CRÜZR Drifter vs XC Saddle: What’s New, What’s Better, and Why It Matters
Fiber-Level Engineering to Deliver Best-in-Class Performance For years, the CRÜZR® XC Saddle has been a staple in the saddle hunting
Everyone loves a good deer story, and this one is no exception! Here’s the tale of Droppy, a remarkable 206” SW Missouri whitetail that my friend Cole McBride and I have CRÜZR Saddles to thank for keeping us in the game!
Droppy first appeared on our cameras in October of 2022, hitting a scrape. He stayed around for the rest of the season until January and then disappeared. But on October 25, 2023, he was back—and he’d grown even more impressive. While he was special in 2022, by 2023, we knew he was a once-in-a-lifetime buck.
Before Droppy showed up in 2023, we were targeting a unique 9-point buck, an old warrior we’d tracked for years. I honestly lost count of the different trees where we set up our CRÜZR Saddles trying to get him, but he vanished in mid-October. Little did we know that his replacement would be more than we ever dreamed.
I (Conner) was away on a work trip when Droppy reappeared on our trail camera, so Cole covered things back home, self-filming his hunts. When I got back, we went all in on trying to intercept this giant buck. Droppy was elusive, vanishing for a week at a time before returning to the cameras. To stay on him, we relied on mobility in the woods, switching locations and trees to get closer.
Cole used the CRÜZR XC, and I used the CRÜZR Archon. We tested these saddles to their limits—setting up in countless trees, different spots, and even hunting from the ground. We felt close; it was only a matter of time.
On November 10, as we were driving in to hunt, we rounded a corner and saw him—Droppy, standing in the middle of the road. He turned and walked onto the property we were hunting. Changing our entry route to avoid spooking him, we set up in our chosen tree. Just as light broke, Droppy entered a food plot 100 yards away. Cole tried calling, but Droppy couldn’t hear him. Cole then grunted, catching his attention. Droppy turned, looked our way, and started down the road toward us.
At 30 yards, Cole drew his bow and released an arrow—high. Heartbroken, we watched Droppy disappear into the brush.
Knowing rifle season started the next day, we feared our chances were over. But we didn’t give up. We hunted all day Friday and Saturday, seeing only a few young bucks. Sunday, November 12, brought a warm, calm day. That evening, we set up over a secluded plot where we knew deer traveled.
We had only been there for 10-15 minutes when we heard steps. Cole spotted legs in the brush, then whispered, “It’s him.” Droppy was right below us. Thanks to the dense cedar cover, Cole managed to stand and draw, while I lifted the camera. After what felt like an eternity, Droppy stepped clear, and Cole took the shot. The buck ran just 20 yards and dropped.
The rush of adrenaline was overwhelming. In seconds, we went from the lowest point to the highest, celebrating with shouts and high-fives. Seeing Droppy on the ground, then putting our hands on him, was a surreal, unforgettable moment.
Much of our success came from our CRÜZR Saddles. Mobility is a game-changer, allowing you to adapt to the deer’s movements and put yourself in the best position for a successful hunt. If you’re looking to get started with mobile hunting, check out CRÜZR’s collection of high-quality saddles and gear. They have everything you need to get hooked on this thrilling, adaptable style of hunting.
Conner Mobley, Author
*This article has been edited from its original for style and clarity.
Fiber-Level Engineering to Deliver Best-in-Class Performance For years, the CRÜZR® XC Saddle has been a staple in the saddle hunting
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