The Pros and Cons of Saddle Hunting - IS IT WORTH IT?

[@dylanroe7618]

Nice video. My saddle last season was a game changer. Being able to adjust on the fly can be key. Excited to use it more in different states!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Heck yea man. Sure opens up a ton of possibilities for hunting new places!

[@TheBowhunter_Project]

Thanks for doing this!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

You got it chief!

[@eligrambling]

Enjoyed this! Good insight.

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Appreciate that brotha! 🤝🏻

[@quacksandquivers]

Great video bud! Saddle hunting will change the game for staying mobile!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Thanks for following along man!!

[@lovetogun3611]

Saddle is great and limitations are much less than my summit but my summit sure is cozy. I also stay connected from the ground up in a climber🤔 hunting from a climber doesn't mean you neglect being attached to the tree

[@Dmoore37]

Last season was my first in a saddle. Truly a game changer. It is expensive to get quality gear but man it’s fun!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Such a handy tool to have in the arsenal!

[@matthewpillar2104]

Great video. I started saddle hunting last season and the learning curve was real, but I mimicked the approach you use to climb and hunt in one trip and felt pretty fluid after a few sits. Your content is the best, thank you and keep it coming!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

That means a lot! I appreciate the feedback, as well as you tuning in!

[@pathfinder5804]

I’ve copied your stick mods exactly and luv them. Light sturdy and easy to use!!! Thx

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I wouldn’t change a thing. Did you like them?

[@pathfinder5804]

@@NextStepOutdoors Luv’d them!!!! Took me a minute to get them worked into my system as far as being able to get up tree without looking at them and just being able to reach down for them. I live in Maine and down on the coast so mostly climbing red oaks and beech trees. Both hard smooth bark and they grab awesome!!! Used them from 70’s early season to 5 degrees late season and they worked great in all conditions. They are an adjustment coming from TrophyLine double steps with pivoting standoffs but once used to them and the feel was not trouble. I could see them being a little tough if it was cold and wet or snowing they might take a little more concentration as to how your footing is. I had no trouble in those conditions but with grip tape and paying attention all was good. The weight difference in my setup was worth any adjustments needed!!!!! My setup last year weighted 16-18lbs (saddle, sticks,platform) this year 10lbs. I tried one sticking, multi stick, multi stick and still repelling and have come back to 4 sticks( bottom w/2 step aider, 2nd stick single step aider, last two no aider). With platform 15-17ft without stretching. Luv these sticks!!!!!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

That’s so awesome to hear! I’m with you on the aiders. A lot of the time I just run a two step on the bottom and often, none the rest of the way up. I’ve been able to do a lot more in season scouting with my current setup because it’s as light as it is. When I used to run a heavier setup, I was reluctant to hike further than I needed. I’m all over the place now. The camera gear is the heaviest part lol.

[@pathfinder5804]

@@NextStepOutdoors Ya my whole overall setup is a little heavy 22lbs. I do film a lot of my stuff too and I use a 15yr old gorilla arm which weights like 6-8lbs alone so kinda ridiculous even though I’m filming with my cell it’s heavy. My setup fits super good though with my Mystery Ranch pop up 28!!!!! Both my saddle and my hybrid setup fit inside the meat shelf nicely and even when I’m walking miles into setups or looking for hot sign in our VERY low deer number areas I can carry everything I need and not get fatigued or sound like a herd of elephants while walking around. That’s why I ditched the climbing stand yrs ago was 30-35lbs setup and impossible to walking around with for any length of time!!! Thinking I might make one more purchase to streamline my setup for coming yr and that’s to buy an arsenal platform to compact things even tighter. I’m just using a cheap hawk one now and it works great but I luv how arsenal’s lays flat and along with the carbon sticks it will be light as a feather!!!!! We have to stay on the move a lot up here in the north country as our bucks travel for miles and miles every day so gotta be on hottest sign possible and this requires tons of hiking!!!!!

[@Bryan-wc3et]

Been saddle hunting 30 years and have NEVER owned a hang on.hunted on several but never felt real safe even with a safety harness. I do have 28 ladder stands on 5 farms but use the seat as my foot platform using my saddle, also have 5 climbing sticks with the same concept. Mobility is key!!🦌🦌🏹

[@NextStepOutdoors]

You’ve been in the game about as I’ve been alive! 🤣 bet you’ve seen quite the evolution of saddle gear.

[@Bryan-wc3et]

You wouldn’t believe the first one I had, what a contraption!!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I don’t doubt it 🤣

[@EasternWild]

Awesome man! What do you use to edit your content? Loving your channel!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

That means a lot man! I was using premier pro but just switched to davinci resolve which is free!

[@AsocPaladin0016]

I started saddle hunting 3 years ago and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to full time tree stand. Just the mobility aspect of it is nuts. I sat in 14 different trees this year with a set up that weighs less than my tree stand alone. I can get in a tree in 5 minutes with very little noise and effort at this point.

[@NextStepOutdoors]

It sure is nice if you move around a lot. One of my next vids will be answering the question I get all the time, “how long does it take to fully set up”

[@AsocPaladin0016]

@@NextStepOutdoors with all your cameras I’m sure your set up is longer than mine but even then, a standard tree stand always took me way to long to get up. Especially with my old set up that didn’t have a lineman belt and I was just wrapping my leg to the tree and holding on tight.

[@EasternWild]

@@AsocPaladin0016I was always sweating to death climbing my summit too. I don’t really know why, but I don’t feel like I exert as much energy with steps. I’m never going back. I’m in the Tethrd Lockdown and it’s very comfortable.

[@AsocPaladin0016]

@@EasternWild I rock a latitude outdoors classic saddle but I use the tethered predator platform and that thing is awesome.

