Six Accessories for Better Saddle Hunting

This year will be my second deer season using a tree saddle for almost all of my hunts. One of the great things about saddle hunting is the ingenuity and creativity hunters use for their setups. It can be as “DIY” as you want to make it, and peruse any saddle hunting online group and you will quickly learn that there are as many ways to set up your gear as there are hunters.

Variations in desire for comfort, hunter size, tree types and habitat types drive some of the diversity in saddle hunting setups. Hunters have different thresholds for how much weight they are willing to lug around the woods. Setups vary in the amount of time they take to put up, and cost plays a big role as well. While there are some basics you need to hunt from a saddle, many people including myself will tweak different components every season to make it better, easier, or lighter. My setup is not perfect. I could spend hundreds of dollars buying even more accessories for my saddle setup to customize it, and I probably will over the course of the next few years. But right now, I have a few small things included in my saddle setup that I really like and would recommend for others’ setups as well.

              Gear hanger. There are tons of options out there for different gear hangers to keep your stuff organized in the tree. I will often use an EZ Hanger, which is a hinged screw-in hanger for gear. I put my pack on there as well as my bow. Before I got the EZ Hanger, I used a strap around the tree with some carabiners to hold gear. It might not even hurt to have a couple of hangers, one for your pack down low and another for your bow, rattling antlers, rangefinder or other gear you want quick access to.

              Platform.  While many people just use the top of their top stick to stand on in the saddle, a platform can give you more maneuverability around the tree, more height, or better comfort. I set up so that where I think the deer will be likely coming from is on my left side, since I am a right-handed bow shooter. I add a platform just slightly higher and angled 45 degrees on the tree from my top stick, so I can put my feet on both. This gives me a little bit more flexibility for moving around the tree for different shooting angles or to hide from deer. I find it to be more comfortable than just standing on my top stick, as well. My platform is small, but you can buy bigger options which allow you to stand with your back facing the tree if you want.

              Headlamp. A small headlamp can be a major safety benefit for an activity that involves a lot of making sure knots are stable, carabiners are clipped, and boots are steady on sticks in the dark. Even if you are able to get up and down the tree in the dark without the aid of artificial light, it’s still good to have one. Even a quick flash at the base of the tree to make sure you have all your gear picked up can be necessary. I once left my lineman’s belt at the bottom of a tree and had to hike back a half mile to get it because I didn’t turn on a light to make sure everything was picked up after getting out of the tree.

              Knee pad pants. Knee pads truly do go a long way for comfort in the saddle. There is no way long sits would be as comfortable without them. You can spend as little or as much as you want on knee pads. Home Depot sells them, tactical supply shops sell them. I got a pair of pants with built-in knee pads that I love and wear all the time, especially for saddle hunting. Truly a make-or-break piece of gear when it comes to longer sits.

              Bags for ropes. There are definitely fancier versions of gear haulers on the market than what I use, but having storage for straps and ropes is a must. I found a cloth binoculars case that’s the perfect size for my tether rope while I’m ascending the tree, which hangs off my saddle. The other side is a little cloth drawstring bag for the straps for my four sticks, which provides easy access as I go up the tree.

              Twisty wire. I bout a roll of coated marine wire at Cabela’s and use it for all kinds of things while saddle hunting. The best use I have for it is a way to hang two of my sticks off the sides of my saddle as I climb. The twisty wire is versatile and easy to use and is similar to but much cheaper than a gear tie.

              Gear options for a saddle setup are truly endless, so you can customize your setup to individual hunts or spots if you want. These pieces of gear are simple things that have made my hunting life easier last season, hope these suggestions help!

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