Mobile Hunting for Public and Private Land

There are many options for treestands. Since I have limited access to private land to hunt, mobility is an asset for me. To solve for this, I recommend a tree saddle vs traditional ladder stand.

Why use a tree saddle?

Some hunters have been using DIY tree saddles for long time. I believe deer hunting legend John Eberhardt has been using this method for hunting whitetail since 1980's.

Ten years later I finally gave saddles a try, only to realize I’d been missing out in a big way. I’ve used saddles extensively in the last few years and now see them as one of the most effective tools for hunting deer from an elevated position.

via [Mark Kenyon][https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/whitetail-deer/answering-the-3-most-common-questions-about-tree-saddle-hunting]

Are tree saddles worth the price?

A solid tree saddle (and climbing setup, see below) will likely cost more money than a ladder stand. However, mobile hunting gives you the options that fixed stands do not, so in a way the investment in a saddle gives your nearly unlimited hunting options. As long as you can find a tree wide enough to support your weight (8 or more inches for anyone under 175lbs, 10-12 or more for those over is my unofficial recommendation), you can hunt that spot.

If you have access to private land that permits various fixed stands, spending extra money on mobile hunting setup might not be justified. Most folks simply do not have the luxury of large private land access. Even if you did, why not go mobile?

Mobility gives one options in the woods that stand hunters do not have. Moreover, it add stealth since one can setup favorably relative to the wind no matter which way Mother Nature decides to move the air.

Saddle are the stand, you need a ladder. In the mobile hunting world, folks use climbing sticks, aiders, steps, etc, so depending on your athletic ability and desire for stealth, there are many options for climbing a tree. Most of these will cost ~$100-500 for a decent setup. You also need a platform to stand on, screws and hooks to anchor your gear, etc. Best guess ~$500-1500 all in for a mobile setup is baseline, you could easily go higher.

If cost is the only downside, there is no downside. Show me your credit card statements and I'll find $2000 in wasted spending (coffee and donuts? dinner and drinks? scratch tickets? etc).

The investment has been well worth it for me! My buddy drags in his metal tree stand, and it heavy, loud, and tricky to fix to the tree. The optionality gifted my a once-in-a-life-time deer encounter with a doe and buck (a story for another blog post!).

Wind and Options are good!

“Safe wind directions cannot be overstated,” Drury said. “Having one [hunting spot] for every single wind condition, speed, and time of year is very, very important. No matter how many spots you have, you still don’t have enough.” https://www.themeateater.com/wired-to-hunt/whitetail-hunting/how-mark-drury-predicts-buck-movement-based-on-wind

Having many options for trees to climb, means you're able to play the wind every time! Having the ability to work with the wind in your favour is critically import to success.