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Author Topic: Tree stand vs tree saddle?  (Read 7068 times)

Offline smithkl42

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Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« on: June 19, 2019, 08:44:36 PM »
I've done some light hunting from a couple of different styles of tree stands (a couple ladder stands, and a Summit Viper climber). The ladder stands feel much more stable and comfortable, but you pretty much have to haul them in well before the season starts, and leave 'em there. The Viper is supposed to lend itself to running and gunning, but, well, not really. It's just too bulky and heavy to carry around on any normal hunt. It's easier to move than a ladder, but really, once I've humped it into a spot, I'm likely to try to leave it there all season.

A couple months ago I ran across some videos and reviews of tree saddles, for instance:

https://thehuntingpublic.com/mobile-hunting-gear-stands-sticks-and-saddles/


Folks who've hunted in them say that they're probably more comfortable than tree stands, significantly lighter, and much easier to carry around. In fact, it sounds quite a lot like you really *can* run-and-gun with them.

Have folks here tried them? I searched through the archives, and didn't see any previous discussion on the topic.
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Offline smithkl42

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2019, 09:10:50 AM »
Bumping this up again, just because I'm very curious about what other folks have found. (Unless nobody here has actually tried one?)
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Offline OutHouse

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2019, 12:19:50 PM »
I have never heard of these but looks interesting. Anyone with even a shred of fear of heights probably would not want the saddle. Also, seems like you need a platform or something to put stuff on. Maybe hooks on the tree for a bag and the bow. The video wouldn't work for me maybe they explained all of that. I have summit tree stand. Its pretty nice (a climber) but sometimes the platform does not feel steady and it worries me.

Offline JasonG

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2019, 09:10:04 AM »
Bumping this up again, just because I'm very curious about what other folks have found. (Unless nobody here has actually tried one?)
Looking pretty hard at the Mantis right now! The thing that is stopping me is the 8 -10 week ship dates!
« Last Edit: June 23, 2019, 09:27:25 AM by JasonG »

Offline brandon.b.sanders

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2020, 12:45:31 AM »
So I'm looking at these hard right now. I may even do a youtube series on them.

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2020, 04:59:58 AM »
its a young mans game, kinda like a climbing harness for tree cutting
I'm too old to climb trees anymore voluntarily
good luck
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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2020, 06:58:42 AM »
Couldn’t imagine sitting 7 hours in 20 deg weather and trying to kill a mature whitetail out one of those. No thanks .

Offline TheStovePipeKid

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2020, 08:30:36 AM »
I've watched a few videos before because I too don't want to lug a climber stand around. My only hang up is whether I could take a nap in one, cause I'm all about the nap time. I saw one video where they had an optional neck strap that took the strain off your neck. I would need one of those for any prolonged sessions. I plan to hunt blacktail this year so I'm looking at options.
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Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2020, 09:01:44 AM »
Couldn’t imagine sitting 7 hours in 20 deg weather and trying to kill a mature whitetail out one of those. No thanks .

I could see it being good for early archery.
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Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2020, 09:04:28 AM »
its a young mans game, kinda like a climbing harness for tree cutting
I'm too old to climb trees anymore voluntarily
good luck

 I hear ya. Now, if we could erect a stair lift to go up around a tree... :tup:
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Offline huntnnw

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2020, 09:10:45 AM »
Couldn’t imagine sitting 7 hours in 20 deg weather and trying to kill a mature whitetail out one of those. No thanks .

I could see it being good for early archery.

Not me. I don’t see that being better than a good stand . Trying to shoot from that looks like to much movement . Doesn’t not look comfortable, looks like trying to get shots from different angles would be way to much movement and noise.

