First Saddle Hunt Advice

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

So, if you could give one tip, pointer, piece of advice to a noobie who is headed into their first season of saddle hunting, what would it be?

Let’s steer away from gear oriented talks (buy this product, this gear will help you so much, etc.) and keep it focused on little bits of knowledge that will help first time sifters like myself.

And go!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fbwguy]

The best advice I can give is that your safety is in your own hands. Be confident in your chosen climbing/ hanging set up. That means practice, practice and more practice before trying to hunt. Practice your climb and decent. Practice your sit. Practice your positioning. Practice your shooting. Then take it to the hunt. Just my 2 cents

 

[Bwhana]

Find someone nearby with experience and try out their gear and ask questions in person. You can do it all from video and reading, but in person will shortcut that process and help you avoid things you will eventually learn anyway.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[hauscaliber]

There are lots of adjustments to get comfortable and this is very personal. You're gonna have to play around with tether height, bridge length, saddle position, bridge loop position, back band, micro adjusters, etc all to find that comfortable position. Do this before you go hunting and make note of where you like these adjustments.

 

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

What about advice specific to hunting. What advice would help a guy whose sitting in a saddle rather than standing in a tree stand?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hebeskibe]

Make sure you are proficient with your chosen climbing method and can do it safely

 

[Boomah21]

No rush to get up and set in a tree. I often hear on the site here guys talk about and brag how quickly they get up to hunting height and set etc. (speed will come but a lot of guys have been doing this for years)

Doesn’t matter if it takes ya 5 mins or 25 mins go at a speed your comfortable and confident with...if something doesn’t feel right maybe a we step not seated right or a platform with play...take the time to re do it...it’s not a race

 

[Boomah21]

Specifically for hunting if you can get a tree that allows you to position the tree between you and where the deer is suspected to come. Also a big plus if u can get your anticipated shot to come from your strong side.

Last piece for me I prefer spit trunk or multiple trunk trees if ever possible, cover, comfort, lots of places to attach bags etc

 

[EricS]

If you’re already killing deer just keep doing it. You need to be safe. Get comfortable making shots 360 degrees and then understand you don’t have to shoot 360. If you can setup with thick cover put it on your weak side. Also remember just because you can setup in any tree doesn’t mean you should. I spent a lot of uncomfortable hours in some pretty cool trees that I was excited I could now hunt. There were better trees nearby but I was so excited that I could hunt the nasty spots I found I didn’t look for alternatives.

 

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

If you’re already killing deer just keep doing it. You need to be safe. Get comfortable making shots 360 degrees and then understand you don’t have to shoot 360. If you can setup with thick cover put it on your weak side. Also remember just because you can setup in any tree doesn’t mean you should. I spent a lot of uncomfortable hours in some pretty cool trees that I was excited I could now hunt. There were better trees nearby but I was so excited that I could hunt the nasty spots I found I didn’t look for alternatives.

All of this thread has been helpful. But this quote here is something I wouldn’t have thought of - where to put cover. Good stuff man!

I have no problem killing deer. I have a problem finding mature bucks at times. I’m really looking forward to hiking into some deep public with 11.5 pounds less gear on my back thanks to the saddle setup.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[beenhunting]

The biggest thing that I have had to over come is just being still in the saddle. I have a predator platform, and I like to swing around the tree towards my weak side and sit leaning against the tree with my feet on the side of the platform. I find it more comfortable than sitting with my knees into the tree and I can be more still than just leaning.

 

[Anobody]

Slow is fast and fast is slow... take your time, stay connected, adjust as needed

 

[Rich1201]

Don't be disappointed if it's not everything you'd imagined or read about on here. Getting comfortable took a considerable amount of time and effort for me. I'm happy I made the switch now but was questioning whether I made the right decision at first.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Kurt]

I find that I hunt hillside benches easier. I hunt a little higher than my hang on, and ladder set up would allow. This makes it easier to get into a tree and high enough to access a bench without exposing myself. I climb the backside of the tree off the bench so my treeside pre climb prep is concealed, then I can get to height on the backside without any real exposure. Another real advantage to this method is the packability as well as the weight. I also find it a quieter method to set up, which can allow you to get closer to sensitive areas. I also find I don't mind facing the sun when I set up because I can use the tree as shade.