[@phillygrappler]

This will be my second season using a saddle. I’ll never use a climber again. Anyone want to buy a used Summit climber?😂

[@DrizzyD670]

Great vid my dude.

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Appreciate it brotha!

[@e3nutrition_performance]

Great video!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Thanks man!

[@whitewood2000]

How are you liking the sticks and x-wing from Latitude? I'm 6'5 250 and i'm curious how the stand off on the sticks effects you.

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I love them. There’s not much, if anything I would change. I’m about the same specs as you. Just a little lighter. 6’5” 225ish. The standoff being solid makes for a nice place to put your foot if you put it sideways a bit. Can get a lot more of your boot on the step than most other steps even with bigger standoffs.

[@StealthTRD]

I got a method 2 XL saddle. Its a lil too big for me..probably gonna get a lonestar or maverick..what you using

[@ospreyoutdoors2225]

Thank you for your review. I would only add a few steps to comfortably shoot 360°. Also noticed from your videos, that you seem to mostly hunt straigth trees. What do you think about climbing platforms? - no sticks and no aiders involved

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I hunt a ton of crazy trees. I've never tried the climbing platforms but dont think i'd like being handicapped to only using certain trees. Plus, with latitudes carbon sticks, they are so light and packable, I much prefer to use those. Just feels more simple to me.

[@ospreyoutdoors2225]

@@NextStepOutdoors If you are happy with your gear and method, there is no reason to change. This said, you are not that much limited with climbing platforms, and despite the comments you can hear, when you look at most hunting videos: 1- most set up are from straight trees and 2- you hear a lot of noise when they set up both from the interaction with the trunk and metal. Climbing platforms (and 1-stick) have the advantage not to leave any equipment at deer height, and there is also something to be said on reducing the time to ascent (when we are the most visible), and being in hunting position quickly. Thanks for your response!

[@hardh2ogillz]

Pros & cons to everything

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Pros and cons to listing pros and cons

[@aarongilbertson3074]

I do a lot of all day sits far back during the rut. I got a mobile hang on so that I could use that all day because sitting in a saddle all day sucks

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Whatever works for you! That’s all that matters. What stand do you run?

[@aarongilbertson3074]

@@NextStepOutdoors I’ve been running the xop retrograde but this year I upgraded to a lone wolf daquisto.5

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Are you a big guy? I’m 6’5” 220lb with size 13 boots. I’ve sat in a 0.5 and not sure I’d like it for long site. I’d prob have to get the .75 with tall post minimally.

[@aarongilbertson3074]

@@NextStepOutdoors no I’m about 5’ 7” 145lbs so I can fit in small stuff

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I’ve never seen a downside to being tall but sitting on an airplane and in hunting are two times it is not ideal lol

[@kevin.berkey2710]

Dang those side plates on your bow are sweet!!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

You could say I know a guy

[@apexpredatoroutdoors8308]

Great video, but cost does not have to be a barrier. My gear cost about $100, and is under 5 lbs total.

[@NextStepOutdoors]

What are you using?

[@apexpredatoroutdoors8308]

@@NextStepOutdoors my own design 2TC and saddle.

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Ahh interesting

[@malikferguson1402]

I knew that hunting this video was great, thank you .

[@NextStepOutdoors]

That means a lot!!

[@paulbernitt4280]

Good stuff. Saving 5-7 lbs of total set-up weight is not worth the cost because well, its only 5-7 pounds. I use my Lone Wolf Alpha 2 stands and Muddy Pro Sticks with aiders as my mobile setup most of the time because of the comfort and ability to maneuver and shoot 300 degrees. I own a saddle and use it occasionally when I leave my Lone Wolf up a tree or ther is just not enough space for a bigger stand. I do not shoot or see more big bucks with a saddle or my LW.. The outcome is the same. #BigBuckInTheTruck2024

[@sammoore5933]

Thanks

[@NextStepOutdoors]

You got it Sam!

[@jefferyjerry9623]

I own 100 acres in Virginia and I have been struggling to find any good locations for cameras! i would really appreciate it if you had any advice for me thanks

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I’ll make a video about this! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@StealthTRD]

You got creeks? Known food sources? Are you using cameras for mainly? Locate a shooter buck? Pattern deer? Get a census of your heard? Do u have any fences that deer get thru?

[@DanielShoch]

What is the weight of your saddle, sticks and platform all broken down individually??

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Not sure. I think platform is 2.5lb, sticks are around 6ish lbs, and saddle is negligible. I wear it in and barely notice it.

[@tnkstudio4622]

I'll stick with my tree stand. I can dance and not worry about shooting on my weak side.

[@CrosierOutdoors]

🔥🔥

[@NextStepOutdoors]

🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@juniorb931]

have you tried the jx3 saddle? whats your thoughts about it

[@NextStepOutdoors]

I haven’t tried that one. It looks comfy but honestly more bulk than I’m trying for. I like the freedom and mobility that my current saddle offers and I’m not sure the jx3 would be quite as wearable walking through the woods.

[@StealthTRD]

​@@NextStepOutdoorswhats your current saddle

[@joshuaolsen8844]

What is the weight limit for most saddles?

[@joshlasure3384]

Most are rated 300lbs

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Yeah, usually 300 or 350.

[@tylerparker3024]

It makes no sense to me how a setup is a thousand bucks lol. 10lbs of rope and essentially backpack type material. Ridiculous

[@jaredgauthreaux2466]

Paying for the hype

[@joeljohnson7420]

I primary rock climb and don't really know what saddle hunting is all about but these videos come across my KZbin and it seems like you could do the exact same thing just using a bosun's chair or a comfy harness

[@TrevorOngie-du2iv]

Great video! Very helpful!

[@NextStepOutdoors]

Thanks man! Glad it helped! Thanks for checking it out!