Saddle Hunting Endurance in Tree
Massachusetts
Contributors to this thread:
Damn it I should have gone to the Saddle gathering in Auburn,.. have another next year you guys!
It interests me ,.. but my mind is so locked into a platform mindset it is hard to imagine swinging from a harness for a day,. 8 hours,.. I guess it helps your feet are on a step but my big concern is endurance to put in many hours in a tree when in a harness. When exhausted on a platform I can get up stretch out ,. roam about,.. well sorta ? LOL
Can any of you speak to that endurance issue,.. or are you just setting up for an afternoon hunt for say 4 hours with a harness,. I am used to trying to put in a half day if I am lame,. a full day if good to go,..
It just seems like it would not be possible to hang by your crotch for 10 hours,. least my small brain thinks that way,.. tell me otherwise crew?
Examples or stories or how you do this would help us all,.. I know for a fact I am not the only one thinking this,.. so you will help several by discussing this.
Thanks Saddle Folks,..
I'm also trying to see the advantage over just hanging a light weight stand. Your carrying all the other gear anyway, right. Seems to me you would display much more movement than you would sitting quietly in a stand. Can't be too comfortable.
My thought exactly Brian. I'll stick with my regular old hang ons that haven't been in a problem in the past 25 yrs lol.
Hold on,.. if these guys like em, are we are missing something?
Never be against learning something new,..
Lets hear from the saddle guys,.. Can ya hang in one for 6 to 8 hours up in a tree comfortably?
I'll qualify my comment a bit. At 55, my agility and balance are not what they were in the younger years. I prefer good footing that the platform offers and in my mind I think the platform offers better foot placement which is part of good form. Also, should a deer appear from the direction you don't anticipate and you have to maneuver the saddle into position I can see my boots making noise on the tree bark and even knocking pieces of it off that fall to the ground.
I can't speak to all day sits in a saddle, as I haven't hunted from it yet. And while the image of one of us hanging from our crotch 20 feet up makes for some funny commentary, you actually get more of a lounging effect, because when it fits properly it's cupping your butt like a sling while the back band gives you back support. Who knows, I might end up having the damn thing lol, but right now I'm pretty stoked about it. I'll also add that John Eberhardt does mostly all day sits from a saddle at 70 and has for the last 30+ plus years. Hopefully mrw can comment with more in the field experience.
Having gone to that saddle party I can say they are very comfortable. MRW will chime in and tell you that it is much more comfortable than a regular stand or climber. You're attached to an adjustable tether, making it easy to change your position. You also blend in much better, and can position yourself on any side of the tree. So you could block a deer from seeing you by creeping to the opposite side of the tree. Probably the biggest advantage though is you can hunt just about any tree in a saddle. Any tree you can get your climbing device in (pegs, sticks, Peter's homemade climbing contraption) you can hunt in a saddle
I hear ya Moonz,.. but comfortable for 30 minutes is not the same as being able to hang in it for 6 to 8 hours,.. someone who has done that please chime in and let us know,..
Or is it more of a hunt here for an hour or two and then move to a new tree?
I only ask cause I am considering one,.. but at 53 years old comfort is a key for me,.. maybe they are for the youngins,..?
Sitting on a recliner for 6-8 hrs gets uncomfortable. An all day sit is an all day sit,,, they suck!! Haha but yes BB if I recall MRW has done them and hickstick.
I agree, Moons. Even in my climber, which is like a lazy boy, I can't do an all day sit. The longest I'm ever in the stand is during bear season for 7-8 hours a day. I usually want to dive head first from the stand after a few days in a row doing that.
LOL,.. true, true,.. Moonz!
Moons don’t get discouraged. It may take years, but with practice you’ll be able to sit in a recliner for 8 hours easily. I’ve personally done as much as 16 hours without a break.
Leaning with support seems very comfortable to me. I've done all day sits in a Lone Wolf climber. Not the most comfortable so how can the saddle be worse. I'm definitely interested.
Well I am interested too Arch,. that I why I am asking,.. Where is the support though? I can sit and lean back against my stand seat/tree,.. relax, and even fall asleep. In fact one of my stands has padded arm rests,.. looking to add the cup holder this year! LOL
So how do you get any back support from a saddle? Can you lean back in a saddle and lean against something?
For example could you fall asleep in a saddle?,.. that would be a measure of comfort? Not that I am suggesting to do that, it is just an example of how comfortable some of my stands are,..
My logical brain says a saddle cannot be as comfortable for a long hunt as a comfy stand is,.. I would "like" someone to say I am incorrect, and preferably explain why.
