Post by: smithkl42 on June 19, 2019, 08:44:36 PM
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.
Post by: smithkl42 on June 21, 2019, 09:10:50 AM
Post by: OutHouse on June 21, 2019, 12:19:50 PM
Post by: JasonG 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!
Post by: brandon.b.sanders on January 10, 2020, 12:45:31 AM
Post by: MADMAX on January 10, 2020, 04:59:58 AM
I'm too old to climb trees anymore voluntarily
good luck
Post by: huntnnw on January 10, 2020, 06:58:42 AM
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on January 10, 2020, 08:30:36 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 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.
Post by: pianoman9701 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:
Post by: huntnnw 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.
Post by: pianoman9701 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
Post by: MADMAX on January 10, 2020, 01:58:00 PM
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
Post by: pianoman9701 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.
Post by: MADMAX on January 10, 2020, 02:07:55 PM
Post by: KFhunter on January 10, 2020, 02:11:21 PM
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
Post by: pianoman9701 on January 10, 2020, 02:43:11 PM
I grew up in NH also, Littleton
Fitzwilliam, south of Keene.
Post by: NorseNW on January 11, 2020, 07:57:59 AM
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on January 11, 2020, 08:23:20 AM
Post by: JasonG on January 11, 2020, 04:01:32 PM
Post by: cryder on January 12, 2020, 07:46:31 AM
Post by: TheStovePipeKid 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 !!!
Post by: Bango skank on January 12, 2020, 03:10:35 PM
Post by: huntnnw 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
Post by: cryder on January 14, 2020, 09:38:20 PM
Post by: youngbull on January 21, 2020, 02:59:06 PM
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.
Post by: buckfvr on January 21, 2020, 04:35:10 PM
Post by: huntnnw 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.
Post by: Jonathan_S on January 22, 2020, 06:24:44 AM
Looks good for a lineman though :dunno:
Post by: KFhunter on January 22, 2020, 08:37:19 AM
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.