How to Hunt All Day From a Saddle

Decide If You Are Really Built for an All-Day Saddle Sit.

If you want to hunt all day from a saddle, you need three things dialed first.

You need comfort you can hold for 8 to 12 hours, a pack system that stays quiet, and a plan for staying mentally sharp after lunch.

I hunt 30 plus days a year, and I am primarily a bow hunter with 25 years behind a compound.

I split my time between a 65 acre lease in Pike County, Illinois and public land in the Missouri Ozarks.

Here is what I do if I know I am sitting dark to dark.

I pick a tree the night before, I stage my gear in the truck in the order I will touch it, and I commit to not climbing down unless I kill a deer or it turns unsafe.

Pick the Right Day, or You Are Just Practicing Discomfort.

The biggest mistake I see is guys forcing an all-day sit on a dead day.

If I have bluebird skies, 72 degrees, and swirling wind, I would rather still-hunt or scout than hang all day.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I killed my biggest buck, a 156 inch typical, on a morning sit after a cold front.

I stayed strapped in because the wind was steady out of the northwest at about 9 mph and the temp held at 34 degrees until mid morning.

If you are trying to time deer movement, I check feeding times first.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer move in the wind, because steady wind can make an all-day sit worth it.

Choose a Tree Like You Plan to Live in It, Not Just Visit It.

Your tree choice is a comfort choice and a shot choice.

I want a tree that is 10 to 16 inches thick so my tether bites and my platform does not feel like a trampoline.

I also want cover behind my head.

In the Missouri Ozarks, that usually means a shaggy oak, a cedar edge, or a gnarly old hickory with bark that hides my outline.

If you are hunting thick cover, forget about the perfect straight tree and focus on shooting lanes you can actually hit through.

In Pike County, Illinois, I can pick clean trees on field edges, but I still prefer a little junk behind me so I do not skylight.

Make One Gear Decision Early: Comfort Versus Speed.

An all-day sit is not the time to run the lightest setup you saw on social media.

I learned the hard way that shaving 1.8 pounds off my kit cost me a blown knee and a miserable six hours of hip pinch.

If I am going all day, I carry a slightly bigger platform and a real back band, even if it adds 2 to 3 pounds.

Speed matters on pressured public, but comfort keeps you hunting during the slow hours when big deer move.

My buddy swears by the tiniest platform made, but I have found my feet go numb faster and I fidget more.

Fidgeting is movement, and movement gets you picked off by the doe that ruins your whole evening.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If the forecast high is over 60 degrees, I do not sit all day unless I have a killer rut funnel.

If you see fresh rubs that are wet and bright, expect a buck to cruise that line late morning.

If conditions change to a swirling wind, I switch to the leeward side of the ridge or I climb down and relocate.

Get Your Saddle Fit Right, or You Will Quit at Noon.

Most all-day saddle pain is self-inflicted.

It is bridge length, tether height, and how you shift your weight.

Here is what I do to set up in the dark.

I set my tether about forehead high, I start with a medium bridge length, and I lean until my knees feel light but not locked.

If my hips pinch, I lower my tether 4 inches and lengthen the bridge a little.

If my lower back aches, I raise the tether and sit more upright on the saddle.

I wasted money on a $400 ozone scent control unit that made zero difference, and I wish I had spent that on a second saddle to rotate and test at home.

Comfort testing in the yard for 45 minutes saves a ruined hunt in November.

Pick a Platform You Can Stand On for 20 Minutes Straight.

I can sit in a saddle a long time, but I still need to stand and stretch.

If your platform is too small, you will micro-balance all day and your calves will burn by 10 a.m.

I have used the Tethrd Predator platform, and it is solid for its size, but I had to add stealth strips because it rang on cold mornings.

I also like the Hawk Helium platform style for budget setups, but I have seen the coating get loud after a season of Ozarks rock and bark.

Here is what I do for all-day comfort.

I run a platform big enough to shift my feet, and I carry one lightweight knee pad so I can “knee sit” and rest my hips.

Climbing Sticks Are a Tradeoff Between Noise and Calories.

I grew up poor and learned to hunt public land before I could afford leases.

That is why I still care about cheap gear that works.

My best cheap investment is $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons.

They are not the lightest, but they are predictable, and predictable is safe in the dark.

Here is what I do to keep sticks quiet.

I tape buckles, I use gear ties instead of loose hooks, and I pack them so metal never touches metal.

