Saddle Hunting - School me please

kodiakjack

kodiakjack

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Hey all. I’m looking to get into saddle hunting. I know almost nothing, but would be pleased to absorb any information you folks are willing to share.

Some of my main questions and considerations:

- I’m a big dude. 6’4”, 280lbs. I’ll need a worthy saddle…

- climbing method - this has me hung up the most I think. Ideally, I want a saddle and climbing system that will basically allow me to saddle hunt as an afterthought if need be. Something I can have in my pack and not be overwhelmed with. DRT and SRT rope climbing seem to be the lightest, but I don’t like being limited to trees with branches at the right place and time. Spurs would probably be ideal if they were more friendly to trees (hunting public land). I’m thinking the one-stick method might be the best bet, but I’m open to suggestions…

-where to buy…

-brands to buy…

-brands NOT to buy…

-Success stories, horror stories, and anything else you’re willing to share.

Thanks!!
 
I've got a JX3 hybrid gen 1 and have it set up with a 45ft long piece of Sterling Canyon C-IV rope + Madrock Safeguard for rappelling. I bought the saddle with the intent of using it to have a bunch of pre-set locations on private land w/ climbing bolts, and using it to be more flexible hunting the wind. Caveat is that I haven't hunted out of it yet, but have practiced with it quite a few times.

I also have a Summit Titan SD climbing stand, and while it is awesome, it is physically pretty big when carrying it on your back and I was trying to find something slightly smaller to get in/out of the bush easier with the saddle.

If I had neither and was going to do it over again I would probably heavily look at either a smaller profile climbing stand (Summit open shot, Lone Wolf hand climber) or a light weight hang-on stand + sticks (Beast stand, Lone Wolf Assault II).

I still like the idea of saddle hunting but it is a lot of pissing around with different equipment, climbing methods, platforms, etc.... but I am heavily accepting the sunk cost fallacy at this point. If you are looking for another hobby on top of hunting (notice how there is no "climbingtreestandhunter.com" like there is "saddlehunter.com"), maybe it's for you. If you are more interested in just hunting, not hiking in kilometers deep and wanting to save ounces of weight, don't have the urge to feel like batman rappelling out of a tree when you are done hunting, not making sponsored youtube vidoes, etc... maybe reconsider.
 
mnr said:
I've got a JX3 hybrid gen 1 and have it set up with a 45ft long piece of Sterling Canyon C-IV rope + Madrock Safeguard for rappelling. I bought the saddle with the intent of using it to have a bunch of pre-set locations on private land w/ climbing bolts, and using it to be more flexible hunting the wind. Caveat is that I haven't hunted out of it yet, but have practiced with it quite a few times.

I also have a Summit Titan SD climbing stand, and while it is awesome, it is physically pretty big when carrying it on your back and I was trying to find something slightly smaller to get in/out of the bush easier with the saddle.

If I had neither and was going to do it over again I would probably heavily look at either a smaller profile climbing stand (Summit open shot, Lone Wolf hand climber) or a light weight hang-on stand + sticks (Beast stand, Lone Wolf Assault II).

I still like the idea of saddle hunting but it is a lot of pissing around with different equipment, climbing methods, platforms, etc.... but I am heavily accepting the sunk cost fallacy at this point. If you are looking for another hobby on top of hunting (notice how there is no "climbingtreestandhunter.com" like there is "saddlehunter.com"), maybe it's for you. If you are more interested in just hunting, not hiking in kilometers deep and wanting to save ounces of weight, don't have the urge to feel like batman rappelling out of a tree when you are done hunting, not making sponsored youtube vidoes, etc... maybe reconsider.
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Lol, thanks.
 
Lightweight climbing sticks, the best quality and most compact you can find.
I used to set up a bunch of trees, I'd use scrw in tree steps and leave them. You can carry 10 or 12 steps in a fanny pack, wear your saddle and walk around Lightweight and hands free.

Saddles are cool, fun, stealth. But it gets to be a pain in the ass like anything else.
 
