Tree Sadle

[traphunter]

Has anyone ever bow hunted out of or used the tree saddle? I am looking for something more versitile and thought about purchasing one. The old summit just doesnt suit my needs to well.

[brock ratcliff]

I have used them and they work well. They have their place but I don't think it will ever be something I want to hunt out of all time.

[loadbreak]

How do they work? I've seen pictures of them but what want to know is how do you get up the tree? Do you have to have steps or a ladder allready on the tree? If thats the case I just dont see any advantage.

[traphunter]

I was wondering the same thing? Are they hard to get a shot out of?

[canine1]

A friend of mine paid big bucks for one and used it just a couple times :irked:

I tried it in his yard and on one hunt, I'll stick to my climber..

I could see a use for one in a specific situation, like a fence row where it would take alot of cutting to prepare a tree for a climber or lock-on. I'm talkin scrub type tree's in fencreows.

I just climbed the tree and hooked myself up, once i got to where I wanted to go.


JD

[brock ratcliff]

That is what I have found as well. They have their place but in most cases, a climber is the way to go for quick hunts. You do need a way to get up the tree, I like rapid rails, they are quick, light and quiet. You need to practice with the tree saddle a bit before you hunt out of it. It takes some getting used to because the tree is right in front of you. You can shoot to the right, left or directly behind you once you have gotten acquainted with the saddle. I haven't used it for two years, but you never know when you will find a situation that requires it.

[traphunter]

I have never used Rapid Rails or any climbing sticks for that matter. How fast and easy do they set up??

The main reason i am interested in the saddle is because i want to lighten my load while going to my stand. Also because most of the spots i want to hunt have absolutly no good trees for a climber, and there is no way i would leave a hang on or latter stand out in the woods after already getting 3 of them stolen from me.:nono:

[canine1]

Do you carry a bone saw with you when using your climber?

I found there aren't many areas that I can't use a climber, especially with a pair of clippers and a good bone saw. I can take limbs off the size of a softball pretty quickly. I used to worry about the noise when I first started making climber trees, but after seeing the noise never really affected my hunts, I don't bat an eye anymore.

I don't hunt much public land, so not sure if you can cut branches or not there. Most farmers here tell me whatever it takes, just take out some deer.

I know your question is about the saddle, but a good bone saw and clippers are alot cheaper and don't add much weight. Plus alot less expensive and will be used more..LOL

That saddle would take some time to get used to.

JD

[traphunter]

Thats the problem, it's public land so i cant cut. I do own a saw though and they sure can be a life saver at times.:)

[BR Stinger]

This is my second year using the Tree Saddle (Ambush model). I use 3 Lone Wolf sticks plus one or two strap on steps and then the last strap on step has three steps on one strap, which serves as my foot platform. I can be about 22 ft high and all set in about 7 minutes.

I am a mobile hunter and don't hunt a certain stand more than a couple times during the early season and the Saddle works great for this. I love my climber but sometimes I'm going to a new place and I'm not sure there are suitable trees for a climber, so I take the Saddle. I really like the fact that it is dead quiet and once you are up the tree then the Saddle is as simple (sweat free) to set up as a safety harness.

I've found that a leaning tree is not suited for the Saddle and trees with loose bark make my tree step platform slide down (which is miserable) but the Saddle is pretty comfortable in most trees. I've sat for as much as 6 hours so far but normally only use it when I'm hunting 4 or less hours.

A couple other "pros" are that I think it's the safest way to go by far and you can camoflauge yourself pretty easily since you are facing the tree.

You will have some instances when you curse yourself for ever buying one (when you pick the wrong tree) but with practice these times will be minimal.