Saddle Hunting Safety: Why I Choose a Tree Saddle
- Justin Campbell
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
For me, saddle hunting starts with safety. The confidence of staying connected to the tree is what drew me in, while the versatility, mobility, concealment and weight savings are what keep me coming back.
I’m not here to convince you which hunting system is best. If you’re doing it safely, that’s all that matters to me. For me, however, safety means a tree saddle rather than a climber or hang-on stand. That’s not to say those methods are unsafe, as plenty of hunters use them successfully, but they just aren’t my cup of tea.
I can’t explain why, but having the tree in front of me, as opposed to behind me, completely put me at ease when I’m hunting from a saddle. It’s not that I was really afraid of heights, but I have noticed that I don’t hesitate to climb higher when needed in a saddle.
I’m securely connected, with no unnecessary slack for the duration of the climb and the hunt. Even standing on the platform, I know it isn't the platform that keeps me attached to the tree. I'm already supported by my saddle and tether. If I were to lose my footing or encounter an equipment issue, that connection would already be in place.
That’s also one reason I still prefer climbing sticks: I like knowing I have a familiar route back down the tree. While the goal is obviously to never fall, I have more confidence in a system that supports me throughout the hunt than in one designed primarily to arrest a fall.
For some, saddle hunting came along and took the hunting game by storm, but if you dig a little deeper, it’s more than just a modern-day trend. Arborists, professionals who climb trees to heights hunters never see, have been using some form of a saddle for decades, according to Tree Care Industry Magazine. That’s not to say my hunting saddle is on par with their gear, but it doesn’t diminish my faith in the concept.
Safety is paramount, and that peace of mind is what led me to try saddle hunting in the first place, especially as a larger guy. But safety isn't the only thing the system offers. The versatility is a big part of why I stayed with it.
Hunting with a saddle is as versatile as it gets. You have access to advanced hitches and climbing techniques, including Single Rope Technique (SRT) and Double Rope Technique (DRT). You can use a single stick or a set of climbing sticks, then rappel back down the tree. There are plenty of resources for anyone interested, but a favorite of mine is JRB Tree Climbing. His YouTube channel and website are enough to keep you busy next offseason.
You also have considerably more freedom to hunt the tree you need to be in rather than searching for the tree that best accommodates your stand. Done right, you can conceal yourself behind the tree’s trunk and essentially play a high-stakes game of peek-a-boo with your chosen prey. For me, concealment and near 360-degree shooting angles are a no-brainer.
They can still be used with presets for those with properties that are hunted year after year. Yet they are equally, if not more, at home on public land, used by the far and deep mobile hunting crowd. Especially compared to toting in a climbing stand, the weight savings and lack of noise are undeniable advantages.
None of that means you need to ditch the climber or hang-on that's worked for you for years. As I said at the beginning, I'm not here to tell anyone how they need to hunt. Whatever gets you into position safely, confidently and ethically is the right answer for you.
But I know what the right answer is for me.
I like the tree in front of me. I like being connected to it from the moment I leave the ground until I'm ready to come back down. I like being able to adjust my climbing method, move around the tree, and carry less weight while doing so.
There may be faster systems. There may be simpler ones. There may even be systems you trust more.
For me, safety comes in the form of a
saddle.
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