Are you a fit 280 and under 40? If so look further into it. If your a garden variety 45 plus in declining fitnes dude who’s been watching YouTube then stick to ladder stands. I’ve carried sticks and a stand around, and it’s a pain in the ass. So is setting all your crap up every hunt, and climbing and setting up can be an energetic process. The saddle will no doubt be lighter, but the rest of it will be the same. I am leaning more to ladder stands or ground hunts now. There is a reason most of the saddle hunt dudes are under 30 string beans. JMO
 
meatsticks said:
Are you a fit 280 and under 40? If so look further into it. If your a garden variety 45 plus in declining fitnes dude who’s been watching YouTube then stick to ladder stands. I’ve carried sticks and a stand around, and it’s a pain in the ass. So is setting all your crap up every hunt, and climbing and setting up can be an energetic process. The saddle will no doubt be lighter, but the rest of it will be the same. I am leaning more to ladder stands or ground hunts now. There is a reason most of the saddle hunt dudes are under 30 string beans. JMO
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Lol. Love your honesty.

I’m 39. “Fit” might be a bit of an overstatement, but not too far off the mark. I’m fairly active, and think I’m up for the challenge.
 
I have a tree hopper. I love my saddle. Also use a set of novix climbing sticks. Saddle allows me to get shots all around the tree with my bow for when deer come in from expected directions. Allows me different testing positions and much more comfortable than a treestand for me and I've tried alot of them. Killed my whitetail out of it this year and will be doing it again next year. I can be set up in a bare tree in about 12 min and get about 20-22' high
 
If you are on FB, check out the Canadian Saddle Hunting page, lots of great info there and they are welcome to newbies. And there is a fella down your way that has a website dedicated to bringing saddle hunting gear to Canada and retailing it to the Canadian saddle hunter at reasonable prices, just google saddle hunting Canada. Also check out Stini gear on FB, he is a Canadian manufacturer of high quality saddles, he is a big dude too and he has a rock climbing background, and all of his saddles are custom made to fit the buyer, not a stock size and you hope it fits. I am new to saddel hunting too, grabbed a saddle from Stini gear and I am very happy with it, fits perfect and it is very reasonably priced. I dont one stick or do anything fancy, I carry two or three sticks, and have nylon webbing ladder aiders to get even higher and save weight and space in my pack. If you want more info send me a private message and we can chat. Good luck!
 
Crashman said:
If you are on FB, check out the Canadian Saddle Hunting page, lots of great info there and they are welcome to newbies. And there is a fella down your way that has a website dedicated to bringing saddle hunting gear to Canada and retailing it to the Canadian saddle hunter at reasonable prices, just google saddle hunting Canada. Also check out Stini gear on FB, he is a Canadian manufacturer of high quality saddles, he is a big dude too and he has a rock climbing background, and all of his saddles are custom made to fit the buyer, not a stock size and you hope it fits. I am new to saddel hunting too, grabbed a saddle from Stini gear and I am very happy with it, fits perfect and it is very reasonably priced. I dont one stick or do anything fancy, I carry two or three sticks, and have nylon webbing ladder aiders to get even higher and save weight and space in my pack. If you want more info send me a private message and we can chat. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I’ll check those out :)
 
MiG25 said:
And here I was going to tell you to mount the horse from the side, never from behind.
Click to expand...

I thought we where talking abut shooting off the back of a horse, I knew a fellow that did that with a win, 25-20 with a long barrel, 26-28"
I tried roping off my cutting trained horse one time, that old girl could back up 10 ft in about one second. I did not even know she had left till My nose hit the ground, hard.
But nice horse, otherwise.
Out on the bald prairie, not many places for a tree stand.
 
i've got the tethrd mantis, tethrd platform and hawk helium sticks (x3). yes it can be a pain setting up each time but imo it is well worth it. I like to scout hot areas and set up in those areas. Deer move around and use different areas of the forest and a mobile set up allows you to move with them (if you're baiting then ladder stand it for sure). I timed it last time i was out, from "unclip backpack" to "ready to draw bow" is about 15-20 minutes in the dark. I've done all day sits and find it comfortable enough to do multiple days in a row, you can lean, sit, stand, whatever you want. once you get used to drawing in weird positions the possibilities of shooting 360 degrees is very real, deer don't always come from where you expect. I recommend
 
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