There's no single right height for a saddle. The guides that rank for this question mostly agree on two things: many saddle hunters land somewhere around 15 to 20 feet, and cover matters more than the number.

With my full setup I hunt at about 20 to 25 feet. I climb a Hawk Helium 4 pack plus a ZIVOXIA aider. Everything else on this page is researched, with sources at the end (checked October 13, 2026).

What other saddle hunters say

Source What they say about height
ProHunt setup guide "Most saddle hunters target 15 to 20 feet for whitetail," and 15 feet with correct technique beats 22 feet with sloppy footwork.
Mobile Deer Hunter Calls 15 to 20 feet many saddle hunters' sweet spot, but would choose 10 feet with good cover over 20 feet with none.
HuntWise No set answer. If the best cover is at 8 feet, climb 8 feet. With four sticks and a platform, the writer typically reaches about 16 feet.

These are three independent guides, not a study, so treat the 15 to 20 foot range as a common habit rather than a rule.

Cover first, then height

All three sources make the same point: pick the tree for cover, then set the height that keeps you hidden. Limbs, a forked trunk, or a neighboring tree behind you can hide you better than another 5 feet of open bark. Our terrain and pinch point guide covers picking the spot; the wind and thermals pages cover how scent moves at different heights and times of day.

Height changes the shot

Higher isn't free. The higher you climb, the smaller the vital area gets from above, because more of it is shielded by the shoulder and spine. Our saddle shot angles guide goes deeper. How your platform is oriented matters too: some angles are far more comfortable than others, and off-shoulder shots take practice.

Stick and aider math

How high you can get depends on your sticks, your spacing, and whether you add aiders. Mobile Deer Hunter measured platform height with steps about 18 inches apart:

Setup Platform height
3 two-step sticks, no aiders about 10.5 ft
3 two-step sticks, one-step aider on each about 14.5 ft
3 three-step sticks, one-step aider on each about 19.5 ft

Your shooting height ends up above the platform, since you're standing on it. Your height, stick length, and spacing will change these numbers, so measure your own setup in the yard before the season.

Ways to add height:

  • More sticks. The simplest, and the heaviest. Compare weights in our climbing sticks comparison: by maker specs, four XOP X2 sticks run about 6.5 pounds, four Hawk Helium Gen 2 about 10 pounds, and four Tethrd One Sticks about 4 pounds.
  • Aiders. A strap step hung under a stick adds height without another stick on your pack. The ZIVOXIA aider is the one I use; our aider guide compares soft and rigid options.
  • Longer sticks. Hawk lists the Helium Gen 2 at 20 inches per stick; Tethrd lists 18.5 inches for the One Stick.

More height means more climbing

Every extra stick is another one to hang quietly in the dark and another set of steps to climb with a lineman's belt on. Before going higher, it's worth getting the climb quiet: I put bungee shock cord pieces and Stealth Strips on my sticks and Renfrew hockey tape on my carabiners (full quiet climb write up). Not practicing the climb was one of my early mistakes. Practice can make all of the difference.

Safety applies at every height

This part is researched, not first-hand. The Treestand Manufacturers Association safety guidelines say to always wear and properly use a full-body fall-arrest harness system, use a haul line to raise your pack and an unloaded bow, and practice with your harness at ground level so you know what hanging in it feels like. For saddles, Tethrd's Saddle Hunting 101 says to be connected to the tree from the moment you leave the ground. A lifeline like the Hunter Safety System Lifeline keeps you clipped in on the way up and down on a tree you hunt often. A fall from 12 feet can hurt you as badly as one from 25, so the rules don't relax at lower heights. Our saddle hunting safety guide has the full list.

Other good options

This section is researched, not first-hand.

  • Start low. Practice with your harness and stand at ground level first. You don't need a full 4 pack on day one; HuntWise and Mobile Deer Hunter both hunt in the mid teens.
  • Lighter sticks for long walks. If you want 20 feet but walk far, titanium or carbon sticks like Tethrd One Sticks cut weight, at a much higher price.
  • A budget set with a high rating. The XOP X2 carries a 350 pound rating, the highest of the sticks we compared.

FAQ

How high do you hunt? With my full setup, about 20 to 25 feet, on a Hawk Helium 4 pack plus a ZIVOXIA aider.

Is 15 feet high enough for saddle hunting? For many hunters, yes. ProHunt and Mobile Deer Hunter both put the common range at 15 to 20 feet, and both say cover and good technique matter more than extra height.

How many climbing sticks do I need to get 20 feet up? It depends on stick length and spacing. In Mobile Deer Hunter's test, three three-step sticks with an aider on each put the platform at about 19.5 feet.

Sources

All sources checked October 10 to 13, 2026.