Finally nutted up and hunted from the saddle tonight. I’ve been playing around with it for a few years but never in the woods. Probably laziness of having pre sets and feeling like I didn’t have time to saddle hunt. Always liked the idea but never committed.
Fast forward to the “this is my year to hunt from the saddle”. I’ve been practicing with the saddle and had my whole kit packed nice. Planned an after work afternoon hunt and while packing last night I threw my “saddle setup” backpack in the truck. Figured I should, if only just to justify the money I threw at it recently with another saddle, sticks and a platform.
I had a stand set with cell cam action that I full well intended to hunt. I didn’t expect to use the saddle. I brought it “just in case”. I even brought it to my stand because I wanted to put some hiking in with how I had it set up. And probably because I felt guilty knowing I could just bring my bow and quiver and release and probably whack a doe.
Spent 45 minutes in that stand knowing that it was wrong, over grown and really should be saved for later season. In those 45 minutes I talked myself into trying another spot that I had scouted last year and ultimately didn’t hunt because there was no where to hang a stand. But I had a saddle and I was going to go hang and glass. I figured I could practice hanging everything like I was going to hunt. And if something walked in, great.
I also convinced myself the stand I was in would be better hunted from a saddle (again I had never actually hunted from one but have done my homework). 45 minutes into my white tail season I took my pre set stand down and struck off blind to an area I had wanted to hunt….with a saddle. And after a 4 hour sit I can say, I’m all in.
I proved to myself I can get up and set up and hunt comfortably. I also reaffirmed that I could find deer. I didn’t get it done today but I did come to full draw on a young buck at 8 yards, and see 7 other deer. Out of bow range but not by much. I had deer around all evening and really got to play with the saddle as far as how it could benefit my hunting.
I made mistakes. I took away some knowledge. But most of all I really enjoyed the hunt. I’m going to apologize in advance, and reference this post, for the onslaught of posts and questions, etc. that are going to be coming your way. I’ve got the basics and now that I got a taste, you guys are in big trouble.
Fast forward to the “this is my year to hunt from the saddle”. I’ve been practicing with the saddle and had my whole kit packed nice. Planned an after work afternoon hunt and while packing last night I threw my “saddle setup” backpack in the truck. Figured I should, if only just to justify the money I threw at it recently with another saddle, sticks and a platform.
I had a stand set with cell cam action that I full well intended to hunt. I didn’t expect to use the saddle. I brought it “just in case”. I even brought it to my stand because I wanted to put some hiking in with how I had it set up. And probably because I felt guilty knowing I could just bring my bow and quiver and release and probably whack a doe.
Spent 45 minutes in that stand knowing that it was wrong, over grown and really should be saved for later season. In those 45 minutes I talked myself into trying another spot that I had scouted last year and ultimately didn’t hunt because there was no where to hang a stand. But I had a saddle and I was going to go hang and glass. I figured I could practice hanging everything like I was going to hunt. And if something walked in, great.
I also convinced myself the stand I was in would be better hunted from a saddle (again I had never actually hunted from one but have done my homework). 45 minutes into my white tail season I took my pre set stand down and struck off blind to an area I had wanted to hunt….with a saddle. And after a 4 hour sit I can say, I’m all in.
I proved to myself I can get up and set up and hunt comfortably. I also reaffirmed that I could find deer. I didn’t get it done today but I did come to full draw on a young buck at 8 yards, and see 7 other deer. Out of bow range but not by much. I had deer around all evening and really got to play with the saddle as far as how it could benefit my hunting.
I made mistakes. I took away some knowledge. But most of all I really enjoyed the hunt. I’m going to apologize in advance, and reference this post, for the onslaught of posts and questions, etc. that are going to be coming your way. I’ve got the basics and now that I got a taste, you guys are in big trouble.
