Why I Use the Kong Duck for Saddle Hunting
In the event that you have already been looking into kong duck saddle hunting setups lately, a person probably realize that small gear tweaks create the biggest difference when you're hanging twenty feet upward a tree. For that longest time, I used to be a die-hard Prusik knot guy. It's cheap, it's lighting, and it works—mostly. But after the few seasons of fumbling using an icy knot while trying to adjust my tether with a singke hand, I knew We needed something much better. That's when We finally caved plus acquired the Kong Duck.
The particular Kong Duck will be one of these tiny pieces of ascending gear that wasn't even built for hunters, yet it's become a staple in the saddle local community. It's a mechanical rope clamp, and if you haven't tried one yet, it's basically the game-changer for exactly how you manage your tether and lineman's rope.
Precisely what is This Little Gadget?
At the core, the Kong Duck is the compact emergency ascender. It had been designed regarding mountaineering and save work, but it matches perfectly in to the planet of kong duck saddle hunting . It's made of lightweight aluminum, weighs next in order to nothing (about 70 grams), and will be designed to focus on ropes ranging from 8mm to 13mm.
The particular beauty of it really is in its simplicity. It offers a spring-loaded cam that enables the rope in order to slide through within one direction but locks down tight when tension is usually applied in the other. Unlike some other mechanical rope grabs that use "teeth" to bite straight into the rope, the Duck uses the smooth camming motion. It is a big offer because it won't chew up your expensive climb-rated rules with time.
Precisely why It Beats the Prusik Every Period
I'll be the first to admit that the Prusik knot is definitely reliable. It's literally simply a loop of cord. But let's talk about the truth of a cold November morning. Your hands are numb, you're wearing thick gloves, and you need to move your tether up the tree because you climb. The Prusik often "sets" so tight that will you have in order to use two fingers to break the strain and slide it.
Whenever I'm kong duck saddle hunting , I can adjust my slack with one hand. Because the cam will be so easy to adjust, I can simply pull the tail of the rope to tighten our link with the tree, or thumb the cam to let just a little slack away. Doing that with a friction knot while holding a bow or perhaps a system in the additional hand is the recipe for aggravation.
Improving Your Lineman's Belt
Most people begin using the Duck on the tether, but it's arguably even much better on the lineman's belt. When you're hiking a tree along with climbing sticks, you're constantly adjusting the length of that will belt to get around limbs or even to lean back again and set the next stick.
Using the Duck here makes the climb feel method more fluid. You are able to lean in, pull the rope through the Duck to tense up, and feel protected instantly. It requires the "fidget factor" out of the climb. Anything at all that enables you to quicker and quieter whilst you're ascending is a win within my book.
Let's Talk About the particular Noise
One of the biggest gripes people possess when they move to kong duck saddle hunting is the noise. Since it's a piece of metallic, it can clank against your carabiners or your platform in case you aren't careful. Silence is every thing when you're attempting to sneak into a bedding area at 4: thirty AM.
The fix is very easy, though. Many of us simply wrap the body of the Duck within some stealth remove or even a little bit of athletic tape. You simply have to make sure you aren't interfering with the particular movement of the cam or the opening where the carabiner clips in. When you dampen that metal-on-metal sound, it becomes as quiet as any knot you've ever used.
Is It Secure for Hunting?
Safety is the particular big question. The particular Kong Duck will be a certified rising device, which currently puts it ahead of some of the "tactical" gear you observe flying around online. Nevertheless, it's important in order to remember it's not a fall-arrest block. It's a positioner.
Within a kong duck saddle hunting scenario, you're using it to hold your weight while you slim against your saddle. It's plenty solid for that. The thing you should always do, though, is definitely tie a stopper knot in late your rope. When the cam were to somehow fail or if you didn't have it rigged right, that knot is your fail-safe. I've utilized mine for three seasons now, and it also hasn't slipped a single centimeter, even when the particular rope was iced over.
Choosing the Right Rope
Not every ropes are developed equal. If you're likely to run a Kong Duck, you want to make sure your rope diameter is a good match. Most saddle hunters are usually moving toward leaner, lighter ropes such as 8mm or 9mm diameters (think Sterling Canyon IV or even similar). The Duck handles these such as a champ.
If a person go too solid, the rope might be a bit "grabby" and won't glide as smoothly. If you go too thin (below 8mm), you're getting into area where the cam may not bite since reliably. I've discovered that a 9mm climbing-rated rope will be the sweet spot regarding a kong duck saddle hunting setup. It's lighting enough to pack in easily but beefy enough in order to feel solid whenever you're leaning out there for an attempt.
The Duck compared to. The Ropeman
If you've already been on the community forums, you've probably observed the debate: Kong Duck vs. Wild Country Ropeman. They will both do the particular same thing, but there's grounds many people prefer the Duck.
The particular Ropeman 1 includes a ribbed cam, as the Ropeman 2 has stainless steel teeth. The Ropeman 1 is excellent, but it's specifically made for larger diameter ropes. The Ropeman 2 works on thinner rules, but those tooth can be actually aggressive on your rope's sheath. The Kong Duck sits for the reason that perfect center ground—it works on those thinner 8mm ropes but utilizes a smooth cam that won't eliminate your gear. In my opinion, that's the choosing factor.
Useful Tips for the particular Field
In case you're making the switch in order to kong duck saddle hunting , below are a few things I've learned the hard way:
- Keep it clean: The cam relies on a spring. If you fall it in the particular mud or obtain it full associated with pine grit, give it a fast wash and a drop of dry lubricant. You want that will cam to click back instantly.
- Orient it correctly: It sounds stupid, but in the particular dark, it's easy to try to bond the rope the wrong way. The Duck has little icons engraved on the side to show you which way is "up. " The feel of it so you can perform it by contact.
- The Carabiner Matters: Use the round-stock carabiner in the event that you can. A few of the fancy H-profile carabiners have flat edges that can create the Duck sit down at a strange angle. A simple, round screw-gate carabiner allows the Duck to pivot freely.
Weight plus Packability
1 of the best things about a saddle setup is getting mobile. I don't want to bring a 20-pound climber on my back. The Kong Duck is so small it could live completely on the ropes. I just leave my own attached to the lineman's belt plus stuff the entire thing into a hip pouch on my saddle. It doesn't add any visible bulk, and it's one less thing to worry about when I'm packing up in the particular dark after a long hunt.
Final Thoughts on the particular Setup
With the end of the day, kong duck saddle hunting is regarding making your time within the tree more enjoyable. We spend sufficient time dealing with wind flow, cold, and stubborn deer; we shouldn't have to fight our own gear, too.
While this might seem just like a small investment to get a tiny piece associated with metal, the very first time you adapt your tether height perfectly with only a flick of your thumb, you'll obtain it. Much more the whole experience sense more "dialed in. " You're not only a guy hanging from the tree; you're a man with a system that works seamlessly. In case you're tired associated with messing with knot and need softer, more professional sensation setup, the Kong Duck certainly is the way to go.