 

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

Don't be disappointed if it's not everything you'd imagined or read about on here. Getting comfortable took a considerable amount of time and effort for me. I'm happy I made the switch now but was questioning whether I made the right decision at first.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I had the exact same experience when I tried to move from a climber to a lock on years ago.

I was tired of being restricted to tall, limbless trees and wanted to be more mobile with sticks and a lock on. Bought Lone Wolf sticks and a cheap gorilla hang on. Hated it. Sold that gear to a buddy from church.

Two years later I forced myself to try it again. There was a learning curve. But after a couple years my climber just sits collecting dust.

I have a feeling saddle hunting will be the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bakin7005]

Biggest revelation I had was, practicing two foot off the ground ain't near the same as 15-20 foot! The crap gets real up there.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[Allegheny Tom]

In a perfect scenario, I like to find medium sized trees so my vision is not blocked as much by a huge tree.
I like to set up so approaching deer will come on the back side of the tree, which keeps the tree trunk in-between us to break up my outline as he is coming toward me. As a right hand shot, I want my bow hanging on the left and I want the deer to pass me on my left. I would normally try to slowly get my bow up and pointed toward the shooting lane while the tree is still between us and then draw and shoot as the deer gets in the 8-9 o'clock (strong side) position. I also like to have good back cover behind be when viewed from the spot I hope to begin my draw. I never want to be skylighted.

But, as usually seems to happen, at the last minute, the buck will decide to come past the tree on my weak side. I hate when that happens. You have to roll with what the deer gives you at that point. Should I walk around the tree or try to shoot a weak side shot? I don't like shooting weak side. I would rather stand on the Predator and shoot as if I'm on a conventional tree stand.

I'm from the Barry Wensel camp in that I would rather shoot a slowly walking deer instead of trying to stop him. My shots are usually 16 yards or less. I would not try to take longer distance shots on walking animals.

 

[Smokinya1]

My first year I had to learn to focus on tree selection and positioning correctly in the tree and try not to get greedy and try and cover to much ground from the tree I setup in for the hunt. Being greedy cost me an opportunity to shoot the best deer I've seen in Kentucky because I was facing the wrong way because the tree I had to hunt to cover BOTH trails was leaning which made me sit with my best trail to my weak side. Buck came from my 5 o'clock position and didn't see him in time to position for the shot. If I would have setup in the tree I planned and facing with my main trail to my strong side it could have ended with me getting a shot at a great buck.

 

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

In a perfect scenario, I like to find medium sized trees so my vision is not blocked as much by a huge tree.
I like to set up so approaching deer will come on the back side of the tree, which keeps the tree trunk in-between us to break up my outline as he is coming toward me. As a right hand shot, I want my bow hanging on the left and I want the deer to pass me on my left. I would normally try to slowly get my bow up and pointed toward the shooting lane while the tree is still between us and then draw and shoot as the deer gets in the 8-9 o'clock (strong side) position. I also like to have good back cover behind be when viewed from the spot I hope to begin my draw. I never want to be skylighted.

But, as usually seems to happen, at the last minute, the buck will decide to come past the tree on my weak side. I hate when that happens. You have to roll with what the deer gives you at that point. Should I walk around the tree or try to shoot a weak side shot? I don't like shooting weak side. I would rather stand on the Predator and shoot as if I'm on a conventional tree stand.

I'm from the Barry Wensel camp in that I would rather shoot a slowly walking deer instead of trying to stop him. My shots are usually 16 yards or less. I would not try to take longer distance shots on walking animals.

This is good stuff sir. The exact kind of info I need to hear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

Biggest revelation I had was, practicing two foot off the ground ain't near the same as 15-20 foot! The crap gets real up there.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

No lie...I haven’t shot from height yet. Only from 5 feet or so. Heights don’t bother me much at all. But I bet shooting from a saddle at 20 feet is quite a bit different than from 5.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk