Saddle Hunting - Who knew

[IslandStorm62]

Hey All,
    I've had about 15 seasons of hunting on / off.  This year is the first time I have ever heard of Saddle Hunting.  I kinda like the idea, mostly because my tree stand weighs about 30 lbs, but feels like 65  .  In any case, any Saddle Hunter out there.  Would like some advice on minimum equipment required and maybe some tips to avoid getting buying unnecessary gear.  Or maybe someone already has a thread on this Topic; or wants to part with their beginners gear as they upgrade.

Yes lots of youtube videos, still cant make heads or tail out of what is really needed.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

[L8NITE]

Had never heard of it until now...thanks for posting this I love the concept! I will be doing some research and will share whatever info I find. Just watched a youtube vid this is way cool!!! Hopinf there are guys that can provide more info.

[KFhunter]

I looked into it for predator hunting lions in the thick brush, but didn't fork out the coin.

I think for deer I'd stick to hangons and have several spots pre-hung and brushed. 

To me run and gun style hunting deer isn't condusive to treestand hunting, and a saddle is for that.  I'd want to brush in blinds, cut branches etc. 

I was wanting to use climbing spurs and a saddle, like a lineman.  1 hour calling sessions would be fine in a saddle.


But I don't think Id want to be in a saddle for hours and hours




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[IslandStorm62]

I typically tree stand until about noon..then still / stalk hunt, throughout the day until evening.   I think the saddle would give me an option during the day during my stalking / still hunting.  Especially, when I can't see over the brush...lol I'm 5'5' so here in PNW that's pretty much all the time  .  As far a s cost, I'm thinking $300 - $400 would be the cost.  Since I haven't been to the Casino All 2020, I guess I can afford it

[Magnum_Willys]

What is it ?  I'm think hunting from a horse which I don't think is what you are thinking ??

[pd]

I just watched the You Tube video.  Lightweight, well thought-through system.  Much more practical that lugging a whole tree stand into the woods.

However, I really shudder to think I would ever use this system as it is.  Single point of failure in that design: Everything depends on a single rope and gear.  I don't like that at all.  I would tie another rope around the tree for safety, and run it through a waist or chest harness.

[vandeman17]

I have always been curious how it is to actually shoot from one.

[Goshawk]

Saddle hunting? That's the first time I've ever heard hunting from a bosuns chair as saddle hunting.

[IslandStorm62]

What is it ?  I'm think hunting from a horse which I don't think is what you are thinking ??

  Just watched a you tube vid from BOWGA HUNTIN "Tree Saddle Hunting Basics".  I guess this would be 1/3 of the bare minimum.

[GWP]

Saddle hunting? That's the first time I've ever heard hunting from a bosuns chair as saddle hunting.

This.
Only been hunting for 50+ years, so I am guessing it is a 'newer' term. I could see someone finding 'part of me' hanging upside down, with critters feeding on the 'hanging meat', and my gear laying all over the ground...
That is something for the 'hardcore' hunters of today, I would say. And probably the ones that are some younger than my 66 (with damage) years. Probably the ones that have not experienced falling out of a tree yet!
 

[KB88]

It’s hunting from a position that we cell tower guys hang from all day long. Could be better with proper harness and seat setup. You’d spend most money finding a harness that’s comfortable in for hours. The hunting/rock climbing harnesses won’t be so comfy. I use a dbi sala exofit for work however i would be spending time making it not so noisy, however i can hang in it all day long with the seat attachment.

I use petzl grillon for an adjustable lanyard, and a small petzel anneau to wrap and choke a tree that you connect your lanyard too.


There’s hundreds of options just research. All my stuff is work only not hunting but I could modify to do so. Just noisy or heavier but comfortable.

Petzl
Dbi sala
Elk river

Research

[GWP]

We hung from safety harnesses at work just to get an idea of what it would be like. Got to say, it makes a believer out of you for proper adjustment and fit! Might be hanging longer than you think too and risk a blood clot.
I am sure the 'working' ones would be much better.

[SpurInSpokane]

Okay, I can chime in on this, as someone who tried out saddle hunting for the first time last year.
First, this was my first time doing any type of tree stand hunting. I don't have set spots that I knew I'd want to leave equipment, I hunt a lot of public, and I didn't want to hike a lot of heavy stuff in and out.
I also wanted to do this on a budget, and tried to cheap out on a bunch of stuff. That, largely, was a mistake.
1. Steps: I tried to get some of the rubber steps (Bullman Outdoors) that strap onto the tree. Never got them to work, or feel solid enough, for me to want to get on them. I settled on the SteppLadder system from WildEdge, as once you figure out how to hang them, they're quick and solid.
2. Platform: also tried several cheap options, ended up getting the WildEdge platform (forget the name right now). I could have saved a lot of time and money just buying those from the get-go.
3. Saddle: I tried to cheap out here by using a rock climbing harness ($30 on amazon). I never could get it comfortable. It pinched at the hips terribly. Seemed solid and safe, just painful.
Ended up getting a TrophyHunter brand saddle, the difference was extreme, and it has webbing/pouches and other important equipment.
4. Ascenders: tried to cheap out by not using them, but you have to have something to adjust lines easily with. This is a rope-heavy endeavor. I did get cheaper ascenders, instead of the RopeMan II that sells for $60 that everyone loves. The cheap ones work fine.
5. Ropes: Here, you probably can cheap out a little bit. Rock climbing rope is cheap, and if you can cut it/tie it/splice it, you can make all the ropes you need. I eventually ended up with a lineman rope and a harness rope. The harness was a $25 muddy safety harness, the linemans I made from 13mm rock climbing rope. I should mention here that I bought a $10 safety belt from amazon that was blaze orange. Too hard to adjust, and not worth it.

So if you're counting, yes, I had a crapload of stuff that was almost worthless. Luckily, craigslist exists, and now other people are using it for their rightful purposes, and I have what I need. But it was tricky to get dialed in.

Get good stuff round 1, then practice the hanging steps, climbing, shooting. I could have saved a lot of time and had a lot more practice with what I ended up using if I had done that. I did still get a few sets hung in late archery, and it works. It's actually fun and comfy once you get it dialed in.

Don't let the naysayers get ya down!

Feel free to PM me, too.

[JakeLand]

The “ hunting public “ crew been using them a long time check them out on YouTube

[zwickeyman]

My son uses a saddle in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma with great success. He wants me to try it here but Im too Old, Fat and Inflexible