I just bought a brand new Gorilla Greyback Elite climber tree stand because I forgot to bring my last one home from a deer hunting trip in Illinois. I love it except now I’m looking at a Tree Saddle™ that looks even more versatile than my climber. With the Tree Saddle, I can hunt wide open forests that are limited as far as natural cover. This is a fine example of how ingenuity takes us one step closer to that elusive whitetail.
I would like to hear from anyone that’s used it to hear what they have to say about it. Is it easy to set up and dismantle? I need to know more before I flip out the cash. Stay tuned for updates. I might just get one regardless of what people say about them.
December 2, 2008 at 1:58 pm |
The treesaddle is a must for hunting mature whitetails. Especially if you hunt out of state. My whole family uses the treesaddle, That includes my 3 daughters and their husbands.
With a treesaddle you can hunt out of any tree that can support your weight. That means real small diameter trees that are not an option for fixed hang-on stands, climbers, or even ladder stands, can all be hunted with a treesaddle. Have you ever gone into a thick area with lots of deer sign only to find that there aren’t any trees that will work for your setup? Imagine having several trees on every side of a thick “hot spot” to accommodate any wind direction, and having those trees prepped with steps and shooting lanes well before the season, preferably in the spring. Then when its time to hunt that spot in the fall, you can easily enter the area wearing your treesaddle (which only weighs 2 pounds), and create a true ambush situation. Try doing that with a climber or ladder stand. Even if you have a light weight hang-on stand you have 2 options, take it in with you and hang it when you arrive to hunt, or hang it well before the season and risk the threat of someone stealing it even if its locked to the tree, or allow other hunters to see your hot spot and ruin for you. In either case, the element of an ambush is greatly reduced. Also, if you choose to leave your stand in your favorite tree because maybe you have your own large piece of property, are you only going to hunt that tree and risk burning out that spot? If not, that means you need another stand or two or three.
With a treesaddle, you can prep an unlimited number of trees in multiple states and and hunt all of them with just one treesaddle, slipping into your spot quietly, not giving away your position, not risking theft, and being able to shoot 360 degrees from your tree.
You may think that all these advantages comes with a price of not being a comfortable way to hunt. If you look at the pictures that the manufacturer uses in their advertising, I can see where you may think that. However, what they don’t show is the ability to be comfortably in a sitting or standing position. Trust me, I was skeptical. I’m 6′5″ and weigh 230#. But when I put one on and got into a tree to test it, I was amazed. My family and I will hunt all day from our treesaddles for about 3-5 days spread out throughout the rut around home and out of state.
Many guys refuse to even consider using one because they think its not comfortable or the strap gets in the way. At least find someone who has one and give it a try before you dismiss it.