TREE SADDLES
- Thread starter shawn cox
- Start date
shawn cox
Well-Known Member
I didn't even think to search that. Thanks
weekender21
Well-Known Member
I don't think TETHRD has any real competition for easiest to pack in. A LG is only 2 LBS. I've been using one since last November and absolutely love the lightweight packability and was doing 5-7 hour sits the first week I owned one.
shawn cox
Well-Known Member
thanks weekender I am going to check that out. I was looking for what people like to use.
Tap
Well-Known Member
The saddlehunter forum has a map of saddle guy's locations. You might find someone close to you. The guys over there are super helpful and will help you take the shortest journey to selecting saddle gear and tweaking it to your needs.
Saddles are not plug n play. Its very much an individual thing specific to each hunter, but when you get everything dialed in, saddles are great.
I have a Kestrel and Predator platform. I love them.
Petersens Bowhunting magazine just published an article on saddles. Its actually scanned and posted over on the SH forum.
Saddles are not plug n play. Its very much an individual thing specific to each hunter, but when you get everything dialed in, saddles are great.
I have a Kestrel and Predator platform. I love them.
Petersens Bowhunting magazine just published an article on saddles. Its actually scanned and posted over on the SH forum.
Tap
Well-Known Member
I think you'll like it.
BTW, for anyone else that thought about reading that article via the SH forum...it's not longer showing on that thread. I think they realized that it wasn't really appropriate to publicly post it (maybe hurting magazine sales).
Gator
Well-Known Member
So out of curiosity, I went to the TETHRD site and then watched a bunch of his videos on youtube I just don't see the appeal. Facing the tree, knees against the tree to keep from swinging inward. Dude carries knee pads in his pack! WTF? Very complicated, needing lots of extra ropes, etc. The videos I watched, the guy even had some rigged backrest that was made from an old bino strap and two more prusics. Really???? Outside of light weight, where's the appeal? I'm sure I'm missing it so help me out.
Heart shot
Active Member
I to am interested in the saddle hunting movement. One thing I haven’t understood is how do you climb and hang? Are there any good videos showing how you get set up?
Tap
Well-Known Member
1st, I would ask you what your preferred method of stand hunting is?
The reality is that there is no perfect system of being elevated for deer hunting. Whether its a shooting box, ladder stand, climber, conventional hang-ons, or saddles, they all have their attributes and challenges. For this discussion, I'm tossing boxes and ladders out of the conversation. They are an entirely different animal.
Every hunter has their own set of requirements or comfort zones. For my needs, Ive never liked a climber. They are too cumbersome to pack in and out; They need to be rigged and unrigged before and after each and every hunt; They are noisy to climb on many types of trees; And my biggest issue with climbers is they limit which trees I can hunt from. I stopped using climbers back in the 1980s and haven't regretted it for a minute.
Until the last few years, pre-set hang on stands have been my only method. I own a bunch of them and for the most part, they work out okay, but they do have limitations on tree size, tree lean, or even the side of the tree I can hang the stand.
Saddles are not plug 'n play. If a guy doesn't want to take the initial efforts to get it dialed-in then he probably doesn't have the right mindset to begin with, but if he goes into it with an open mind and eager to learn, there is a good chance he will become a convert. That's exactly what happened with me.
Climbing methods for saddles is no different than for a hang-on, so throw that out of the equation. Ropes? I have 2 ropes with a saddle...My lineman's rope and my tether. With a simple and organized rope management system, ropes are not complicated in the least.
Knee pads...They are not an absolute necessity if you are primarily a leaner, but they are helpful and they are necessary if you are a sitter.
I use Arc Teryx knee pads and they have become one of my favorite pieces of gear. They are very compatible for wearing while walking. No sag, lightweight, and I forget I'm even wearing them...until I have a need to kneel down while walking. There are times when we should kneel...If deer approach me while I'm walking I want to get as low to the ground as possible. They are much less likely to see me if I kneel as opposed to just stand there and hope they pass me by. Another reason to get on a knee is to squirm thru tight spots along the trail. My woods have become a maze of roadblocks since the ash border has invaded. What was an open access trail yesterday, is often blocked by newly fallen ash trees and stooping, bending and kneeling is sometimes required to get thru. I used to think knee pads would be a hassle but I've come to really appreciate them.
As far as actually being in the tree with a saddle, for me there is no better method. I can hunt many more types of trees, size, lean, and branches are a lot less of an issue with saddles when compared to ANY other elevated stand. 360 shooting. Concealment. Zero chance of stand theft. Mobility. Safety. Comfort (I can even nap in my saddle if I wish).
The latest generation of saddles have come a long way since the days of the old Trophy Line. And the creativity that guys are using to fine tune their gear to their needs seems to have no bounds. Just when I think it's great, someone comes up with a little (or not so little) tweak that makes it even better. I'm 61 and I've just completed my 49th deer season. I've spent literally many thousand hours in trees. I wish it didn't take this many years to discover saddles. You young guys have fantastic gear that has only become commercially available in the last few years and it's getting better and better. Don't knock saddles until you've given them an honest try.
