Safety of saddle system

[madmaxthc]

As I start planning for the next season,

I am getting tempted to try a tree saddle. The light weight is tempting, and having just got a longer bow (64"), I have the impression the saddle would give me more clearance than a hand climber.
After watching several saddle videos though I have a doubt about the safety of the system. With tree stands they really stress the necessity of always being attached to the tree by two points. Even when you are set, you could argue that your first attachment is the stand itself, and the rope is your backup system. With the saddle you basically rely on the string only.

What are your thoughts on that regard?

Thanks,
Max

[Chad Orde]

I guess that’s a good point but would still use one. I’ve had a couple saddles but love my Ol’man climbers for all day sits and jumping around/ follow fresh movements and sign. It does suck to shoot out of with a longbow and you need to pay extra attention. Hang on stands are the best for Trad bows on my personal opinion. With climbers I keep the seat close to the foot base so when I stand up the hand rail sides are farther away. The real key is to practice more from your stand then on the ground so you are confident when hunting season comes. Shoot straight

[maxpetros]

I've personally never hunted from a saddle but have a lot of interest in it as well. However as a rock climber, I have a ton of faith in quality ropes, carabiners and harnesses and feel more secure in systems like that than I do in a treestand and camlock or ratchet straps. I've seen welds and bolts fail (not specifically treestands) far more than I've experienced failures in climbing equipment. Keep in mind a fail from a treestand even with a harness can cause a fair amount of trauma as well as a lot of load to the system. On the other hand the tethering system on a saddle is always under tension so a fall is a lot less likely to experience those same stresses. All that said I have a lot of confidence in a saddle system being completely safe without ever being in one.

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[Tom1958]

If you keep your saddle and related components inspected and maintained, there are no safety issues when used properly.
I love my Kestrel. And shooting a 60" recurve from it is no issue, except for weak side shots. Ive heard several guys, including myself, having problems shooting toward the weak side unless on a platform. But with a platform (I like a Predator), weak side shots are not a problem.

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[Lakerat007]

I've tried numerous saddles and platform options over about a 5 year span. Wanted desperately for the system to work due to its packability. However the sucker just isn't for me. Was constantly moving and adjusting stuff or having to move my bow around ropes. Yes I suppose one can say u can shoot 360degrees but the movement to get the shot off is a diff story.  Will say they are safe, atleast as safe as anything else. Just sold off all my saddle gear and platform. Back to the Lonewolf for me.

[Flingblade]

My saddle has a tree tether and a linesmans belt.  If you wanted a back up to the tree tether once set you could just leave the linesmans belt attached. 

[joel0711]

What flingblade said------ add a  tree squeeze to linesman belt for even more safety

[madmaxthc]

OK,

Thanks everybody for your insights, I am a bit more convinced now about the safety of the saddle. I'll test the longbow with the hand climber first and see if I can get around with it. The saddle is tempting, I'll see if I can try one somewhere before buying it.

Best,
Max

[J. Holden]

There's a YouTube channel out there called "G2Outdoors".  He's one of the business partners for a saddle company.  So take that into consideration.  However, I share that to say he has a video showing the benefits of (and safety features) saddle hunting.  I bought one last year.  Although I only hunted twice in it last year (by my own choosing) I felt safer in that then I ever have in a tree stand.

One of the biggest selling points to me on safety is that there's no fall risk.  If your tree stand fails there will be a fall associated with it.  Not far if everything works right, but there'll be a fall.  With a saddle there's no fall.  If you slip or your platform fails you swing into the tree.  Done, no fall.  That sold me.

-Jeremy

[Tom1958]

OK,

Thanks everybody for your insights, I am a bit more convinced now about the safety of the saddle. I'll test the longbow with the hand climber first and see if I can get around with it. The saddle is tempting, I'll see if I can try one somewhere before buying it.

