Tree Stand vs. Saddle Hunting: What's Better? 

In one year of one-stick saddle hunting, I was 3 times as successful taking deer as I’d ever been hunting in a climbing stand. You can keep your preferred type of stand and I wish you the best, but for me the proof is in the pudding. As long as I am physically able, I will be hunting in a saddle on a mobile snyper.

With treestands, your pretty much stuck facing one direction so if a deer comes from the side your screwed where in a saddle you can walk around the tree to hide from deer

Saddle for sure man. Me vs you treestand vs saddle.........

I feel the opposite way. I feel way more out in the opening in a tree stand than a saddle

They are both good it just all depends on the situation

Godamn it’s nice to hear someone else speak the truth.

tree stands have practically 0 mobility. deer are always doing something different for the most part and change patterns from a set of a couple weeks to a new pattern for a couple different weeks. some deer are very predictable. but the saddle or other more mobile ways are going to help level that out

I hunt pretty deep into the cut so for me it’s about weight. This year I even went to a 1 stick setup cause I didn’t want to haul 3 in anymore. I couldn’t imagine hiking in a giant stand.

What podcast is this from??

With you guys on this tight on the tree, and not always facing the tree will be a issue sooner than later. We just did a show on this also. same as you guys we can hang any tree.

I never want to tell anyone that their own experiences are "wrong", but idk if I can agree that hang-ons can get into every tree a saddle platform can. Maybe close, but I have personally hunted trees as recently as last year that I could get into that my buddy with a lone wolf couldn't because of the tree's small diameter. Also, I'd argue that I'm closer/tighter to a tree in my saddle given that I'm standing 75% of the time than someone in a hang-on is when they are *probably* sitting 75% of the time. And I can walk around my tree for cover if needed. Everyone should hunt the way they're comfortable, but if we're really having this conversation/debate, I simply don't see how a saddle isn't more advantageous.

I've only saddle hunted last year being my first year bow hunting and I have a few things to learn (knee pads being number 1) but I really enjoyed the vantage point and style in general. I'll learn I'm sure which little nuances are better or worse but until then I will stick with the saddle

Why not ground blinds?

I see videos of saddle guys swinging all around to show me how many angles they can cover, yet I never see videos of them swinging to the other side with a mature buck 30 yards away! 🤣

What tree stand is that on your table?

I’m in a hybrid 🤷🏻‍♂️

To be fair I’m a climbing arborist for work and I can get into any tree and have all the tools. In a way I’ll saddle hunt but my set up is like 3k but I’ve always filled all my deer tags this way for the past 15 years depending on the year 35 deer harvested this way and it works great

I thought about trying out saddle hunting until I had 2 back surgeries. The tree is there for back support in my stand. A saddle doesnt offer that as easy. Hang on stand for me.

If I had to pick one, hang on 100%. I put the hang on on the backside of the tree so I can use it for cover whenever possible. A lot more standing, but I never shoot seated anyways, but still can if need be. More stable than a saddle, inarguable. Heavier though. I made my own saddle, 2 panel, have yet to use it. Probably never will.

Of course you can get in the exact same tree realistically, but it’s the timeframe of how quickly you can change trees from one to the other and areas from one to the other, so quickly versus a ladder or hang on stand. I don’t particularly like saddle hunting, but it is definitelyquicker to move

Totally agree..saddle hunting is a gimmick.😅

The bulk of the hang ons going through brush get me. I can get in the woods to my tree much more stealthy with a saddle set up. No question on the comfort though. To each their own, I couldn’t care less what people hunt in.

It’s not about the tree it’s about how many more angles for shots you can take with a saddle over hunting out of a stand, both have there place. If you’re limiting your self to just tree stand or saddle, you are simple that limiting yourself.

saddle hunting potentially costed me a good buck once .i knew better though. i knew i should had took a loc on .he was suppose to come from ovet here but guess what he did he came from over there were i rarely had deer come from but he did

It’s the carry in weight for me. If it’s a permanent set, a stand makes sense. If you are beboping around public, a saddle makes sense.

I like both but being able to carry such a light load into the woods makes the saddle/one stick the go to for mobile hunting. I have one EWO stick strapped to my pack and that's it. It's not even noticeable.

Each may have their strengths and weaknesses..... but hands down, if your in a saddle your going to move more. A fixed stand and you can honestly sit dead still. Idk about you but I've been busted alot less times in a stand than I have been in a saddle

I have both , and loc on is better! I can buy a saddle platform for 200$ compared to a lite stand for 500$ tho

I hated the idea of a saddle. Didn't agree with it, thought I'd get busted. Had the chance to try one and I'll never hunt public in a normal lock on again. And as far as trees go, you can't cut stuff in public, so that cedar I shot a doe out of last Year would be impossible to hang a stand in without some level of cutting or not having it level.

If your hunting hardwoods your good either way, but when you have brush trees like buckthorn and gotta be creative in setups, not gonna happen with a saddle, I’m a bed hunter I can’t hunt for trees I gotta be in THE tree or brush tree, a tree stand won’t let me down. A saddle is gonna force me to hunt back from that bed when I gotta be in the spot I gotta be in.

This definitely stirred the pot! Lol

You know what they’ve always said about opinions…

Why not lone wolf or hunting beast style climbers? Most guys I know are all going that route

Not even a chance, sorry boys lol

Don’t saddle hunters stand on a tiny little tree stand

I have & use both. Lone Wolf .5 setup & a tree saddle setup. They both have their strengths & weaknesses. One is not better than the other. I don’t understand the argument about the issue. I’m not strictly one or the other, I use both to have multiple options. I will say for mobile hunting, the saddle cannot be beat. Even though my .5 is very lightweight & compact the saddle is more light & more compact. Also I feel wayyy more secure & safe in a saddle.

They’re tools. One is better is some situations and the others good in all situations.

Most guys are converting back to traditional loc ons. Tried and true and easiest. 3 sticks and a loc on. You think saddle is minimalist but in the end saddle guys bring more shit than you think. The tree has so much shit attach to it its crazy.

Saddles you keep the tree between you and the deer, that’s the upside I’ve seen with them, you are much more hidden

So petty sit on the ground I can hunt in more places than you by crossing out all of them

must be lacking on skills if you can't hunt from the ground

You could definitely get in more spots with a tree stand....

Saddle hunting sucks,. Hive me a stand every time.