Build A Saddle Hunting Gear Kit

A full setup of saddle hunting gear can seem dauntingly expensive for someone just getting into it. The good news is, there are a few silver linings to the sticker shock you might experience filling your cart with all the saddle gear needed to get started. One: a lot of saddle hunters are also DIY-ers. Once you have the basics, lots of accessories can be sewed, knotted, or 3D-printed to your liking. Two: The hunting industry is constantly coming out with new and upgraded gear for saddle hunters. If you start out with a kit that works, you can always upgrade in the future to the latest and greatest product.

Saddle hunting can be as simple or complex as you want to make it. There are so many options for accessories, ways to transport gear, and tree climbing methods. I started out with a cheap backpack, climbing sticks and no platform and have been slowly upgrading my setup every year for the past 8 deer seasons. Buying gear comes down to a few categories:

1. A system for carrying all your gear.
2. A method for getting up the tree.
3. A saddle and tether.
4. Accessories (bow hanger, platform, etc). 

A system for carrying gear

Lots of hunters prefer to wear their saddle on the walk in, but I find it to be too restrictive. I keep the saddle and all other gear inside a small pack. Sticks go in first, then saddle and ropes, and any extra layers go on top. Accessories go in the top of the pack or side pockets, and the platform is strapped to the front. 

One thing to consider is whether you will ultimately want your pack up in the tree with you. Packs like the Mystery Ranch Treehouse have straps that are designed to go around a tree and hold a pack in place for gear storage, but you could rig up a system for just about any pack to keep it in the tree if needed. 

A method for getting up the tree

YouTube has a lot of saddle hunters demonstrating their preferred method of tree climbing, so decide what works best for your comfort level and branch out from there. On private land, screw-in steps work for pre-setting trees to hunt from. I use lightweight climbing sticks paired with aiders purchased from a small business on Etsy. One of the best and most simple upgrades I made to my setup was swapping out the thick straps connecting my sticks to the tree for lightweight, thin amsteel.

A saddle, tether and lineman’s belt

Find a comfortable, well-fitting saddle and run with it. A smaller-diameter tether and lineman’s belt help to save weight and space compared to the thick ropes that come with some of the saddles on the market. You could also add an ascender such as the popular Ropeman Ascender for quick slack adjustments in the tree.

Saddle hunting accessories!

Accessories are where we can really get crazy. Buying an XL platform was the best upgrade to my saddle hunting kit I have ever made. Having a bigger platform increased comfort and flexibility, especially for all-day sits during the rut.

A bow hanger and a system for hanging essentials like binoculars and a rangefinder is the second-most important accessory. Check your state regs for whether screw-in bow hangers are legal. If not, there are some great amsteel/3D printed options online.

Storage pouches that hang off of the saddle are great for stashing stuff like bow hangers and the tether as you climb the tree. This is where you can really customize the setup–most saddles have molle systems of some sort included in the design where you can attach pouches.

For comfort, some sort of knee cushioning is a must. I exclusively wear pants with knee pads built in for saddle hunting to have one less thing to carry in the pack. Other hunters wear knee pads on the outside of their pants, or pack in a pad that straps around the tree at knee height. Another accessory for comfort is a back rest. I have never used one but many hunters appreciate the extra support.

In addition to saddle hunting-specific accessories, general bowhunting accessories like a headlamp, bow rope, rangefinder, binoculars and windchecker should be taken into account when deciding how many pouches/hooks you will want included in your setup.

Customize your saddle hunting gear kit

Putting together a gear kit for saddle hunting can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it, and it will probably be ever-evolving over the years. Don’t get intimidated by the endless gear options out there; start with a kit that works and then upgrade/simplify from there.

Here’s a basic list of gear; do your research and choose which specific products will work best for you.

• Pack for carrying gear
• Climbing sticks or screw-in steps
  • Optional: Aiders for climbing sticks
• Saddle
• Lineman’s belt
• Tether
• Bow/gun tow rope
• Bow/gun hanger for tree
• Platform (optional)
• Cushioning for knees (optional but highly suggested)
• Gear pouches for saddle
• Other basic whitetail hunting gear (examples)
  • Release
  • Grunt tube
  • Rattling antlers
  • Extra layers for cold or rain
  • Gloves
  • Face mask
  • Hand warmers
  • Water and snacks
  • Rangefinder
  • Binoculars

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