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SaddlePalooza - Feb 16-19, 2018 - Official Thread
- Thread starter g2outdoors
- Start date
I don't know how I missed this detail, but please tell me we are ordering apparel with this logo. I'll pay extra.Greetings Saddle Fanatics! Get ready for SaddlePalooza 2018!
The official SaddleHunter.com hunt will take place February 16-19, 2018 (Presidents Day Weekend) on Fort Stewart (FS) Military Installation right outside Savannah, GA.
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
I am excited that New Tribe, Wild Edge, EZ Hunter (Sit&Drag), Stealth Outdoors, and Muddy Outdoors have partnered with SaddleHunter.com to sponsor this year's hunt. Everyone attending the event will have a chance to go home with a brand new 2018 COMPLETE AEROHUNTER KESTREL kit. We will also have other items from our sponsors in the raffle including Sit&Drags, Stealth Strip kits, Wild Edge Stepp Ladders, SaddleHunter.com SWAG, and other items.
HUNTING
Fort Stewart (FS) has over 250,000 acres open for hunting. Much of this is hardly touched by hunters. Approximately 90,000 acres is classified as wetlands. The Fish & Wildlife department also plants hundreds of acres of food plots for all types of game. You can hunt from the ground or from a your saddle. More info about hunting Fort Stewart
FISHING
If wild pigs aren't your thing, FS is home to one of the best Largemouth Bass fisheries in the country. Six of Georgia's 50 all-time biggest bass have come from FS. The Spring spawn generally begins in late February. When the big females are on their bed, anglers have a legitimate chance at landing a double digit bass. If bass fishing doesn’t wet your whistle, the low country around Savannah is a world-class saltwater destination. Hopeful anglers travel here every year to escape cold Winters elsewhere and try their hand at inshore fishing for trout, redfish, and flounder. Mild temps in February can lead to some outstanding angling. I have relationships with guides that can put you on the fish.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We will be staying at Holbrook Pond Campground. Tents, hammocks or RVs are all ok. There are hot showers and bathroom facilities, laundry, grills, and large pavilions available. If you hunt with a shotgun or bow, excellent hunting exists literally just beyond the campground. No driving necessary. If hunting with a rifle, you can be in the pigs within a 5 minute drive, or as much as a 45 minutes to get to the edges of the installation. Map to the Campground.
FOOD
Dinners will be provided each night (Friday-Sunday), as well as lunch on Saturday. I'll plan out the meals and hire a camp cook for dinner. Part of the hunt fee covers these meals, but there's nothing worse than coming back from a long day of slogging through the swamp and still having to cook dinner. You will be responsible for breakfast and lunch. There are grocery stores and restaurants within 15 minutes of camp.
SADDLE GEAR DEMO
We will do a Saddle Gear demo on Saturday. The goal is to have every piece of saddle related equipment (different saddles, climbing aids, rappelling gear, safety equipment, etc.) available for all hunters. Lunch will be provided on this day so we can all focus on the Saddle Demo.
GEAR
Knee high rubber boots (hip waders would work as well) are a necessity. I also suggest a Thermacell or lots of bug spray - biting insects can be terrible even in Winter if we have warm weather. Hunter Orange is required.
Kayak/Canoe/Jon Boat - Hunting the rivers is an excellent method to get on the pigs. If you don't have a small boat, they can be rented from Fort Stewart for a small fee.
Saddle Setups - we will spend some time going over different saddle styles and setups. Please bring your gear.
.22 WMR - I highly recommend a .22 MAG or similar high powered RIM FIRE rifle. It is possible that much of the hunting land will be closed to centerfire rifles. The .22 MAG will ensure access to thousands of acres of small game areas.
COST
GA Hunting License: $20 for a three day hunting/fishing combo. You can kill small game, pigs, and fish with this license.
Fort Stewart Permit: $15 per day
Hunt Cost: $75-$100 - Keep in mind this will include campground/lodging fees, meals and incidentals (plates, cups, napkins, drinks, etc.)
+this is not a for-profit hunt. Any "profits" will go into reducing the costs for future hunts, or towards a charitable donation to a non-profit.
There will also be a raffle. Everyone attending the hunt will receive pne free raffle ticket. Additional Tickets will be $1 each, $5 for 6, or $20 for 30. All of our sponsors have provided the raffle gear for this hunt. Proceeds will go towards reducing the cost of the event for every hunter. Neither myself nor SaddleHunter.com will make any profits from this event.
HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION CARD
This is non-negotiable. FS requires a hard copy to be on your person at all times. If you don’t have a hard copy, you’ll need to get one from your state. Military installations aren't known for for flexible regulations.
3 DAY GEORGIA HUNTING LICENSE - $20
https://www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/
This license includes fishing privileges. There is a LOT of good fishing in the area. You may even want to pack a small ultralight rod in your pack in case the pigs don’t seem to be moving, or you take a lunch break on the river.
FORT STEWART RECREATION PASS - $15 per day
https://ftstewart.isportsman.net/
The FS passes must be purchased online and printed out.
FORT STEWART FIREARMS REGISTRATION (Free)
All weapons (excluding archery equipment) must be registered with Fort Stewart. No exceptions. Weapons registration must be done 2-3 weeks ahead of time. I will provide the necessary information closer to the hunt. Before you can hunt, you must pick up your pass in person during normal business hours from the security office. If you do not have a military/DOD ID, you will need to be escorted to the office by myself or someone with a military ID. This won’t be an issue as I’ll be available during the entire hunt to make sure you are taken care of.
