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There seems to be a path for those who choose the path of being as mobile as possible in the whitetail woods.
We start by dipping our toes in the water. You know that bulky rack that has been hanging on the same tree for years? It can be removed and attached to the back. It’s clamorous and challenging to hang every time, but I used it with bulky sticks for several seasons.
Perhaps you are the type of person who likes to fight with weighty equipment. Anyway, go for it.
Gradually, however, I tried to acquire equipment that made me more effective and comfortable. Below are a few items that, through years of trial and error, have proven to really make mobile hunting more enjoyable.
Some will require you to spend a lot of cash, while other products are little things that punch above their weight when it comes to making an impact.
Saddles
Saddleback hunting is at the top of that list.
Think of a hunting saddle as an extremely lightweight option to replace a tree stand. I often wear mine when I go into the woods. The compact platform I stand on and the rope system that securely tethers me to the tree from the moment I leave the ground fit into my backpack.
Nowadays, there are many companies producing saddles. Recently I used the so-called Cruzr XC in single panel style, and a Buzzard Roost two-panel saddle. They were both really good saddles. I’m intrigued by comfort features Outdoor coordinates recent Lonestar’s saddle and the Latitude two-panel seat – the Method 2. I plan to test both this season.
One of the most common questions asked by people thinking about saddle hunting is: “Are saddles comfortable?”
My answer would be that they are not as comfortable as sitting on a immense coat rack or ladder stand. But saddles are not uncomfortable, and for me the advantages they offer far outweigh any disadvantages. The more you employ them, the better you will understand how to make compact changes that will improve your comfort. There is a huge collection of videos on YouTube to facilitate you get started.
Saddles are lightweight, fun to hunt, and allow you to get to a wide variety of trees. They also allow you to employ a tree trunk to hide from approaching deer.
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Sitka Tool Bucket
The Sitka tool bucket this has been my favorite pack for many years.
Hunters can find smaller package. I’ve tried them and they always left me longing for something bigger but not bulky.
The tool bucket is the perfect combination of this.
It has 17 compartments and well-placed straps that allow you to carry winter clothing, poles or a bow outside the backpack. Inside I carry everything I want – platform, ropes, camera equipment, headlamp, optics, extra batteries, bow winch, and a saddle if I choose not to carry it.
The tool bucket helps me get in and out of the woods with it all easily and conveniently.
Compact binoculars
Most of my setups are based on recognizing bedding areas. This means I am more likely to hunt in or near safety cover.
In these areas it is very common to be unable to see beyond 75-100 meters in any direction due to the thickness of the cover.
I employ A Maven CS.1A scope when sitting and looking at longer distances, but I wanted a pair of binoculars that provided good clarity in a compact package.
The Maven B.3 binoculars fits this description and is my favorite glass to have on your tree. These binoculars measure just under 5 inches and weigh just over a pound. They easily fit into my backpack pocket or zip up under my jacket. I don’t think there is a need to employ a binocular harness.
They provide me with everything I need for my hunting style.
Latitude platform, mounting systems in the USA
I found myself hunting trees at some awkward angles due to the way the tree was leaning, and one of the hardest parts about this might be strapping the rig tight.
I avoid ratchet straps because of the noise they make. For years I used the standard buckle strap that comes with most platforms and pull-ups. This caused headaches when hanging sticks or a platform from a tree without a perfect angle.
I bought X-Wing platform with Latitude i Annex to the American platform With theamsteelguy.com before the 2023 season.
The beveled teeth of the Latitude platforms perfectly bite into the tree, ensuring a solid connection. Combine this with the ability to really secure the platform using an American platform mount and you have as solid a connection as I have ever found.
I also employ Perfect stick attachment from The Amsteel Guy and I really like them because they keep my climbing poles tightly connected to the tree.
Latitude BITE Bow Hanger
I have longed for a better bow hanger for years, hunting on public lands where screwing a hanger to a tree is illegal. Latitude just released BITE bow hanger this summer and first impressions are that this is exactly what I was looking for.
I’ll know more after a full hunting season, but I’ve been using it this summer while shooting in my backyard. Simply slide the bow hanger onto the tackle strap for a stable connection with the swivel bracket to adjust to the tree you’re on.
I like the extended arm that allows you to move the bow away from the tree. I hunt without a quiver, hang it on a hook and have enough room for my bow to stand next to the quiver on my shoulder. Those who hunt with a quiver on their bow should have no problem getting it into a tree.
The bow slides on and off the hanger easily and quietly.
Doyle’s hunting lift
I spent many years using paracord to raise and lower my bow after it had been set up.
The Doyle’s hunting lift It is a self-retracting rope that tightens when climbing and retracts when descending from a tree. Inside the suitcase there is a 30-meter work rope. No more loose ropes to deal with.
Sometimes it’s the little things that make running after whitetails in the woods more enjoyable.
