09/08/2026
🦌 SADDLE HUNTERS, PRACTICE IN THE DARK.
There are a lot of advantages to saddle hunting, but there are also things we need to take seriously.
There are several different ways to climb a tree with a saddle, and most of us practice our setup before season starts.
But how many of us actually practice in the dark?
Think about it.
Most mornings we’re walking into the woods when it’s pitch black and climbing a tree an hour or more before daylight with nothing but a red headlamp or no light at all.
That shouldn’t be the first time you find out your system is harder to use when you can’t see.
Practice climbing in the dark. Practice attaching your sticks. Practice your lineman’s belt and tether. Practice getting onto your platform and, just as importantly, practice getting back down.
And don’t do it once.
Do it over and over until your entire system feels comfortable and familiar in the dark.
Every year I hear stories about somebody new to saddle hunting having a nightmare getting into the tree before daylight, or worse, getting up there and realizing they aren’t comfortable getting back down.
Take your time. Stay connected to the tree according to your system’s instructions, practice close to the ground first, and know your equipment before you take it into the woods.
A little practice now can prevent a really bad morning later.
Saddle hunters, what’s one thing you wish somebody would have told you before your first season in a saddle? 👇
