I still remember the first time I heard about saddle hunting. My boyfriend walked in excited, ready to tell me all about this new method—complete with the pros, the cons, and why he thought it could completely transform our hunting setup. Saddles are affordable, lightweight, quiet, and require minimal equipment. But what really caught my attention was the freedom to move 360° around the tree, giving more shot opportunities than any traditional treestand.
Naturally, we decided to try saddle hunting ourselves. And like most new hunters, we quickly learned that the first few hunts come with a big learning curve. If you want your bow to stay ready during those early trial-and-error climbs, check out the Kwik Stand and other accessories at Pine Ridge Archery.
The First Hunt: Reality Hits 20 Feet Up
Our first day saddle hunting taught us more than all the videos we watched combined. I chose a tree that looked straight from the ground. But once I was hanging from my tether 20 feet up, I realized it had a noticeable lean. I positioned myself facing into the lean so I could use the tree for balance and avoid swinging.
That was lesson number one: trees look very different from above.
If you’re experimenting with new saddle-hunting angles, having reliable vanes like NITRO Vanes from Pine Ridge Archery helps keep your arrows stable no matter how you twist around the tree.
The Oversized Tree Disaster
Next time out, I picked a tree that was way too big. It had great shooting lanes, but wrapping straps around a huge trunk was exhausting. It took forever to climb, but I eventually made it up. That day reminded me that comfort matters just as much as shooting angles.
If you’re carrying extra gear while experimenting with tree choices, lightweight accessories from Pine Ridge Archery help keep your setup manageable.
The “I Can Reach It” Problem
There was also the day I decided to place my climbing sticks as far apart as possible. I assumed I was tall enough—turns out I wasn’t. Climbing up was tough, but climbing down was nearly impossible. I found myself hanging from the tree, completely stuck, until my boyfriend helped me down.
Lesson learned: stick spacing matters, and safety always comes first.
To help recover your arrows if you drop one during a climb, bright, easy-to-see gear like NITRO Arrow Wraps from Pine Ridge Archery can be a lifesaver.
The Breakthrough Moment
Eventually, everything clicked. We found a new area near one of our favorite hunting spots—a tree line overlooking a huge field. The trees were small, straight, and perfect for saddle hunting. We each picked a tree, climbed easily, and set up without any problems.
I remember looking over the field thinking, This is it. This is how saddle hunting is supposed to feel.
Later that day, a group of eight deer ran right under us. Even though they never stopped long enough for a shot, it confirmed that we finally had the right system.
For keeping your bow upright and instantly ready when deer surprise you from any direction, the Kwik Stand from Pine Ridge Archery is an essential add-on.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need expensive gear to be successful in the woods. But you do need equipment that provides versatility, comfort, quietness, and confidence. For me, saddle hunting offers all of that and more. The freedom of movement, lighter load, and adaptability have been a total game changer.
If you’re building your saddle setup, enhance your bow with quality accessories from Pine Ridge Archery—your future self 20 feet in the air will thank you.
About the Author:
Kyla Bielert is a pharmaceutical chemist living in Eastern CT with my boyfriend and their dog and cat. She's been shooting for two years, and last season was her first time hunting. In her own words, "I picked up a bow for the first time in summer 2018, and immediately fell in love."