Saddles vs. Tree Stands | Whitetail EDU

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Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 52

@garypratt8722 4 ай бұрын

Hang on stands, ladder stands and climbers , I’ve packed them all into the woods over the past 35 years. Got into saddle hunting last year at the age of 54. I absolutely love it!! I’ve never been more comfortable or felt safer up in a tree as I do in my tree saddle.

@klubj57 19 күн бұрын

tried a saddle for the first time this year and have to say being able to have that constant tension on the tether really gave me a sense of safety that i needed

@kristyrenkema855 4 ай бұрын

These new EDU series are absolute phenomenal. Thank you for taking the time to explain so many things I wanted to know about! I'd love one using wind direction and thermals hunting deer.

@328am 4 ай бұрын

I lugged a 35-lb climber around (not including bow and bag) for my first two years 😅, and then I got set up with a saddle last year. It's a night and day experience, in everything from the walk-in/out to being in the tree.

@AlexPlachta 4 ай бұрын

I've kicked up so many deer during these days. Now i walk in quietly and not sweating my ass off ha.

@cj7069 4 ай бұрын

Same. I’m a shorter guy and the climber would hit the back of my ankles when I walked. Uphill was the worst. Got a saddle and its perfect for me (as a sometimes recreational rock climber)

@echails7900 3 ай бұрын

@@cj7069 dang!! Your climber was hitting your ankles?! Gonna call ya Frodo Taggins 😂

@justinmartin6068 2 ай бұрын

These short informational videos are gold. Keep it up boys.

@williamle8300 3 ай бұрын

You guys have really great synergy as hosts. Thx for the education!

@trxe420 16 күн бұрын

For me, it's a saddle and I one-stick. I have done it with a single stick and a platform and also a true one stick. It's hard to say which I prefer more as the platform + single stick has more room, but I think I have settled on my true one stick with a set of squirrel steps. Shooting to my offside I actually swing all the way to the other side vs. dipping under the tether. The best part is repelling down the tree, so much safer and quicker than taking off 4 steps. I even take my platform and use my ladder stands to climb the tree and hang the platform on the other side, just so much better having a tree between you and the deer. This video is great though, really describes the pros and cons of both approaches, whatever you do though practice taking shots from the method you are using before you go for real.

@pathfinder5804 3 ай бұрын

35yr old WindWalker loc on stand (5 1/2lbs) with carbon stick (4sticks about 5lbs) for trad bow, compound bow and firearm saddle every time. Both setups with pack,gear,snacks and extra layer of cloths about 15-20lbs total depending on time of year. Different tools for different situations.

@dalemartin331 2 ай бұрын

I use a light weight hang on and a saddle for all day sits as it gives you 360 degrees shooting and multiple sitting options. Xop stands have a seat that flips for your knees also

@richarddean3154 4 ай бұрын

I am a little nervous hunting from a saddle, wherein I am essentially hanging from a rope with my toes on a platform and leaning away from the tree. While hunting from my stand, it is secured to the tree with 3 straps and I am secured to the tree with an additional strap. To each their own.

@fairviewhomestead 17 күн бұрын

I run my linesman’s rope end through my anchor and tie to the opposite loop on my saddle can limit your transitions with your rope through the anchor but it’s one more point of connection. Also have to check your ropes for wear and tear. Pretty safe I feel though. Just don’t slide a broad head across it 😮

@nickk4851 4 ай бұрын

Millennium's M100U is absolutely a stand that you can sit in comfortably all day.

@hunterpratt5899 3 ай бұрын

I use the Millenium M150s for all of my bow stands. There is no scenario where a saddle is a better choice than that unless you are constantly moving the setup. Even then I'd rather take down the M150 and sticks and move it.

@bostonbeanman6173 2 ай бұрын

Started from the ground, moved to a climber, then moved to hang ons, then moved to a saddle, then moved back to a climber, and currently hunt from the ground. I do hunt from a climber still for archery and but that is about it. Of all methods, each have their pros and cons. Pick what is right for you and your situation. For me, I rarely hunt for a full day and deer in my area are crazy to pattern for day time activity.

@BenOgorek 22 күн бұрын

Interesting you ended up back on the ground. What area is this?

