Hunting from a Saddle?
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
I've been watching some of the videos on youtube about using a saddle to hunt, vs a stand. I'm considered this as a way to lighten the load on the way to and from the stand. What I'm wondering is, how comfortable is the saddle after hanging there for 4-5 hours. I know there's a small platform to lean on, and the shooting position should work, but is it as comfortable as having a padded seat and a tree as a backrest???
Lone wolf hand climber, 15lbs.
I’ve been using a Trophyline saddle this year. I now prefer it over my hang on stands. It’s comfortable enough for me for a 5 hour sit. I’ll say it was more comfortable earlier in the season when warmer and I wore far less clothes. I don’t know if it’s more comfortable than a big cushy climber though.
"lighten the load on the way to and from the stand"
Exertion to have good form for the shot is what would concern me. The sling makes it a balancing act, whereas the stand is a good deal more stable as a carrier for your weight.
A saddle doesn’t hinder shot form at all. It’s not really as much of a balancing act as you would think. Your tether is constantly under load from your weight. Whereas in a climber or hang on you’re basically freeballing. I was in a hang on yesterday and found myself more off balance because I’m used to the tether being under load.
Everything I've seen is consistent with TIMH comments. Your weight is always supported from the tether and your feet are on the step used to climb the tree. You can move from side to side easily without ANY fear of falling, unlike a stand where you must be aware of the edge of the stand. Comfort is the only thing I have to weigh against the weight reduction on the walk to and from the woods.
BBB you have to weigh in how fast and silently you can attach your sticks to the tree. In the dark. From your pack to the tree and vice versa. Or detach them in the evening. In the dark. And….you can easily drop $1000 plus on sticks, saddle and accessories. I’m looking into it right now as well.
I think it’s another tool to use….When you can’t find a good tree for a climber. That’s how I’m looking at it.
A climber is definitely faster from base of tree to ready to shoot. But you’re limited on the trees you can use. Where a saddle you can hunt basically any tree you see. There was a learning curve and slow process getting used to attaching the sticks and platform in the dark or even in daylight. But once i got used to my set, I pretty much fly up the tree.
It is another tool for the toolbox. Climbers/hang ons will always have their place and in some situations are preferred. But for a public land mobile run n gun, I prefer the saddle. As Blood said, it’s expensive and you can really run right down the saddle gear rabbit hole if you’re not careful.
Trophyline has a 30 day money back guarantee. When you buy their product you can basically try it out and if you don’t like it, return it for a full refund within 30 days.
One video I watched showed a guy was using a single stick that was easily moved up the tree as he climbed. He put the saddle on at the truck, in the light, walked to the tree and just needed to attached his harness rope around the tree and the single stick, and once he was at the right height his safety rope. It looked pretty simple. Price is not cheap for the gear, so I may just leave my stand in the woods next year and find, or make, a simple cart to drag it in and out. Hmmm, maybe my old golf, pull cart that I don't use.
One sticking may look simple, but it’s not. The guys that one stick take a tremendous amount of time to perfect it. You also need to repel out of the tree on the way down, so you carry about 40 feet of rope for that. If you decide to go the regular route of 3-4 sticks and a platform, then you’re going to need to find a good pack to secure everything to while you walk in. There are many more moving parts to saddle hunting than hunting out of a climber, but there are benefits as stated above.
BBB,
"so I may just leave my stand in the woods next year" Is that your plan, to have it stolen? :)
TIMH,
"Whereas in a climber or hang on you’re basically freeballing." Nah, that's not true. A lot of your life is spent on your feet. I've never seen an olympic archer tethered into position.
With your some of your weight supported somewhere above your head and then attached to you waist/butt high, thus pivoting from both above and below, well, is is a balance act that calls for exertion beyond normal standing form.
Suit yourself, do what you like, try anything you want, just saying it isn't a panacea.
Yeah one sticking takes a lot of practice and getting used to hanging off the side of the tree. Most saddle hunters either swear by it or swear it off. I’m in the latter portion. At least for the time being.
Notme's Link
https://youtu.be/A3vlj8mUiPA
This is my first year with a saddle and I love it. I won't be going back to regular or climbing stand.
