So, I am in the process of looking at maybe a half dozen blinds (principally ladders and tripods) to outfit my hill country ranchito in advance of archery season. However, I have been watching far too many YouTube videos on saddle hunting and there is a lot to like - except the initial investment of around $$1,500 and the fact no one else in my family or my guests will be able to hunt most spots on the ranch. Yes, I will have a few "regular" stands on the place, but the saddle would have to be a principal approach.

Do any of you have experience saddle hunting? If so, how do you deal with your favorite stand locations on private land? Putting up multiple tree ladders/steps and leaving them for the season? Putting up multiple platforms?

What say you, OB?

I started with the saddle back in '19 I think. Also, I'm only hunting a few hundred acres so I really stick to 2 or 3 spots

One, I think you can get in way under $1500. $200 for platform, $300 for saddle and then you just need tether and linesman's belt or typical life-line, and a few prusiks or Ropeman 1's ($200-300)

Hunting private, if you can use screw-ins, then I wouldn't mess with sticks. Just climb to your spot and hang platform. Quicker, quieter and free's up your platform. I also will use a Lone Wolf hang-on stand just like I would my Predator platform. I just find it so much easier to stay concealed and draw my bow on the back side of the tree. I also think it's more comfortable to hang than to sit.

Thank you, Raider. I literally know no-one who hunts with the tree saddle, but I certainly like the concept.

Been saddle hunting on public for about 6 years.

$1,500 will get you the nicest stuff. I purchased the Hawk Hellium stuff on Camofire and am still using it to this day. Might have $400 total in it. Saddle was $189 for everything, got a set of 3 steps the step platform, do not recommend the step platform. Ended up punching the larger standalone platform in the 2nd year and its been so much better.

Everyone I know is using it on public land so they can stay lightweight and mobile. On private, seems like it would make more sense to go with permanent setups.

I get that, but I don't see any need to buy 3-4 $200-$300 platforms, when they take literally seconds to hang. That's why I go with the screw-ins, they're permanent but nothing else has to be. The advantage/concealment of being behind the tree, far outweighs any time savings of a ladder stand or tripod that sits there year around imho.

Tarpon, take a look at Hunt Arsenal's Cloud RLX saddle. Haven't hunted in mine yet, but I'm excited to. Hunted in Tethrd Mantis thru last season, but this is way more comfortable. Holler if you have questions. Huge fan of the Ropeman 1 on the tree tether. I also prefer to self belay up to my stand using a Petzl GriGri on a fixed lifeline, instead of a lineman's belt. Faster and safer

I agree if you're hunting the same spot, a fixed line is way better. I hate the lineman while trying to put up sticks. In the dark in an unseen in daylight tree downright stinks

Raider, I attempted to send you a PM and it would not work. No idea why. If you shoot me a PM with your number or email, I will reach out. Very interested in discussing your set up and approach.

Thanks to all for the responses. I have watched a list of videos on saddle hunting rigs and it is more confusing than it should be. It simply cannot be as conpliacated and and gear intensive as the "influencer" types selling that gear make it look.

I saddle hunt our place in Mason and Freestone County.

Saddle hunting gives you the flexibility to really dial in exactly which trees are the best trees to hunt, given your situation.

That said, one I find those trees, I usually setup permanent hang-on tree stands, or I place a tripod if the right tree doesn't exist.

Mason is definitely more difficult to saddle hunt from because of the shorter trees. I like to be up in the limbs and branches, and sometimes there just isn't enough tree to saddle hunt.

Ps … your initial saddle setup shouldn't cost more than a few hundred dollars. You don't need the lightest gear to hunt private, but it sure is nice.

When I grew up in the hill country we didn't have fancy stuff. Our " saddle" consisted of two or three pieces of 2x6 or 2x4 across a forked limb in a live oak….and nail short 2x4's up the tree for a ladder.

jealous of you guys having trees tall enough to hang stands.

These arent that big

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Tarpon, will you please let me know on here once you've emailed me and I'll take my email down? Thanks!