@bostonbeanman6173 19 күн бұрын

@ In the northeast. But more specifically, suburban deer pattern people better than we can pattern them (IMO). So you end up with about a week of that potential chance of having a buck captured in a mindless moment wondering around like a zombie during the rut. And even then, they tend to stick to night time activity and the bigger problem is that the does will give you away. Side story and what I see (after lots of nothingness). Neat moment from the ground on a hillside 2 weeks ago, calling with a grunt call. Doe came in above me but upwind, so I should be safe right? Then another big deer came in on the opposite side but downwind. Ah oh. At that point I could hear it but not see it. The doe upwind must saw me though and started to blow and did this for at least 15 minutes, zig zagging to try and get me to move and id myself. Eventually, I saw the other deer and indeed it was a buck but we were past legal shooting light so all I could do was sit for a bit in hopes that they would go away without confirming me. I have been back there several times and pretty sure I blew up this spot. All I could think of was the comment I made in this thread and wished I was in my tree stand that evening. :) However, this and many more interactions with wildlife are experiences I appreciate and will never forget.

@BenOgorek 18 күн бұрын

@@bostonbeanman6173 That's an awesome story and one I will remember. It taught me that it's possible to "blow up" a spot. For my third hunt ever this weekend, I ground hunted the same spot in the NC Uwharries that I hunted last weekend. While I did see a doe, it was nothing like last weekend where I was getting busted like crazy. "This is where all the deer are," I thought. Well, maybe it's where they were. If I go back next weekend, maybe I should pick a new spot.

@bostonbeanman6173 16 күн бұрын

@@BenOgorek deer have a pretty big range to where they will live but frequent their favorite areas for food, bedding, and whatever else they do. Under the white oaks behind my shed, there are deer almost every night and into the night they feed off to the left of my driveway off of evergreens as winter sets in. At times, I have even seen them have staring contests with my dog, who amazingly just sits and looks at them with curiosity. My neighbor on the street over is where these same deer bed down behind his shed. For over 20 years we have seen different deer cycle through but stick to the same patterns in areas they know they are safe. Yet during hunting season they are more nocturnal and gone during legal light. We have literally left to go hunting with them just about waving to us to have a nice day as we drive off to other areas to hunt. They sense safety “in the hood” and just outside of that are like ninjas roaming around with sensory to detect the smallest crunch from a human step. BTW, that same neighbor swung by today with a nice 6 pointer in the back of his truck. He put a lot of time in this season and deserved it. Bg woods area though and not one our urban ninja pet deer. ;)

@bostonbeanman6173 16 күн бұрын

One last note on tree stands or saddles… my first trip this year in my climber, I was 25’ up and got busted by a doe with her fawn. Deer do look up and your smell, movement, and /or sound can give you away in an instant.

@jeremywynn7580 4 ай бұрын

I bought a jx3 to try this year. The comfort is unreal compared to my summit, dryad drey and even a millienium. Im hopeful this will be the perfect mix of comfort and versatility.

@Dominic-ti7kq 17 күн бұрын

I just stand on my platform with my back against the tree, wind in my face or crossing my face as I stand that way. I'll turn around and face the tree for a shot if I have to, but generally I just wait until they end up on my left side, I find it difficult to anchor when my feet are facing the tree and i'm trying to shoot directly behind me by rotating at the waist, and that same shot is really no easier with my back to the tree either, and it's because of the size of the platform. a wider platform for the feet would give you some more manuevering room to get slightly outside the tree line axis for that shot. so I just eliminate that shot and wait for them to be on one side or the other.

@whitetail.roots.89 17 күн бұрын

I'll take a 7-9 pound hang on with something like the Latitude carbons and be within a couple pounds of a saddle setup when you factor the weight of the saddle, platform, ropes, buckles, etc.

@danhoff4401 17 күн бұрын

@@whitetail.roots.89 this is a good point. The lightest hang ons are right there with the average saddle system. If you use a ring of steps and a minimalist saddle and do something like one stick, two tether or SRT then the saddle is a different level. But yes a lot of people are just switching which direction they face, setting up in the same trees, not really using it as a mobile system etc.

@danhoff4401 3 ай бұрын

I agree with basically this whole video except the comfort part. A good saddle is much more comfortable than a hang on or even a Cadillac climber with a mesh seat. Saddle hunting really shines as a minimalist system without a large platform. The safety edge also goes to a saddle. I understand keeping the video short and not discussing rope climbing because most folks are probably using sticks but that is hands down the safest way into a tree.

@Bofumforyou 19 күн бұрын

A saddle is not more comfortable than sitting in a stand. Standing vs sitting is always more comfortable.

@danhoff4401 18 күн бұрын

@Bofumforyou Do you saddle hunt? You can sit in a saddle. It's not hard.