I worry my logical brain is biased,.. cause I have never tried a saddle or a long saddle hunt.
sorry guys...been busy at work....
while most of my hunts are around 4-5 hours I have done quite a few all day sits in a saddle and I'll say, "I can fall asleep in a saddle just a well if not better than a fixed stand!" lol seriously I feel more safe, and more comfortable in the saddle than in a fixed stand. once you get the harness adjusted correctly so it doesn't restrict any bloodflow, and have a good 'platform' (whether its screw in steps, a strap of ameristeps, Steppladder steps, or an actual platform). I find it amazingly comfortable...and I have take naps in my setup :)
the key is the adjustment and the platform set correctly.
I'm fat and getting old. Bad knee, petrified of heights and not the most graceful creature on the planet. All that being said, I am quiet and comfortable all day long. Being able to move behind the tree as deer come in, draw, and then swing out for the shot for me is ideal. Deer almost never show up where you want them, but I have no problem changing position quietly for the shot, or hiding if I don't plan on harvesting that animal. Wearing my "stand" in, not carrying it, is great. All I usually carry is my bow and some sticks and damn near every tree can be my tree. I am not the best hunter in the world, a little lazy at times, but I get my 3 or 4 deer every year - it's 99% of the red meat my family eats. I feel most of my success is due to being able to move in quietly, go in further, hunt fresh sign even if I never was in that area before and stay stealthy in a tree.
As for noise, I am certain that anyone would make more noise with a climber, ladder stand or hang-on than they would with a saddle. I mean it's fabric versus metal. Even on an old White Oak with peely bark I can stay pretty quiet. And I like hanging in big old White Oaks! It can be tempting to move too much, but for me so is sitting on a metal stand and having to stand up regularly to get blood flow back into your butt. My biggest problem isn't moving too much, it's falling asleep - it is that comfortable and impossible to fall out of. For morning hunts I plan on getting in too early and napping until shooting light. On all day hunts I take little naps when there is nothing going on. My worst fear though, is that I might be snoring and scaring the deer away!
Pic is me, my bow and my stand - this is 75% of my hunts. The other 25% I carry 3 or 4 Lone Wolf sticks.
BB, I went to the saddle gathering and while I can't answer the specific question you're asking since I only spent a few minutes in the thing, and didn't try shooting from it, I can say that it did seem pretty comfortable.
My concerns are pretty much the same as BC and Proline in that while you can theoretically shoot in any direction it seems like maneuvering into position would require lots more movement than a traditional hang on. And the Chippewa stands that BC and Pro use are super light and easy to hang. I'm thinking of going either saddle or Chippewa this year but at 58 no change is easy so I'm looking to make climbing, hanging, shooting, and everything else as easy as I can. I too would like to hear more from mrw and hickstick since I believe they have both hunted from a saddle quite a bit.
Lastly, an unrelated question for Jeb on those 16 hour recliner sits. Do you bring a relief bottle or just let it fly over the edge as if you're in a stand...
Edit: I must take too long to type, mrw and hick both got in ahead of me...
When I had an O'l Man climber back in the day I could easily relax and even take a power nap without any concern. Problem was that thing was a heavy, noisy beast. Not fun for deep excursions. The Lone Wolf hand climber is easier to haul and climb quietly but not as comfortable. I can easily do an hour or two but the longer hunts, it's not as great. Little seat so I never get comfortable. I usually stand most of the time. Alternating between sitting and leaning in the saddle seems comfortable so I can endure long sits in the tree. 1 to 3 hour sits I don't have a problem with any method. It's only a guess as I haven't done it yet. I also like the lightness of the system so I can go deep into some areas where hauling my stand is a PITA. I would use the top half of my LW as a climber and platform. Super light.
I looks like you could actually lean forward into the harness strap and rest on that too?
I hear ya about hauling that super comfy stand I have,.. I left it in the woods last year! will probably leave it in that area all the time and just deal with replacing the straps every two years,.. as it weighs in at 26 pounds!! Stash it in nearby laurel at years end.
So ya maybe the saddle is just one more tool,.. used in particular types of hunts,.. You are totally right about getting in deep,.. couldn't easily do that with my Summit fixed 26 pound stand,.. it is a real PITA!
True too that the light stands are not particularly comfortable either,..
Thanks guys I think I will try one for next year,.. spend the next couple months reading up on old posts on them and figure out which might be best to get,..
Thank you guys for the insight,. and taking your time to help me out.
arch thats a nice pic of G2 you have there. lol. if you guys are interested...look up g2outdoors on youtube..he ha bunch of great saddle, fishing, hammock & camping, videos on there.
as Mark said...the problem isn't comfort. for me is boredom. lol...so little action up here in Worcester county that after 4 hours I'm itchin to get down and scout around....lol
Belchertown....I never even touched a fixed stand last season....even when I hunted with a buddy who let me use his ladder stand, I wore my kestrel in and set up in an adjacent tree. Every hunt was out of the Kestrel or on the ground.
