• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Turkey hunting from the saddle

@Ontariofarmer ...... has had some success. You need to check your regs a couple of the states I hunt it’s not legal to hunt turkeys from an elevated position. Most guys are doing it from the ground with the tree as cover. Me personally when I’m hunting turkeys I want to have good back cover & a little brush around the tree & as low as possible.
 
My first saddle kill was a turkey. Same as you would with deer, back cover and send that broadhead. I saw them 3 gobblers at 80 yards, called one into 50 yards and he died from acute razor blade poisoning.
 
They are still turkeys and I was busted more than once this season by turkey in my saddle. I climb on bolts, I have bailed on a set up before, pulled the bolts on the way down and was back in another tree in less than 30 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on your back cover!
 
Several on here have hunted turkeys while using saddle at ground level


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have killed one turkey from a tree with a bow while deer hunting. It is legal here. I always carry a tag in the fall while bow hunting deer. The opportunity is just October. I could have killed some later in the deer season, they did not see me but turkey season was over. A saddle allows you to use a tree for cover.
In the spring I only hunt from the ground but often use a JX3 attached to a tree at ground level and the tree in front or at ground level using the tree for back cover. A large tree has worked several times for me. I have only hunted turkeys for five years.
With a Jx 3 attached to the tree you are off the ground and can move around the tree for cover. Turkeys see very well and I have had many very very close. Also with decoys in front of you and a tree for cover I feel safer from careless hunters shooting decoys. Never happened but I do think about it.

I also use blinds occasionally




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
I wear my saddle turkey hunting and when I get a response I setup tied in at ground level with my feet on the ground. There's several things I really like about it. First, I can setup hiding behind a tree which will give me a better opportunity to draw my bow or support my shotgun. Second, I'm setup about 2-3 feet higher than if I'm sitting on the ground which improves my sight line for birds coming in. Third, while setup in a saddle on the ground its easy to walk around the tree when the bird decides to circle in. It's easy to stay hidden and facing the bird, something that can be difficult from a seated position. I've retired the foam seat pad from my turkey vest.
 
I wouldn't for spring birds but I've killed way more out of a saddle in the fall than I ever did out of a regular stand.
 
If I wasn't saving 2 tags for the spring I could have destroyed some turkey this year. I am not sure if it was because they are not use to seeing a hunter leaning at an angle like a trunk? I also had doe walk pass a few times and look at me, see me, but kept on walking at 10 yards trying their best to figure out what I was. Buck only day or at least one of them would have died.
 
I wear my saddle turkey hunting and when I get a response I setup tied in at ground level with my feet on the ground. There's several things I really like about it. First, I can setup hiding behind a tree which will give me a better opportunity to draw my bow or support my shotgun. Second, I'm setup about 2-3 feet higher than if I'm sitting on the ground which improves my sight line for birds coming in. Third, while setup in a saddle on the ground its easy to walk around the tree when the bird decides to circle in. It's easy to stay hidden and facing the bird, something that can be difficult from a seated position. I've retired the foam seat pad from my turkey vest.

I think you've nailed the pros here. I hadn't even thought about the site line improvement that you get just with 2-3 feet up. I am mostly using the saddle for comfort. On the ground, there is no way I can stay still for very long without fidgeting. In the saddle I am comfortable and can be still for a long time.
 
I just got a JX3 and was wondering if I should use it as a chair or on a tree at ground level. You have all made up my mind now. ON THE TREE FOR ME! Thank you all for sharing.
 
I don't need no stinking saddle to hunt turkey.
I can just sit in my kitchen chair.
1e452c862eb20fe0618a295273dd5cb9.jpg
d6a423f01970e9254498f4970d12dbc8.jpg


Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
Yes i've used my saddle as a chair when hunting from the ground. The saddle packs down quite a bit easier than having to carry a chair!

Check with local game laws/regulations first before climbing a tree to hunt turkey - some states don't allow hunting turkey from an elevated position.
 
Back
Top