Should You Use a Saddle Hunting Platform for Deer Season?

Ultimately, this led me to picking up a compound bow and pursuing whitetails that way.  

I knew that bow hunting would provide a new challenge, both in where and how I would be hunting. For me, the logical first step was to decide how exactly I'd get into position to shoot a deer. I knew with practice, I could become proficient with a bow, so that was not a concern for me.

Instead, something that I knew I'd struggle with was deciding how to actually hunt.  

I have friends who have been bow hunting a heck of a lot longer than me. When I surveyed them to ask for advice, one thing stood out: saddle hunting sounded awesome. 

Today, I want to share that "awesomeness" with you and help you consider whether using a saddle hunting platform could be the "next level" of hunting you're ready for.

What Is Saddle Hunting?

When you saddle hunt, you wear a small cloth harness around your waist. This harness, or saddle, will have a built-in rope, called a bridge, that you use to attach yourself to the tree.

If you're familiar with hunting a traditional tree stand, the bridge would be synonymous with the part of your harness to which you clip your lifeline. However, instead of the tree being to your back as it would be in a traditional stand, the tree is directly in front of you when you saddle hunt.

This allows the hunter to use the tree for additional cover as your quarry approaches. 

It Had Me At "Mobile"

Hearing about saddle hunting sparked my interest in a way that made me dive all in. I loved everything my friend mentioned when trying to sell me on the idea.

He made a point to mention how you can be mobile, your gear is lightweight, you're always strapped to the tree with either a lineman's rope or a tether, and it's comfortable. Without much effort on his end, I was sold on the idea.  

Gearing Up

I took the time to learn what gear I needed and began making purchases. Of course, I needed a saddle, ropes, and climbing sticks to get up the tree, and then the platform came.

When it came to that last item, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I'd heard of several different brands and styles of platforms, but I'd also thought of going without it altogether. I had to weigh each option's pros and cons. Ultimately, I decided to get a platform and hit the woods.  

A platform might not be the best option for everyone, though. If you're on the fence, maybe this article will help you decide what's best for you and how you hunt. 

To Platform (Or Not to Platform)

There are several reasons why I choose to take a platform into the woods with me. Not the least of which is the comfort and stability it offers in the tree. 

I knew I'd have days during the rut where I'd want to sit from pre-dawn to after dark. Because of this, comfort was something that was top of mind for me.

A platform allows the hunter to shift their weight more easily and quietly than tree limbs would. This makes those long days in the tree less tough than they otherwise could be. 

Stability

The stability of a platform is also extremely beneficial to the hunter. When I'm on my platform and ready to shoot, I might as well be standing on my deck at home. It is rock solid. This stability gives the hunter a great base to shoot from and makes a clean ethical shot that much more likely. 

I'm a big fan of ensuring that your shot is as good as it can possibly be, and a platform makes this a reality.  

Mobility

The mobility a platform gives the hunter is another great benefit. You can easily maneuver around the tree with a platform for better shooting angles.

Not only does this create more opportunities for the hunter by allowing them to shoot at multiple places 360 degrees around the tree, but it also improves upon the opportunities you would have naturally. 

A platform lets the hunter shift easily and use all edges of the platform to get the best possible spot for a shot. The first doe I ever took with my bow, I shot from a strange angle on the platform. I had to lean out and away from the tree quite a ways, then turn about ninety degrees behind me.

My platform stayed rock steady the entire time. I'm not sure I would've even been comfortable trying that shot off of a branch.  

Safety

As someone who's afraid of heights, safety was also a big consideration and another bonus of having a platform.

A solid platform will significantly reduce the hunter's risk of slips. Especially if you opt to purchase a bigger platform, you'll be able to set both feet fully on the platform and give yourself a solid base.

In addition, the ability to set both feet on the platform completely will help with foot and leg fatigue, which can prevent missteps and other user errors that could be bad news for the hunter. Going up and down the tree is enough work; having a comfortable spot to stand can mitigate that and give your body a break before it's time to climb down.  

Lightweight and Easy to Set Up

Technology has continued to improve in all areas of the hunting industry — including platforms.

Today's platforms are lightweight and easy to set up, which is another great argument for using one. When I get to platform height in the tree, it takes me honestly less than a minute to get the platform locked down and ready to support my weight.

