Tree saddles are an ideal choice for hunting in remote areas due to their lightweight design and portability, making them much easier to carry than traditional tree stands.
Both tree saddles and tree stands provide hunters with the same strategic advantage of an elevated position, keeping them above a deer’s typical line of sight. However, they achieve this in different ways. Tree stands feature large platforms for standing and fixed seats for sitting, offering a more stationary setup. In contrast, saddles serve as the seat themselves and don’t include a standing platform—though many hunters opt to use a small platform as an accessory for added support.
So, why choose one over the other? It ultimately depends on your hunting style and mobility needs. If you plan to return to a well-established hunting spot, a traditional tree stand is a great option to set up and leave in place for future use. On the other hand, if your goal is to hike into remote hunting areas for single-day hunts, a saddle is the better choice due to its compact size, lighter weight, and ease of setup. These features have made saddle hunting increasingly popular among public-land bowhunters.
