A while back I wrote an article discussing the five key items you need to start saddle hunting. That article covers the bare necessities, including a hunting saddle, tether rope, lineman’s rope, climbing sticks, and a platform. And while those five items will get you started saddle hunting, there are a handful of accessories you will quickly want to add to maximize comfort and efficiency.
The good news is that most of these are low-ticket items compared to the actual saddle hunting setup. Let’s take a look at these eight key accessories to help take your saddle hunting game to the next level.
1. Gear Bags/Dump Pouches
Saddle gear bags or “dump pouches” as they are commonly called, are relatively small bags or pockets that attach to your saddle for transporting gear while hunting. They provide a convenient location to store and carry items that you use most, like your bow release, rangefinder, pull rope, headlamp, snacks, or anything else you may want to access quickly and quietly.
Once you’re up in the tree, you can then transfer some of those items over to your gear strap (coming up next on the list!), and you now have an empty pocket on your saddle to keep your cell phone easily accessible.
2. Accessory Strap
While you could get by without some of the accessories on this list, a gear strap or gear holder is an absolute necessity in my book. You need a place to hang your hunting gear so it’s easily accessible to you in the tree, and a gear strap/hanger is your best option.
Most of these gear straps are constructed of a nylon strap that wraps around the tree, with a series of loops sewn on the strap where you hang your gear using some type of clip. This is where I typically hang my rangefinder, grunt call during the pre-rut and rut, binoculars, my backpack, and sometimes my bow. I say sometimes, because if I’m hunting an area that allows me to use a screw-in bow hanger, then that’s what I use. If not, I attach a Hero Clip to my gear strap and hang my bow on that (more on that next).
3. Bow/Gun Hanger
There’s a wide variety of gear clips that will work with your gear strap — from molle clips to the popular Nite Ize gear ties — that allow you to attach your gear to the accessory strap. Get enough for all your gear, plus extras.
For your bow or gun, however, you’ll want something substantial enough to handle the weight that allows you to easily grab your weapon of choice when that buck you’re after slips in silently. Many saddle hunters use a Hero Clip for the task, and those work well.
Recently, however, Tethrd has released a bow holder that is designed to fit theirs and other accessory straps called the Fold N Go that is lightweight and folds up easily when not in use.
4. Back Band
When it comes to saddle hunting comfort, you won’t spend a better $30 than on a backband or “recliner”. The backband is a nylon strap that forms an adjustable loop. The loop hooks into the same carabiner as your saddle’s bridge rope, then goes around your body just under your arms.
The portion of the strap that goes behind your back is typically padded, and there are adjusters on each side of the band so you can tailor it to your size and how far back you want to lean.
The sole purpose of the backband is to provide support for your back while in the saddle. When a deer approaches and you’re ready to draw your bow (providing you’re bowhunting), you simply lean forward and the backband slips down on your body and out of the way.
While I don’t find myself using my backband as much as I did when I first started saddle hunting, it can still be a lifesaver on long hunts when I begin to “feel the burn” in my lower back.
5. Knee pads or cushion
Most saddle hunters spend at least some of their time in the tree sitting, which typically results in your knees resting against the tree, supporting some of your weight. If you have bony knees like I do, you’re going to get very uncomfortable very quickly. An easy fix is a good set of knee pads or a knee cushion.
The good news is that knee pads are readily available, fairly inexpensive, and most any pair will get the job done. Obviously some fit better and are more comfortable than others, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to find a pair that will work for you.
Some saddle hunters — myself included — don’t care for wearing knee pads. Knee pads have a tendency to shift around and the straps can wear on the back of your leg, causing discomfort. For me, a better option is to strap a foam pad to the tree and lean my knees against the pad when I feel the urge to sit in my saddle.
Tethrd and other saddle manufacturers make pads specifically for this purpose, or you can pick up a cheap foam hunting seat pad with a nylon strap and use that.
6. Pull rope
If you’re used to hunting from a tree stand, you probably already have some type of pull rope you use to pull your bow, gun, or other gear up into the stand with you. You’ll need it for the same purpose when saddle hunting. While much of my gear goes up the tree with me when I climb, situated in my dump pouches and my backpack, I still leave my bow or gun on the ground, with my pull rope tied to it, and the other end tied to the side of my saddle.
7. Aiders for your climbing sticks
The heaviest part of most saddle hunters’ setups are the climbing sticks used to climb the tree. The higher you like to get in a tree, the more climbing sticks you will need. However, there is a way to extend your reach without having to add additional sticks, and that is with the use of aiders.
Aiders are small “ladders” made from rope, nylon webbing or cable, that attach to the bottom of your climbing stick, essentially extending the length of each stick. They may have anywhere from one to four steps.
Aiders are extremely light and affordable, making them a great alternative to buying extra climbing sticks. The downside is that because they are made of rope or nylon strapping, they aren’t as stable as a climbing stick. The more steps the aider has, the more likely it is to kick out from the tree while climbing, which can result in a fall. So keep that in mind as you choose which aiders to buy.
A lot of saddle hunters will add a three- or four-step aider to their bottom stick, where if it were to kick out they wouldn’t fall far, and then use one- or two-step aiders on the rest of their sticks. Personally, I stick with one-step aiders on all my Tethrd One climbing sticks.
8. Ascenders
An ascender — like the Ropeman 1, Ropeman 4, or Kong Duck — while not necessary, is a popular accessory for saddle hunting. It is a mechanical device that replaces the Prusik knot on your tether and/or lineman’s rope. Unlike a Prusik knot, the ascender allows you to quickly adjust your rope length using just one hand as opposed to two.
The Ropeman 1 is rated for ropes 10-13mm in diameter, while the Ropeman 4 and Kong Duck will work on ropes from 8-13mm. So, if you plan on using smaller ropes to shave some weight and space in your pack, you’ll probably want to go with the Ropeman 4 or Kong Duck. However, if you’re using standard 11mm ropes, you can save a few bucks with the Ropeman 1.
Final Thoughts
Saddle hunting can seem complicated and gear-intensive to someone just getting started, but it’s really not. Once you have your five key pieces of gear to get started — your saddle, tether, lineman’s rope, platform, and climbing sticks — there’s not a whole lot left you need.
The eight accessories discussed here should make your life easier and your time in the tree more comfortable. Good luck this season!