Every couple of years, there is a new piece of gear that every hunter has to have. Furthermore, if you don’t use it, you are considered a relic. The last couple of years, this has been the hunting saddle. Sure, saddle hunting is popular, more popular than it’s ever been. But is the result of being better or because of good marketing?

What is saddle hunting?

While saddle hunting has only recently taken the nation by storm, it is nothing new. If you read some of the books by hunting greats, you can find references to it from the 1980s. By the early 2000s, saddle setups were readily available, just not seen that often in the field. But long before saddles were used for hunting, they were a staple for tree trimmers, linemen, and assorted trades.

The concept is pretty simple. A safety line tethers the hunter to a tree, the saddle or seat provides somewhere to sit down, and an optional platform or steps let you stand when needed. The theory is that this lightweight setup can be easily hauled to any location, can be set up in less-than-ideal trees, and allows the user to shoot from multiple positions.

Sounds like the best thing since the compound bow. Not quite.

While there are many benefits to saddle hunting, it is not the end-all and be-all that many admirers make it out to be. Like any piece of gear, there are both pros and cons. Let’s take a look at what they are.

Pros

The most significant benefit of a saddle is mobility. Because they are lightweight and easily carried in a small pack, having a saddle available is an excellent idea in many situations. Hunting where you cannot leave a ladder or blind? Trying out some new locations mid-season? Hunting a new property you are unlikely to return to? Each of these is a situation where a saddle might be not only a perfect solution, but the only one that makes sense.

A close second on why to use a saddle is versatility. Whether hunting old-growth timber, a grove of younger trees, or the crookedest crab apple tree ever envisioned, you can set up a saddle. Not so with a ladder or even many hanging stands. This is especially useful on many of the farms I hunt, where every straight tree was long ago cut for fence posts or barn timbers.

Finally, there is the ability to hide while still shooting from multiple angles. When set up correctly, the saddle will position you behind the tree trunk, with the expected approach in front of the tree. When a deer enters the area, you quietly angle around the trunk and take your shot. Until then, you are hidden from view but still able to shoot in almost any direction with a bit of repositioning.

Now for the rest of the story.

While the ability to hang a saddle in any tree is attractive, it’s not as all-inclusive as you might think. A thing called gravity still comes into play. This pesky tidbit will mean that some trees will still leave you hanging in an odd position or unable to move to the position you want.

Gravity also means that eventually the saddle becomes a less-than-comfortable resting place. Over time, it is similar to hanging in a harness for too long. Your butt gets sore. Your legs fall asleep or ache. Some users even complain about back and hip pain.

Like any piece of gear, there is also a learning curve. While the setup is not terribly tricky, learning to shoot from a seated position, one that changes often, does take practice. As does shooting from some of the unusual angles you will find yourself. Bottom line, if you are thinking about buying a saddle for this season, you will need to spend some serious time testing and learning before hiring the woods.

All in all, I believe the hunting saddle is an excellent piece of gear, just like I think my .450BM or pop-up blind is a fantastic piece of gear. But, like each of these items, a saddle has its limitations. While it is a valuable tool to have available, it will never replace the ladder stand, hanging stand, or ground blind. It will just be another option.