My First Year In The Tree Saddle

Robert WellerGear Reviews & Recommendations, Hunting Ethics & Safety

Are you thinking about getting into saddle hunting but just haven’t been convinced that it’s right for you? Last weekend, my hunting partner, Steve and I took to the woods with my two black labs and removed our climbing sticks and bow hangers from the last three of the five trees we prepped for bow season last fall. Our season was very successful. In fact, even though Steve did not harvest a deer from his saddle, he did fill both his Michigan buck tags for the very first time in his life. As for me, well, I not only filled both of my buck tags, but I filled them both from  the same tree using my new tree saddle set up.

I watched dozens of videos on saddle hunting and did countless hours of research before
committing to using a tree saddle to hunt from this past year. One thing I can tell you with
absolute certainty is that I have no regrets whatsoever. However, that is not to say that there were not some growing pains and lessons that had to be learned throughout this maiden voyage. I bought my first saddle (The Method 2 from Latitude Outdoors) during the 2024 archery season. I only used it a few times that year and it wasn’t long after the start of my 2025 season before I knew it was not the right saddle for me. I kept making micro adjustments trying to find that sweet spot, but I never found it.  Just as I thought I had potentially made a huge mistake, I discovered Latitude had revamped the Method Two and created a new and vastly improved model they named the Method Three.  The concept of the saddle was the same being that it was a two-panel saddle which was important to me as I really like the lower back support. I placed an order as fast as I could and had a Method Three saddle in my hands just a few days later.

Author showing accompanying equipment

Let me tell you, it changed everything for my comfort level while hanging in a tree. Once I was finally comfortable, my confidence in this new form of hunting grew immensely over the next few weeks. There were still a few areas to address concerning total overall comfort though. Steve and I both found out very quickly that without a good set of knee pads, sitting in the saddle was not very comfortable for long periods of time. I mean you could sit but resting your knees on the side of a tree doesn’t take long to cause its own form of discomfort. The only way I found I could sit for very long at all was to straddle the tree, which works but requires more adjustment of the tether and more movement which can be a problem should a deer approach unexpectedly. Because sitting was not a great option for either of us, we also quickly learned that our feet had to support more of our weight and that caused foot fatigue and pain. We prepped five trees last fall just a few weeks before season and had installed four screw-in tree steps at the top of each of our climbing sticks for each of the five trees. Those four steps enabled us to move around the tree as needed for different shots or to simply stay out of an approaching deer’s view. Now fortunately, I had purchased a Bullman Ring of Steps the year before and I found those steps were much wider and I could support my weight on my feet more evenly allowing me to stand or lean for longer periods of time. I also have 6 steps on my ring of steps so that allowed me to sometimes have the toe of my boot on one step while my heel rested on another.

Steve, however, did not have that option and my strap-on ring of steps went with me each time I left a tree. On October 24th, I harvested a ten point from my Method Three saddle and my Bullman Ring of Steps. After that hunt, I decided that I wanted to try a platform and a set of knee pads. I found the design of the Profile platform from Latitude to be rather appealing and decided to try one and placed my order for it as well as a set of their knee pads. Just like earlier that season when I ordered my Method Three saddle, the folks at Latitude had my platform to me in just a few days. I quickly got in a few practice runs with the new platform on a tree in the backyard and set out to put it to the test in the woods just in time for the Rut. I quickly realized that the knee pads and platform added another level of comfort to saddle hunting. Sitting with my knees resting against the tree and my feet both together on the platform was a very welcome change.

knee pads and platform

My first sit with my new platform and knee pads went very well and I enjoyed spending time in the woods using my new gear for the first few hunts during the rut. Then on the evening of November 6th, I arrowed my second buck from my saddle and from the same tree as I had taken the ten point a few weeks prior, but this time I was using my new platform. The buck ended up on the opposite side of the tree when I finally put an arrow in him, forcing me to use my foot against the side of the platform to hold my body in position while I was facing completely the opposite direction as I had set up in. I remembered thinking to myself while watching videos the past year how crazy it looked when guys would spin around on the platform like that but in the heat of the moment, I never gave it a second thought, nor did I ever feel out of control, unstable, or unsafe.
To say my first season in the saddle was a success would be an understatement. I could not have asked for it to have gone any better than it did. I’ve been archery hunting for deer since 1997 and have taken deer from the ground, ladder stands, hang on tree stands, and climber tree stands. Now I have added the use of a tree saddle to that portfolio. I have enjoyed every form of archery hunting and using all the previously mentioned equipment. Steve and I both committed to using only our tree saddles and box blinds for the 2025 season and we were certainly very successful. Now, that is not to say that we will never again use a traditional tree stand. Personally, I am not a fan of ladder stands for archery hunting, but I like using them for firearm season as most of them provide a nice gun rest to make those long shots if needed. As we took our equipment out of the woods this past weekend, Steve and I discussed as we do every year, potential new locations to hang tree stands or now set sticks for saddle setups. With the end of every season comes excitement for the next season and we always enjoy having those brainstorming sessions in the woods. Being in the woods during January or February is a great way to learn how the deer are currently using the property especially if there is any snow on the ground. Of course, the observations we made during the previous season are also valuable and we usually discuss whether we noticed any negative impact on deer movement around certain hunt locations and make the necessary adjustments for the following season.  Honestly, I’m not sure if I ever truly stop thinking about the previous or the upcoming deer season. I think most deer hunting enthusiasts would agree. For some of us deer season never really closes, it just transitions from the active hunting stage to the planning and prepping stage.

The planning stage of our 2026 archery deer season began as soon as the active hunting
portion of the 2025 season ended. It’s a great time to get back to the woods and study your
previous season. Look around while you are taking those stands down and think about what you can do differently to increase your chances next fall. I’m not saying a tree saddle is the best answer for every hunter or for every hunting situation, but it’s certainly one worth looking into if you are looking to change it up and do something different.

Steve and I and the dogs had a great morning in the woods together and I got to show off my rappelling skills and explain that process to Steve as well. I’ve included a link below to a video Steve and I made while we took down the last three sets this year. If you are at all interested or intrigued by the thought of saddle hunting, check out the video below. Get out there and enjoy the woods, think about that next target buck or that next great hunt. Until that day comes, God Bless and stay safe.

Watch accompanying video of author showing the use of hunting equipment:

Robert Weller
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