If you are hunting pressured public like Buffalo County, Wisconsin, forget about “close enough” stick placement and focus on silent placement.

In hill country, one clang at 5:20 a.m. can move deer to the next finger ridge for the rest of the day.

Decide Your All-Day Food and Water Plan, or You Will Climb Down.

Most guys fail an all-day sit because they get hungry, cold, or have to pee.

I pack 2 liters of water if it is above 45 degrees, and 1 liter if it is colder and I can melt the rest with a warm drink.

I bring food I can eat one-handed and quiet.

My go-to is two meat sticks, one peanut butter sandwich in a zip bag, and a pack of almonds.

Here is what I do about bathroom breaks.

I carry a small wide-mouth bottle, I use it, and I seal it tight.

I am not proud of that, but I am also not climbing down at 1 p.m. on November 7th.

Layering Is a Decision, Not a Pile of Clothes.

All-day sits punish bad clothing choices.

If you sweat on the walk in, you will freeze at 3 p.m.

I learned the hard way that wearing my heavy jacket in too early made me sweat, then shiver, and then leave.

Now I walk in cold.

I wear a light merino base, a mid-layer in my pack, and I add insulation after I am clipped in.

In the Missouri Ozarks, that might be 41 degrees at daylight and 63 by noon.

In late season Pike County, Illinois, that might be 19 at daylight and 28 all day with a 12 mph wind.

If you are hunting cold and wind, forget about more cotton and focus on blocking wind and keeping your core dry.

Plan Your Shot Angles From a Saddle Before a Deer Shows Up.

Saddle hunting gives you weird angles, and weird angles cause bad hits.

My worst mistake was gut shooting a doe in 2007 and pushing her too early, and I never found her.

I still think about it, and it is why I am picky about shot windows now.

Here is what I do once I am set.

I range three landmarks, I pick my strong-side lane, my weak-side lane, and one straight-down lane, and I rehearse the draw path without hitting my tether.

If you need a refresher on shot placement, this ties right into where to shoot a deer to drop it because angle matters more than hype.

If I cannot get a clean broadside or slight quartering away shot, I pass.

I would rather eat tag soup than lose another deer.

Make a Call on Wind, Because All-Day Means Wind Will Change.

An all-day sit is not one hunt.

It is a morning hunt, a midday hunt, and an evening hunt, all with different thermals.

In hill country like Buffalo County, Wisconsin, thermals rise mid-morning and drop in the evening.

In the Ozarks, wind can bounce off knobs and turn your “steady” forecast into a lie.

Here is what I do to stay ahead.

I hang on the leeward side with a crosswind, and I pick a tree that lets me rotate 180 degrees if the wind swings 30 degrees.

When I am deciding if wind is good enough, I check deer movement in wind because deer still move, but they use cover more.

Bring the Right Pack, or Your Setup Will Be a Noisy Mess.

I do not care how tough you are, your pack matters on an all-day sit.

If it squeaks, if zippers snag, or if straps dangle, you will fight it all day.

I run a simple day pack with a frame sheet so sticks do not poke my back.

I also keep “all-day items” in the top pocket so I never dig and spill stuff at 2 p.m.

My buddy swears by giant expedition packs, but I have found extra space just becomes extra junk.

Junk turns into noise, and noise turns into busted sits.

Midday Is Where Most Guys Lose Focus, So I Build a Routine.

Noon to 2 p.m. is when my brain starts making excuses.

That is also when I have seen good bucks move during the rut, especially on pressured ground.

Here is what I do every hour.

I stand for 2 minutes, I stretch my hips, I sip water, and I glass behind me without twisting like a pretzel.

I also reset my bow hanger if it crept and started making my draw awkward.

If I am trying to stay sharp on rut timing, I revisit what I wrote about deer mating habits because cruising bucks do dumb stuff at dumb times.

Decide If You Are Killing Time or Actually Watching Deer Sign.

Staring at your phone ruins all-day sits.

I keep my phone on silent and in my pack unless I am checking radar for safety.

Here is what I watch instead.

I watch squirrels, I watch birds, and I watch how does enter a spot.

If a doe comes in stiff and staring, something is off.

When I want to remind myself how sharp deer can be, I think about how smart deer are because they notice the little stuff we ignore.

All-Day Sits Mean You Might Have to Field Dress Late, So Plan for It.

If you arrow a buck at last light, you are working in the dark.

I process my own deer in the garage, and my uncle was a butcher, so I care about clean work from the start.

Here is what I do in my pack.

