The Waldrop PacSeat

The Waldrop PacSeat was born out of a desire of a bowhunter to be able to hunt on the ground, with a bow, in complete comfort and at the same time be totally effective on game. Tall order – you’re not kidding, especially with bow and arrow. It has been a labor of love for almost ten years, the most enjoyable ten years of bow hunting I have ever experienced.

I was a typical deer hunter with usually eight to ten portable tree stands hung high and low, here and there, over yonder and just down the road. I became what I call a prisoner to my stands and more precisely to their location and the wind. Plus, I was getting older and not wiser and forgetting where I was hanging the darn things. I spent a lot of time hanging stands, clearing lanes, all the things we do including “stinkin up” the woods. A lot of time, I thought, could be better spent actually hunting. I was a tree climbing fool for a lot of years – never dreaming there was another way to do it. I finally got tired of it all, mainly not being able to hunt particular stands because of the wind. I needed to be freed some kind of way. That way turned out to be the birth of the PacSeat. It has enabled me to hunt almost anywhere I choose, at anytime I choose, and be extremely effective, without having to hang a tree stand.

My typical method of hunting these last few years has been with my PacSeat and modified ghillie suit, setting up where possible trying to use available cover and almost always being right with the wind – as right as one can be. You, of course, don’t have to run out and buy a ghillie suit, but it sure can lead to a lot of close encounters. Ground blinds have become a passion for me, and they don’t have to be elaborate. For several years it seemed like I lived in big blow downs created when hurricane Opal hit the Gulf Coast and headed northeast through Columbus, Ga. They have to be the best cover in the entire world. One morning a raccoon crawled up on the three foot trunk of this big lowdown. As I watched from my location it walked down the trunk and sniffed the neck of my petrified wife. She literally felt the coon’s breath on her neck. Then he came around and almost got in her lap. What was so miraculous was she never moved a muscle. I haven’t been able to kiss her on the neck since!!

There are two ways that you will sit in the PacSeat. One is by simply leaning the PacSeat against your favorite tree and the other is to utilize the rear leg whereby it stands on its own. There are only four adjustments that can be made on the PacSeat. The most important being the angle at which you place it on the tree. Experiment with it at home up against a wall, or door, or any vertical surface. The distance from the wall out to the feet of the seat should be about sixteen inches to twenty inches for normal sitting. Take it out to a tree in your yard and play with it. FOR YOUR COMPLETE ENJOYMENT BE SURE TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE ANGLE OF THE PACSEAT AGAINST THE TREE. Bring the legs closer to the tree if you want to sit more erect – move the legs out further away from the tree to lay back more and even stretch your legs completely out. It is designed so that you are somewhat reclined. This position keeps you from having to hold the trunk of your body up. This alone will allow you to sit several hours in comfort. You will be amazed at how rested you will be at the end of your “sit”.

The second adjustment is the nylon strap that secures the rear leg while sitting. Tighten the strap to sit more erect and loosen it to lean back more.

The third adjustment is the length of the actual seat. I have preset the length for maximum comfort. If you want to sit a little more upright you can tighten the seat cord to pull the seat bar up and to the rear. You’re simply shortening the actual seat. I personally have not had to do much adjustment in this way. You will probably need to adjust the seat length after a while due to the stretching of the material. This is normal.

The fourth adjustment is the height that the PacSeat rides on your back. The PacSeat can be moved up or down by changing the position of the pins that are located in the seat bar. There are five holes to choose from. I have preset this for a height of approximately 5 ft. 10 ins.

While sitting, try leaning forward and let the seat “come with you”. With a little experience you will be able to effectively shoot your gun or bow for approximately one hundred eighty degrees out in front and to the sides. If you’re right handed, the right side will be the one you’ll need to work on the most. You can actually lean forward tucking either knee up under you and come completely off the seat pivoting to the right or left in order to get the shot. Of course, all this depends on what critter you’re hunting. I rely quite heavily on my hearing and I start trying to get positioned as soon as I reasonably can. With practice you can do it too.

You may find that the actual seat seems low to the ground. Actually, I have raised it over the years. It’s about as high as it can be without having the seat bar dig into the backs of your legs. One reason for the height of the seat is so the bottom limb of the bow hunter’s bow will not hit the ground. I shoot a longbow and have no problems with this. With experience you’ll find that the height you are sitting is suitable for good camouflage. This height is usually suitable for most surrounding brush that we all hunt in and around. If you sit any higher, similar to sitting on a bucket or dove stool, for example, you will feel more “exposed”. This will become more apparent as time goes by.

