The swamp was the place to be. It was where all the whitetails came from, retreated to, and felt safe enough to move in daylight in the high-pressure public-land area I was hunting. But as I clanged ...

Hiking into a hunting area with a tree stand strapped to my back is a labor of love that I’ve endured many, many times. It’s also one that I don’t need to endure again, thanks to saddle hunting.

Early in my bowhunting career, I set up a ladder stand on top of a ridge that had oaks and plenty of deer sign. On opening morning, I watched a deer parade go down a trail that was 20 yards out of ...

The author testing the Black Belt Ultimate. Photo by Erik Barber I’ve been hunting exclusively from a tree saddle since 2018, when I was lucky enough to kill a beautiful 8-point buck on opening day of ...