The Pros and Cons of Tree Saddles for Deer Hunting | Saddle Hunting Costs, Benefits, Techniques

This is a great stand, period! It's lightweight, climbs easy youtube.com/post/UgkxlQ7TDIrnnSXXbRgFFaxqwullRJJIu… and feels solid while in the tree. The seat is easy to fold up for climbing and sits comfortably for long days in the woods. The only downside I have is that it might be too comfortable, but I like napping in the tree anyway. This is the second Summit Viper I have owned. The old one is steel making it heavier, but this aluminum version is about 9-10 lbs lighter. I recommend buying a better fall harness as the one included is clunky and not super comfortable. I think it will work fine if you NEED to use it, but there are lots of other more comfortable options out there.

One of the only things I don’t like after 4 seasons in a saddle is that a deer that sneaks in behind you can pick you off pretty easily if you aren’t EXTREMELY cautious with all movement. In a tree-stand with the tree to your back, you can get away with being a little bit more careless with your movement. Obviously, you should always be careful about movement when hunting but on an all day sit, inevitably you will have to adjust and move a little bit. Having your back exposed can bite you if you have a moment of weakness at the wrong moment. Other than that, a saddle is the better option for me.

Been saddle hunting 30 years and never owned a regular treestand. I have 28 ladder stands on 5 farms, I use the seat as my platform to stand on while in my saddle and add a few steps to be able to get around the tree. I use climb paws to get up a tree when not using a ladder stand. I’m 66 and spent 246 hours in a saddle last year. I use a foot platform ( podium) to sit on while in my saddle and use a back sling saddle companies sell and couldn’t be more comfortable. Above all else they are THE safest way to hunt. Still you do need to be in as he says in relatively good shape. So I work out 4 days a week 3 hours a day year round to hunt the way I do. Great video 🏹🏹

Thanks for a truly comprehensive view of this style of hunting. Been looking at them for about 18 months and YouTube is FULL of videos and to be honest the wealth of information is overwhelming, I'm turning 62 and am told I'm in pretty good condition and will be putting on a friend's set up after the season is over. I want to start using this method for sure and your video just helped me make that decision more solid. The shooting aspect is something I never took into consideration but it makes perfect sense. I can see where Hanging from a rope is going to be totally different from a shooting stand point then sitting or standing on the ground

Great video. Thanks for the helpful info.

GREAT video and explanation! I gained much from this. Thanks so much

I love my saddle, even for firearms seasons. I hunt a heavily pressured property and the saddle let me get right in where the deer felt safe to move while everyone else sat on the field edges during the MN rifle season. It payed off.

Great video.. thanks for sharing your thought.

I have one and it is another tool in the belt. I don't find them that comfortable compared to a nice ladder stand, but they are great for public land hunting and moving location when the deer aren't coming to my ladder stand until after dark.

I have found saddle hunting more versatile and easier than setting stands. I am 59 years old and fell in love with it. I still have a couple stands set up but with the saddle I am more apt to move to a different location when needed. Great video.

Great informational content guys!

Excellent advice and a fair assessment of saddle hunting...one thing...whether I have permanant sets with cheapie hang ons or not...I always use my saddle and rappel system...its the best of all worlds

I have the idea of buying a saddle and cheap hang ons and sticks and using my saddle for the climbing safety aspect, and comfortability in cheaper hang ons.

Support from Southern Indiana

Your videos are awesome. I’m buying the same stick you use but a 15inch with the ultimate lower step. I think it will be more comfortable for me just starting out one sticking. Do you think that’s a good idea? Also I was curious to why you don’t wrap paracord on the edge?

I was wondering if you could skip the sticks and use a climbing rope and ascenders. You would throw a bean bag to a limb then attach ascenders and climb the rope. Then attach the saddle at the desired height. The unknown is the strength of the limb.

I have saddle love it but I screwed up my back and haven’t been able to make that weird shot angle you gotta take sometimes since then have kinda been forced to use hang ons again

What are the orange nightize gear ties around the bottom of your saddle used for?

That mustache is a huge upgrade from that little goatee !

In my opinion I don’t think it really takes to much fitness as it does just practice. That’s if you want to be efficient in your saddle and the price but I feel way more safe and have more options and more comfort and just a lot funnier in general and I wouldn’t trade my saddle for anything and I love it and im on my 4 year and it barely shows any wear at all. It’s super quiet is another huge thing.