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Back to Hang On Stand

neonomad said:
If they’re downwind most likely you’re busted either way, but taking long stalking hunts has to leave more ground scent off your boots etc. That buck I saw was dead down wind of me 22 yards for 15 mins, no idea how, can’t explain everything in the woods. I drew on him twice when he looked away I just never had a clean opening. Heck of a lot less gear to lug when you’re just tiptoeing around.
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I definitely like the less gear and how quiet I can be sneaking in, unfolding a chair and sitting down.
 
I still use treestands and ladders that I set for early season and mornings before work, or run ins, and I mean running up the trail to get to my sets, after the time change. I've killed deer wearing work cloths under an uninsulated camo cover on a 30-40 min. hunt. As many have said, the saddle is just one tool in the box, a very, very handy tool. As for blind spots, your always going to have them. I just try to put them where they'll do the least amount of damage.
 
Jtaylor said:
I think plenty of people still hunt from the ground here and definitely farther west in open territory. The scent control issues always confuse me and maybe I don't understand it enough. 20-30 ft up or on the ground scent is eventually going to make it to the ground, correct? It's usually pretty windy here and fairly flat where I hunt so sitting on the ground, wind in my face usually is productive. The biggest issue I've had ground hunting is drawing back/positioning for a shot without being seen.
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I hunt hilly areas, if I can set up just off the top of a ridge or hill and have the wind in my face and blowing it off the top, that's perfect. I hunted a bench where the morning thermal blew at my back across the trail I was hunting, without milkweed I would have never known that the rising thermal coming up the hill behind me took my milkweed and scent skyward for close to 60-70yds before it started coming back down, which left the trail 20 yds in front of me down wind but safe to hunt until the prevailing wind of the day took over and blew it back over the hill.
 
I have wore my saddle every hunt no matter what I was hunting from and I can say I don't know that I will ever go back to a regular harness. I do believe I will be using a lockon again next year, for some of my hunts anyway, but I will still be wearing my saddle. The ability to lean out and even mix things up to stand facing the tree and relieve pressure is great. As others have mentioned, I don't like the 2 blind spots. I had a buck sneak up on me this year that the first time I saw him was at 5 yards. Somehow, he walked exactly from behind my tree and I never saw him until it was way too late. Now, it was raining and there was a decent wind, but I much prefer the ability to see all that's in front of me. I also prefer the feel of a shot while standing instead of leaning. With my compound, it doesn't matter too much, but things are easily screwed up with a longbow in hard.
 
Well I'm on board to stay. I sold all my stands. I absolutely hate carrying a stand into the woods and making noise with it. I cannot leave them for someone to steal so I went to climbers. They are comphy but just too heavy to tote very far. I also don't like to be stuck in one tree many times. I like to move and moving a stand just seems like too much hassle to me. I'll continue to wear mine with me, thank you. If everyone would go back to aluminum, maybe the prices would come down too.
 
Jtaylor said:
I think plenty of people still hunt from the ground here and definitely farther west in open territory. The scent control issues always confuse me and maybe I don't understand it enough. 20-30 ft up or on the ground scent is eventually going to make it to the ground, correct? It's usually pretty windy here and fairly flat where I hunt so sitting on the ground, wind in my face usually is productive. The biggest issue I've had ground hunting is drawing back/positioning for a shot without being seen.
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sometimes from the ground you have rising thermals. They will pull your scent up and carry it elsewhere to fall to the ground. Perhaps that was your experience.
 
JSEXTON23 said:
sometimes from the ground you have rising thermals. They will pull your scent up and carry it elsewhere to fall to the ground. Perhaps that was your experience.
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Kind of off subject here but I do hunt taking thermals into consideration for the most part. A lot of times here the wind seems so strong thermals are a bit of a non-issue. Prior to the knowledge of using milkweed to detect thermals better I think I could just feel the cooler air in lower areas at night and vice versa in the morning. It's amazing hunting near water or near a plowed field with black dirt how much thermals come into play also. I do think our constant wind does play a role in being successful seeing deer on the ground whereas it may not be that way in other areas of the country.
 
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I love all my variations. DIY fleece, single ladder, double ladder, climber and hang on. But we hunt to kill. My most reliable method has to be hands down, my Jeep. There has been more meat in the freezer from old Rocky the Wrangler than bow, rifle or other legal methods combined. Keep it safe y'all!!!
 
JohnnyB38 said:
I love all my variations. DIY fleece, single ladder, double ladder, climber and hang on. But we hunt to kill. My most reliable method has to be hands down, my Jeep. There has been more meat in the freezer from old Rocky the Wrangler than bow, rifle or other legal methods combined. Keep it safe y'all!!!
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Can you give me the name of the highway patrol officer in your area? I’ll get on the list for the road kill clean up crew!!!
 
JSEXTON23 said:
Can you give me the name of the highway patrol officer in your area? I’ll get on the list for the road kill clean up crew!!!
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I'm on the "Whack a deer" list on Fort Knox. I get a call every few weeks. Plus I'm averaging one a year for the past 5 years.
 