I carry a headlamp with fresh batteries, one spare light, and a small kill kit with gloves and a sharp knife.

When I need a quick refresher, I use my own notes that match this guide on how to field dress a deer.

FAQ

How long can I realistically sit in a saddle without getting sore?

If your saddle fits and you can rotate positions, 8 hours is realistic, and 12 is doable on rut days.

If your hips go numb in 45 minutes at home, you will not magically fix it in the woods.

What is the biggest mistake guys make on an all-day saddle hunt?

They pack too light on comfort and too heavy on junk.

A small platform, no food, and bad layering will force you down before the best movement.

Do I need a bigger platform for all-day sits?

Yes, if your feet go numb or you cannot stand flat for 10 minutes.

No, if you are comfortable kneeling, and you already have a platform that lets you shift and stretch quietly.

How do I deal with thermals changing during an all-day sit?

I pick a leeward setup that stays “good enough” across a 30 degree wind swing.

If I start smelling my own access trail, I assume deer can too, and I relocate if I can do it quietly.

Should I climb down to track a deer right away if I hit it during an all-day sit?

No, and I learned that lesson the hard way in 2007 when I pushed a gut shot doe too early and lost her.

If the hit is questionable, I wait, I listen, I mark last blood, and I treat it like recovery matters more than ego.

Next I am going to get into the exact all-day saddle setup I run, including how I hang gear so nothing swings, how I manage tether and lineman belt, and how I handle weak-side shots without turning into a pretzel.

The Exact All-Day Saddle Setup I Run, and Why I Quit Copying Instagram Setups.

I can hunt all day from a saddle because my system is simple, quiet, and comfortable enough that I stop thinking about it.

I run a medium-size platform, four sticks, a real back band, and I hang every piece of gear so it cannot swing.

I burned money on gear that did not work before I learned what actually matters.

I wasted $400 on ozone scent control that made zero difference, and I would trade it for a better pack and better organization every time.

Decide Where Everything Lives, or You Will Drop Something at 10 A.M.

The all-day killer is little mistakes that stack up.

If your grunt tube, rangefinder, and release float around, you will clang something when a deer is close.

Here is what I do every time.

I assign a home for each item and I do not change it mid-season.

Rangefinder goes on my dominant-side chest strap lanyard so I can range without turning.

Release lives in my right pocket on a tether, and my gloves live in the same pocket every hunt.

If you are hunting thick cover in the Missouri Ozarks, forget about fancy accessories and focus on not snagging on brush during the climb.

Make a Call on Your Tether and Lineman Belt Routing, Because Twists Get Loud.

I see guys fight ropes all day because they never chose a clean routing.

That rope fight makes movement, and movement gets you picked.

Here is what I do at the tree.

I keep my lineman belt on until the platform is set and the sticks are pulled or stacked.

Then I clip my tether, weight it, and I stow the lineman belt in a dump pouch so it cannot dangle.

I keep my tether knot on my weak side so my draw arm is not rubbing it all day.

If you are hunting a steady wind in Pike County, Illinois, forget about micro-adjusting every five minutes and focus on one solid height that stays comfortable for hours.

Choose a Method to Hang Gear, Because Swinging Gear Will Bust You.

If your bow swings and bumps your platform, you will jump at your own noise.

I learned the hard way that “good enough” hooks are not good enough on an all-day sit.

Back in 2016 on public land in the Missouri Ozarks, I had a doe at 14 yards catch me fixing a swinging pack strap.

She blew, stomped twice, and my evening was done in 6 seconds.

Here is what I do now.

I run a small gear strap around the tree at chest height with two hooks, and I hang my pack tight to the trunk.

I hang my bow on a dedicated bow hanger, and I keep the bottom cam pinned against the tree with a bungee so it cannot sway.

My buddy swears by letting his pack hang free so he can grab snacks fast, but I have found tight and quiet beats fast and sloppy.

Pick One Way to Manage Your Bow, Because Your Hands Need Breaks.

Holding a bow for 8 hours is dumb, and it is how you cramp up.

I want my hands relaxed so my draw is clean at 5:10 p.m.

Here is what I do with my bow.

I keep it on a hanger at knee to mid-thigh height so I can grab it without standing.

I nock an arrow only when the woods feel right, like when squirrels shut up or I hear steps in leaves.

If you want a reminder why deer can pick off tiny movement, I think about how smart deer are every time I start getting lazy.

Decide If You Are Strong-Side Only, or If You Will Train Weak-Side for Real.

