Tree saddle hunting...

Discussion in 'Bowhunting Talk' started by mikerock85, Jun 25, 2014.

  1. mikerock85

    mikerock85 Weekend Warrior

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    Pros and cons? Go

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  2. striker

    striker Weekend Warrior

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    Pros:

    Very light weight
    Hunt many different trees with only one saddle instead of having a lot of tree stands
    I find them very comfortable as long as you have the right size
    Extremely safe it seem near impossible to fall out of one
    Almost 360* shooting
    The tree is between you and the deer for better concealment

    Cons

    Can't really be used well on certain trees like pines
    It really works best with screw in steps which are not legal on most public land and the strap on type don't work very well as a platform




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  3. thirdhandman

    thirdhandman Weekend Warrior

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    Pro's Mobility, and concealment between the hunter and the deer by the tree.
    Cons. While they may be comfortable. But different than a tree stand. I had a camera man above me in his saddle. When two people are in a tree, each person can feel the tree move, when the other is moving. This guy hunted all the time out of his saddle. He didn't stop moving, adjusting his weight constantly. He said he had to adjust the weight to stay comfortable and that he didn't do it when deer were present. I ask what about the deer that come in from behind.
    The other negative is the hunter can not attach a Third Hand Archery Universal Bow Holder to the Saddle. LOL
     
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  4. tkarrow

    tkarrow Weekend Warrior

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    where can these be purchased?
    T
     
  5. gltomp

    gltomp Grizzled Veteran

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    I think I'd be scared ****less in one... but that's just me. I like the secure feeling of a rail in front of me :busted:
     
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  6. mikerock85

    mikerock85 Weekend Warrior

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    i made my own out of an old safety harness and am testing it out! but i must say i feel pretty crazy in it.... saddle.jpg
     
  7. striker

    striker Weekend Warrior

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    I think you'd be surprised. I feel safer in a saddle than a tree stand. It's damn near impossible to fall out of it I've slept in mine on more than a few occasions.


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  8. striker

    striker Weekend Warrior

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    eBay or similar site they're no longer in production and they'll be expensive you're probably looking at at least $300.


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  9. striker

    striker Weekend Warrior

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    Pretty cool I have a few harnesses lying around I may try to make one. Nice work


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  10. victoryhunter

    victoryhunter Weekend Warrior

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    NewTribe makes the Aero Hunter. It is currently the only production model available. A good friend of mine uses one and swears by it. I'd love to have one but they are to dang expensive.
     
  11. dnoodles

    dnoodles Legendary Woodsman

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    whew. Look like they'll be too cold to hunt out of up here for a lot of the season. Too much body surface exposed to the wind. Cool idea for specific situations, though.
     
  12. tkarrow

    tkarrow Weekend Warrior

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    True... very costly for what it is.

    I have an arborist friend, I will look into it with him.

    T

     
  13. thirdhandman

    thirdhandman Weekend Warrior

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    They are very mobile and lightweight compared to a treestand. That said there is an awful amount of movement shifting weight from side to side as it sort of binds on the legs compared to a normal tree stand. Been there, done that, not my cup of tea.
     
  14. drslyr

    drslyr Weekend Warrior

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    Just got my Areo Kestral tree saddle. Have not yet hunted from it but from practicing from it this thing may end my tree stand climber and loc on hunting. It’s fantastic. Watch a few videos on YouTube on saddle hunting. Look up a guy G2 outdoors
     
  15. Holt

    Holt Grizzled Veteran

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    You will love it! I got the kestrel last year and used it the whole season. Never went back to a lock on. Also shot my buck out of it last year. There is a learning curve, do lots of practice out of it. I ended up missing a few deer last year out of it, haven't missed a deer in a long time. Check out saddlehunter.com

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  16. virginiashadow

    virginiashadow Legendary Woodsman

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    I like the simplicity and light weight. Climbing sticks and that saddle look fantastic. Even my widening body could be hidden in a tree with that set up. :)
     
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  17. SheddingLightTravis

    SheddingLightTravis Weekend Warrior

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    Just bought a kestrel. I’m excited to get started in this style of hunting!


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  18. Justin

    Justin Administrator

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    The world is a funny place. Tree saddles have been around for years but all of a sudden people start posting a few few things about them on social media and the next thing you know everyone is running out and buying a saddle to swing from. IMO if they were all that great they would have already taken over the hunting industry. Now I'm sure they have their time and their place and are a good and/or fun option for some people. But I'll stick with my Lone Wolf for now. I rather enjoy a nice solid platform from which to take my treestand selfies.
     
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  19. SheddingLightTravis

    SheddingLightTravis Weekend Warrior

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    I can’t blame you for that decision. I think fads come and go. And you’re right people have been using tree saddles for a long time. But I don’t think the big production companies have seen the value in them. I guess it comes down to personal preference and wanting to try something new. I may hate it. But the idea of keeping the tree between you and the deer until it’s time to take the shot is very appealing. It’s also very appealing how safe it seems. And I really like the light weight design. Once again I don’t think we should come down to us versus them, it’s just a different style to do it in


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  20. Happy

    Happy Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I don’t really think that everyone would like using a saddle. I feel like some people would not like the idea of dangling from the side of a tree. You really have to trust your ropes and straps or whatever you attach yourself to the tree with. I’ve been using a saddle religiously for about 10 years and can’t tell you the last time I actually stood on a platform while hunting. It is really a lot cheaper for me to hunt with a saddle. I have maybe 8 sets on the property that I’ve been hunting for 20 years or more and all that is in the tree is screw in steps. The ones I use the most I have lifelines in..Wherever I decide to hunt I just crawl in strap myself to the tree and leave when I’m done. If I had to put stands in every tree my wife would kill me.!!


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