JSEXTON23 said:
Well, after 4 years of saddle hunting, I’ve decided to switch back to hunting out of a hang on next season. I have a sewing machine, and plan on sewing up a saddle at some point in the future, but for the moment I am making a change.

I have to say, it’s a weird thing. It seems so easy to allow your identity to become wrapped up in things you do. Even though all the opportunities I’ve had at deer the last 4 years has been from the ground, I’ve been a “saddlehunter”. It’s become dogma. I don’t like being dogmatic.

So, after lots of thought and analysis, I’ve decided to go back using a hang on. However, I will be taking with me lots that I’ve learned as a mobile hunter. I’ll be modifying a rch, probably sewing up a sitdrag, using my squirrel steps, and dreaming of ways to become more efficient.

I will say what has influenced my decision the most is my perceived movement in a saddle and having 2 blind spots at all times. I hunt public land exclusively, and don’t always have the luxury of knowing where deer are coming from. Having no eyes in the back of my head and a tree in front of me, I feel like I have likely missed deer walking past me. In no way am I blaming the saddle for my lack of success, but not seeing deer that are within eyesight is a huge factor. It broke my confidence and that is invaluable.

With that said, I’ll end this disparate rambling by saying I’ll still be around on this forum seeking knowledge, supporting the membership initiative, and lending my 2 cents wherever applicable.
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I've used a saddle to some extent for last 5 years but always gravitate back to my climber and hang-on, or ground, especially when it gets cold. I use whatever method works best for me for the situation. If I know I'll be walking for hours or know I need to be on the back side of a tree I'll opt for the saddle. There might be some very rare scenarios where a saddle can be used in a tree that a stand couldn't be but I've found that leaning trees are the bane of saddle hunting for me. Movement is another aspect I struggle with a little bit in a saddle, I just can't stay nearly as still as I can in a stand. I much prefer to stay sitting with my bow between my legs so I can minimize movement. It's nice to have the tree to hide behind when in a saddle but when you need to take the shot you aren't really hidden at that point anyway so I prioritize keeping movement to a minimum. Since I've started saddle hunting I've also switched to a rock harness when stand hunting. I've never had the need to swing around the tree but the option is there as it could come in real handy some day.

The saddle is ALWAYS going to have it's place for me but it's not my goto. I get sick of all the labels being thrown around "saddlehunter", "beast hunter", "mobile hunter", "public land hunter", and on and on. It's not really the terms themselves that bother me, they actually are a good way to describe to each other the way we hunt. Unfortunately so often the way they are being used is like an I'm better than you because I'm this attitude. Or, you're not cool unless you hunt like this... It's off putting and it seems like it's everywhere anymore. Whatever method your choosing is fine, every single one of us is going to do things differently. Whatever the case, this is a great place to stick around. You never know when the next idea is gonna pop up that's gonna inspire you to try something different.
 
I still have my climber, LW hang on and now the saddle. I don’t planned on getting rid of any of them. I hunt 95 percent on public and get a few chances each year to hunt private land. I have found plenty of situations for all three methods. There’s been plenty of times I setup and wished I had used my climber. They are just add tools to the arsenal. I’ve killed my biggest buck walking out to find a place to hunt. I will use all methods of hunting as long as it gives me the best chance at success. There’s no wrong way to get out there and enjoy gods creations. Hunt hard and good luck on your journey.
 
Good comments from all...I've had 4 saddles over the years and now have none lol .....I love the saddle concept but found out a few things about using a saddle that were more problematic for me than I was willing to put up with...

One, which really surprised me was I don't like facing the tree. I thought facing the tree would allow me to use the tree to 'hide behind'...Problem is deer come from different directions in most of my setups so that didn't really turn out to be the advantage I though it would....I also found I like a tree behind me to hide any subtle movements I might make on deer coming up behind me - I found that out the hard way with deer coming up behind me and catching me moving in the saddle....

I also found adding/removing layers more difficult in the saddle...In our early season I will walk in and climb and then remove/replace that shirt with another. Also, in cold weather I add layers in the tree once I cool down and for me that was more difficult with the saddle....

I didn't find setting up in the tree with the saddle any easier than my hang on....you still need a climbing method, I still used a platform, though smaller than a hang on, and it just seemed I needed more 'pieces' of equipment with the saddle than the hang on....Of course my LW climber is the simplest of all in setup and stuff needed to be hunt ready....

None of these problems are real 'show stoppers' but for me just weren't the extra effort to remedy when with my climbers and hang ons I don't have those problems.

I still love reading posts in saddlehunter and have learned a lot about climbing, ropes, carabiners, etc.. that have helped me make my climbing stand and hang on processes more efficient.

I see nothing wrong with those who like the saddle and I know they will work as I have bow killed deer out of them myself...Like someone else said find what works best for you and use it - that's my opinion too as the hunt is what's important and not what equipment you use...

