Back in the Saddle: What I Learned While Becoming a Confident Saddle Hunter

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."

Checking Your Arrows at the Component Level: How to Ensure Perfect Flight Every Time

Many bowhunters judge their arrows with a simple yes-or-no approach: either they’re good or they’re bad. Straight or crooked. True or false. While this quick evaluation works sometimes, there is a much better—and far more accurate—way to assess arrow performance: checking your arrows at the component level. This is where the Arrow Inspector™ from Pine Ridge Archery becomes an essential tool. To explore the Arrow Inspector and other tuning tools, visit Pine Ridge Archery.

Social Distancing, Not Outdoor Distancing: Stay Active and Sane in the Great Outdoors

PRACTICE TIPS FOR BOWHUNTING TURKEYS - by Tracy Breen

Arrow Reverse Engineering: Build the Perfect Arrow With the A.R.E. Method

Perfect Arrows = Better Downrange Accuracy

1. If your arrow has a dent, isn’t straight, or has some other imperfection that can’t be seen by looking at the arrow, the Arrow Inspector^™ from Pine Ridge Archery will reveal if something is wrong. If the arrow spins perfectly on the Arrow Inspector^™, the arrow is ready for your quiver. If the arrow wobbles when you take it for a spin, chances are something is wrong.
2. Often the imperfection isn’t in the arrow; it is in the insert. If an insert isn’t glued in properly or has any imperfections, it will likely cause the arrow to wobble on the spinner. When an arrow wobbles on a spinner, archers often assume the arrow is bad when it could be something else. Often the culprit is the insert. Making sure the tip of your arrow is square before gluing in the insert will help ensure the insert is seated properly. Using too much glue on the insert can often cause the insert to not be seated perfectly, resulting in poor arrow flight. Attention is often given to gluing vanes on a shaft. Gluing in the insert requires just as much attention.
3. In some cases, a broadhead isn’t built to spec or the weight isn’t what it is advertised. It can be hard seeing all these imperfections unless an arrow is spin tested. It is not uncommon to find a few arrows that don’t fly true in every dozen arrows purchased. Making sure the arrow that doesn’t fly true isn’t in a quiver when a tournament is on the line or a buck is standing at 40 yards is necessary. An arrow spinner is the easiest way to make sure every arrow in a quiver is flying like a dart. 

TURKEY DECOY TRICKS THAT WILL BRING GOBBLERS IN CLOSE

Bowhunting turkeys can be tough. They have eyes like an eagle, a small vital area and can disappear after the shot, never to be seen again. To kill one with a bow, it is best if you are super close to them when taking a shot so you can aim and execute the shot perfectly and take out their head or chest cavity, depending on which one you are aiming at. The easiest way to get up close and personal with a long beard is by using a turkey decoy. Below are a couple tactics that work well for bringing Tommy boy in close. 

Many bowhunters make the mistake of setting up their Jake or Tom decoy so it is facing away from the hunter or the blind, which can be a mistake. Instead, place the tom decoy so it is facing the blind or the hunter. This forces the incoming tom to circle around and face off with the decoy. The real tom will want the decoy to know he is challenging him. When he circles around to face the decoy, the hunter will have a close broadside shot at the turkey. If the decoy is facing away from the hunter, the tom will often stand just out of shooting distance from the decoy, strutting back and forth, because the real bird is convinced the decoy can see him. Always force the real bird to come in close.

Last year, my son shot a longbeard at ten steps. It was the last day of turkey season but the tom was still lovesick over the ladies. By the late season, many toms are call shy and this one was too. I only called to him twice in an hour. What brought him in close was the lay down hen decoy I had out in front of us. The lay down hen looks like a hen that is ready to breed. Even a call shy gobbler will come running when he sees a hen is ready for business. You don’t have a breeding hen decoy? Get one. Toms are obviously distracted when they get on top of the decoy which gives you plenty of time to draw your bow and make a good shot. 