In addition, due to their design, they can be easily adjusted to work in any tree. Some folks will use amsteel ropes to attach their platform to the tree. However, I still opt to use a strap with a cinch buckle on it.

I simply have to pull the strap to fasten the saddle hunting platform to any tree. I've used mine in a tree as small as four inches across.  

Why You Might Want to Leave the Platform at Home

Now that you have some solid arguments in favor of using a platform while saddle hunting, let's dive into some reasons you might leave the platform at home — or off your shopping list altogether. 

You'll Lose Some Weight

In lieu of using a platform, a hunter could instead opt to simply use the branches or other features that a tree has to offer.  

Saddle hunting is often heralded as being an extremely lightweight way to hunt. Well, you can cut weight even further by electing not to use a platform. 

The platform that I use weighs around four pounds. Although that weight is minimal, it's still one place where you could cut a couple of pounds out of your pack. In addition to weight, you're also eliminating an entire piece of gear from your bag, making your entire setup more compact.

I strap my platform to the outside of my pack, and it usually doesn't cause me problems. However, on those extremely cold days in the Northern Michigan late season, when my pack is loaded with extra layers of clothing, my platform doesn't ride quite as well outside my bag.  

Cost Savings

Perhaps my wife's favorite reason to forgo the platform in favor of a more minimalist approach is the cost savings.

Platforms aren't cheap, generally speaking. So, if you're on a tighter budget or have other gear priorities, you could skip the platform and save yourself some money. 

Plus, a happier spouse at home usually equals more hunting time, so take that into consideration when you're trying to decide if you need that platform or not.  

Be a Minimalist Hunter

Most of us know someone who's more of a minimalist when it comes to hunting, or life in general, for that matter. 

I've got a cousin that's hunted the last two seasons with a self bow, from the ground. I finally convinced him during a joint saddle trip that he needed to get himself in the saddle game and start hunting from above.

So, he decided it would be fun to make his own saddle — just because he can. I can tell you this: he's the type of guy that's either going to hunt off a tree branch or he's going to figure out how to make his own platform.

If you're also someone who needs the bare minimum when it comes to your gear, leaving the platform out of your toolkit might be a good idea.  

When the Trees Aren't Ideal

Where I think skipping the platform can really shine is in situations where the tree options are little more sporadic or irregular.

A platform doesn't always lock to those goofy trees very well at the height you want to hunt. In those situations, choosing not to use a platform can make your life much easier. 

This past season, I went out with my uncle for his first saddle hunt. We found an awesome spot in some white oaks on the edge of a thicket and climbed the tree. The climbing sticks got us up to height, but the tree branched off in several directions at about eighteen feet, and we couldn't find any good spots to wrap our platforms around the tree.

Instead, we opted to simply stand on the branches of the oak and had a great hunt that ended with several sightings but no arrows flung.  

Boost Your Skills

It's no secret that electing to skip the platform would take a new level of skill. So, if you're ready for a next-level challenge, leave the platform at home.

The platform takes much of the guesswork out, such as picking a hunting spot. If you choose to hunt without the platform, you must choose your tree much more carefully. This level of necessity to improvise will trickle over into all areas of your hunt and make you a better hunter.

In addition, not having a platform will help you to find better positioning for shots while in the tree. You'll have to use the tree to your advantage as much as possible and really pay attention to how you're maneuvering.  

Use a Saddle Hunting Platform (or Not), But Don't Leave Home Without HuntWise

As you prepare for this season, think about how you'll hunt. As you do, you can use HuntWise to really hone in on the spots that will work the best for the style you're hoping to employ this fall.

If you want to use a saddle hunting platform, you'll have several places at your disposal to mark on HuntWise. However, if you want to take the more minimalist option and leave the platform at home, use HuntWise to find areas where there are pine trees or large oaks with branches you can use for stability while in the tree.

Whether you choose to use a platform this season or not, how you scout and prepare in the offseason will determine how much you enjoy this season and how successful you are. Take HuntWise along through every stage of your hunting year and increase your odds even more. 

With the Rutcast, HuntCast, and WindCast features in the app, you have insights to help you choose where to place your saddle — while you're on the move or if you're ready to sit for the day — to avoid detection. You can also use the various map layers (including the latest LiDAR map) to learn about your hunting area before you get into the field.

If you don't have the HuntWise app yet, now is the time to download and explore it to set yourself up for success. We'll give you your first week free!