Something we hear all the time from hunters around the country goes something like "Now that I'm used to my Tethrd saddle setup, I don't really want to sit in a tree stand anymore".

Saddle hunting is incredibly comfortable.

We routinely hunt for full & half days during the rut. It's absolutely comfortable. Is it as comfortable as a box blind where you can stand up, move around, and stretch? Probably not. But there aren't any options that make an all day sit very comfortable.

The Founding Fathers of Tethrd, as well as hundreds and hundreds of hunters around the country have done all day sits in our gear.

We hear all the time that folks with hip, back, or knee pain find the saddle reduces fatigue and they can sit longer. Your mileage may vary.

One of our friends, Andy May, has struggled with hip pain for years. He says the saddle has all but eliminated the issue for him.

This is one of our favorite questions to answer. Yes - unlike tree stands you can absolutely shoot 360 degrees around the tree. Here's the caveat: not every tree or scenario will allow you to do this. Some trees work better than others.

There are plenty of times when the tree we choose to hunt limits our shot opportunities due to limbs, other trees, significant lean, tree diameter, or some other circumstance.

More often than not we find that shooting 360 degrees (or close to it) is doable.

Nope. We've found the opposite to be true. In a saddle the hunter's waist, hips, core, and feet are all supported, similar to taking a seated shot from a treestand.

You bet. We have lots of hunters who use crossbows, long bows, rifles, and even pistols. The options are wide open.

When used properly, the hunter is connected to the tree from the moment they leave the ground. Sure, accidents can always happen. But when the hunter understands the gear, and uses it appropriately, the chances of catastrophic injury can be greatly reduced.

That's why your two ropes are so important. Your tether & your lineman belt are critical pieces of gear that you must learn to use.

Always use your lineman belt as soon as you leave the ground. Move it it up with you as you climb and never allow excessive slack in the rope. Use your tether rope to safely move around limbs or obstructions as you climb.

Before you climb onto your platform, always attach your tether ahead of time. Most accidents happen during the transition from climbing method to hunting platform. Being double connected at this crucial time can save your life.

Once you are safely connected to your tether and your platform is secure, only then can you remove your lineman belt.

Reverse this process for the climb down. Never detach your tether without first attaching yourself safely to the tree with your lineman belt.

You should inspect all your life support items before every hunt. You must ensure there are no cuts, tears, excessive abrasions, or anything else that could compromise the strength of your saddle, platform, ropes, & accessories. No deer is worth getting hurt.

We always like to setup where the shot will be to your "strong side". For a right handed shooter that means everything to your left. Keep in mind as a saddle hunter you hunt FACING the tree. This allows you to hide behind the tree and use it for cover. This is the opposite of a tree stand where the hunter is exposed and facing AWAY from the tree.

In this scenario when your facing the tree, everything to your left, behind you, and in front of the tree is incredibly easy to shoot. This means everything to your right (for a right handed shooter) is a little more difficult.

There are some awesome resources on our YouTube channel that will help you nail down your shooting strategies.

That's ok! It can sometimes make for an uncomfortable hunt depending on the situation. Trees that lean very hard are difficult to hunt, but slightly leaning trees are no issue.

We like to setup on the underside of the lean. That way you're not fighting gravity the entire time.

A tree that leans to the left or right can also be hunted by moving your tether to the opposite side of the lean. For instance, if the tree is leaning slightly to the right, set your tether on the left side of the tree and that will help cancel out the lean.

This is where practice comes in handy. With time, you'll become a tree setup pro.

That's no problem at all. We actually like to setup in trees with branches or limbs to be more concealed at hunting height.

Follow the guidelines in the "climbing section" to ensure you're safe as you climb.

Once at hunting height make sure the limbs don't interfere with your shot.

Great question. Use our Predator Platform. It's the most comfortable way to saddle hunt. If you'd like something lower profile you can use strap on steps or screw in pegs like our buddy, John Eberhart.

No matter if you choose a platform, like our Predator, or a ring of steps like John, there is no issue with your feet.

A ring of steps is the OG way of saddle hunting. Screw in steps or strap on steps were placed around the tree in a circle. This allows the hunter to easily move around the tree to maneuver for a shot.

What we've found is that a platform like our Predator, is MUCH more comfortable and user friendly.

You can also take a hybrid approach and add a few strap on steps or screw in steps around the tree to supplement your platform.

Whatever floats your boat!

The short answer is no.

However, it does take some getting used to. The first few hunts of each year we find that our feet get a little sore as they readapt to saddle hunting.

However, after a handful of hunts, that's a thing of the past.

Another thing to consider is the boots you use. Some boots work better than others. You'll have to do some testing to figure out what works for you.