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Still debating if this is for me

Bowtech12 said:
Kestrel is what I have

It’s comfortable but I have a lot more “stuff” that I’m not used to in order to set up
Plus I have to reposition myself quit a bit to say comfortable
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That sums up my first kestrel season. It's more versatile than a climber, but feels like I'm carrying twice as much crap into the woods. I've always heard "a comfortable hunter is a deadly hunter". But I'm never as comfortable in the kestrel. Find myself moving around a lot more often.

Going to give it a few more hunts and try to adjust my setup. But there's a good chance it will end up sold to fund a new LW.
 
Not sure either, here in Ny I find it hard to walk around the tree un detected. Deer are way to spooky for that. Mike
 
I carried my XOP Air Raid in today thru an old clearcut. That thing makes an awesome saddle platform but I swear I'll never do it again unless I am planning an all day sit. It was only 400 yds but I must have snagged that thing on brush 50 times.
 
Bowtech12 said:
I will say I feel the safest ever in a saddle

Can’t beat it for sure

I do miss just sitting from time to time in my hunts
Especially the longer ones

My stomach muscles were pretty sore after a 4 hour saddle hunt so I was never fully relaxed into a non-engaging position
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I feel about like you do about not having a position to just relax. I also don't like my back side fully exposed. If one sneaks in from behind I feel like I'm being ambushed! In a traditional stand the tree blocks your movement as you peek around the side.
 
I find my saddle more comfortable than any hang on I've used. I also like being able to use the tree to block the wind on my face.

I hunt over pressured NY and I've had way less deer pick me in a tree.
 
gabowhtr said:
I feel about like you do about not having a position to just relax. I also don't like my back side fully exposed. If one sneaks in from behind I feel like I'm being ambushed! In a traditional stand the tree blocks your movement as you peek around the side.
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If your setting up for deer to come down a certain trail with a regular stand you are not being blocked from a tree where saddle hunting your are. Saddle hunting your playing higher odds to be hidden then compared to when you are in a stand. Deer coming from behind me are only a bonus and are not a planned situation.
 
Im gonna give it another try during gun season & focus on setting up better. Will do some pre-sets & see how it goes, Mike
 
Root said:
I find my saddle more comfortable than any hang on I've used. I also like being able to use the tree to block the wind on my face.

I hunt over pressured NY and I've had way less deer pick me in a tree.
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The tree is a good hiding spot too.


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I have way less deer spot me in the tree since going to a saddle. I have found that hunting higher helps this. I like to be 25' from my platform to the ground even higher sometimes.
 
If you're used to sitting in a stand and holding your bow the whole time, yes being in a saddle has more movement. Being in NY I know all about the deer looking up and scanning trees. Often in bad situations (deer coming in silent from behind) I'll hug the tree and get away with it.
For shots I wait for the deer to give me the opportunity to move and get into position.

Miss matched camo I think helps hide some of your silhouette in a saddle even more than a tree stand.

But if you feel like a stand gives you an edge use it. At the end of the day it's up to personal preference.
 
I think having different camo top and bottom makes it much harder for deer to make you out. Also light skyline camos, predator fall grey, ASAT make a huge difference. I've been seen many, many times but they just don't spook like they did when I wore dark camo. I used to wear a black and white flannel shirt over my other clothes before I could find and afford "skyline camo". It worked great.
 
I'm also debating on saddles. Have yet to start hunting with a saddle, but really looking into it and would want to use the off-season to practice climbing / shooting with one. I can definitely see the benefits when hunting public, but correct me if I’m wrong, saddles can save time and money when you gaining a few smaller private land spots. A saddle is much cheaper than purchasing a couple quality hand-ons or ladders for each property. It’s definitely lighter than a climber and as my age increases lighter is attractive! Plus if you want to refine a location – it’s much easier to do with a saddle. So, for the private land hunter that has a few properties saddles offer some light weight versatility not easily found with other methods.
 
kuzinva said:
I'm also debating on saddles. Have yet to start hunting with a saddle, but really looking into it and would want to use the off-season to practice climbing / shooting with one. I can definitely see the benefits when hunting public, but correct me if I’m wrong, saddles can save time and money when you gaining a few smaller private land spots. A saddle is much cheaper than purchasing a couple quality hand-ons or ladders for each property. It’s definitely lighter than a climber and as my age increases lighter is attractive! Plus if you want to refine a location – it’s much easier to do with a saddle. So, for the private land hunter that has a few properties saddles offer some light weight versatility not easily found with other methods.
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This is why I initially started looking at saddle hunting. I have ninety acres that I wanted to hang multiple stands on but didn't want to pay for that many stands. I really had no intention of hunting public land again but after getting my saddle and realizing how easy and fun it is to hike in and hunt new spots every day I now find myself hunting public more than I hunt my own property.
 
Another aspect of being able to reposition in the tree is how it allows me to avoid or expose myself to the sun.
Most of the time I avoid being in the sun while on stand. I can't see as well when in the sun (glare on eyeglasses), a person isn't as camouflaged as when in the shady side of the tree, and sometimes its just plain hot.
On the other hand, when I'm freezing my butt off, its nice to get out of the shade of the tree and get some rays. Can't adjust exposure like that in a hang on.
 
I’ve yet to sit in one but will be adding one to the arsenal soon in my opinion as long as I can get comfortable in it I don’t see any downside at all to the saddle. I’m also ready for a long learning curve vs my climbers or hangon a bit the weight and versatility are bar none. Hanging and hunting wether it be a climber or hang on can be a pain especially with any type of walk and being able to hunt any tree is also great. I hunt probably 50/50 private and public and the more serious I get the more I find myself moving and getting closer on deer. One preset hangon isn’t always the best place to be I don’t care where it is and the mobility and weight of the saddle are what’s sucked me in. I’m looking to be light and be able to walk wherever whenever and hunt. Not look for a suitable tree or be exhausted lugging a stand.
 
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