Braxton Taylor
For bowhunters, saddle hunting rules the current mobile hunting trend. Ultralight lock-on stands come in a close second, but we’re in the heyday of saddles. While this might be the go-to method for archers, it hasn’t gained as much traction with the rifle-hunting crowd. I constantly meet or talk with hunters who are intrigued by saddle hunting, and they always ask the same question: Is it comfortable? The short answer is absolutely. More importantly, though, it can be an incredibly effective tool for rifle hunting.
Ladders or climbing treestands might still have the hearts of rifle hunters, but saddles can offer some of the same advantages that make them so popular with bowhunters. Whether you just started saddle hunting or you’re interested in making the switch as a rifle hunter, here are a few tips for hanging in a tree.
Practice
Unlike traditional stands or hides, saddle hunting requires a learning curve. Not only do you have to develop an efficient setup/tear-down system, but you need to gain confidence shooting from it too.
Most stands offer some type of rest or allow you to at least prop the gun on your knee. This isn’t the case with a saddle. Instead, most shots will require you to brace the gun against the tree for support, much like you would if you were still-hunting or shooting from the ground. If you know exactly which trails to cover, you can set up so that you’re in an optimal position to shoot from your strong side while bracing against the tree. These positions are natural and comfortable to shoot from.
While you probably won’t have to practice much from your strong side (left side of the tree for right-handed shooters and vice versa), you will need to take a few shots on your weak side. For right-handed shooters, you’ll want to practice bracing against the tree on the right side. You can also brace against your tree tether, but I’ve found that bracing against the tree works best for me.
You’ll also want to practice making shots behind you (i.e. anywhere from 4-8 o’clock). This might seem awkward at first, but you can simply spin around in your saddle, tuck your knee against the tree, and use your saddle’s bridge as a point of stability. This is by far the most awkward position, but it’s not difficult if you practice a few shots.
Keep A Low Profile
A lot of rifle hunters, myself included, can fall into the temptation to climb as high as possible. This stems from the idea that you’ll have an abundance of shot windows and fly undetected. In reality, you sacrifice one or two optimal shot windows for several mediocre ones, maybe even less if you’re hunting in a high stem count area.
Instead of trying to cover all the trails, try to rifle hunt like a bowhunter. By that, I mean you should approach your setup as if you were bowhunting. Of course, rifle hunting should extend your range. That’s one of its major advantages. But instead of climbing twenty feet and sitting a hundred yards from the trail, aim for seventy yards or less and keep your climbing height around twelve feet.
Saddles allow you to hide behind the tree. This advantage provides an easy and discreet way to shoot without being detected. I even think ten feet can be optimal. Depending on the canopy height, you might not have any shot opportunities above that anyway. As long as you aren’t carelessly swinging around, you won’t have to worry about deer busting you by the time you shoot.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ditch Your Saddle
This point might seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. It can be tempting to think you have to be in the saddle for the simple fact that you have it. There have been several times when I’ll saddle up, get to a certain spot, and then realize that I’m better off hunting from the ground.
Whether the stem count is too high or the wind does something squirrely, I’ll jump ship and go with a ground setup. Last year, if I hadn’t called an audible, I wouldn’t have filled a buck tag on one particular hunt. Even if I go through the trouble of setting up my climbing sticks and platform, I’ll break it all down. Sure, it’s a headache, but it’s paid off every time.
Remember, rifle hunting offers several advantages to archery. Make sure you’re in the best position to optimize those opportunities, whether you’re in the saddle or on the ground.
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