Saddle Hunting Gear Checklist: The Core Five, Safety, and Pack Extras

Forgetting something was one of my early mistakes, along with not practicing the climb and making too much noise. A written list fixes the forgetting part. This is the one built from my own kit, with researched options alongside it.

Beginner guides from the National Deer Association and Hunt Bums both boil the start down to five pieces: a saddle, a tether, a lineman's rope, a way to climb, and a platform. A pack to carry it all. Everything past that is safety, comfort, or preference. (Sources checked October 13, 2026.)

Quick picks

• Cheapest complete start: the XOP Complete Tree Saddle Hunting System covers the saddle, ropes and platform in one box.
• Sticks: XOP X2 on a budget, Hawk Helium one step up. Compare them in our climbing sticks guide.
• Before anything else: the safety gear in section 2.

1. The core five

With my full setup I hunt at about 20 to 25 feet. How high you need to go is its own question; see how high to saddle hunt.

• [ ] Saddle, inspected (stitching, buckles, bridge)
• [ ] Tether and lineman's rope, inspected
• [ ] Carabiners, locking and maker-approved
• [ ] Sticks and aider
• [ ] Platform

2. Safety gear

This part is researched, not first-hand. The TMA Treestand Safety Guidelines call for a full-body fall-arrest harness system every time, a haul line for gear and an unloaded bow, inspection before every use, and practice at ground level. Tethrd's Saddle Hunting 101 says to be connected to the tree from the moment you leave the ground.

• [ ] Lineman's rope on for the whole climb, up and down
• [ ] Haul line: I use a Doyle's Huntin Hoist; a plain rope with a clip works
• [ ] A way to call for help (charged phone) and someone who knows where you are and when you'll be back
• [ ] Optional: a Hunter Safety System Lifeline on a tree you hunt often

Full details in our saddle hunting safety guide and tethers explained.

3. Quiet climb kit

• [ ] Bungee shock cord pieces on each stick
• [ ] Stealth Strips silencing tape on the sticks
• [ ] Renfrew camo hockey tape on carabiners and metal touch points

How I set it up: quiet climb setup.

4. The pack and what's in it (my pack)

My pack is the Cabela's Bow and Rifle 2500 V2. I'm a serial over-packer: mine runs about 25 to 30 pounds with everything, and I'd rather carry a few extra pounds than be stuck in a tree without the saw or a game bag. If the walk in is long, that's where weight matters, so decide what earns its spot for your hunt.

• [ ] Extra rope in a Latitude side bag
• [ ] CAVEKEAP MOLLE hook to carry the saddle (listing showed currently unavailable on Amazon as of Oct 10, 2026)
• [ ] Gear hanger: Pursuit Gear Hanger 13 inch, or my lineman's belt as a pack hanger on short sits (check local rules on screw-ins)
• [ ] Wind checker: Windfloaters
• [ ] Grunt call: Illusion Extinguisher
• [ ] Binos and rangefinder in a MOXULE chest pack
• [ ] Mini tree saw, such as a Hooyman MegaBite 6 inch
• [ ] HotHands hand warmers
• [ ] Scent wipes, such as Dead Down Wind Field Wash Cloths
• [ ] Small snacks and a bottle of water
• [ ] Kneepads, or just use the pack on long sits (Tethrd knee pads are one saddle-specific option)

What I carry, at a glance

5. Recovery kit

• [ ] Gutting knife, such as a Havalon Piranta-Edge
• [ ] Game bags
• [ ] Deer head puller, such as the Hawk Cinch Deer Drag
• [ ] Vecacosic drag strap and harness

More in field dressing kit and blood trailing.

6. Bow kit

I shoot a Mathews Lift X 33 at 70 pounds (Mathews sells through dealers; we didn't find it on Amazon).

• [ ] Bow, with arrows in the attached quiver
• [ ] Release (mine is a Stan trigger release)
• [ ] Sight checked: mine is an UltraView UV Slider with 3 horizontal pins
• [ ] Rest checked: mine is a QAD drop-away (link is one QAD model, not necessarily mine)
• [ ] Mathews EXO Engage limb legs, which I count as a must have

Full bow setup: bowhunting setup guide by budget.

7. Clothing and scent

I'm cheap with my camo.

• [ ] Early season: clothes treated with Sawyer SP657 permethrin (follow the label; permethrin guide)
• [ ] Camo: Ginsco 3D leafy ghillie suit with face mask and gloves
• [ ] Cold hunts: Realtree insulated bibs and jacket (links are current Realtree listings, not necessarily my exact pieces)
• [ ] Boots: TIDEWE 800g rubber boots
• [ ] Clothes stored in the scent tote with a baking soda sachet (how I set it up)

Other good options

This section is researched, not first-hand.

• A back band. NDA calls a back band or recliner possibly "the best $30 you spend on saddle equipment."
• Ascenders. NDA lists ascenders for the tether and lineman's rope to replace the prusik knot and allow one-handed operation.
• A mapping app. I'm a heavy onX user. For how to set it up, see our onX Hunt how-to.

FAQ

What's the minimum gear to start saddle hunting? Per NDA and Hunt Bums: a saddle, tether, lineman's rope, a way to climb, and a platform. A complete kit like the XOP Complete system, which is how I started, covers most of that in one box.

How heavy is a full saddle kit? Mine runs about 25 to 30 pounds with everything, by my estimate.

Sources

All sources checked October 10 to 13, 2026.

• National Deer Association, Saddle Hunting 101
• Hunt Bums, Saddle Hunting Gear List
• TMA Treestand Safety Guidelines
• Tethrd Saddle Hunting 101