CATMAN'S MOBILE HUNTING SETUPS: Treestands and Saddles 

The main thing to remember is to practice a lot before you ever use these in a hunting situation. 6 am is not time to learn how to use a tree stand/ harness. Practice makes perfect. Awesome video Catman.

Nice explanation of all 3 setups. Something for everyone!

Prior to this video, I had never even heard of a saddle setup. As a 53 year-old deer hunter, my initial reaction was to laugh and wonder why someone would EVER want to torture themselves like that. Then I remembered how I shot deer from the crotch of a big tree when I was young and probably would have been much safer with your saddle method. To each his own!

one of the most informative videos on how to do this. thanks for describing the gear, stating what it is, what it's called, where you bought materials, etc., and linking to it.

Great video! Thanks for making them!

I'm 53- wouldn't trade my summit for nothing, my friend got a summit Goliath. Gave me his old open shot!!! That's a good friend!!!! Nice video guys!!!

Thanks for showing the saddle set-up!

Thanks for the video! It was great seeing you hunt with the Hunting Public this year! I am making the switch to the saddle this year.

Thanks for the video and the explanations and time you put in.

Thank you for the demonstration

Thanks for the Great video... I enjoy see the difference between trees stand and the saddle. Good luck on your hunt.

Legend has it that tripod is still out there in the woods, stalking self filming hunters

Pretty cool I'm digging this saddle deal

Good explanation guys. I’ve been a stand hunter for over 40 years. I just started with the saddle this year. I should have made the switch long ago.

Guys, you really did a swell job explaining the whole waterfront, so to speak. Thanks! I've stayed on the ground, with minimal success. I'm hoping to take the off-season to piece together a set-up and learn it well. Probably will have to include crocs!

Great video on a couple different setups!

Great job guys.

That’s new to me. Ima need to try that, thanks for the tips and help.

Great video! Thanks for the information.

Great video. Thanks for the info.

Great video, keep after them big ones they're still out there!

very well done. a little for everybody.

thank you. very informative

I enjoy watching,your videos bud... A lot,of setup time it seems before each hunt...

Thanks, that was helpful.

Great video guys. Keep it up

Good video, thanks.

Well done.

So very interesing, Jonnie & educational , even though we're not hunters but so glad you are!!!

I appreciate your video! Thank you, from a new hunter.

Awesome video! Packed full of incredibly useful tips, tricks and recommendations! Really appreciate your time and effort in making this!

Great video

Great video...Lots ways to get up a tree....I'm 58, and like someone said below, have to hunt with ladders, as my back has seen its better days!....Keep up the good job videoing!

Great informational video. I have used a tree lounge for almost 20 years they are heavy but the only thing I can sit in all day for the rut. Other stands are ok for short hunts.

Good information catman 👍🏻

Excellent informative video! Very well orated.

Good video guys. Love the saddle!

Camo Form tape is awesome!! I don't think I'm alone, but packing the Summit stands drives me nuts!! Great video guys!

That is a l o t To Remember especially when you're dealing with morning hunt in the dark but a lot of great tips thanks for the video keep them coming

Great video, thank you!

I kept thinking the ropes were in the way for bow hunting on a saddle untill did that mock draw back and i was like woah... thats awesome.

Good stuff guys very similar to my setup. I went with a Tethrd Mantis and just scored a pack of WildEdge Stepps

Thanks for taking your time to help keep us safe. I had a new latter stand break on me last year, I fell over 20 ft. breaking my hip. If a friend would not have been with me at the time of the accident, I would have died there, due to no phone service. Please wear your safety gear.

I filled my stands with expandable foam works great

Dang that looks like a lot of work and I'd still be a nervous wreck. I'll stick to my Ol' Man Climber. Works like a charm. Best of luck to you Catman!

I use Summit Climbers and one is a sit down climber but I do not use it much the other is an open front. For lock on I have several. My favorite is a Screaming Eagle. Not made any longer I think. The most rock solid hanging stand ever made IMO. I also have a Gorilla and an older Amacker no longer made. I use Ezy Climb steps both screw in and rope. They were made in America with good steel and strong rope. I bought a lot of them years ago and figure I have enough to last as long as I will be climbing trees. At 65 I wonder how much longer that will be. I also use a Hunter Safety System harness that comes with the linemans belt for securing to the tree while putting up and taking down. I can put all this stuff on the stand and carry it and if I can do it at 65 a younger hunter should have no problem.

Thx!

Super serious video “ now you normally hunt out of those crocs “. 🤣🤣

great video guys, had me laughing about the crocs, "not everyone can do this"

Good shit...Thanks!

I use a “Treesuit” which is similar to the saddle but a bit more cumbersome, however it seems to have a bit more back support.

Thanks for the info guys. I was just wondering about a standard climbing harness vs the expensive saddles!

Good stuff. 👍

I would like to see you guys install this on a 26 deg morning with gloves and bibs , coveralls .. great video ....The saddle is a warm weather harness in my opinion ...