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #11 on: January 10, 2020, 09:41:23 AM »
its a young mans game, kinda like a climbing harness for tree cutting
I'm too old to climb trees anymore voluntarily
good luck

Here you go, Max! https://twitter.com/TheTreeRider
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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #12 on: January 10, 2020, 01:58:00 PM »
I don’t mind walking deer trails for Blacktail or pushing timber and spot and stalk for elk or muleys
 I tried a climbing stand a few years back I made it about one trip
I can’t sit still in the same place that long now my relatives in Massachusetts they sit in their tree stands all day long
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Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2020, 02:00:04 PM »
I don’t mind walking deer trails for Blacktail or pushing timber and spot and stalk for elk or muleys
 I tried a climbing stand a few years back I made it about one trip
I can’t sit still in the same place that long now my relatives in Massachusetts they sit in their tree stands all day long

I stalk, too. I did while I grew up in NH, as well. Once made a tree stand out of a big piece of plywood and almost killed myself. That was the last time I was in one.
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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2020, 02:07:55 PM »
I grew up in NH also, Littleton
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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #15 on: January 10, 2020, 02:11:21 PM »
wonder how a saddle like that would be predator calling in thick brush?   wouldn't sit for more than about an hour give or take


If it didn't weight anything, and was simple quick and easy.... put your ecaller in the brush where you want something to come too, walk up the tree then press play, have a birds eye view of cats sneaking in to the caller below

Offline pianoman9701

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2020, 02:43:11 PM »
I grew up in NH also, Littleton

Fitzwilliam, south of Keene.
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Offline NorseNW

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2020, 07:57:59 AM »
This resurfaced thread got the saddle idea back in mind.  Debated it a couple years ago for blacktail.  Still not sure if it's for me or not.  For those looking at the Tethrd system apparently they are releasing a new updated setup (the Phantom) at the ATA show.  I'll admit they look pretty top end and slick.  Not sure what the phantom will price out at but the older system (Mantis) will put you in the hole $400+.  Nice system but dang that's a hit.  Not sure I can do that to just try it out.....

Offline TheStovePipeKid

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2020, 08:23:20 AM »
Seems like most have priced themselves out of consideration. You can get  a nice climber treestand on the classifieds for $100-150, or even less. Compare that to $400 and they've run me off. If you go by this thread there are several established hunters here who could afford the price but don't care for the function. Plus a true run and gun is just that, RUN and gun. Hard to cover ground clipped to a tree. I'd love to try one out but it would have to be a loaner. The concept is sound.
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Offline JasonG

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #19 on: January 11, 2020, 04:01:32 PM »
I have a mantis I will be trying out this year. Ill keep you posted!

Offline cryder

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2020, 07:46:31 AM »
All this comparing stuff , what it really comes down to is , as any well practiced popscicle stand Hunter will tell u is ,,, Wich ever way to get in that stand without breaking a sweat , once you break out in breeze filling stench your chances were just cut in half at best , I love this part of bow hunting , the science of it , it's very rewarding to say the least , as far as carrying and moving stuff , forgetaboutit !!!
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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #21 on: January 12, 2020, 02:46:29 PM »
All this comparing stuff , what it really comes down to is , as any well practiced popscicle stand Hunter will tell u is ,,, Wich ever way to get in that stand without breaking a sweat , once you break out in breeze filling stench your chances were just cut in half at best , I love this part of bow hunting , the science of it , it's very rewarding to say the least , as far as carrying and moving stuff , forgetaboutit !!!
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Offline Bango skank

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #22 on: January 12, 2020, 03:10:35 PM »
I wouldnt use one of these.  Like huntnnw said, it wouldnt be comfortable for a cold, all day sit.  For all their disadvantages, the only advantage they offer is portability, so the option to get in a tree on the fly.  Ive never found a good spot to hang a stand that would work without significant limbing of not only the stand tree, but adjacent trees for shooting lanes.  The way i see it, youre better off heavily scouting an area, picking a good tree, and spending the time limbing and setting everything up for a regular stand in the preseason.  The concept of creeping into an unknown area, finding a perfect tree, climbing up into it that morning, and killing a msture buck a few hours later, that just sounds like a pipe dream to me.  Im sure its been done now and then, but id bet its a recipe for tag soup more often than not.

