Saddle Hunting 101

How To Saddle Hunt

You're thinking of getting into saddle hunting, being more mobile, and freeing yourself from unnecessary weight. This is the place to be. You likely have many questions…how do I saddle hunt? What gear do I need saddle hunting? Is saddle hunting safe? How do I shoot out of a saddle? We have all the answers and more organized in our “tech tips” so you can quickly get up to speed on all the latest… this is Trophyline’s saddle hunting 101.

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HOW TO SADDLE HUNT

Saddles are Safe - A tree saddle and saddle hunting are safe, you are tied into a tree at all times via a lineman’s rope or tree tether at all times. There is no “self rescue” like a safety harness, with a saddle you simple swing against the tree at the same height you are hunting on your climbing stick or platform.

Saddle Hunting is Lighter – In most instances depending on saddle gear selection, a saddle, platform, and set of climbing sticks are lighter than most tree stand, climbing stick, safety harness or safety harness and climbing stand combinations

Saddle Hunting is Quiet – Instead of putting up a large hang on, or climbing a tree with a climber, a saddle is the lightest and quietest elevated hunting method you could choose.

More Comfortable - While most tree stand manufactures are going smaller and lighter, a saddle gives you a more comfortable and flexible option of sitting, standing, or leaning than most tree stands on the market. It is important to get a comfortable saddle.o Mobile and Flexible – Shooting a bow or a gun out of a saddle when hunting is easy and often times lends itself to quicker/easier shooting and from more positions. Due to being able to utilize swinging on either side of the tree, you have more degrees of shooting.

Saddle hunting depends on easily one of the most important pieces of gear…your saddle. A saddle is essentially a modified harness that acts as a seat/sling allowing you to lean, cradle, sit, and stand during a hunt, and allows you to fully move around in a tree for 360 degree shooting. This is more comfortable, and safer, while also providing a lighter method of climbing a tree.Coming from other elevated hunting methods, you’re swapping your safety harness out for a more comfortable and safer system in a saddle. In the video below we go over the basics of a tree saddle for hunting.

To saddle hunt you simply need a saddle kit (saddle, pouches, lineman rope, tether rope, rope bridge, prusik knots, and carabineers), a platform, and climbing sticks. This is all a hunter needs to saddle hunt, however items like a saddle hunting pack, knee pads, a back band, and mechanical ascenders can make the hunt easier and more enjoyable.See below what gear we recommend, and the video below that shows you how to climb a tree when using a saddle.

Saddle Kit – Covert Lite Saddle Kit comes with the saddle (in M/L for size 38 or smaller waist, and XL/L for 38+), Two Accessory Pouches, Tree Tether Rope,Lineman’s Rope, Black Diamond Screw gate Carabiners, and as a special addition in store at dealers only a free back band.

Saddle Platform – Trophyline offers 3 platforms, the Mission, a bigger platform with plenty of room for the larger hunters or hunters with large feet, the E.D.P.Everyday Platform a smaller, lighter version of the mission with holds on the outside, and the Wingman Platform, a hybrid climbing stick/platform that has a 25degree angle for foot comfort when leaning and that easily packs on our double step mini sticks.

Climbing Sticks - Quick, quiet, & easy to use. Our Double Step Mini ClimbingSticks, powered by Novix, are the perfect pairing to our array of platforms and comes in a pack of 4.

Packs – Our two most popular packs for saddle hunting include the C.A.Y.S Pack and the Platow Pack. The CAYS backpack allows a saddle hunter to carry sticks, platform, and a healthy amount of gear to boot with their base system, while the Platow forces a stronger mobile mindset, minimal gear but functions effortlessly in carrying the combination of 4 sticks and the mission, wingman, or EDP platform.

One of the most common questions outside of gear new saddle hunters ask is “how doyou shoot a bow out of the saddle?”. There are a few tricks and tips of the trade so tospeak, but overall a saddle can and will give you more options than other traditionalelevated hunting methods. Shooting a bow out of a saddle is actually quiet easy, andonce you get the hang of it, a stable and confident platform to make accurate shots frommultiple positions in the tree. The video below shows World Champion Archery andlifelong bow hunter Levi Morgan explaining his preferred methods of shooting a bow outof the saddle.

Our two most popular packs for saddle hunting include the C.A.Y.S Pack and the Platow Pack. Below are videos showing how to pack your saddle hunting gear, sticks, and platform in our packs specifically designed for saddle equipment. The CAYS backpack allows a saddle hunter to carry sticks, platform, and a healthy amount of gear to boot with their base saddle hunting system.

The Platow pack forces a stronger mobile mindset, minimal gear but functions effortlessly in carrying the combination of 4 sticks and the mission, wingman, or EDP platform.

How to: Rifle/Gun Hunting Out of a Saddle ft. Jon Lewis of Just Hunt Club.Saddle hunting with a gun is a question on many hunter's minds when trading bow or crossbow equipment for firearms. Here are some helpful tips on shooting a gun out of a saddle!

The basics of hunting out of a saddle with a crossbow is comparable to hunting out of a saddle using a gun. The main factor and difference between gun hunting out of a saddle versus a crossbow is to keep in mind your clearance of the limbs and the trunk of the tree. Jeff Malara from Trophyline Customer Service is here to explain these details of using a crossbow while saddle hunting.

OTHER FAQs

The Tree Saddle ® Cradles your seat like a hammock and actually PROMOTES CIRCULATION; the leg straps are NOT tight! This is one of the key features of the Tree Saddle ® that contributes to its ALL DAY COMFORT.

Instead of just sitting or standing in a tree stand, a saddle allows you to sit back into the saddle, stand, lean, and shift weight off any contact point that may become tiresome or weak.

Furthermore, combining a back back and knee pad creates one of the most comfortable hunting experiences out there considering how mobile and lightweight you truly are with a saddle and platform.

Trophyline saddles are wider and taller than other saddles on the market, giving you more back support and eliminating hip pinch without sacrificing oz or overall weight.

You are able to attend one of several saddle events or dealers across the country to try saddle hunting for yourself!

Take it from anyone out there saddle hunting, or any of our numerous ambassadors or satisfied customers...its worth it.

Of course, everyone has their preferences but dialing in a saddle hunting system with saddle, ropes, pack, platform, and sticks is one of the lightest, most efficient, and most satisfying hunting styles out there.

When done properly, saddle hunting is one of the safest elevated hunting methods out there. You are connected to the tree via your lineman's rope or tree tether 100% of the time, once your foot leaves the ground.

We wholeheartedly recommend to try most saddles out there on the market from trusted manufacturers that are safely testing their gear.

Trophyline was the first saddle ever created by our founder and inventor of the Saddle Mr. James Green in 1961. From there we have gotten better, stronger, and faster. Thoroughly backed by reviews and customers nationwide, we firmly believe that our saddles are the most durable, well-built, comfortable, and functional saddles on the market.