In the past, hunters preferred to stay on the ground to hunt the prey but, the situation has taken a 360° turn. People have realized that hunting from a place, not on the ground level, gives you better hunting opportunities.
What else could provide better elevation than trees in the woods? Understanding this fact, hunters have discovered ways of involving trees in their hunting process. To make this possible, tree stands and tree saddles were introduced.
Though these two have the same purpose of taking the hunter on height, there are still some apparent differences. But before anything, it becomes crucial to understand what these two actually are.
What Is Tree Stand?
As the name clarifies, this stand provides a place to stand along a tree, but on a height. The platform can be open and enclosed, and you need to attach them to the tree. They are generally made up of aluminum or steel to bear the hunter’s weight. If you demand a lighter stand, go for the aluminum one.
What Is Tree Saddle?
A saddle is much different than a stand. If you are familiar with the rock climbing harness, it will look just like a modified version of it. Rather than sitting on a solid stand, here you get straps made of nylon and mesh that go around your waist.
The most important factor is clipping into a secure enough rope to handle your weight. Now all you need to do is lean back in the harness of this saddle. It is pretty similar to the concept of rock climbing. Just the rock is replaced with a tree.
What Is The Difference Between The Tree Saddle Vs Classic Tree Stand?
As both the stand and the saddle are based on different principles, they have some obvious differences that anyone with little knowledge can determine.
- Functioning
Starting with the tree stands, these are placed in such a way that they can only face one direction. So, if you suddenly want to hunt in a different direction, then you will have to take the whole set-up on that side. It can be pretty difficult if you suddenly saw a prey and wanted to hunt it before it went away.
Along with this, the stand is installed right next to a tree. It can be easily spotted thus, giving out the hint of you being there.
However, the hunter can move around with the tree saddle without being limited to a single way. Though it may take some time for you to get familiar with it, once you master it, nothing can make your experience better.
It is not stationary, thus giving you the advantage of moving. You can also hide behind the tree if any animal is in front of you.
- Requirements
Tree stands can only be used on limited types of trees. The trees should have the least number of branches possible with specific diameters. Thus, it puts a limitation on the number of trees that could serve you the purpose of hunting.
For the saddles, there is no such compulsion. The saddles can be put on almost any tree. Just keep in mind that the tree should support some weight to do the job. Thus, for now there is no worry about looking for the specific diameter or size.
What To Use: Tree Saddle Or Tree Stand?
This can be a personal preference to choose one over another. Some hunters have been moved by the benefits saddles offer; hence they prefer using them more. But many people find it too difficult to understand the working of saddles. Hence, they prefer sticking to the traditionally used stands.
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However, if you are up for the little learning and want to have the best hunting experience from an elevation, choose the tree saddle. The following are the benefits you can avail of if you choose this option over the other one.
Benefits Of Tree Saddle That A Stand Cannot Offer
✔Safer Option
While hunting in the middle of woods, safety matters the most. So for attaining a height, you would want to have the safest option possible. A tree saddle can provide you with the most safety among the two options available.
With the harness tied around your leg and waist, there is no worry for you to fall. The reason behind this is that the ropes used in the set-up can tolerate a high value of weight. Whereas, while using the stand, there are high risks of falling. There have been many cases of hunters falling while trying to find the right angle.
✔ Portable
Hunting already stresses out a person. Under this pressure, having some equipment that is easier to carry around can lower the burden. Also, with the lighter weight the saddle set up has to offer, the pressure of carrying out a lot of equipment reduces to zero. They only weigh around 5 pounds, and you can easily carry them around.
✔ Comfortable
As hunting is already stressful activity, the comfort of a hunter matters the most. With the saddle, you can get an advanced comfort level by using these saddles. Though they may seem a bit uncomfortable by their looks, they can provide you the comfort you may not have imagined.
These saddles offer you different adjustments for the sitting positions. So it can provide you the ease of sitting down even when you are not hunting. Though many people may think that a stand is the best option as it gives you more space to sit down, it is not the case.
✔ Providing The Best Angle
As the saddles are proven to give you the most mobility, it is no doubt that you can find the perfect angle for your hunt easily. The hunter can easily move around to find the angle he wants to aim at. However, the importance of finding the angle cannot be ignored as not all the animals you encounter are stationary.
In a forest, you may find an animal moving quickly, and in the haste of it, you need to get to the right angle. The saddle can let you take the aim really fast with the freedom of movement. However, if you are sitting on the stand, it will not be possible for you to do the same.
✔ Convenience
There is no specific requirement of the tree to use this saddle one. So this factor makes it really convenient for the hunters. With this advantage, you get to hunt at any place you want. Along with this, the installation process is not that tough.
Many times, the saddle can be left on the tree as well. Thus you do not have to carry around the complete kit and repeat the installation process again and again.
✔ Noise-Free
If you are carrying the tree stand in the woods, you can imagine the noise it will cause. Made up of steel and aluminum, you cannot escape the clinking sound it will produce. Not only may you find this sound annoying, by the sound may alert the animals in the surroundings. Thus, it will negatively impact your hunt.
The harness and the ropes of the saddle do not produce much sound. It will not disturb the surrounding, keeping the preys unaware of your existence. For now, all you need to do is find the perfect aim for the target.
✔ Extra Space For Other Things
The best part about the saddle is that it gives you the freedom to carry the extra ammo and tools. You get limited space for yourself with the stand, let alone the extra things. However, with the saddle, there is no such restriction.
✔ Stability
Hunters know the importance of accuracy while shooting. So you would want something that will help you attain the maximum accuracy possible. You may think that saddle is not something you can use for having the correct aim. However, the actual scenario is the opposite of what is perceived.
With the saddle, your whole body weight is distributed in such a way that it does not affect your aim at all. In addition, with the support of the seat, the balance of your upper body and feet is maintained properly. As such, you get more stability than you would expect from a tree stand.
Summary
Both the tree saddle and stand have helped the hunters greatly. However, it cannot be denied that saddle can offer you more benefits than the classic tree stand can. As a result, many hunters have shifted towards using this advanced tool forgetting about the previous one.
You may think that using a tree saddle can be really hard as you will be hanging on a tree without visible support. However, as you get familiar with being trapped in the harness, nothing can beat the comfort and ease it will offer you.
If you want to purchase any of these two for exploring your hunting experience, choose the saddle. Not only does it has many benefits to offer, but it also is pocket-friendly compared to the other one.
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