Buzzard Roost's Pursuit Platform Flips the Script on Saddle Hunting Footrests

Most saddle platforms are flat, aluminum, and basically a riff on the same idea that's been floating around the community for years. Buzzard Roost just looked at that convention and said no thanks. Their new Pursuit Platform and Bullman Step package for 2026 takes a genuinely different run at the footrest problem — and the result is one of the more interesting platform concepts to land this preseason.

A Wedge That Works Two Ways

The core of the Pursuit Platform is a one-piece, injection-molded nylon wedge — not a welded aluminum sheet, not carbon fiber, just a single-piece unit built to be flipped. That reversibility is the whole point. One side offers a flatter angle, the kind of footrest profile most saddle hunters are already used to. Flip it upside down and you get a significantly more aggressive angle, purpose-built for those hard-leaning positions where calf fatigue normally starts grinding on you after the first hour. That's a real problem with a real fix baked right into the design.

The system runs the main wedge on a ratchet strap alongside two included Bullman Steps, extending your usable footprint around the tree. Need full 360-degree coverage? Add more Bullman Steps to the setup. The geometry of those steps is worth noting too — they're angled to match the natural contact angle of your feet as you lean into the tree, rather than forcing your boots onto a flat edge or a hard square lip. Less fatigue. More time in the tree. Simple math.

16 Ounces. That's It.

The whole package — Pursuit platform, two Bullman Steps, and a strap — tips the scale at just 16 ounces. For a run-and-gun hunter who's already counting grams on climbing sticks and saddle panels, that number matters. This isn't a platform you're going to notice on your back. It's the kind of weight that lets you cover ground without second-guessing your setup before you even leave the truck.

The one-piece wedge construction is inherently a bit thicker than a traditional flat aluminum platform, but Buzzard Roost has engineered the package to stay compact and packable. The whole system fits tight against a pack without the awkward bulk you sometimes get from wider, multi-piece platform designs.

Why This Is a Different Kind of Platform Story

The saddle hunting market in 2026 is loaded with options. You've got ultralight carbon, welded magnesium, folding designs, cable-free hybrid rigs — the engineering has gotten genuinely impressive across the board. But almost all of those platforms solve the same problem the same way: flat surface, tree-side cable or strap, done.

The Pursuit takes a different angle — literally. By addressing foot fatigue and shooting-position versatility through a reversible wedge rather than a larger or more complex frame, Buzzard Roost is arguing that smarter geometry beats more material every time. That's a philosophy the ultralight crowd is going to appreciate.

The Bullman Steps themselves aren't new to the saddle world, but packaging them alongside the Pursuit wedge as a unified system is a strong move. It gives hunters a modular ring-of-steps setup right out of the box, without having to source extra hardware or rig something together on their own.

The Bottom Line Before Velvet Season Ends

Bow seasons open in a matter of weeks across most of the country. If you're still dialing in your platform situation or you've been annoyed by calf burn during long sits, the Pursuit Platform and Bullman Step package is worth a serious look. The concept is fresh, the weight is right, and the reversible wedge idea is the kind of thing that sounds obvious once someone else has already done it. That's usually a good sign.

• Weight: 16 oz for the full package (platform, two Bullman Steps, strap)
• Construction: One-piece injection-molded nylon reversible wedge
• Versatility: Two distinct footrest profiles; expandable with additional Bullman Steps for 360° coverage
• Best for: Run-and-gun bowhunters prioritizing packability and shooting-position comfort

The saddle hunting space rewards companies that solve real problems in new ways. On that count, Buzzard Roost has delivered something genuinely worth paying attention to heading into fall 2026.