Been reading and thinking about trying one. Convince me, why I should make the investment.

I have one now and been using off and on last couple of seasons. Very comfortable to me but I haven’t found a quick easy way to make a shot on the weak side. I’ve used a lonewolf assault for a long time and it’s just easier for me, but not as comfortable. So I would like some input as well please

I've been saddle hunting for a number of years. Personal preferences in hunting is a huge factor. That said the saddle fits my preferences and I find it more comfortable than any stand I've owned. Most trees I set up in I can shoot 360. I also use climbing sticks but I have no problem scouting for a couple of hours with my saddle and gear on my back pack.

A ring of steps helps with the weak side shot! And the comfort safety and the areas it opens up to hunting are endless!! I have found no downside to it as far as mobile hunting goes!!

Tons of YouTube videos on the subject.

My back don't hurt near as quick hunting in a saddle as it does in a lock-on stand.

im older, with a beat up body.... comfort goes to the saddle for me. No contest. more portable(can set up in most any tree.) having the tree in front of you hides your body...it will amaze you, deer just cannot see you as well. With that said, i do still use and enjoy my hang on stands as well.

And this is my first year with trad, and saddles work well with you trad guys?

This is my 1st year out of a commercially made saddle, we were making some 20+ ago they weren't very comfortable or safe really. I'm running a Tethrd saddle and platform, and loving it. Where I hunt straight trees are few and very far between. Portability hands down amazing. There is a little learning curve, on average I can shoot 270°+ depends mostly on limbs in the tree. If you like ropes you'll love it. More than half the time I dont even climb down I rappell down the tree. Definitely the safest I've ever been off the ground im tied to tree the moment I leave the ground until I touch down again. Pull the trigger.....shoot straight

Heck no that thing scares me to death lol

Not for me either. No way that is as easy to shoot from as a hang on or a climber. Plus too much movement to prepare for a shot. We hunt private land and have Quad trails thru out the property. Mobility is not a factor.

If you have your own place and have stands... no need. You can do it but saddle hunting is a really great choice for hunting an area that you don't have a stand (public being the most common) and you need to walk in (light weight) and sit a long time (can be very comfortable). I hunted a public land spot this year... my buddy had a saddle and I ground hunted. After that... I got a saddle.

Here is a good video https://youtu.be/8iT9NRTfUYY

Skip through to a little over half of the video if you don't want to watch all of it and he will demonstrate how he gets all the shooting angles....he also shoots traditional which makes it pretty cool

Try to find a local saddlehunter who can demonstrate their equipment for you and maybe even let you try it at ground level.

as much as I watch videos and read topics on this, I cannot get myself to believe it would be easier, faster, and more comfortable.... watching people put up steps, climb, hang a platform to stand... just doesn't seem like it would be for me.. Add darkness yet... No thanks... Maybe if I was younger i'd give it a try... no more..

If you're no longer climbing trees and putting up stands in the dark, saddlehunting probably won't be for you either. But, as a 71 year old saddlehunter, I would suggest you not write it off solely on the basis of your age (after all, it's just a number!).

I‘ll throw this out there. In 40 years I can’t remember a time that I could not pull off the shot because the deer was on the wrong side. I have been unable to make a shot from standard stands because I couldn’t get around. You just have to stay alert and do enough scouting beforehand to set up for the best shots.

I’ve been using one since 2009.

I made myself a custom saddle and even then its uncomfortable after a couple hours.

A small platform helps immensely for me….but then its approaching the weight of a LW hang on.

I like the idea for very long remote spots- like a mountain elk wallow….or a very light setup you can carry with you in the mountains so if you find a spot that looks good you can just setup.

What I think you will find is the younger smaller or wirey guys like it a lot and can stay more comfortable than heavier/ big guys. I’m 6’3, 240#….

