Saddles vs. Tree Stands | Whitetail EDU

[@kristyrenkema855]

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.

[@justinmartin6068]

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

[@garypratt8722]

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.

[@328am]

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]

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

[@cj7069]

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]

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

[@williamle8300]

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

[@richarddean3154]

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.

[@dalemartin331]

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

[@nickk4851]

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

[@hunterpratt5899]

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]

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.

[@pathfinder5804]

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.

[@jeremywynn7580]

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.

[@danhoff4401]

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.

[@NRBHD]

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]

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.

[@whitetailaffinity]

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.

[@craigholland2274]

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.

[@tonypurnell7372]

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

[@paulbernitt4280]

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.

[@ospreyoutdoors2225]

You should look at climbing platforms. Contact us if you are intetested in the Lean Ascent Alpha

[@brendanfranklin5924]

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

[@huntingwithdennis5083]

👍

[@tj04663]

I know I've seen clips of Mark using a saddle before, so why does he look and sount like this is the first time even seeing a saddle?

[@Stickbowsouth]

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]

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

[@coreyk5536]

20lbs, common mannnnnn lol