Offline huntnnw

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #23 on: January 13, 2020, 09:53:42 PM »
I wouldnt use one of these.  Like huntnnw said, it wouldnt be comfortable for a cold, all day sit.  For all their disadvantages, the only advantage they offer is portability, so the option to get in a tree on the fly.  Ive never found a good spot to hang a stand that would work without significant limbing of not only the stand tree, but adjacent trees for shooting lanes.  The way i see it, youre better off heavily scouting an area, picking a good tree, and spending the time limbing and setting everything up for a regular stand in the preseason.  The concept of creeping into an unknown area, finding a perfect tree, climbing up into it that morning, and killing a msture buck a few hours later, that just sounds like a pipe dream to me.  Im sure its been done now and then, but id bet its a recipe for tag soup more often than not.
:yeah:

it would be pure luck to kill a big mature animal and I dont rely on luck. Id prefer like mentioned scouting and being prepared

Offline cryder

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #24 on: January 14, 2020, 09:38:20 PM »
ITS VERY SIMPLE FOLKS , !!!  WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE , LEARN TO LIVE LIKE A ANIMAL AND THE JUNGLE WILL REPAY ,BECOME PART OF IT WITHOUT THEM  KNOING U R THERE , I have to admit , that any anybody sitting in a tree with a missle launcher is pure absugulooooly  comical , why don't u just sit in your car on a hill , throw back some cold goof juice till the sun goes down , then just start plinkn away at what ever is moving on that horizon over there , siloweted in the sunset , as u warm up the car for the drunkn stooper ride home , where we can all here about how u hunted down that squirrel with your own two feet
« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 09:52:03 PM by cryder »
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Offline youngbull

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #25 on: January 21, 2020, 02:59:06 PM »
I haven't pulled the trigger yet
Still hustings great but the wind is
Never really consistent on the west side
I think the light weight mobility as another
Option of getting above brush or out of the wind
Especially if you find hot sign while still hunting.
Price is steep but I thought the same about my summit climber over 10 years ago.
Super cold days in the snow or ice are normally real noisy and fruitless stalking game .
It is also really cool to observe game that's not alert.
Just my opinion but the young guys that really get after seem use the saddles quite a bit. Good luck and buy once cry once.


Offline buckfvr

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #26 on: January 21, 2020, 04:35:10 PM »
For my way of thinking, the saddle is just another option that in no way replaces the tree stand.  If you cant make it happen with a tree stand, I dont see the saddle giving you (any hunter) the edge.

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #27 on: January 21, 2020, 10:47:50 PM »
I haven't pulled the trigger yet
Still hustings great but the wind is
Never really consistent on the west side
I think the light weight mobility as another
Option of getting above brush or out of the wind
Especially if you find hot sign while still hunting.
Price is steep but I thought the same about my summit climber over 10 years ago.
Super cold days in the snow or ice are normally real noisy and fruitless stalking game .
It is also really cool to observe game that's not alert.
Just my opinion but the young guys that really get after seem use the saddles quite a bit. Good luck and buy once cry once.

what does young have to do with using this?  this is a major step down in a hang on stand. Id also never ever own a climber so many disadvantages to those out west.

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #28 on: January 22, 2020, 06:24:44 AM »
I hunt from treestands every year and I can't imagine ever using one of these. Just seems gimmicky as hell to me. The wind sucks everywhere and I don't see this being a viable alternative to an established stand. The entire benefit of a fixed stand is that I have it pre-set, lanes trimmed, I can sneak quietly in etc.

Looks good for a lineman though  :dunno:
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

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Re: Tree stand vs tree saddle?
« Reply #29 on: January 22, 2020, 08:37:19 AM »
I used to climb trees logging,  always wondered about having a good set of spikes and a harness for predator hunting


get way up the tree, like 50-60 feet or more, and have a fox pro playing bloody murder in the brush below you


all the racket you make would add to the set (scraping bark) as long as there was no metallic sounds.



never wanted to front the cash to find out if it would work.  I would set up in thick brush areas.


As for deer hunting...no, I'll stick to hang on stands done well in advance.

 


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