So you decided to ditch the bulky climber stand and pick up a saddle kit. You made a great choice! It’s lighter, more mobile, and provides much better cover than a traditional stand. While looking into this way of hunting you might see the different platform options. But platforms are heavy and bulky and that’s exactly why you aren’t hunting out of a climber anymore. So you might ask yourself, “Do I really need this? Can’t I just hunt from my saddle without a platform?”
The short answer is yes, you can saddle hunt without a platform. However, without a platform, you will need to use a branch or something similar as a positioning aid. This will limit the adaptability of the saddle and the mobility of the hunter.
Let’s take a look at why the platform is important and some of your options to stay as mobile as possible while out in the woods.
Why You Need a Saddle Hunting Platform
Most deer hunters know that adaptability is one of the most important qualities to have while in the deer woods because there are so many moving parts and things that can go wrong or change while hunting. Ladder Stands and Hard Sided Blinds are great if you can guarantee that there are no external factors that could play into deer movement like wind, inclimate weather, changing temperature, or the rut.
However, as we know, things are always changing and you need to stay mobile and be able to react to these variables as they present themselves. Climber stands are a great option for mobility but they can be loud and cumbersome while hiking to your spot.
This is where the saddle hunting comes in! You get the mobility of a climber stand without the extra hardware that you have to lug through the woods. This is especially important for public land hunters that can’t leave anything in the woods.
So you’ve decided that a saddle is the best option for you but it feels counterproductive to carry a bulky platform. While that is true, you can’t just consider mobility on the ground but you must think about what is your mobility going to be like up in the tree? A platform allows you to maneuver while up in the tree so you don’t have to rely on branches or foot holes. It also makes it much easier on your knees during longer hunts compared to resting them on the tree. If you’re serious about getting into saddle hunting, a platform is the only way to go.
Sizes & Types of Saddling Hunting Platforms
Once you start looking into platform options it’s pretty easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available to you. Don’t worry, I’m going to break these down into size classes and give you my recommendation for each class. This is by no means the only option for each but will hopefully give you the information to make your own decision.
Small and Lightweight Saddle Platforms
My Recommendation: Tethrd Predator Platform
Width: 11.75”
Weight: 3lb
MSRP: $169.99
Obviously when talking about a system that’s main benefit is mobility the smaller you can go with a platform the better. I personally love the Tethrd Predator because of this. It’s no wider than my pack which makes fighting my way through briar patches a lot easier. At 3 pounds it is the lightest platform I have ever used.
This platform uses a cam and post-style mounting system. Essentially what you’ll do is run the strap around the tree and secure it as tightly as you can where you want it. Then you’ll pull down on the stand to “seat it”. Finally, you’ll pull the bottom of the platform out and down which will secure it firmly to the tree. This is a very fast and easy system to learn and implement in the field.
Now obviously the Predator is the clear winner of the portability contest, but what about where you’re spending 90% of your time in the woods. The tree. The Predator has two small outward nubs for positional aids. These will help you push yourself around the tree to be able to shoot 360 degrees around you. I find these to be quite easy to use, but some people like more of a place to put their foot, and it is possible for your foot to slide off of these which could cause you to slam back into the tree. Just like anything else, this will take some practice to feel comfortable with.
As far as boot space and overall comfort I have no issues with this platform. It’s on the small side but I tend to lean back and put most of my weight on my line anyway so having the ability to completely stand on a platform isn’t a big selling feature for me personally.
Simply put, the Predator is my go-to platform for any public land hunts or any hunt where I have a long and difficult hike back to the set location. Priced at $169.99 it’s a hard tag to beat and a great starter option.
Medium Sized Saddle Platforms
My Recommendation: Wild Edge Battlement
Width: 16”
Weight: 3.625lb
MSRP: $189.00
The Wild Edge Battlement, while not a huge platform, does stick out from each side of my pack a little over 2 inches on each side and does get caught from time to time while trying to navigate through the woods.
The Wild Edge Battlement uses an “out on a limb” bracket. Essentially, there is a rounded cut-out on the top part of the platform. You position that against the tree and use your body weight to lean against the bottom of the platform. Then you can run your strap around and connect it to the other side of the platform and using your body weight you can push down and secure the platform against the tree. It’s an interesting solution and while it may not be my first choice, it is completely safe and just as easy to use as the previously mentioned cam and post style.
So you may be thinking, why is this a medium size platform if it is the widest? That is because of weight and the fact that it is fairly short in length. Imagine the other two being a square, this one is much more of a rectangle!
For positional aids, this platform has two large size boot indentations toward the back of the platform that you can use to swing yourself around the tree with no chance of a slip.
For boot space, this platform provides an adequate amount, especially if you also lean on your line heavily and only use the corners of the platform.
This platform and others like it are a solid middle ground for someone who might not want or need the heft of a large platform but would like more of a position aid than many of the small platforms can provide.
Large and Comfortable Saddle Platforms
My Recommendation: Cruzr Seeker
Width: 14.5”
Weight: 4.5lb
MSRP: $189.99
The Cruzr Seeker is the big boy of the platforms we’re talking about today. At 4.5 pounds and 14.5 inches, it sticks out from either side of my pack and is the heaviest. You might be thinking “It’s only a pound and a half more than the Predator!” and you would be correct. However when public land hunting, whether that be a mile back to an unpressured food source or a 10-day backcountry elk hunt, every pound matters.
Every ounce of extra weight in a platform is one less ounce of food, water, or gear. Not to mention when a platform is larger you have a higher chance of banging it off something when trying to get back to the tree.
So why would someone use a large platform? Probably because of comfort. If you’re someone who likes to stand completely on a platform and put very little weight on your lines while waiting, then a large platform is absolutely for you!
Just like the Wild Edge Battlement, the Cruzr Seeker offers great triangle-shaped positional aids toward the back of the platform that feels very secure.
Boot Space and overall comfort are where the Seeker and all other large platforms shine. Once you’re in the tree, this is most likely the best option, and if you don’t have a far or difficult hike to your spot, it may be your best option!
In Conclusion
While it’s not completely necessary to use a platform especially if the tree you’re using has a branch or a foot hole to use as a positional aid, you’re severely limiting your capabilities in the field by choosing to not use one.
You’d be much better off by picking up one of the platforms we’ve talked about, based on your typical hunting situation. If portability is your main goal then a small platform is the best way to go. If you value comfort in the tree and have a shorter and easier hike, the large platform could be optimal for you. And if you’re not sure, a medium platform is a great jack of all trades platform that will get you by in most hunting scenarios.
Keep in mind that you can most likely make any of these work for your given situation and there is no “right answer”. Pick the one that seems right for you and get time in the field with it. The saddle platform is sure to become a staple in your hunting set-up!
Sister Post – Can You Saddle Hunt With a Rifle?
Saddles are normally used for bow hunting, but is that all you can do with them? It may seem difficult to maneuver a rifle while in a saddle, and it may limit your shot options compared to a bow… Read More