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Advantages of lock-on stand over a saddle

Westdesign03

Westdesign03

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2019
Messages
1,920
Location
Ohio
I am new to saddle hunting this year and have now been able to take my new saddle out several times this season. The more I use it the more I’m loving this whole saddle hunting thing and am finding less and less reason for using a lock-on tree stand.

My question is, do any of you have reasons to use a lock-on stand instead of a saddle even if you have both options available to you?


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You CAN use both.
I have ~20 lok on stands and I don't plan to sell them. But when I do use one, I will still be in a saddle/sling. It makes lok ons even better. Opens up more shooting zones toward the back side of the tree. Also allows hiding behind the tree trunk. Sun/shade management. Safe napping. Easier installation of lok ons when tethered...lots of reasons why a saddle works in conjunction with a lok on.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
You CAN use both.
I have ~20 lok on stands and I don't plan to sell them. But when I do use one, I will still be in a saddle/sling. It makes lok ons even better. Opens up more shooting zones toward the back side of the tree. Also allows hiding behind the tree trunk. Sun/shade management. Safe napping. Easier installation of lok ons when tethered...lots of reasons why a saddle works in conjunction with a lok on.
Click to expand...

That’s awesome. Glad you brought it up. I’ve thought about that before and wondered if anyone else has done it. Almost thought it might be heresy to bring it up on a forum without getting fried by the masses.

So you basically use the lock on stand as a big saddle platform then? If you choose to sit on the stand like you would traditionally, do you just disconnect the tether of the saddle or loosen it enough to where you can just freely sit/stand?


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Westdesign03 said:
That’s awesome. Glad you brought it up. I’ve thought about that before and wondered if anyone else has done it. Almost thought it might be heresy to bring it up on a forum without getting fried by the masses.

So you basically use the lock on stand as a big saddle platform then? If you choose to sit on the stand like you would traditionally, do you just disconnect the tether of the saddle or loosen it enough to where you can just freely sit/stand?


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Click to expand...
No. I stay tethered . I use the lock just like it was a "saddle" type platform.

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I haven’t sat facing away from the tree once this year, but to walk up to a pre set carrying just a light pack and a bow, climb up and sit down facing away is something I still plan to do every now and then.
 
I have climbed a man and a half summit ladder and used the seat for a platform before, lol
 
I've got a couple of the cheap ladder stands set up. I just use the seat for a platform. Easy to climb, rock solid set up. I've got a cedar tree that begs for another ladder stand set up to saddle hunt out of.
 
At this point the only two times I use a lock-on are:
  • I'm taking a new hunter with me (i.e. nephews, younger brothers, etc): I'll put them in the lock-on and I'll sit behind them in the saddle.
  • I need something to hang a gambrel from.
I'm sure there are plenty of valid reasons to use a lock on (every tool has it's job), but the saddle covers about 98% of all my needs.

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heretic said:
At this point the only two times I use a lock-on are:
  • I'm taking a new hunter with me (i.e. nephews, younger brothers, etc): I'll put them in the lock-on and I'll sit behind them in the saddle.
  • I need something to hang a gambrel from.
I'm sure there are plenty of valid reasons to use a lock on (every tool has it's job), but the saddle covers about 98% of all my needs.

View attachment 22136
Click to expand...

Hah nice. I hear ya. That’s what I’m finding too that the saddle covers dang near all situations. I can say though that I’m not sure a saddle would have been the best choice for the tree I shot my buck out of this year. It was an extremely awkward tree. Climbing sticks would have been difficult. Fortunately I had WE steps that worked like a champ.

The tree forked out right where I was wanting to be. Yes I could have gone a little lower but wanted to be as high up as I could because the tree went out farther than it went up. I probably could have made a saddle work but it would have been awkward and I would have been facing the wrong way (not to mention I didn’t have a saddle yet). But even still I felt being to the front of the trunk would be best. And it paid off!
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You must have some long legs to get to that first step. Congrats on the buck.
 
I can definitely see where a lock-on has its place. I have refused to sell my Lone Wolf assault ii for that reason. That being said... I haven’t pulled my assault off the wall where it is hanging for 4 straight years.

I am probably going to put that stand out next season on some family land so my stepson can hunt a few days with me. I’ll just hang from the saddle behind him. I will not, however, be buying a hang-on again.


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
 
Allegheny Tom said:
You CAN use both.
I have ~20 lok on stands and I don't plan to sell them. But when I do use one, I will still be in a saddle/sling. It makes lok ons even better. Opens up more shooting zones toward the back side of the tree. Also allows hiding behind the tree trunk. Sun/shade management. Safe napping. Easier installation of lok ons when tethered...lots of reasons why a saddle works in conjunction with a lok on.
Click to expand...

That is a great point. I have “saddle hunted” some old abandoned stands on public. Busted seats, missing screw in steps, bad wear her straps. None are a big deal when I’m hanging in the saddle. What’s left of the stand just become places to put my feet haha.


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
 
Cav said:
You must have some long legs to get to that first step. Congrats on the buck.
Click to expand...

Haha. It’s way more extreme looking than it was in reality. The camera on this new phone has a wide angle option so it’s definitely skewed. What you don’t see there is I had to put my first step on and put an aider on it just to get up in that first big split in the tree.


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IkemanTX said:
I can definitely see where a lock-on has its place. I have refused to sell my Lone Wolf assault ii for that reason. That being said... I haven’t pulled my assault off the wall where it is hanging for 4 straight years.

I am probably going to put that stand out next season on some family land so my stepson can hunt a few days with me. I’ll just hang from the saddle behind him. I will not, however, be buying a hang-on again.


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
Click to expand...

I’m in the same boat. Likely will not use my LW assault either but I don’t want to replace it yet again when I regret selling it.


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This is my first year saddle hurting as well. At this point I have no reason or intentions of going back to a hang on.
 
There’s no bridge or tree in front of you. (Turning my head and closing one eye for reactions)
 
This is my first year in the saddle. I have 8 or so loc ons but hung only one at the beginning of the season. I have hunted from the saddle exclusively this season. I finally went my only loc for the first time, some type of summit, and I was wanting back in my saddle immediately. I sat out the hunt but I realized I am way more comfortable in the saddle. The stand hurts my backside and I get squirmy trying to stay still. Also I felt like having the tree between the deer and I, getting drawn from the saddle was going to be easier this time of year with the leaves dropped.
 
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