A saddle is in no way shape or form beating a climber or hang on. If you want to put it up against a climber I’m more than happy to meet up and show you guys how it’s done. I’m up the tree in a couple min. Sure it has to be straight, I just sit a little higher. Hardly ever been picked off and very rarely do I have an issue finding trees.
No one said anything about speed getting up a tree. Talking about easier in and out of the woods, possibly by shaving weight. I absolutely hate using a climber. I don’t care if I’m walking 100 yards into the woods or a mile… the thing is big and clunky. I have hunted out of a saddle a few times this year and prefer that. It takes some getting accustomed to. You also never have to worry about your platform pointing up or down because of possibly misjudging tree size. As stated above, you can climb any tree; some areas, like swamps, are limited on large trees.
If we are going to talk about speed going up a tree… as long as you hang your sticks from your saddle you can be up 20 feet in two minutes. So, Anchor, there’s that for you…
I actually did say that a climber is faster up a tree than a saddle. But a saddle is far more versatile than a climber. And the weight savings alone make it worth the jump to them. My sticks and platform together weigh less than my lone wolf assault hang on. If you’re going over a 1/2 mile in, the weight reduction is worth it.
OK guys, thanks for confusing me :>) Actually, I agree with a lot of the pros and cons mentioned, all useful info. I appreciate all of the help guys.
Hey BBB, I leave an old climber in the woods and secure it with a cable lock during the rut. I have never had an issue doing it that way. I agree that I am limited the amount of trees I can use, but that just takes a little extra scouting.
I usually hunt the same tree at both of my main hunting areas, so finding a good tree is not a problem.
Saddle hunter here. This is my third season with the saddle using the single stick/rappel method. I used to run-and-gun with 4 lone wolf sticks and hang on, and used a summit climber before that. The saddle was an easy transition from the sticks and hang on method.
For me, the saddle has taken the cake for best tool for public land run and gun hunting, as well as mobile private land hunting. I can hunt any tree like a hang on and it’s as comfortable as my old summit. I use a “recliner” strap with my saddle so I can sit back and rest, it feels like a hammock. The biggest learning curve with it has been how to maneuver in the tree as deer movement unfolds around you so that you don’t handcuff yourself with a weak side shot. It definitely takes practice in the back yard. I’ve also learned how to anchor my center of gravity to the tree so that my draw and anchor are as solid as they would be in any tree stand.
My saddle set-up wouldn’t be worth the money if I wasn’t using a platform big enough for me to turn and face 180 degrees away from the tree to turn a weak side shot into a strong side shot. I also use a ring of steps along with the large platform to allow me to walk my way around the back of the tree for a shot. With this set-up, I have a full 360 degrees of shooting out of the saddle. Without either the large platform and ring of steps, the saddle wouldn’t work as advertised. I’ve also found that the saddle works very well with firearms hunting as well. The bridge of the saddle makes an excellent rest to steady your hand for a shot.
Last but not least, my set up is so darn light. Lots of times I walk into an area and decide I don’t want to sit in a tree, I stay on the ground. I wear my saddle like it’s part of my clothing so I’m not worried about dragging a stand around with me in tight cover. I’ve also had situations where I’ve spotted deer from up in a tree and rappelled down the tree to chase them on the ground, all with my saddle still attached to me.
I’ll be sticking with the saddle for the foreseeable future, I’ve really enjoyed it. It may not be for everyone-my buddy hated it and swears by his climber. But it seems be exactly what I need and fits my style of hunting.
2 different tools, maybe use both. Both have a place. People have killed deer off the ground since the start. My grandfather used to just sit the ground, had a marb red hanging out of his mouth and killed deer with a bow. Do what you feel the most comfortable/safe with.
I've taken more than one deer from the ground. One was point blank range, and I mean 10 ft, and one was 10 yards, neither of them knew I was there, they just walked right in front of me. The trick is still hunting into the wind.
CT - thanks for that explanation, big help. I'm definitely going to consider one for next year,
Bbb I have found facing the tree to be a great bonus, after using a saddle for a couple seasons feels weird sitting in a stand facing away,but not the end all, has a place like all other methods.
A saddle has too many moving parts for me.
No thanks.
I'll stick with either my ladder stands or my climber.