Weak-side shots are where saddle hunting either shines or ruins your day.

If you cannot draw without getting bound up, you are better off passing.

Here is what I do to make weak-side possible.

I set my platform so my strong-side lane is at 10 o’clock and my weak-side lane is at 2 o’clock.

I rotate around the tree by walking my feet, not by twisting my back like a wet towel.

I practice at home with my tether on a tree for 20 minutes, because practicing on a live deer is how bad hits happen.

If you need a straight answer on ethical angles, this ties into where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks, because a bad angle from above can turn into a gut hit fast.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If my platform setup forces a weak-side shot through my tether, I move the platform 8 inches or I pick a new tree.

If you see a doe cut past you and keep looking back, expect a buck within 5 to 20 minutes during the rut.

If conditions change to rising midday thermals on a ridge, I switch to the leeward side or I drop closer to the bottom third.

Make a Tradeoff Call: Extra Gear for Comfort, or Minimal Gear for Silence.

This is the part nobody wants to admit.

All-day comfort usually costs weight, and weight can cost silence if you are sloppy.

Here is what I do to balance it.

I carry one comfort item that matters, which is a real back band, and I skip the rest of the “just in case” junk.

I do not carry two knives, three calls, and a bunch of metal accessories that clink.

If you are hunting pressured public like Buffalo County, Wisconsin, forget about carrying your whole truck and focus on a setup you can climb with quietly at 5:15 a.m.

Products I Actually Trust for All-Day Organization.

I am not married to brands, but I am picky about what stays quiet in the tree.

I have used the Tethrd HYS Strap for hanging gear, and it is simple and quiet if you keep it tight.

I also like using Nite Ize Gear Ties for bundling sticks and strapping a bow to the tree, and a $6 pack has saved me a lot of noise over the years.

Decide How You Will Handle Weather Shifts, Because All-Day Means You Will Get One.

Weather changes are not a surprise on an all-day sit, they are the point.

The guys who kill at 1:30 p.m. are the guys who do not bail at 11:45 a.m.

Here is what I do to stay set.

I keep my rain layer and a light puffy in the top of my pack so I can add them without dumping everything.

If I see the woods go dead and the wind starts swirling, I do not “hope it fixes itself,” because it usually does not.

When I am deciding if rain changes movement, I think about where deer go when it rains because light rain can keep deer on their feet, and hard rain can shove them into cover.

Make a Call on Staying Put After a Shot, Because Recovery Is Part of All-Day Hunting.

If you shoot at 3:40 p.m., you still have to finish the job.

I have lost deer I should have found, and I have found deer I thought were gone.

Here is what I do after the shot.

I watch until the deer is out of sight, I listen for 60 seconds, and I mark the last place I saw it with a pin and a landmark.

If the hit is back, I do not climb down and start stomping around, because I still think about that 2007 doe.

If I need to refresh the basics in my head, I lean on my own process that matches how to field dress a deer, because clean recovery turns into clean meat.

When I get one on the ground, I also think about how much meat you get from a deer, because it keeps me focused on doing it right.

FAQ

How do I keep my feet from going numb during an all-day saddle sit?

I stand flat on the platform for 1 to 2 minutes every hour and I change foot angle every 15 minutes.

If your platform is too small to stand flat, you will fight numb feet all season.

What should I do if my tether keeps rubbing my jacket and making noise?

I move the tether knot to my weak side and I raise or lower tether height by about 4 inches until the rub stops.

If it still rubs, I rotate my body position so my shoulder is not dragging rope on every breath.

Is it worth bringing a knee pad for all-day sits?

Yes, because knee sitting gives your hips a break, and that buys you hours.

I bring one lightweight knee pad and it earns its spot every rut week.

How do I know if I should stay all day or climb down at midday and move?

If the wind switches and now blows into the bedding cover you expect deer to use, I climb down and move.

If the wind stays steady and I am on fresh sign, I stay put because late morning movement is real on pressured ground.

What is your one non-negotiable item for an all-day saddle hunt?

Water, because dehydration makes you cold, dumb, and impatient.

I can grind through hunger, but I cannot grind through a headache and cramps.

I am not a professional guide or an outfitter.

I am just a guy who started hunting poor on public land in southern Missouri at 12, and I have kept at it for 23 years.

If you keep your setup quiet, your comfort real, and your wind honest, you will be amazed how many deer move while other guys are back at the truck eating a burger.

That is where all-day saddle hunting pays off, and that is why I still do it.