I think I would be one of those not trusting my equipment. thanks for the explanation.

Great video! If I was your age and 100 pounds lighter, I would try it!

Made a sit drag saddle and never used it lol. Realized most of my spots have good climber trees and the lonewolf is just easier to deal with. Didn't even use my hang on and sticks this season. Eventually I'll try the saddle, need to figure out a better way to carry the sticks in with it.

Haha i hunt with crocs. Super silent and deadly. Cool video guys!

Love the saddle set up but the xop will help transporting your climber in my opinion

I am wore out just watching lol

Outstanding video, can you please put a link in you description on where to find the camo crocs, lol !!!

He's not going to kill a deer without those Crocs I hear you moblin.. great videos always

Well hell, that’s the way to hang and hunt. I’ve been doing it wrong for years and you can bet I’ll be getting a saddle.

I hope more deer hunters are coming closer to accepting safe techniques like these guys are using. An alternative to ladder methods is to use arborist climbing techniques such single (srt) and doubled rope climbing (ddrt). Double rope can be accomplished using a single rope and no additional equipment as shown by Joe Bisping on here, and single rope (srt) is demonstrated well by Jamie Cline. Even outdated arborist techniques are much safer than free climbing trees in the dark.

Thanks for the informative video. How many hours have you sat in the harness comfortably before you had to get down? Also, what's a general time table from getting to the base of the tree to bow in hand hunting? I'm very interested in trying out a saddle for the warmer months. Thanks Catman!

You left your tripod behind back at the demonstration tree!

Treestand vs Saddle? No comparison....Treestand!

For your Aider there is a knot called a water knot it is a safer knot for your webbing. The overhand you have tied could come untied the water knot is the way rock climbers tie their webbing together.

Im gonna have to get a saddle to play with.

Aider step 👍🏼 I'm still looking to consider switching to a saddle. Have you been using the phantom? What are the new sticks you're using with what looks like cables going through them?

By using that wider and removing the bottom stick you can also prevent someone from stealing your stand if you decided to leave it set up

well done guys . I was rock climber .. and this could help some of those new guys learn the right way and safe way ...I would add one thing ,rock climbing gear is not design for hunting gear .. just like the different types of locking carabineers there are many custom items that work better for rock climbing as the same for hunting gear where design may change from one to other ..those knee pads can safe you weeks with out ice packs injury in hunting season sucks ...something you did not cover as well as I would . is the climbing with arrows my grand father jump down from the last step about 3 1/2 ft and the arrow in his side belt quiver trapped under his arm and push the arrow broad head threw the bottom of his quiver and threw the back of his leg . he was a mile and half from the nearest road and they found him laying in the road and he spent 2 weeks in the hospital ,a very dangerous mistake that almost cost him his life ...and what really hurt was he was a conservation officer at the time ...so never get to cocky about safe climbing it can make a season great or end it in one mistake ... take care good luck like the video ...

Are those Crocs for sale? I need a pair broken in like yours! Love it I had to replay for my family

I hunt w the summit specialist open front awesome bow set up lightweight and climbs well only bitch is you have to be very careful setting up in the dark trying keep it quiet

Hey Catman,really enjoy your videos, looks like "real" hunting, not the pretend shows killing monsters in high fence every week. Anyway, have been doing my hunting from the ground, very interested in saddle hunting, your videos are very informative. In your opinion, how hard would it be for an older guy who is a little pudgy and afraid of heights to get into saddle hunting? Like the concept of being mobile, picking any tree and "disappearing" from the field of view of the deer. How high do you typically go up the tree? Thanks for the help.

Nice job. Why Mantis vs kestrel? Have lower back problems will saddle help alleviate back issues and ive hunted from lone wolf assault getting to be too heavy. Thx Gonzo in Ohio

Great video/info. Now all we need in western Ohio is public land and some deer, lol! Seriously

Can I get my midday nap in while using a saddle?

Nice video. I have a Summit climber and really like it, super comfy but I'm looking for something even more mobile. I've been trying to decide between the Lone Wolf and Muddy Outdoors with climbing sticks but after watching your video on it I'm now contemplating a tree saddle, sticks with aider. What's the approximate weight of your saddle setup? Thanks for posting your videos, I find them both informative and entertaining.

I like my viper sd.

Wish I had it over again I wouldnt of bought a self climber stand I like this

Pretty neat but I'll stick to my API

I got to say , we have come along way from the first Baker tree stands. But at 54 I appreciate all this and I would climb with my Baker with just hugging the tree but think this is a young man's stand or someone really in good shape. I will stick to my ladders and once in while when I feel froggy use my summit. Thank you been wondering, as a retired Firefighter we had sop about useing rope more than one time for holding life unless it was totally tested after . Maybe I'm gun shy. One last thing, all rope will fail . Do your self a favor replace every year.