@Bofumforyou 17 күн бұрын

@@danhoff4401 I’ve got over 40 hours in a saddle this year alone and have been hunting in it for almost 4 years now. I’m very aware on how to use it. I use it for versatility, not comfort. And I can say for a fact they are not comfortable. They just get the job done. And if you are sitting in a saddle and a deer comes up you sure do have to do a lot of movement to get into a shooting position from sitting

@danhoff4401 17 күн бұрын

@@Bofumforyou no offense man but I think you're doing it wrong. You should be able to make all the same shots seated as you would leaning. If you haven't used a ring of steps before I'd encourage you to try it out this off-season. It's a good way to cut another 3-5lbs off your setup. Body styles are also different if you're using a shallow single panel you may find a pleated or two panel saddle makes all the difference in comfortable all day sits. Personally I have used the best climbers on the market and I stand firmly behind my initial comment.

@Bofumforyou 17 күн бұрын

@@danhoff4401 how many deer have you killed out of a saddle?

@NRBHD 4 ай бұрын

Did he say 18-20lb?? Most all hang on stands on the market, that are mobile-specific, are anywhere from 7-11lbs. I haven’t gotten into saddle hunting because I can’t really see the advantage over my hang on. Would like to try it someday just to see how comfortable it actually is. To each their own I guess!

@alexpinnow6509 3 ай бұрын

I tried a saddle out just for hanging stands and did not like when it came unbuckled on me. I have a hybrid that I made from a rock harness instead and don't hunt from a saddle platform.

@tonypurnell7372 3 ай бұрын

How is shooting a trad bow out of a saddle? I imagine the lineman’s rope would get in the way with the longer bow

@whitetailaffinity 4 ай бұрын

I’ve hunted out of everything there is to hunt out of. I’ll take my saddle over anything and everything, 99% of the time. The only exceptions are hunting out of a preset stand or box blind on private land, but even then, I’m usually looking around at trees that would give me better opportunities from my saddle. The advantages just too far outweigh the disadvantages for me, but like you said, everyone is different and there’s no universal definitive answer for all.

@paulbernitt4280 4 ай бұрын

I prefer my go-to Lone Wolf Alpha 2 strap-on stand with 3 Muddy sticks for my mobile setup. it is just the right balance for my style of mobile hunting. The saddle is more involved and has no real advantage over the strap-on stand for me. I use my saddle every once in a while just to keep it in the mix. I really don't care that my setup is 7 lbs more with my strap-on stand. Its 7 measly pounds, and that's coming from a hill country hunter from SW Wisconsin.

@craigholland2274 3 ай бұрын

I have both lwcg 1.0 think it weighs 9.7 pounds and a edp platform, think it weighs 4.8 pounds for my saddle. Same stick so a diff of 5 pounds. I think the saddle I have a Cruzer is a hair more comfortable but I shoot better out of the lock on. On the bigger trees I like the lock on better as I can see and shoot better . Most days I take the saddle though.

@whitetail.roots.89 17 күн бұрын

A .75 or something similar is in the 7 pound range, plus include the weight of the saddle, extra ropes, clips, etc. It's within a couple pounds if you are using a couple of the lighter options on the market for the stand. I'll carry a stand.

@Kcg99 12 күн бұрын

How much do y’all spend on a saddle setup? What saw was $500 gets your saddle and platform, you gotta spend another whatever to get up the tree.

@Stickbowsouth 3 ай бұрын

i still think that this sadle fad will fade one day. Its not hard to set up a lock on with the tree positioned correctly. i guess a lightweight lock on is expencive but i think the perks are undeniable. i would tell a beginner to really research it and see what allot of true killers out there are using.

@Stickbowsouth 3 ай бұрын

A quality stand is truly only a couple more pounds and essentially as easy to set up. The ability to take seated shots is huge

@80sRadDad Ай бұрын

Agree: the hunting companies needed something NEW to sell to the masses and a lot of people bought it! You can try and convince me that it’s better than a hang on all you want, but it’s ridiculous to think hanging from ropes is better than the ability to stand up or sit down. I don’t mind carrying an extra pound or two to be comfortable saddle hunting is for hipsters.

@brendanfranklin5924 4 ай бұрын

Saddle hunting is by far the best option. It's incredibly safe, light and mobile. I've used a climber and it's great too, but it serves a different purpose. It's much faster to get into a tree but it can be louder to setup. The downside is when you shoot a deer, you have to drag the deer and come back for the climber. A treestand is great for random sits in a good spot, but you can't hunt out of it often due to the deer pattering you. A hang on stand feel incredibly unsafe for me