What are you using and why? I’m looking to upgrade but still not sure what to get. I use a hang on and sticks on my private. Have used climbers before. I’m looking to hunt a lot more public this year, so going to be mobile. Trying to decide between a Summit Viper, Lone Wolf Assault with Lone Wolf climbing sticks or a Tethrd Saddle Set up. I feel all set ups have their pros and cons and want to hear from you guys why you support one or the other. Thanks in advance everyone! Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
This will be my first year with saddle. Bought the Tethrd phantom and going to purchase the mini hawk helium sticks. I moved to this setup from Lonewolf alpha for 2 reasons. First my back pain from compressed and bulging disks, second is just to try something different. I also hunt a lot of public ground. I used a climber in the past until it cost me a huge buck because I knew the tree i needed to be in but couldn’t climb it because of the limbs. I still have my climber because a few places I hunt are tall mature limbless trees. I have 4 lonewolf alphas, I’ll probably sell 2 of them if the saddle works out.
I’ll do 2 or 3 pre hung lock ons for private, I may not even hunt out of them, but sometimes it’s nice when I’m running late I can just get up in the tree. This will be my second year in a saddle, and for public, it’s pretty dang convenient. I gave up on climbers due to never having climbable trees where I wanted to be. Then I found in my cheaper/ smaller lock on, I was longing for my saddle after about four hours of setting on the dinky pad. I don’t think saddles are the ONLY way to go, but it’s definitely a handy tool to have.
Stalking or ground blind. Getting too old and gimpy to use anything that gets me off the ground, even a ladder stand.
+1 I love my Viper as long as trees are straight and climb able, but too often the best tree set up has limbs. I bought a saddle this off season after doing research. So far its comfortable and looks to be the ticket.
I use a Aerohunter Kestrel Saddle with the 32" Hawk Helium sticks. I hunt mostly public land, but occasionally private. I have used both climbers and hang-on stands with sticks in the past. Tree stands are too big and heavy to haul around as a mobile hunter on public land. The learning curve with a saddle is higher than with a tree stand, but once you learn it, it is simpler, faster, safer and far lighter. I will never go back to using a tree stand.
you'll almost never get to a good spot and find a tree that can be climbed with a climber that couldn't be climbed with a set of sticks. The opposite is never true. That said, it's kind of a learning curve to get smooth with sticks and setting up your rig; either saddle or hang on. In fact; I am incapable of getting good at hanging hang ons from sticks. I just plain suck at it. Saddle not so bad. I am 50/50 on saddle vs. climber. There's a lot of straight trees that are awesome for climbers that just don't have any cover; which if you have/use a saddle you can use the tree itself as cover. IMHO a saddle is the best all-around set up. Trade a little bit of comfort and ease of set up compared to a climber; but it is more versatile. One strategy I started using last season was go into new area with sticks and saddle. If I like it and there's a good tree; next time I'll come back with my LW climber which then gets locked to the base of the tree when I leave.
I use the tethrd setup. I put up two preset ladders for the season on the private land I hunt for known travel trails. I use my saddle to have the ability to move around. I keep telling myself to hang some lock-on's but I really like the saddle, but it does have it's negatives. For one, it is a pain in the ass to change socks, I have a hard time getting my boots off/on. For public land, I use my saddle and just bought the Hawk 20" steps. The 36" Lone Wolf stick got hung up on everything, they were just too tall for the stuff I was walking through. The 20" sticks are short but an aider step has helped make up some of those lost steps. I can get up a tree pretty quick with sticks/saddle. The benefit is that you are wearing your stand and it is much easier to position a light saddle platform that a lock on. It takes some practice to get used to being in them, your hips will get sore and it takes some time to fine tune it to be comfortable. I haven't touched a climber in two years, nothing against them, but they have limited a lot of my hunts when I can't find a straight branchless tree to climb. They have their place, but you can open up some spots with sticks lock-on/saddle.
And if you get a saddle, buy the back support band, it will change your life. I have napped in my saddle, it can get pretty comfy. You also have to be comfortable telling everyone you are a saddle hunter in any social setting.
