you've already been on the discussion boards, you've probably noticed the debate: Kong Duck vs. Crazy Country Ropeman. They will both do the particular same task, but there's grounds many individuals prefer the Duck.
The Ropeman 1 includes a ribbed cam, while the Ropeman 2 has stainless steel tooth. The Ropeman one is great, but it's specifically designed for bigger diameter ropes. The Ropeman 2 functions on thinner rules, but those the teeth can be actually aggressive on your rope's sheath. The particular Kong Duck rests for the reason that perfect center ground—it works upon those thinner 8mm ropes but uses a smooth camera that won't eliminate your gear. To me, that's the deciding factor.
Useful Tips for the Field
When you're making the switch to kong duck saddle hunting , here are a few things I've learned the particular hard way:
- Keep this clean: The cam relies on a springtime. If you drop it in the particular mud or get it full of pine grit, give it a quick rinse and a fall of dry lube. You want that will cam to snap back instantly.
- Orient this correctly: It sounds ridiculous, but in the particular dark, it's easy to try to thread the rope the particular wrong way. The particular Duck has small icons engraved on the side to demonstrate you which way is "up. " Find out feel of it so that you can do it by touch.
- The particular Carabiner Matters: Use a round-stock carabiner when you can. Some of the fancy H-profile carabiners have flat edges that can make the Duck sit at a strange angle. A simple, round screw-gate carabiner allows the Duck to pivot freely.
Weight plus Packability
One of the best reasons for a saddle setup is becoming mobile. I don't want to have a 20-pound climber on my back. The Kong Duck is so little it can live completely in your ropes. I just leave mine attached to our lineman's belt plus stuff the entire thing into a cool pouch on our saddle. It doesn't add any visible bulk, and it's one less point to worry around when I'm packaging up in the particular dark after the long hunt.
Final Thoughts on the particular Setup
With the end associated with the day, kong duck saddle hunting is regarding making your time and energy in the tree more fun. We spend sufficient time dealing with wind, cold, and persistent deer; we shouldn't have to fight our own gear, too.
While this might seem just like a small investment for a tiny piece of metal, the initial time you change your tether height perfectly with just a flick of your own thumb, you'll get it. Much more the particular whole experience experience more "dialed in. " You're not only a guy hanging from a tree; you're a guy with a system that works seamlessly. In the event that you're tired associated with messing with knots and need softer, more professional feeling setup, the Kong Duck is definitely the method to go.