Saddle Hunting | Setup Tips & The Weak Side Shot

A few quick tips I've picked up from a few years of trial and error hunting from a saddle. Lot's of different ways to do things, this is just what I have found is most efficient for me.

[@irishmmm]

Great tips! Good job!

[@galinswigart]

Thank you, I'm glad you found them helpful!

[@frankiefiveangels915]

Just the video I've been searching for! Thank you for sharing this. Definitely taking these tips with me.

[@KevDoes]

Great tips! Thank you

[@michaelwarfel4113]

Great Video ... Can you explain how you made the Mini Tether for your back pack?

[@galinswigart]

Sure. Super simple! Just took a length of Paracord, tied a loop (like an eye on a tether or lineman) tied a prussik on it with D Loop material, and clipped a carabiner on the prussik. That allows me to wrap around the tree, pull the tag end through the eye and clip the carabiner to the pack and slide it up and down on the prussik as needed to adjust height.

[@rogerramjet7567]

Very good information for us saddle hunters. I sure appreciate your input. 👍👍

[@based_engineer8962]

Thanks for sharing Galin, would you please provide a link to the pack your using? Cheers!

[@galinswigart]

www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-transporter-fanny-pack?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop%7CCAB%7CTopPerformers%7CCamping&gclid=Cj0KCQiA15yNBhDTARIsAGnwe0Wkg7Vq_I7d15-htZ1uZPLE1cWQsPqVlVtCyNqUZodpJ67wBJqCcuUaAvbwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds It’s a waist pack from Cabelas, I like it but I don’t love it. There isn’t a ton if internal storage and it’s hard to get it to ride properly with any sort of weight in it but I love the form factor in the tree

[@it_is_finished]

I do the same technique for weak side shots. But I use 3 or 4 steps in conjunction with a small platform. The steps are spread out around the tree.

[@joshuarose983]

What's the name of the back pack or fanny pack you're using

[@galinswigart]

It’s made by Cabela’s. I can’t remember the name. But it’s a Fanny pack. I go back and forth between a few packs, this one is solid for the price.

[@joshuarose983]

Thanks for the response, I just ordered one from Amazon, not cabelas brand but it's a fanny with a shoulder sling. My regular backpack is just to big and bulky. Trying to be a minimalist when saddle hunting is hard lol

[@kevinvargason8835]

This is how I get around the tree as well. Not that I have had to as of yet.

[@MINIHAHA1]

Great video man thanks for sharing. I've decided to go to the saddle for.many reasons but the biggest is the weight drop from a hang and hunt due to my back issues. I've seen other videos on this but your setup was alot easier for me to do comfortably. Good luck this season

[@galinswigart]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate the kind words.

[@grantg8638]

Needed this video on todays hunt. Buck came in on weak side and as I struggled to figure out how to orient the awkward shot he saw me at 12 yards and bolted off :/

[@ScottWConvid19]

I'm definitely going to be experimenting with this on different size trees at varies angles from the top stick. Thanks for the tips! New saddle hunter here.

[@stevegermain1222]

Great info just found you and subscribed what's a squirrel step I'll try to look it up

[@galinswigart]

Thanks! Squirrel steps are plastic strap on steps that a lot of people use as a saddle platform/ring of steps. Pretty cool!

[@stevegermain1222]

@@galinswigart thank you I'm new to saddle hunting this year I'm just Gathering all my equipment yes I did buy a ring of steps already thank you for the info

[@stevegermain1222]

@@galinswigart do you think it's crazy that I'm starting this at the age of 63 if I wanted all my life and have six other stands there should be a challenge that I'll enjoy

[@zacharydavis2033]

Awesome video, and great tip. Will definitely be utilizing this in the future!

[@harleydavidsonsrider]

First year hunting out of a saddle. I feel way more confident and safe in the tree with a saddle then a hang on. I was hunting over some scrapes on public and a doe shows up out of no where on my weak side from behind me within 20 yards. I didn’t take the shot one haven’t practiced enough for that shot since only having my saddle a month before season. Thanks for the video it helps.

[@galinswigart]

Good restraint in not taking a shot you weren’t comfortable with. Definitely takes some thought and practice! Thanks for watching!

[@V1KTOR33]

This was a great, quick and straight forward video.. your very fluid with your movements and can tell you actually use a saddle. A lot of what I’ve seen lately is “I modify guys” trying to get views on the back of saddle hunting. Well done.

[@galinswigart]

I appreciate the kind words! Thanks for watching

[@kidneystones3406]

I agree with you on the weakside shot I use a squirrel step for bigger diameter trees. It's good when sitting a bigger tree that is slightly bigger than your body frame the ability to use the tree as cover important after the leaves fall.

[@galinswigart]

Totally! I’m hoping to get my hands on some squirrel steps too, they look pretty sweet. Thanks for watching!

[@jax9224]

I killed my biggest buck to date 168” buck 4-5 feet off the ground. One stick and platform even with the top step on the stick no aider. That’s where I had to be. I probably could have not used the stick it just made it easier to get on my platform and I use my stick like a ring of steps with my platform which makes it really easy to get around it.

[@schertzy08]

What pack is that I kind of like the idea of a waist pack instead

[@usernamehere6061]

Not sure what his is looks like a cabelas brand. I use a badlands monster and its awesome.

[@whitewood2000]

This is my first year saddle hunting and I always keeo my tether super high, I'm going to bring it down a little because you looked super comfortable and also great tip about your stick being almost level w your platform. Good video!

[@TheOKfisherman]

What's it look like walking in? Do your saddle bags and waist pack interfere with each other? I'm considering a waist pack but trying to figure out the walk in system with sticks platform and ropes.

[@galinswigart]

Hoping to post a video on that soon for a better visual. The side pouches do make it a little less than ideal to sinch down a backpack waist belt, but you can work around it with some practice. I don’t strap my sticks and platform to the pack for transport, I find it better to put them on a shoulder sling for the way I hunt and keep my pack light and minimal

[@TheOKfisherman]

@@galinswigart appreciate the response. I subscribed and look forward to seeing a visual on the whole method. My system now works ok but always trying to make it more fluid and faster

[@paulcrave3112]

What kind of Fanny pack was that in the video ?

[@galinswigart]

It's from Cabela's, I believe it's called the Transporter Fanny Pack. I used it this season but will be changing packs for next year. It wasn't quite what I'd hoped it would be. Not enough internal organizational pockets and didn't ride well on my back with the saddle

[@charlesmichael1927]

Get rid of that pack, the rest of the set-up is sweet. The only reason a pack is good is if it's a full size back pack to carry meat out in.

[@galinswigart]

I wish I was minimalist enough to go without a pack but I enjoy food, water, and packing in extra layers in cold weather too much to get rid of it. I can’t imagine a scenario where I would be able to ditch the pack and not miss it.