Don't let weight and height bother you. I'm the same size of post above and I absolutely love it!....shoot straight

This old guy will take his nice comfy ladder stand

This is my 3rd year in the saddle. My son let me try his at ground level and I ended up purchasing a Tethrd Phantom. I love everything about saddle hunting. Easier to keep good form while shooting, comfortable, portable etc. Do not think I will ever use a treestand again. 68 years old, so don't let age stop you from considering it. As someone already stated, it would be great if someone in your area could let you try theirs before making that investment.

And for those who wish to nap, you have the JX 3 hybrid. Perfect for ground hunting too.

If I have to convince you then you are not yet ready. Now, if you have questions, that is different. I have saddle hunted for long time, before it became COOL. It takes some practice and no matter what others say, you want to put the time in setting and shooting from it. Everyone of us is built differently enough that getting it fit right and tether right takes time. But once set best hunting tool for me. Try this to get an idea if you do not have anyone close to try a saddle. Try this, safety first always, make a swiss seat with rope, go to a tree in yard, keep feet on ground and see how this feels and shootability. No tree, go to a park with a zip tie or two, sit in an adult swing, zip tie the chains together high enough not to have hip pinch. Now sit and lean and manuever to get an idea. Make sure to cut them and throw away when done.

Two more steps, I don't know how old you are but the saddle is to today what the game changer the climbing stand was to bowhunting in the 1970's. I was skeptical at first and even bought one but didn't jump right in ....till I did and I think it's the greatest thing since man walked upright on 2 feet!

Let's go over the plus side; 1 it's the safest treestand system made,not to say accidents can't happen, but it's far less likely. 2 you can hunt just about any tree as long as it doesn't lean too much, which is the biggest advantage in my mind. 3 if you're on private, you can pre prep trees, as many as you want, and go into the woods with just your saddle(already have it on) and some bolts for steps in predrilled trees. plus you can change trees at will with little noise or fuss. 4 on public it's secretive, no skint up trees from climbing with a climber stand,never mind about leaving hanging stands. If they are even there the next time, somebody has been hunting them.With a saddle you leave very little sign to be found by anybody else. 5 They are cheaper, 1 saddle vs multiple hangers or ladders. 6 once again, it's the safest way to hunt off the ground. You literally can't use it if you are not roped to the tree from the time you leave the ground till you get back down. You have to have the lineman's belt on to climb(well, you don't absolutely have to but you will) and to hook up the tether, at that point you're tied in again. It is possible to fall, but you would have to break multiple thousand pound test equipment to fall all the way to the ground. You might have a stick kick out and you bust your nose when the lineman's catches you but compared to falling from a ladder or taking the Baker slide, well, pick your poison. 7 With practice you can shoot 360 around the tree( and hide behind the tree 360 too) 8 It's quiet, no clanking, squeeking or popping when you move. It's quiet getting in and out. I really think as we older guys cycle out with our climbers and hangers, the saddle will be the standard for treestands in the future.

Ok the downside 1 It does take some practice, some acquired confidence in it(the saddle/ropes) and some getting used to hanging off the side of a tree. 2 You will have to practice shooting from it for sure, but that will be done simultaneously with getting accustom to it in general. 3 Some say it's harder to get comfortable for long sits but I haven't found it any worse than any other stand. 4 There is a certain amount of hassle dealing with climbing sticks where you will have to work out efficent,time saving methods in using them. In short, it takes more work initially to use it as opposed to putting a ladder together and leaning it against a tree but the positives far outweigh the negatives for me. Once I used a saddle, from the first sit I knew it was like "WOW"! I've often though of places in the past that there was no limit to what we could have done if we had only had saddles back then 35 years ago.

The thing I like most about it besides the safety factor is you can go to any growed up farm thicket, any fence row or out of the way growed up spot that doesn't have straight limbless trees for a climber and be able to get in a tree without leaving a ladder or hanger to advertise where you are hunting. it goes in with you and out with you and you can hunt from any tree from the size of a cantalope to a 50 gallon barrel wither it has limbs all over it or not.

I have been hunting in a saddle going on my third season. I like the advantage of setting up in trees I can't with a loc on or climber. Smaller trunks and leaning trees.

I also pack everything on my back and scout and hunt.

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