Most bowhunters only bring one or two decoys with them when they hunt. How often in the spring do you just see one hen by herself? When I turkey hunt, I often bring three or four lightweight, packable decoys with me. A bigger flock often eases the fear of the real birds and brings them in close. Packing extra decoys can be a pain, but it is worth the effort.

When bowhunting turkeys, keeping your bow positioned for the shot can be difficult. Consider using a Pine Ridge Archery Kwik Stand. The Kwik Stand keeps your bow out of the dirt and in a vertical position while you wait. When the time comes, you can simply lift your bow and shoot.

Good luck this spring!

3 BOWHUNTER STOCKING STUFFERS

Christmas is almost here. Buying something for the bowhunter in your life is often difficult. Most bowhunters I know don’t really have a wish list. If they want something, they go out and buy it. Every once in a while, there are items out there that a bowhunter doesn’t even know they want or need but once they have it, they will wonder how they ever lived without it. Below are a few things we offer here at Pine Ridge Archery that every bowhunter would love to find under the tree or in their stocking.

• This year we introduced the Kwik Stand Bow Support. This unique stand can attach to the limb of most any modern day bow and keep it upright and ready for the shot. Whether a hunter shoots a Hoyt, Mathews, or any other brand, the Kwik Stand will keep their bow out of the dirt or off of the concrete, making this the perfect accessory for the bowhunter or the target shooter.
• Another item we offer that bowhunters love is the Arrow Inspector^™. This nifty device is extremely portable and is used to spin test arrows. Do you ever wonder if your broadheads are flying true or your old arrows are still flying like darts? Spin test them on the Arrow Inspector^™ and you will quickly notice a wobble if something is wrong.
• Every bowhunter needs an Archers Allen Wrench set. With this set, most every size Allen wrench a bowhunter would ever need is in one easy-to-use set. Bowhunters will never have to look around the workshop for the right size wrench again. The set can even be purchased with a holster so it can be kept on a belt.

Blood Tracking Basics: Expert Tips from Tracker John to Recover More Deer

We’re in the heart of bow season, which means many hunters are preparing for the most intense moments of the year—recovering a shot whitetail. Whether you’re a new bowhunter or a seasoned veteran, a quick refresher on blood tracking basics never hurts. For this article, we turned to Tracker John, one of the most respected blood trackers in the Midwest. Each year he helps hunters recover giant bucks, and he sees the same common mistakes again and again. If you want your bow setup dialed in before the shot even happens, explore high-quality accessories at Pine Ridge Archery.

1. Pay Attention to the Details

According to Tracker John, many hunters get so excited after taking the shot that they fail to note critical details.

“Most hunters don’t pay close attention to where the deer was hit or where it ran,” he explains. “This information is extremely important.”

Adrenaline may blur your memory, but try to mentally mark:

• The exact hit location

• The deer’s exit direction

• Landmarks like trees, dips, or brush lines

This information saves valuable time and helps trackers—and dogs—start with accurate information.

To make sure your shot placement is as accurate as possible, consider using precision accessories like peep sights and stabilizers from Pine Ridge Archery.

2. The Waiting Game

One of the biggest mistakes bowhunters make is climbing down too soon. Even seasoned hunters fall into this trap.

“Hunters know they shouldn’t get down immediately, but many do,” Tracker John says. “This often pushes the deer and makes recovery more difficult.”

In most cases, you should wait 45 minutes to an hour before climbing down. This gives the deer time to bed down and expire instead of fleeing farther.

A well-tuned bow setup increases penetration and blood trails. For tuning tools and components, visit Pine Ridge Archery.

3. Only Bring a Friend (or Two)

Tracking with a crowd makes things worse. More boots mean more confusion.

“When too many people walk around, blood gets stepped on or accidentally tracked away,” Tracker John explains.

Instead of bringing a whole group, limit yourself to one or two people. This keeps the scene clean and makes it easier to follow the actual trail.

If you need gear color-matched and easy to find in low light, try NITRO arrow wraps and vanes from Pine Ridge Archery.

4. Bring Toilet Paper

Toilet paper isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential. It’s the standard way to mark “last blood” while tracking.

“Marking last blood helps put the puzzle together,” says Tracker John. “But many hunters forget to bring it.”

