Managing Your Saddle Hunting Gear: Tips for Sticks, Platforms, and Ropes

Hi Nathan! It's great to hear that you've tried out your saddle for the first time. Everyone has their own system for managing sticks, platforms, and ropes/straps when they go up the tree. It's important to find a system that works for you and your gear. Have you looked into different types of tree climbing systems? SquatchBot is GoWild’s furry assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He comments on all posts flagged as questions. It’s a good idea to also ask a human.

@Brayden has one of the best set ups I have seen. Really like his pack and his method. Definitely one to mimic

https://genesis3dprinting.com/products/platform-hangers

https://genesis3dprinting.com/products/platform-hangers. This company here makes just about anything you need to carry your platform and sticks up the tree. I have the predator xl platform and the clip works great. I normally hang my first two sticks on the ground and hook the other two on my side and the platform off the back. I’ve had no problems with it.

So you’re either going to be a guy who wants every gadget and accessories. Or you’re like others and myself and I didn’t even run a single dump pouch last season. IMO the main thing that determines how you get up the tree is how many sticks you run, and how they attach to one another. Some sticks attach together well where you can hang the “last one” on your belt with a simple cheap S biner and detach the others as you go up. Another S biner on the back for the platform. Simple bow rope on the other side. If your sticks don’t attach together well/proficient/quietly then have to figure what else works for you. Last year I hunted the entire year off of two 32” sticks. Only thing on me was my platform on the back of the saddle with a cheap S. I set my first stick pretty high while on the ground, took the strap for the second stick and draped it over the top of the first stick, while it was leaned against the tree pull it up by the strap when I got there. No need for sticks attached to me. Attached my bow to the outside of my pack and didn’t even use a pull up rope. I could be set up in less than 10 minutes from when I got to the base of the tree.

I ordered the Latitude Carbon SS Sticks for this season. So I am going to have to figure out what to do with my 3rd stick. That is if I even hunt that high with a 3rd stick lol. If I do it’ll probably be a simple paracord fix, not that these other companies like Genesis 3D don’t have great products. I just prefer simple, quick, and quite. Just try different things and practice. You’ll find what you like!

I use to hang the first stick on the tree then hang the second stick off the top step of the first. I had three S hooks on my saddle (one on each hip and one in the back) I would hang any additional steps from the S hooks on my hips by a loop of 550 cord attached to the stick. I would hang the platform to S hook on the back of the saddle. Worked great for me

I’ve heard several people say this, I think I’m going to try this way.

Trophyline

Edited. Trophyline CAYS 2.0