Once again just my humble opinion....
 
Longbowwally said:
Good comments from all...I've had 4 saddles over the years and now have none lol .....I love the saddle concept but found out a few things about using a saddle that were more problematic for me than I was willing to put up with...

One, which really surprised me was I don't like facing the tree. I thought facing the tree would allow me to use the tree to 'hide behind'...Problem is deer come from different directions in most of my setups so that didn't really turn out to be the advantage I though it would....I also found I like a tree behind me to hide any subtle movements I might make on deer coming up behind me - I found that out the hard way with deer coming up behind me and catching me moving in the saddle....

I also found adding/removing layers more difficult in the saddle...In our early season I will walk in and climb and then remove/replace that shirt with another. Also, in cold weather I add layers in the tree once I cool down and for me that was more difficult with the saddle....

I didn't find setting up in the tree with the saddle any easier than my hang on....you still need a climbing method, I still used a platform, though smaller than a hang on, and it just seemed I needed more 'pieces' of equipment with the saddle than the hang on....Of course my LW climber is the simplest of all in setup and stuff needed to be hunt ready....

None of these problems are real 'show stoppers' but for me just weren't the extra effort to remedy when with my climbers and hang ons I don't have those problems.

I still love reading posts in saddlehunter and have learned a lot about climbing, ropes, carabiners, etc.. that have helped me make my climbing stand and hang on processes more efficient.

I see nothing wrong with those who like the saddle and I know they will work as I have bow killed deer out of them myself...Like someone else said find what works best for you and use it - that's my opinion too as the hunt is what's important and not what equipment you use...

Once again just my humble opinion....
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So you're hunitng out of a LWHC now? I"m pretty curious what everyone who has done both has settled on for stands. Cheers!
 
Just looking at this thread and I can't help but think of how cool it is that this thread has remained so respectful. People have shared their thoughts and insights, questioned my motives in a genuinely curious and respectful manner, and lent a heartfelt encouragement to everyone to enjoy hunting however they ultimately decide.

When I posted this I did not think there would be much response. A few, "good luck to you but I think saddle hunting is best/ you're making a mistake/ your reasons for switching are unfounded." comments is about all I expected.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed. I think this might help some people who are maybe feeling the same as myself feel like they aren't going to be viewed as a heretic for moving away from a saddle. Good on you people.
 
JSEXTON23 said:
Just looking at this thread and I can't help but think of how cool it is that this thread has remained so respectful. People have shared their thoughts and insights, questioned my motives in a genuinely curious and respectful manner, and lent a heartfelt encouragement to everyone to enjoy hunting however they ultimately decide.

When I posted this I did not think there would be much response. A few, "good luck to you but I think saddle hunting is best/ you're making a mistake/ your reasons for switching are unfounded." comments is about all I expected.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed. I think this might help some people who are maybe feeling the same as myself feel like they aren't going to be viewed as a heretic for moving away from a saddle. Good on you people.
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I think saddle hunting is a great tool & I really identify with being a saddle hunter but it’s not for everyone! I’m totally cool with that I also like your approach, stick around. Don’t have to be a saddle hunter to contribute positively here!!
 
Vtbow said:
So you're hunitng out of a LWHC now? I"m pretty curious what everyone who has done both has settled on for stands. Cheers!
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I'm primarily using a LW Sit n climb with a Hazemore net seat and a fairly firm foam pad on the net seat - the foam pad makes the seat part feel a bit wider and more comfortable than just using the net seat. I also use LW and Millennium hang ons - not in a permanent way but usually only when I want to do several sits in the same spot or an area with no trees for climber which is pretty rare in my area....

I also use the large Summit climber - not to much when using trad bows though - when walks are less than 1/2 mile or so and not having to go thru thick stuff to get to my spot....I use the molle style shoulder straps and hip belt and I don't mind my usual 20 minutes or less walking to the tree with extra weight on my back when it gives me so much more comfort for the 3+ hours of sitting in the stand...

With these setups I only need a small fanny pack for a minimal number of items to hunt with comfortably and efficiently.
 
I'm still relatively new to mobile hunting. Have mostly hunted out of ladder stands and DIY platforms. Tried a hand climber for a couple of seasons. I like having options. But sometimes it is nice to just pack a stool in and sit on the ground. But that has its limitations in thick areas. A saddle has the best packability, I mean you can literally wear your "stand" in. But I think adjusting to sitting "backwards" and having a rope in front of you takes some getting used to coming from a treestand. One nice aspect of a hang on is that you can just strap your sticks to it and its ready to go. Add a basic harness. If you don't wear your saddle in I think it can be awkward packing your climbing method, saddle, ropes, carabiners, platform, etc. Not to mention hunting equipment. I thought saddle hunting would simplify things, but somehow it's become more complicated than a hang on IMO. Or maybe we all just make it that way. I think of each method as a tool in a the toolbox and some tools work better for others.
 
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