Toilet paper is visible, biodegradable, and easy to remove later. Place it lightly near each blood spot to stay organized as you follow the trail.

Pair your tracking kit with durable accessories from Pine Ridge Archery to stay prepared.

5. Make the Call Right Away

Calling a tracker shouldn’t be a last resort.

“Many hunters wait hours or even days before calling,” Tracker John says. “But the older the trail and the more people walking around, the harder it gets.”

If tracking becomes difficult early on, call a professional. The sooner they arrive, the better your recovery odds.

Final Thoughts

Blood tracking is an essential part of ethical bowhunting. By paying attention after the shot, waiting patiently, staying organized, and minimizing disturbance, you dramatically increase your chances of recovering your deer.

And when everything starts with an accurate, well-tuned shot, gear from Pine Ridge Archery can make the difference.

BY TRACY BREEN

Western Game on Your Own: How Everyday Practice Helped Jake Rush Tag an Arizona Buck

At Pine Ridge Archery, we love seeing our customers succeed—especially when they tag big western game on DIY hunts. Recently, we spoke with Jake Rush, Manager of The Outdoorsmans in Phoenix, Arizona. His company builds high-end hunting packs and tripods, and Jake himself is a dedicated western bowhunter who knows how to find and kill big game on public land. On his latest hunt, he tagged a beautiful Arizona buck using Pine Ridge NITRO Vanes. To explore the same vanes Jake uses, visit Pine Ridge Archery.

Daily Practice Makes the Bow an Extension of You

One of the biggest keys to Jake’s success is often overlooked: he shoots almost every day.

“I shoot my bow almost daily,” Jake explains. “Even if I only have time for one arrow before work, it boosts my confidence. After a while, the bow feels like an extension of myself.”

This kind of consistency sharpens muscle memory, improves form, and builds trust in your setup. For dependable components that hold up to daily shooting, check out stabilizers, slings, and peeps at Pine Ridge Archery.

Put in for Limited Draw Tags

Many hunters assume the only path to a trophy western animal is hiring an outfitter. Jake knows better. He regularly applies for limited draw tags in units known for producing bigger bucks and bulls.

“This was my first time putting in for a draw-only archery tag,” Jake said. “I usually hunt the desert units near home, but this time I drew a tag to hunt the pine trees of Northern Arizona.”

Limited draw tags require patience and planning, but the payoff can be incredible. And when you’re hunting high-potential units, every shot counts—so equip your arrows with reliable vanes like the NITRO Vanes found at Pine Ridge Archery.

Scout Hard and Learn the Land

Once the tag was secured, Jake spent several weekends scouting. He walked the terrain, studied travel routes, and looked for pockets that held deer.

“The deer move a lot this time of year,” Jake explained. “Even though I had seen deer in the area before, this was the first time I saw this particular group.”

Good scouting reduces guesswork, helps you get ahead of animal patterns, and increases your odds of success. To keep your setup durable during long hikes, explore tough accessories from Pine Ridge Archery.

Glassing: One of the Most Important Western Skills

In the West, the game often hides in massive landscapes. Instead of running and gunning, Jake relies on glassing—letting optics do the searching.

He used Swarovski EL 12x50s on an Outdoorsmans tripod for open terrain, switching to Leupold BX-4 10x42s in thick timber. High-quality optics reduce eye strain and allow hunters to pick out bedded animals others miss.

Glassing, scouting, and patience all worked together to help Jake spot his buck and make a clean shot—thanks in part to the accuracy of his NITRO-fletched arrows. To try these vanes yourself, visit Pine Ridge Archery.

Western Dreams Can Become Reality

For many hunters, a DIY western hunt feels intimidating or expensive. But Jake’s story proves it’s absolutely achievable—with planning, persistence, and a commitment to practice.

Whether you apply for limited draw tags or target over-the-counter opportunities, you can chase big bucks and bulls on your own terms. And with dependable gear and high-performance accessories from Pine Ridge Archery, you’ll be ready when the moment arrives.

BY TRACY BREEN