Gear that fits this hunt: the Pack Rat + Tree Hugger Full Send System and the Pack Rat Platform & Stick Carrier.
Saddle hunters spend a surprising amount of effort on one unglamorous problem: getting a platform, a set of climbing sticks, a bow and a day's worth of gear to the tree without a single clank. Venator does not sell saddles, platforms or climbing sticks, so this guide is about the part we do carry: the packs and accessories that move that gear. We have not field-tested any of it. What follows comes from Twisted Iron's published specifications, the construction details on each product page, and Venator's own prices.
November is when the question gets practical. Hunters chasing the rut are hiking in before first light and relocating between sits, which is exactly the situation a one-piece carry system is built for. If you are weighing how long to sit once you get there, our piece on the all-day rut sit covers that side of it.
What a saddle carry system actually has to do
A mobile setup has three jobs on the walk in. It has to keep metal and hard plastic from knocking together, keep sticks from snagging brush, and keep your hands free. At the tree it has two more: put your gear within reach, and stay quiet when you open a zipper at eye level with a deer. The three products below split those jobs differently.
Pack Rat: the platform and stick carrier
The Pack Rat is a flat, padded carrier. Twisted Iron describes a center channel that holds the platform in place and a vertical stick carry meant to cut down on hang-ups in the woods. It is built from 600D waterproof polyester with padded shoulder straps, stealth buckles and a single row of 1.5-inch MOLLE on the front for attaching sticks. Once you are in the tree, the integrated 1-inch knee pad lets it strap around the trunk and double as a knee rest.
Sizing is the one decision that matters. The regular Pack Rat measures 14.5 by 17.5 inches, weighs 2.1 pounds and fits platforms up to 16.5 inches wide. The XL measures 16 by 20 inches, weighs 2.6 pounds and fits platforms up to 18.5 inches, such as the Trophyline Mission and Hybrid LockOn models Twisted Iron names on the product page. Measure your platform before you order; a platform that does not fit the channel defeats the purpose. The regular is $139.99 and the XL is $149.99.
Tree Hugger: the gear pack that goes on the trunk
The Tree Hugger is the personal gear pack. You pre-pack it, carry it in, then open it and strap it directly to the tree. It stands 14 inches closed and 27 inches open. The regular is 14 inches wide and weighs 1 pound 13 ounces; the Mini is 12 inches wide and weighs 1 pound 8 ounces. Pockets include zippered compartments with rope pulls, a deep wedge pocket with a cinch cord, a flashlight pocket, a 20-ounce drink pocket and smooth nylon linings that Twisted Iron says are for quiet access. Metal buckles secure it to the tree. The regular is $79.99 and the Mini is $69.99.
Choose the Mini if your gear list is short: a call, rangefinder, snacks, gloves. Choose the regular if you carry a layer, a water bottle and a camera arm.
The Full Send System versus buying the pieces
The Full Send System bundles a Pack Rat, a Tree Hugger, four climbing stick straps, two latch hooks and the Saddle Savior hanger set. The straps secure sticks to the Pack Rat's MOLLE during the hike, the latch hooks hang sticks from the Pack Rat while you climb, and the hanger set attaches to the Tree Hugger's straps so a bow or quiver stays in reach once you are up.
Here is the arithmetic at Venator's current prices, using the regular Pack Rat and regular Tree Hugger. Bought separately, the Pack Rat ($139.99), the Tree Hugger ($79.99) and the Full Send Accessories Kit ($59.98, which holds the straps, hangers and hooks) come to $279.96. The system in regular and regular is $271.56, which is $8.40 less, and the same gap holds for the Mini and XL configurations. The saving is small. The reason to buy the system is that you receive every piece the carry needs in one order and you do not discover on the first morning that you forgot the hooks.
Together, the regular Pack Rat and regular Tree Hugger weigh about 3.9 pounds before straps, hooks and whatever you put inside. That is the number to compare against your current setup.
Which one to buy
- You already carry a pack and only need the platform and sticks handled: the Pack Rat alone, in the size that matches your platform width.
- You want a complete mobile kit and do not own any of it yet: the Full Send System. It is the only option here with every attachment included.
- You already own the Pack Rat: add the Tree Hugger, then the accessories kit or the individual stick straps and Saddle Savior hanger set ($24.99) as needed.
Camo comes in Strata and Bottomland. Bottomland variants of the Pack Rat and the Full Send System are also listed, but several sizes are out of stock, so check the size selector before you commit.
Check the land before you hang anything
Mobile gear is easy to carry and easy to get wrong on public ground, because tree rules vary by agency and by property. Two examples show how different they are. Arkansas Game and Fish says portable stands on its wildlife management areas must carry the owner's name and address or customer ID, and must be moved at least 200 yards after 14 consecutive days. Kentucky's rules for its public lands say hunters must not use nails, spikes, screw-in devices, wire or a tree climber to attach a stand or climb a tree, while a portable stand or climbing device that does not injure a tree may be used. Neither mentions saddles by name, so read your own state's current rules and ask the managing agency if a rule is unclear. Pressure matters too: our look at weekend hunting pressure is a useful companion if you are choosing which public tract to carry all of this into.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Pack Rat fit any saddle platform?
No. The regular fits platforms up to 16.5 inches wide and the XL fits up to 18.5 inches. Measure the platform first.
Is the Tree Hugger Mini big enough?
It is two inches narrower than the regular and about five ounces lighter. It suits a short gear list; if you carry extra layers or a camera arm, get the regular.
Do I need the Full Send System if I only want to carry sticks?
No. The Pack Rat on its own handles the platform and sticks. The system adds the Tree Hugger and attachments.
Does Venator sell the saddle, platform or sticks?
No. Venator carries the packs and accessories described here, not the saddle, platform or climbing sticks themselves.
Is any of this field-tested by Venator?
No. This guide is based on the manufacturer's specifications and product construction. Aldo hunts whitetail himself and chose this gear for the catalog, but the claims above are about the specs, not about miles on the gear.
If you are also weighing how to scout for the rut you are carrying all this into, read our scrape-hunting piece. For more mobile-hunting gear, browse the whitetail hunting collection.
