Evolving from a treestand sitter to a saddle hunter is easier than you might think.
How many times have you been sitting and wished your location was 50- or even 20-yards closer to what turned out to be the travel corridor? Unfortunately, moving a semi-permanent treestand during the season is a big risk, and while not impossible, odds are any mature bucks in the area will know something is up.
On the other hand, saddle hunting makes it easy to move. Saddles are lightweight and mobile so when the right spot is located and the saddle system deployed, the hunter can move up the tree quickly and remain in a stable, comfortable position. The versatility and mobility is unmatched when it comes to a height advantage over vegetation and game.
At first glance, saddle setups may seem complicated, but with a little practice and careful attention to organization, it’s actually very easy to use a saddle. Just ask the increasing number of very successful hunters who have ditched other tree suspension options in favor of saddles.
Bow Hunt or Die’s Kurt Thorsen of Illinois did just that. Thorsen, who holds a Wildlife Ecology, Research, and Management degree from the University Wisconsin at Stevens Point, has a dream job that includes managing roughly 2,000 acres of prime northern Illinois habitat for a private landowner with the primary focus being bettering the environment for deer, turkey, and waterfowl.
“For some background, whether it be bow or gun, I haven’t gone a season since 2004 – which was technically when I first started deer hunting – where I didn’t tag a deer,” said Thorsen. That’s a 20-year streak.
Beginning in 2017, Thorsen started hunting public land after losing access to private land. “I still had a couple places to go, but I was amazed by the number of deer I was seeing on public land – it wasn’t anything like I expected,” explained Thorsen. “Weekends were packed, but during the week I had the place to myself. I was carrying a hanger and 4-piece climbing sticks in, so I’d have a 17-foot stand. Carrying all that along with my bow and other stuff – and setting it up, it was not the right set of tools. Then I missed a giant deer on November 2nd after sitting all day. Shot right over his back.”
With that miss, Thorsen came to the realization that better mobility could lead to more success, and at the same time his excitement for public land hunting waned after his trail cams were stolen. Then he received a somewhat cryptic invitation from Todd Graff of Bow Hunt or Die.
“I joined Bow Hunt or Die in 2019. Todd and I met through a mutual friend on a shed hunt, and he asked me one summer if I wanted to film with them that fall,” he explained. “I assumed he meant for me to be a cameraman. September comes around and he asked if I had all my gear yet. I had no idea what he was talking about.”
Graff told Thorsen he was on the team and needed to stock up on gear from the Bow Hunt or Die sponsorship list, which included ScentLok.
“After hanging out with Kurt a few times, I could tell his passion and enthusiasm for deer hunting superseded mine,” said Bow Hunt or Die founder Graff. “He reminded me of my younger years, and I knew that he was a must for the team. Since joining, he has proven to be a great asset, and of course a deer hunting machine.”
In 2020, Thorsen shot a huge buck on October 26th that field dressed at 249lbs and taped-out at 173 inches, which is still his biggest to date. After he tagged that massive Illinois whitetail, Thorsen decided to spend the rest of the season trying something different and bought a budget friendly saddle setup. He had heard how successful hunters were taking advantage of the saddle system’s versatility.
“I got that saddle and practiced in my front yard and shot my bow about two feet off the ground,” Thorsen said. “My first sit was November 5th over a decoy, and I rattled in this little 7-point buck. As he strutted in, I was absolutely over the roof with adrenaline while hanging in the saddle. In fact, I was way more excited shooting that buck than I was shooting the 170.”
Thorsen added, “When I started using saddles, it was like achieving an entirely new level, and I’ve been absolutely pounding deer ever since. The saddle gives me an amazing level of comfort because it’s very stable, and for shooting, you have more points of contact.”
Thorsen was hooked on saddle hunting from the get-go, and says it gives him options he never had before. He described his experience as having a fishing boat and finally getting your first electric trolling motor and the ability to go from spot to spot quickly. “Sure, you can move stands around, but you always seem to get stuck in the same tree year after year because it produces occasionally. I’d rather make my own luck and be in the honey hole. Honestly, I think I’ve only sat in a conventional treestand maybe five times since ’21.”
Basic Gear
Saddle kit and climbing sticks
Pack for holding gear etc.
Hanger strap for items including bow, binoculars, calls etc.
According to Thorsen, you don’t have to spend a ton of money for decent set-up. “Several companies offer ready to go packages that include everything you need. You can be simplistic and buy one that offers some adjustability for comfort, but the saddle platform doesn’t have to be anything complex. I still use the same one I’ve had since day one. It works and I’m comfortable,” he said. “As far as climbing sticks go, the good ones are lightweight and bite to the tree perfectly and have a good area for your foot to plant.”
Practice Makes Perfect
Familiarizing and using each piece of your saddle gear for its intended purpose is an absolute must.
Once you understand the system, practice in the backyard until you feel comfortable using the gear.
Come up with a routine by familiarizing yourself with how everything is organized and how to reach it. This will be very important in the field.
Speed Kills
When it comes to this mobile setup you want to be as fast and efficient as possible, because you are going to make noise, so the quicker the better.
How fast? According to Thorsen, it takes a few hunts to get back into the groove, but assuming the tree is an easy one to deal with, he gets it done in 5-minutes or less.
Finer Points
Thorsen offers some additional advice for would-be saddle hunters: “Getting up and down a tree quickly and quietly is a priority for effective mobile hunting. One of the upgrades I made to my saddle system was rope ascenders. These devices replace Prusik knots that are often provided with the saddle setup. Prusiks are friction hitches that provide adjustment for both the linesman belt and tether, and though they are functional and effective, a rope ascender offers much easier one-handed operation while making adjustments to rope length, whether scaling up a tree in the dark or making a move around the tree on a big buck.”
“You also need a place to hang your gear, and many states prohibit screwing hangers in on public land, so you may need a strap style hanger that is removable and there are some really nice ones available.
You’ll also need a pack to carry your normal gear, plus your saddle kit. Some packs are better suited to saddle hunting than others.