What backpack are you using

What’s the weight limits on the saddles?

You need to check out ny saddle hunters page for the rope climbing method. Also there videos of self tending prusik knots for one handed operation to avoid the $60 mechanical device.

Did you rig up the loops on your harness where you attached your lineman's belt yourself? I'm pretty sure I have the same harness and there are no loops that came with it....and can't use the vinyl covered gear loops cause those aren't weight rated. If so, how'd you do it?

Now that you have the tethrd, would you recommend someone wanting to purchase a saddle setup to just spend the money on the tethrd? Or just save money and do the harness/saddle combo?

Interesting video and what not. Is many options with saddle hunting. Are y'all sorta saying the Mantis is better than the Aero Kestrel? I'm looking to get either one and take the plunge. Lately I've been using the Lone Wolf Assault 2 or what not and the weight is a lot. Don't get me wrong, few men (or women juicing) will outperform me in the weight room but I just don't like carrying in a lot of weight and and working up too much of a schwitz (that's sweat for those of you living in Rio Linda).

So Adrian is using his saddle as his safety harness right? He doesn't have a secondary harness?

Catman, I am 17 and looking to get into saddles while I'm still in shape. I like your setup and feel it would be better off in my budget (I like the mobility more as well). What is the least expensive saddle out there that you'd recommend being I'm still young and don't necessarily have to worry bout comfort?

Bro I admire all the work you just did but damn. I'll stick with my tree climber

Deer see those treestands... do your best at hiding them in the tree. I cut mine down so it's half the size of normal.

Amazon knee pad link plz

OVERALL, YOUR VIDEO IS INFORMATIVE. SEEMS TO ME LIKE A LOT OF WORK ONCE YOU GET TO THE TREE TO HUNT. NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE STUFF YOU HAVE TO CARRY IN TO THE TREE. I CAN'T SEE MYSELF CARRYING ALL OF THAT AND DOING ALL OF THAT WORK (I'D BE SWEATING TO DEATH AND ONCE I WAS UP THE TREE, I'D BE CHILLED AND MY HUNT WOULD BE MISERABLE OR OVER) ALL THE WHILE IN MY CLOTHS, HEAVY COVERALLS, GLOVES, ECT....YOU MAKE IT LOOK DOABLE AND IT MAY BE ANOTHER OPTION FOR OTHER HUNTERS, BUT I THINK I'LL STICK WITH MY BIGSHOT BUCKSHOT MAGNUM. IF YOU'VE NEVER USED THIS TREESTAND, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT GIVING IT A TRY. I CAN HUNT FACING THE TREE OR MY BACK TO THE TREE FOR BOW HUNTING. IT HAS A VERY LARGE FOOT PLATFORM, HAS ADJUSTABLE SIDE ARMS AND ADJUSTABLE BACKREST.....SAY YOUR UP THE TREE A COUPLE HOURS AND YOUR BACK STARTS HURTING. WITH THE ADJUSTABLE ARMS AND BACK, YOU CAN EASILY MOVE THE BACKREST UP AND BACK SO IT'LL HIT YOUR BACK IN ANOTHER AREA. ALSO, THE BACKREST WILL SWIVEL SO IT'LL LINE UP WITH HOW YOU SIT (FORWARD, STRAIGHT, BACK ....JUST LIKE IN A CHAIR IN YOUR HOME). ALSO, THE SEAT AND BACKREST ARE PADDED VERY WELL AND ARE AMAZINGLY COMFORTABLE. ONCE YOUR UP THE TREE TO THE HEIGHT YOU WANT, THE BAR THAT GOES AROUND THE TREE HAS PRE-DRILLED HOLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE PULL STRAPS THAT HOLD THE STAND TOGETHER FOR BACKPACKING ARE ALSO USED TO PUT IN THESE HOLES ONCE YOUR UP THE TREE. YOU USE THEM TO SINCH THE STAND TO THE TREE FOR EXTRA SAFETY......ONCE THESE ARE ON, IT IS ROCK SOLID. YOU CAN'T FALL OUT OF IT AT ALL....YOU'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY STAND UP AND CLIMB OUT OVER THE ARM RAILS TO GET OUT. MINE HAS A SET OF GUN RACKS IN CASE I NEED TO REST OR DO SOMETHING WHILE UP THE TREE. I LIKE THESE STANDS SO MUCH, I HAVE 6 OF THEM SO I CAN LEAVE SOME OF THEM ON THE TREE IN AREAS I TRUST LEAVING A STAND. YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE TREE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. CHECK THEM OUT AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK. AGAIN, GOOD INFORMATIVE VIDEO.

do you think that mantis would be okay for a big dude, I'm about 320, would it be too constricting to sit/stand in? would my weight be an issue for the ropes?

lol, that was to funny

Thanks for no flat bills and not hugging each other...but i guess it's an elk thing.

Is there any weight limits for the saddle stands?

How high do you typically climb to place your stand/saddle?