Saddle Hunting

[coyotehunter]

I wanted to see if anyone here uses a tree saddle to hunt deer or any other big game in Washington?

[time2hunt]

I had to look it up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sundance]

Yes, this year I hunted 75% out of a saddle for blacktail. Very effective method and more comfortable for me than a treestand. I like the mobility and made all my own amsteel rope mods. Currently running latitudes carbon sticks and the rebel platform. I have a cheaper hunt armor saddle that I’ve modified and it works ok. My total setup weighs 10 pounds, I can get 20’+ up in a tree, 8 minutes for a prepped tree and up to 15 if it’s not prepped. My backup sticks are muddy pros with a single step aider but those things are too dang heavy.

[Sundance]

Food for thought, at the ATA show a lot of new tech is being released to the saddle hunting industry. In the next few months there will some great deals on used gear in the Facebook groups as guys clean out after the season and upgrade to the new stuff. With the lack of saddle hunting dealers in the PNW a guy could save hundreds on a set up getting into a used package or parting it together.

[MeepDog]

Saw a couple deer out of the saddle this year. I use the platform thats mounted on the end of a helium stick. It makes for a pretty light and compact total setup. You have to be a bit crazy to use them and not mind the heights.

[Sundance]

You have to be a bit crazy to use them and not mind the heights.

This is where I am with one-sticking. Great idea, but a little much for me at this time.

[vandeman17]

I have seen these and my question always is how effectively can you actually shoot out of them?

[coyotehunter]

Thanks for all the responses!
This is where I am on the whole saddle hunting. I'm originally from the east coast and before I started hunting out of a treestand I had bought a Anderson tree Sling, I still have it. I had 2 encounters with bucks, one; I hadn't put tree steps all round the tree where I was sitting(slinging) and he caught me trying to maneuver around the trunk. Second; Learned my lesson from the first buck and the second buck never even knew what hit him. After that I switched to platform treestands.
Fast forward, after moving to Washington, I have hunted Blacktails out of treestand with alot success, but they are kind of a pain in the ass to carry around in the woods. Especially if you are running and gunning! AND I do like hunting from the ground! But every so often you find that one location where you know you'd be better off in the trees rather than on the ground.
SO, I've been building myself a onestick set up. I already have a bunch of climbing gear, bought a Buzzard Roost Saddle, Trophy Line Wingman and adding a 2 step aider, Harken Cleat and an Amsteel onestick rope. once I have it all built up I'll post it.
As for shoot-ablity, if its anything like the Anderson Tree Sling, as long as you have somewhere your feet can pivot on you can almost shoot(a bow) 360 around the tree. But I guess I'll find out when its all built done.
I'm thinking of this as another tool in my arsenal.
Let me know what you guys think.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

I have all Tethrd gear that I bought a few years ago.  Predator platform, saddle, ropes, sticks are cheap and heavier.  I haven't used it diligently yet to develop a thorough opinion, but so far after a couple of sits for elk (no sightings) it was great.  My plan is to get into my spot on the opener and set up climbing sticks to hunting height.  If no shooters walk by, I'll probably leave up the top two sticks and just take the bottom two home so there's less weight to pack out.  I'd really like to set up and use this system this next fall because it seems super effective, lightweight, and mobile.

[Sundance]

I have seen these and my question always is how effectively can you actually shoot out of them?

IMO better than from a traditional hang-on stand. I feel more stable at my anchor point with a bow, rifle I feel it's a wash. It takes getting used to, but the 360-degree access around the tree is awesome.

[Sundance]

The greatest advantage I find in western WA is I can see them coming from further away as opposed to being on the ground. Several times in the past I had 5-10 yard shots where a buck just appeared in front of me, huge rush. This year I had several bucks where I watched them close in from 75-100 yards which allowed me to get into a better shooting position and pick my shooting lane. The fact that I don't have to have a predetermined tree (although prepping trees helps) is great as I can change my location based on wind and be mobile.

[JDArms1240]

I know this is old but i wanted to comment on it, bring it back up and maybe some people will think about it again. 

I got a tree saddle a few years ago and love the thing, i got the hawk helium sticks which ARE a little heavy.  I have the cruzr XC saddle and their platform (the seeker), its awesome with the angled front so you can lean all day.  I bought two extra little bags to put on mine for a total of three.  I bought 2 ropeman 2's for my linemans tethers.  also some must-haves (and i might get clowned on for this  ) are a tiny little saw (i got the silky pocketboy) and some clippers for blackberries at the base of trees and branches on the way up.  then i made a little holder out of some paracord and a HeroClip to attach my bow and all my other stuff too. 

takes a little practice, when i havent practiced in a while itll take me 30 minutes getting up a tree... with practice itll take about 10-15 minutes.. Its a big recommend from me!

[Sundance]

I know this is old but i wanted to comment on it, bring it back up and maybe some people will think about it again. 

I got a tree saddle a few years ago and love the thing, i got the hawk helium sticks which ARE a little heavy.  I have the cruzr XC saddle and their platform (the seeker), its awesome with the angled front so you can lean all day.  I bought two extra little bags to put on mine for a total of three.  I bought 2 ropeman 2's for my linemans tethers.  also some must-haves (and i might get clowned on for this  ) are a tiny little saw (i got the silky pocketboy) and some clippers for blackberries at the base of trees and branches on the way up.  then i made a little holder out of some paracord and a HeroClip to attach my bow and all my other stuff too. 

takes a little practice, when i havent practiced in a while itll take me 30 minutes getting up a tree... with practice itll take about 10-15 minutes.. Its a big recommend from me!

Look at some of the light weight two-step sticks like Tetherd or Lattitudes. I like to add two-step amsteel aiders (not for everyone) so each stick has four steps. With my three carbon sticks I can reach up 20' before putting out my platform, sticks weight at #5 total. I also have the muddy pro's with a single amsteel aider, four sticks total. I get up the same height and they are way more comfortable to user but total weight is #10. I have a single dump pouch for my tether/lineman, a holstered hand saw for trimming branches, and a retractable dog leash for bringing up my bow. Check out this guy for mod's if you aren't up to making your own.
https://theamsteelguy.com/

[JDArms1240]

I will check em out, my hawks are super heavy but they do have 3 steps each and I have added two-step aiders to each of them. I have looked into the timber ninja sticks but those are too rich for my blood for now.

[Sundance]

I wish the Latitude carbon sticks had a bigger stand-off, but for the money they are nice. The cleat system is fast, I added grip tape to the steps with glowing strips for ascending/descending in the dark, and the 1/8" aiders w/ fuel hose weighs nothing. All in I'm at $250 since I bought them on sale, if anything I'd upgrade to the Tetherd titanium sticks but I'm not about to drop $500.