The other aspect of the PacSeat is that it is a great pack frame. I hope to have a pack system for it in the near future. It is designed to carry any amount of weight that you desire. For you western hunters, it will hold and pack out an elk quarter easily. Depends on how big a fell’a you are. Over the years I have had many different types of packs attached to the frame. I have used day packs, fanny packs, lumbar packs, camelbacks, you name it, and I’ve used it. I’m a “tinkerer” and have used all kinds of attachment methods including rope, bungies, bolts, rivets, plastic ties, and such. The aluminum is of high quality and has a wall thickness of .058. Feel free to drill holes in the frame if you need to attach different items. A one quarter inch hole similar to the ones already drilled in it is the largest hole I would drill. One nifty way to attach different items is by using three sixteenths aluminum rivets. They only require a three sixteenths inch hole and they are available at any hardware store.

Some Tips For Successful Use:

• I always use the hip belt of the PacSeat primarily because I don’t wish to have my shoulders in a bind. The more you use the hip belt, the more you will enjoy the PacSeat experience. In talking with backpacking people, you will learn that with an external frame pack the majority of the weight is carried on your hips. The shoulder straps serve to keep the pack close to your back for balance. This greatly improves your stability. If you attach, let’s say a ten to twenty pound day pack on your PacSeat and use the hip belt around your waist, you will barely know it’s there.

• Most hunters make very good use of their camouflage clothing – this being the case - when ground hunting, it is far more important to have large solid cover in back of you rather than in front. A ground blind hunter needs to be able to swing his gun or bow out in front of him and the large solid cover behind helps to conceal his movement.

• Try to set up so that you can casually turn your head one hundred eighty degrees. Again, have good cover behind you. If you are backed up to a blow down, for example, in your PacSeat and your head is above the downed trunk, place some logs or thick brush on top of the trunk behind your head. It will make a huge difference when turning your head.

• When blind hunting always “kick out” the litter or debris beneath your feet before you settle in. It’s so easy at times to get in a hurry, especially when turkey hunting, and not do this. Do it every time without fail.

• Do whatever you can to keep direct sunlight off of you. Movement in direct sunlight is magnified so much more as compared to movement in the shade.

• Try your best to set up with your “best side” toward the anticipated target, much the same way as you would in a tree stand.

• If you are a bow hunter and are contemplating using a ghillie suit, try to pick out the suit that has long strips of material, as this is what breaks up your outline. Modify it by cutting the sleeves off at about the top of your shoulder, and then slit the arm holes down to the waist, so that you can move your arms in and out of the suit. Then slit the back, from the hem, all the way up to the waist, so when you sit the suit will fall down to the ground helping you to blend in. Do these things and you have created a cape rather than a cumbersome coat.

• At times you will be setting up in soft ground and the legs will sink down making the seat feel too low. An inexpensive way to address this is to get a couple of tennis balls and cut about a one inch hole in them, then cut four small slits around the hole and “pop” them over the rubber cups. It works beautifully. I never take mine off.

• The lower horizontal bar on the main frame is located where it is so that you can straddle tree roots that may occur between the two legs of the PacSeat. This occurs often and when it does be sure to fold the rear leg 180 degrees all the way up to the top of the main frame before leaning the PacaSeat against the tree.

• Keep the pivot point of the seat bar oiled to prevent squeaking. Also, I have applied a sticky wax to the frame and seat bar that is in contact with the seat and back material. This is to prevent any “popping” noise associated with the material as it is stretched around the aluminum tubing.

• The material that I chose for the back and seat is an outdoor furniture grade. It was chosen to keep you cool and to cut down on perspiration. If it gets “nasty” just give it a good washing.

• You may want to experiment with tying the PacSeat to the tree using a small rope or cord tied to the top center of the PacSeat, to prevent it from coming away from the tree. I have done this in the past when wanting to sit more erect. As a rule, I personally, don’t feel it necessary to do this. However, sometimes it may help when you want to come off the seat while turning left or right.

Good Hunting! David Waldrop

Please Note: The Waldrop PacSeat is drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer. It is a stand alone item. That means when you order this item is will have its own shipping fee and only this item can be on the order. You're welcome to order other items on a separate order, but the PacSeat must be ordered by itself.

Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

The Waldrop PacSeat: $139.95 + $15.00 Shipping (Continental US Only)