Last point...
They are the most effective way to be in a tree. No doubt in the mind of this old-timer.
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Tap
Well-Known Member
There are a bunch of ways to climb. I guess the biggest factor is, are you hunting private or public?
I hunt private land and have always preferred Cranford EZ Climb Deluxe screw in step, but last year I learned about the Treehopper drill and bolts. I love that set up.
Some guys like climbing spurs. Never used them so I can't comment.
If you hunt public, then most states don't allow screw-in or spurs so either sticks or other strap on step is needed.
There are some that utilize SRT (single rope technique) which is an arborist type of rig. I haven't had the need for SRT.
What do you mean by "how do you hang"? Do you mean how do you set-up when at hunting height? Not sure I understand that part of your question.
Yes there are a bunch of Youtube vids on just about every aspect of saddle use. SH forum has tons of info and really helpful people.
Gator
Well-Known Member
I love to hunt out of lockons but I no longer have my own private land so I'm not using them anymore.
My intent certainly isn't to knock them, I'm trying to figure out what I'm missing because I haven't personally found the appeal. Once I factor in carrying climbing sticks, having to set them up each and every time etc, the only advantage I see over a climber is tree choice. Facing the tree is a big negative in my opinion. If the only tree available is a 20" tree, what can you see?
I also had a major initial knee jerk reaction with regards to hitting your tether with a broadhead but then I saw a video where a guy did a test and it took quite a number of cuts before the tether would break so that eased my mind on that.
weekender21
Well-Known Member
It's not as hard or as complicated as it looks.
In addition to being lightweight, shooting from a saddle offers true 360 degree shot opportunities. They are more comfortable than a small lock-on in my opinion as well.
If you're sitting the same 4 trees on your farm and are ok with that style then there really isn't a huge appeal. If you take a more mobile approach to hunting then the appeal is more significant.
weekender21
Well-Known Member
You can saddle hunt out of any tree that will hold your weight. With a climber, you're stuck with straight limbless trees. Depending on the part of the country you live in, those trees are hard to come by.
As far as facing the tree. You set up for the deer to come by on your strong side, just like you do in a hang on or climber. You're not watching the tree. The benefit here is that you can easily shoot behind the tree, behind you, weak side, etc. With a hang on it's more complicated to take the weak side shot and impossible to shoot behind your tree.
Gator
Well-Known Member
No, I'm looking to be more mobile now that I'm hunting a lease. Maybe I just suck, but putting up climbing sticks is a 30 min job for me. carrying climbing sticks that are affordable weigh more than my whole climber. Finding straight trees doesn't seem to be much of an issue for me in Virginia. Poplars, gums, pines, oaks, etc all tend to grow very straight in a timbered woods.
weekender21
Well-Known Member
Look into the SRT method. It’s public land/lease friendly and my setup weighs about 1.5 pounds. I have a set of 4 LW sticks and agree, sticks aren’t the best mobile option. Heavy, potentially loud if you’re not careful. I’ll still use them occasionally but bolts (Treehopper drill) and SRT are excellent options for mobile hunting.
Nothing wrong with a climber if that’s what you’re comfortable with.
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Tap
Well-Known Member
Only you can answer if you are missing anything by not having a saddle. If a guy is totally content with whatever method he hunts, then there is no reason to want a saddle.
I was 75% content with lock ons, but that other 25% made me want to see if it could be better. Nothing is 100%, but my current system with saddles and climbing is 95%.
What if the only tree you can hunt is a 22" tree and you stand chain only handles a 21" tree, or the tree leans in the wrong direction?
I originally thought that facing the tree would be undesirable, too. But I've actually come to like it. I can maneuver myself to stay in the shade of the trunk much easier. With a lock on, I never liked looking toward the sun. Sometimes the only side of the tree we can place a lock on is the South side...not pleasant to be on that side of the tree during a cloudless, all day hunt. Or on a freezing cold day, I can get into the sun and help warm my bones.
I fully agree with you about sticks. I hate carrying them, packing and unpacking them, climbing and setting them. I just don't like sticks. But there are times when screw ins or bolts are not allowed, so...climbing really isnt any different with a saddle vs a lock on.
One thing that is seldom pointed out about saddles is how great they are for prepping and hanging lock ons. Saddles beat the crap out of conventional harnesses for hanging stands.
shawn cox
Well-Known Member
I am going to try it this year for the light weight and mobility of it. I really like the idea of the SRT method. I am also going to look into the tree hopper bolts when I can use them. I like the idea of being able to go scout and area and climb and hunt without carrying the weight of a lockon with sticks or a climber. I like the Wild edge stepps. they cam over just like my Millenium chain sets. They look easy to set up. I have a nice thick creek bottom that is not easy to get a stand into without a lot of work and this should really help with that.