Legal Weapons: Any center-fire, rim-fire rifle, or pistol with .22-cal or larger expanding bullets, and any shotgun 20 gauge or larger loaded with slugs, or any muzzle-loading rifle (scopes allowed). Use of buckshot is prohibited. Archery gear is permitted.
You can use a borrowed weapon provided it has been properly registered and the user has the appropriate paperwork.
HUNT PROCEDURES
Daily check in/out via iSportsman (an online login management tool) is required. It’s simple to use and very user friendly.
https://ftstewart.isportsman.net/
No baiting is allowed on FS even though it is allowed by State Law.
When you get a pig down, FS has excellent facilities with power and water to hang and clean the animal.
Explore the FS Hunting website and the regulations. This will answer 99% of your questions.
More info about hunting Fort Stewart
Here are the regulations for hunting on Fort Stewart
TRAVEL
You should fly into the Savannah airport. I can help arrange transportation to/from the airport if you don’t want to rent a car. However, if you don’t rent a car you will be at the mercy of hunting with others. If driving, navigate to Holbrook Pond, Fort Stewart, GA.
MAP
Download this map to be used on the hunt.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0jOuKSEcj4rU0g5RUFZVDRRb1k
You’ll also need to download a free app (iPhone or Android) on your phone called “Avenza Maps”.
Cell service is very spotty on FS. With this map, you’ll always know where you are since it works in airplane mode.
MISCELLANEOUS
If you have a suggestion, or a contact for sponsorship, please PM me. Also, I’ll need some help during the hunt. Specifically, I need someone to take ownership of the Saddle Gear Demo on Saturday, and possibly some of the camp chores. If you are willing to help, or would like to donate towards the raffle, please send me a PM.
I know this is a lot of information, but if you've read this far - I'll more than likely see you at SaddlePalooza!
FINALLY - thanks to @d_rek for the incredible SitDrag inspired SaddlePalooza logo. If you didn't know he's an incredible artist. Check out his work.
ATTENDEES
@redsquirrel
@g2outdoors +1
@ImThere
@Erniepower
@EricS+1
@Autumnrider
@Seals72
@flinginairos +2
@d_rek +2
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Yup. Everyone that attends the hunt will receive a shirt as part of hunt fee. @d_rek is designing the final shirt. If anyone would like other items, we could make those available as well. That could help reduce the cost of the hunt even further.
Sent from my Galaxy S8.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
^^ @Ernie, it included a shirt this year I cannot speak to next year.
@G2 are you going to do a google sheet this year to sign up?
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@G2 are you going to do a google sheet this year to sign up?
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ImThere
Well-Known Member
G2 replied while I was typing lol talk about being on top of things
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah that's a good idea. That really helped me last year having everyone's phone number and contact info. Plus I'll need it for shirt sizes.
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donnieballgame
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 1,872
This is really getting me excited! Spent a few minutes today talking with my brother about how to sell this to the wives lol! I am really hoping that "hunting trip with my brother" puts it in the auto-approve category!
G2: What kind of vehicle access for the base? I've been poking around the website, even called, the guy who hunts isn't there. Should I bring my 4x4? 4 wheeler?
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G2: What kind of vehicle access for the base? I've been poking around the website, even called, the guy who hunts isn't there. Should I bring my 4x4? 4 wheeler?
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No-go on the 4 wheeler, but a 4x4 is a good option. If we don't get rain before the hunt, the roads will be fine. However, if we have a wet jan/Feb, a 4wheel drive will be helpful.
Vehicle access is very good, but roads back be really bad if we have wet weather.
My brother is coming as well!
Sent from my Galaxy S8.
Vehicle access is very good, but roads back be really bad if we have wet weather.
My brother is coming as well!
Sent from my Galaxy S8.
Plan a big valentines date the weekend before. It's the perfect opportunity to convince the wife!
Sent from my Galaxy S8.
Seals72
Active Member
Doesn't bother me one bit. Bring her!
She'll be at camp alone most of the time if she doesn't hunt. But maybe that's not a bad thing?
There is also a lot of cool stuff to do in Savannah which is just 40 minutes on the interstate from camp.
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Seals72
Active Member
She loves to hunt! Not going to get her in a saddle but hey hunting is hunting
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- Joined
- Nov 27, 2014
- Messages
- 3,406
I would be proud to bring my wife hunting but there is no way she's ever gonna find the joy in it. She's too afraid of bugs.
donnieballgame
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 1,872
Talked to the boss last night, think I'm good to go, not sure about my brother and I've mentioned it to a few friends, we'll see. I got lucky that a family wedding coming up isn't that weekend, whew!
I'm in the Northern VA area, we could probably meet up and carpool on down. If my brother and friends all bail on me it would be nice to have someone to chat with on the drive down!
I'm in the Northern VA area, we could probably meet up and carpool on down. If my brother and friends all bail on me it would be nice to have someone to chat with on the drive down!
Seals72
Active Member
I guess I'm lucky. My wife loves to hunt and when I told her I would need a 22 mag because I didn't own one for this she went out bought and surprise me with one. We love things like this. Do they have camper spots or is it tent only?
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