Tree saddle anyone?

[3blades]

#6904

Do any of you hunt from a tree saddle? I am an active guy who likes to hunt on the ground but I am involved with some deer management for our local government and must be hunting from a tree stand or such. So what have been your experiences good or bad? Thanks.

[bruc]

#56530

Not sure what a tree saddle is:?:
Bruce

[3blades]

#56539

This is it here. Another fourm had a good thread on them but wondered what you guys thought.

[SteveMcD]

#56636

For the money they want.. you’d be better off buying a summit climber. I am told you have to be pretty phyical to use the tree saddle since you’re essentially lift your own weight up the tree, without the leverage or benefit of a tree climber.

[Cottonwood]

#56675

A buddy of mine here, that hunts Africa quite a bit has tried all the stands etc… The Tree Saddle is all he will use. At one of our Bowhunter Education Classes, Matt demonstrated just how fast you can go around a tree once your up there. Just about 360* radius.

Much lighter than any stand available today, and more versital as well.

[Stephen Graf]

#57488

In my neck of the woods, being able to get all the way around the tree to shoot is not the problem.

The problem is getting busted by deer that have been hunted from trees and chased by dogs for generations.

In order to use the tree saddle, the tree must not have branches. This makes for easy detection by the deer. I always try to have as much stand height cover as I can manage.

I have never used a tree saddle. So my opinion lacks experience. But For what it’s worth it appears to me that the deer would bust you a lot in that stand. Just the sound of your feet against the tree bark as you move around the tree would be enough to spook deer.

I haven’t mentioned form in my opinion. But it looks to me like you will give up all the necessary points of good form to shoot from that thing….

In a word…. yuck.

[Cottonwood]

#57708

Well deer busting your stand or you in a tree is because that same tree had been used by a noisy hunter before. Deer don’t look up unless they were given a reason before. Matt uses spikes for his feet, so he is not touching any bark making noise, other users milage may vary depending where they set up and how they set up.

Your statement about giving up form, sorry I had to chuckle. Have you never shot from sitting on your butt, on the ground, or on one knee? You must learn to shoot from all positions that you can or could encounter while bowhunting.

Now for me, I’m stickly a spot and stalk hunter. Even though I tried Matt’s Tree Saddle, I like working from the ground because I keep it the K.I.S. meathod. But Steve I felt as you do, when I first saw this contraption, and because I saw it worked by a guy who uses it all the time it changed my mind.

But I will still keep to the ground.

[bruc]

#58089

Where I live deer do look up a lot more than they did 5 years ago! And deer are more cautious about rattling horns, grunt calls and so on, no different than elk being bugle shy after they’ve heard it a thousand times.
Bruce

[RH]

#58107

I’ve hunted from a tree saddle quite a bit over the years for deer and elk. I have the ambush model now which is super light weight and very comfortable. You can hunt from trees with lots of branches or none. I like branches to use as a platform instead of tree steps that you need on branchless trees. I can set up in trees that I never could with a tree stand. With the ambush model, which weighs about 2 pounds, I can get way in the backcountry, no problem. If the system is used properly you can’t fall out of it, with the safety straps. You definitely want some kneepads to keep you comfortable. I also hunt from the ground a lot, but the tree saddle just gives me one more option and comes in handy sometimes. Just my 2 cents,
Good hunting,
Rick

[3blades]

#58147

From the guys that have used it seems that you like it. I am pretty good with being moderately comfortable and from what I have heard it is worth the effort. I know it will take some practice to shoot from and learn the technique. The only negative I have heard said is that it is not super comfy. I can deal with that for the most part. I love to hike and move around so this so far seems like a good match for me. Thanks for the input fellas.

[BadShotDad]

#62337

Find a climbing store, and ask to try on some climbing harnesses. You can find them much cheaper, they have loops to hold gear at your waist, and they are much lighter in weight. There are even some that have chest pieces to prevent a roll-over (or you can make your own). But that is not as necessary as you might think.

Also, for a safety line, definitely go with some DYNAMIC line, not STATIC. Even 3′ of dynamic will absorb some energy; you can really mess your back up falling on 3′ of static.

[3blades]

#62572

Didn’t think of that but I did do some repelling back in the day and remember being not two comfortable but who knows…:lol: I have one on the way already from a guy who wants to get rid of it for various reasons for a really great price. We shall see. 8)

[BadShotDad]

#63336

Yeah, climbing harnesses have gotten _lots_ better in the last few years. The first one I used was just webbing tied into a harness. That ‘encouraged’ one to not rest in the harness and keep climbing. If I had taken a fall in it, I would be a soprano now!

Harnesses marketed for aid climbing are super padded. You can forget you have it on.

Good luck with the saddle. Post and let us know what you think after you try it out.

[3blades]

#33587

Well I finally got into the tree with my tree saddle yesterday and did some practice. I under estimated how much energy and strength it takes to get up and down from the tree a few times.:lol: But once up their it is like sitting in a hammock and could take a nap if I wanted. I used the lone wolf mini climbing sticks (4) with the bear claws top steps as my platform. This way I am totally mobile and works best for my hunting area and style. It does require a fair amount of practice to shoot from but for me that is the fun of it. All in all I am very happy with it.

[stalkin4elk]

#15616

How about some performance updates? Thanks.

[RH]

#16608

Like I said above, I use my tree saddle extensively for whitetails and a little for elk and mule deer. Here’s a couple of bucks I’ve taken in Eastern Colorado from a tree saddle over the last couple years. I’m leaving Wednesday for this years hunt and will give an update.

[3blades]

#16802

Well so far I like that it is super easy to move from place to place. The only thing you must do is practice shooting from it as you have to learn how not to sway as you take a shot. Also it is very important to have a stead fast top perch as this is where yo will make all of your stealthy maneuvers and be able to shoot from 360 degrees. No success yet but only been out twice.

[Author]

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