How many of you fellas have ventured into hunting from a saddle? Always hunted from a climber, but for some reason this year I’ve noticed some issues with what I think might be vertigo in the stand, so I’m wondering if trying a saddle out might help it.

I got a saddle set up this year for hunting public land. It is by no means as comfortable as a climber, but I can get 15-20ft up a tree with 7lbs of gear. I can also get in trees that a climber can’t. It has its place.

I thought it was silly, but then a part of the lease I had had an Area that didn’t have a tree big enough for a lock on. A friend sold me his saddle set up at a good price and dang, I was 16-18 ft up one of those trees. This year outside of a shooting house all I’ve hunted from is a Trophyline covert lite and love it. I have knee problems and standing the whole time while bow hunting is becoming more difficult, the saddle surprisingly helps a lot and I’m able to stay in the stand longer.

A saddles not any safer than a climber or hang on if you just wear a harness. Saddles aren't near as comfortable as a loc-on or a climber, especially sitting half-whole days. Bad knees don't like them either, at least mine didn't.
The saddle makes it hard for weak side shots but, is great for sneaking around and making a shot on the strong side. I'm gonna be all hang-ons with an XOP holiday harness this year, seems good so far testing. You can spin like wearing a regular saddle as well to shoot behind the stand

I always wear a harness, but not too fond of hanging from it for an hour waiting on a buddy for help. LoL.

Good to hear. I’m fortunate to not have knee issues yet, but I’m probably not far from it.

What equipment are you running?

I got the XOP invader and mondo kit and latitude carbon sticks.

My 6th season in a saddle. I love that I can take my setup anywhere I hunt. No, not as comfortable as a lock on but I really feel safe in it

Nice! I’ve got the XOP sticks but like the looks of the carbon ones.

year 3 on saddle only hunting. imo is way more comfortable than a loc on or climber. endless options on shooting and shooting weak side is a breeze if your setup is done right. i have some millennium sticks for packing and also i have several sets of 25 foot stick ladders for semi permanent locations. i have 3 platforms i use and 2 of them are always ready for a mobile setup

I thought you were talking about hunting from horse back. I had some friends that did these and said some deer would let you ride right up to them.

I can’t comment on actually hunting in a saddle, but …

Me and a buddy were sort of team hunting an area a couple years ago during bow season . He was in a saddle maybe 150 yards away from me. No matter what direction I was looking, one thing caught my peripheral vision all afternoon: him pivoting around the tree messing with his position all afternoon. I can see that set up just being more prone to fooling around and not being still. If I saw him all afternoon I know the deer did.

The only reason you should be waiting an hour would be if your stand fell down the tree. There should be straps on it to prevent that. That holiday harness I have does anything a saddle does as far as falls. A rock climbing harness would also
Either way, safety is smart

Have you sat ALL day in a saddle 10-12hrs? I haven't met a guy yet that would claim it's more comfy is why I ask. I sold mine the first season I had it.

My butt and legs agree lol.

yes several times. key to getting comfy is plenty of practice time in the off season. must get your tether height just right and bridge length right to eliminate hip pinch. i do not use the supplied bridge with mine, i use my linemans rope with a ropeman 1 as a bridge attached to my tether on another ropeman 1

I gave saddle hunting an honest try and just did not care for it. I went back to my old school aluminum Rapid Rails and a lock on. If I come into some money before next hunting season I want to get one the newer super lightweight lock on stands.

Hunted Illinois this year. Used my buddies saddle. Only cause he talked so much about it.
Not know what type of tree was there to climb. After 1.5 days of it, I put the tree walker on my back
And hunted rest of time.
They have there place. But I love my climber.

I spend 26 hours in mine over three days of hunting this weekend. I was fine. Was it like sitting in a lazy boy, no, but I never got uncomfortable.