I'm to old to change I guess. Most of my setups are fixed. If I want to mix it up and strike out to a new area I use lone wolf sticks and a Chip. To each his own though, I'm sure you young bucks will kill some nice deer from those saddles. Hang on and hunt hard you guys...
Young bucks! You're killing me BC!
And BB, I typically rest my head on the strap for naps.
I have yet to hunt out of it, but I have done a couple of two hour sits in it. No problem at all. One of my permanent stands has a tiny plywood seat on it because the original seat disintegrated. I did plenty of five hour sits in that thing. The saddle is the bees knees compared to that torture device.
I can wear my saddle and aiders into the woods, probably four pounds with ropes and carabiners. Another four pounds for my Steps and another two pounds for my platform. And everything fits into my backpack. I use a sitdrag, so that can double as a deer hauler. This setup gets me about 22 feet. I am getting up in about 6 or 7 minutes; let's double that if it is in the dark. Under 15 minutes to set up is fine for me. It will be even faster for the trees that will have a permanent ring or steps. Oh, and I never have to worry about someone finding my permanent ring of steps. I can't even find them. Even if they do, good luck stealing them; never mind ever worrying about someone setting up in them :)
With the ropeman as part of my tether, I am able to adjust tether height any time, allowing me to lean, sit or do something in between. My biggest comfort issue in a stand is my back because sooner or later I will slouch. No worries in the saddle. I even have a little backstrap so I can just sit back and snooze. Pete
I am 40first saddle ever. Did 2 years of researching and debating whether to buy a saddle or not but decided to go with one after talking with my friends and family who have one and watching YouTube and other sources but to say I am 40 have bad knees backs been busted 2 times and have 3 ruptured disks I have only had my saddle about a month so far I have sat in it for about 12 hrs total but 6 hrs in one sit I felt less back pain didn't get cramped up in my back or stiff like I do in my other tree stands n moved less then I would with being in my stand . I do feel it is safer and more comfortable than my stand s have been in yrs I will be in the woods slot more this yr with my new setup .
I went saddle last year and like it. I haven’t perfected the mobile system yet. 3 30” helium’s is too big. There’s always tweaking to be done!
The guy that’s figures out the nesting compact stick setup with matching pack is gonna make some money. Stick a platform mounting option too. Detachable “tree hugger” Fanny pack. Straps clip off to make a hys strap.
Noob let’s go into business..
I know a guy who makes amazing fly fishing packs and gear bags here in Leominster... If you guys decide you really want to do this, happy to connect you.
Also, I opened this and saw BB's handle and was all excited that he decided to come back, then I realized that was 2018 ha ha ha. Ill have to see if I still have his txt and ping him.
I been thinking of getting a cheaper tree saddle to start the whole set up seems expensive. To be Mobile but also to use in a fixed stand to hunt opposite direction. Had deer coming in from behind me when wind in my faceto many times. This past year the deer were not traveling to food as much so I needed to go to them. I m thinking if I do I’d try to drop down In height to minimize time up the tree and weight. I don’t sit more than 4-5 hours at a time so I think the saddle would be fine, it’s the platform that I’m not sure about. I do want to try it out this year though.
My turn.... 64 ... neck disc fusion.... heart attack..... 2 seasons in the saddles. Longest sit.... 8hrs..... average 5hrs...... couple hr break then back in for 3 more....... 47 days straight.......... initially i needed to get in saddle shape. The backband is an absolute must have! I think all day sits would be no problem however i become bored out of my mind and need a change of scenery! I know ive posted it b4 i always like posts sprinkled with pics!
that was weird. Never saw or posted that pic in my life.
this is the one I posted
Bizarre rack that belongs in the drop tine hall of fame
Dd the predator platform is big enough to suit your needs. If you already have good hang ons you can leave the platform at home.
Noob That’s my thought too. Kinda ease into it get the feel. I started with a climber and I just don’t enjoy he lugging , sweating and time it takes. If I can add comfort to what I have and be Mobile, it’s worth trying.
Dawg - it's solid. I used my climber 1X just before MA opened on a cold day early last fall, in a spot I knew and knew that the climber worked just right on "that" tree. It was ok, but I felt safer in my saddle - that may have been a turning point come to think of it. I'm sure Ill hunt saddle/fixed at some point again. But given the massive majority of my hunting is fully mobile... It's going to be rare.
The predator platform is great.
I'd be a little concerned in a standard stand that if you create side pressure it may slide on the trunk. There have to be used Mantis or other models out there - hop on Saddle Hunter.com and poke round. Bet you can find one used for less. A buddy of mine got one last summer after me talking about it. He got some giant thing I've not seen before, but enjoyed it and got into it a lot cheaper than I did. He's going to get a predator platform this year, didnt love his "ring of steps" as much as he thought he would initially.
What is a cheaper saddle? I thought they were all in the same ballpark.