Best,
Max

There is a ton of saddle info over on the Saddlehunter.com forum.
They also have a map on their site of where saddle guys are located so maybe you can find someone close to you. There are some guys from FL and a bunch from the South.

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[charles m]

This is good info!  Thanks!

[toddster]

Works for John Eberhart, I have hunted out of a saddle for 8 or 1o years now.  I would say it is not the end all be all, but another tool in the box.  I shoot a 62" longbow with no issue and John at Tacti-saddle (makes them to your specs) has been shooting traditional gear a lot longer with success.  It is not for everyone and does take some practice to get everything dialed in, but once you do I love it.  The last few years I have been using the JRB (site and youtube) method and it is the best for me.
I am a short stocky heavyset guy, that have been comfortable with rappelling and knots since time in the USMC.  If you get a chance get with someone local and sit in one and begin to get a feeling for it.  At first as one of the guys said you want to move around a lot, but with more practice and dialed in, you sit more comfortable then anything else, and yes it is the safety thing out there, as you are attached to the tree the whole time.  Most people find it hard to believe be comfy, but I relate it to this, go to a park and sit in a swing, notice how comfy and secure you feel, and that is without it being strapped to you.  One other thing I found, was I had to change my mindset for set up.  For decades fixed a stand for shot, but now facing the tree, had to adjust thinking, though it allows to use the tree between you and deer all the way in.  Feel free to reach out with questions.

[Longrifleman]

There's lots of info on the saddlehunter.com forum. As long as you don't try to do it "on the cheap," & buy quality ropes & gear, and PRACTICE with it, over and over again, you'll be fine.

However, it's not something you want to start doing a week before the season-there is a DEFINITE learning curve associated with it. First, you have to get comfortable using your climbing system, & once that's done & you have no more butterflies in the stomach,  you have to add shooting your bow to the equation. Not something that can be done in just a couple weeks, IMO.

And before you start, you need to answer a few questions, such as:

-what type of saddle do you want-single panel? double panel? hybrid? (note-I ordered 5 different saddles when I got started, & used a main beam in my basement to hang with them on & test them for comfort-that way I was able to send the ones back that didn't work for me during the "free return" period, & they didn't have any wear.)

-how will you climb-sticks? steps? SRT? DRT? 2TC? other method? (each one has its advantages & disadvantages, & those are NOT the same for every hunter.)

-do you want to rappel down at the end of the hunt, or climb back down? (rappelling is safer, IMO.)

-do you favor friction knots or mechanical devices for holding/changing your position?

Believe me, it's a DEEP rabbit hole, but IMO it's the most versatile way to hunt elevated-very few trees cannot be climbed with a saddle-based system-all it takes is PRACTICE!

The time to decide how you want to do it, & start buying and practicing with your equipment is...now!

[razorsharptokill]

Slightly off post topic but,... I am new to saddle hunting and I have been using the JX3 Hybrid saddle. It doesn't pinch the hips and is like sitting in a millennium chair. It packs in like a pack frame and can be used as such.  It can be used to hunt from the ground also by sitting directly on the ground or setting your tether where you are suspended only a few feet. I have been trying the 1 stick climbing method and while it is a little more physically demanding, it eliminates the need for packing multiple sticks. With 1 sticking you have the added need to rappel down also so there is that to consider also. A preset set of sticks or ladder would be optimal if you have that luxury. For public land theft risk, a saddle setup is a good choice. As far as safety goes, always being tethered or having a lineman's rope attached is paramount.

[kbetts]

Safety is the big reason I saddle hunt 85% of the time.  I'm not a big lover of heights.  I prefer 8-15' with cover.  No issues with trad bows, I've gone back to a ring of steps instead of a platform.
The JX3 is amazing....I have one.  It does not suit me as well for a trad bow.  Doable, but there are better options.  I primarily use a Drey these days.

[Onehair]

I have hunted from a saddle since 1980. No mishaps f any kind. If you develop a routine that you repeat with out fail you’ll be fine.