Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ron w on January 05, 2016, 06:14:00 PM
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I'm a ground guy but I know things tend to be more productive up in the air. Thinking about a new ladder stand and just thinking about the height. I see them from 15' to over 20', I'm not much on to high. Will the lower stands be good enough if set up with the wind and cover in mind. Thanks for your wisdom in advance....... :notworthy:
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Choose your placement wisely, reference cover, prevailing winds, etc. and the shorter 15 to 17 footers work just fine.
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Short answer, YES!
I think my tallest stand is 16' but most are 12 to 14. I've got a few that are as low as 8' and as long as I get it tucked back in cover, I am still getting shots. Still have to play the wind but even the 8' seems to get you up enough to get away with a little movement.
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Ladder stands are stable so doing 20FT isnt sketchy, They are heavy and a pain to carry in deep to a spot. but they do have great comfort for long sits. put it out early and let them get use to it being there.
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Ron : You don't need to be up twenty feet with a ladder stand 12 to 15 is more than enough.
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I only buy the 15 foot two man ladder stands and take the shooting rails completely off. I have no need to be any higher and I like the large seat width, I feel a little safer. Some of my ladder stands I've even cut down a little shorter to 12 ft.
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One of my favorite and most productive stands is an 8' ladder stand tucked into a cedar tree. I can stand on the ground and reach up on tip toes and touch the foot rest. With the right cover you don't have to be sky high.
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I've got a question for you guys that hunt ladder stands a lot. Do you stand up to shoot, or do you shoot from a sitting position?
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I stand up when shooting my trad bows. I can remain seated if need be if shooting my bow that is unmentionable on this site.
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Originally posted by sidekick:
I stand up when shooting my trad bows. I can remain seated if need be if shooting my bow that is unmentionable on this site.
Haha!! I hear ya. I've been shooting one of those too out of a ladder and I normally shoot sitting down. Trying to figure out how to get it done with the recurve. Lock on's may be the way to go.
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Ron, Pm sent.
Depending on the tree and cover available, you will determine how high you need to be. I've used just the top section with good success inside a pine tree. I think it was about 5 or 6 feet off the ground. Remember, you can always build cover around your platform also. I know you are skilled enough to figure something out.
Sometimes if placed on a hill, you want to be high enough that the deer will not be at eye level if coming from above you, but the down hill shots can look really long.
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Too bad you dont live in Ohio
Id make you a heack of a deal on a ladder stand
I just cant get use to them
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Ron, wish I could remember who posted recently about killing from a ladder stand that had been in place long enough for junk to grow up in it. You may remember having read it. Anyhow perhaps well before time to hunt you could run some foliage between rungs to give her a little help. Sounds like you are playing it smart an preparing early for next year. Best wishes and let us know how your practice sessions go. As for me I prefer to stand on an approach as a last minute change in direction can leave a seated hunter without an opportunity. I shoot fine seated provided I have lower limb clearance and the critter stays on my left side (right handed).
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Shot plenty from a 12' ladder stand, always standing up.
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If you purchase a ladder stand make sure it has a more than adequate platform to stand on. Many of them are barely bigger than the length of your boots.
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Many thanks for the input......I knew I could count on you folks!! :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Ron
A couple ideas
1. Pick a platform seat combo you can always eliminate sections to get to a comfortable height
2. I'd shy away from cheap square tubing they seem flimsy to me. I'm searching for a good 2 man stand to take my daughter with next fall one design change I've noticed is manufacturers offering elliptical tubes. I saw one at dicks called outpost XL I believe much stronger more rigid than square profile economy stands of course you pay more.
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Placement, cover and wind are much more important than height, IMO. I'll hunt as low as I can get decent cover. Ladders are also easier to brush in if cover is scarce. One thing I almost insist on is a full platform and flip up seat. Dick's has a pretty good model in the Lookout deluxe, esp for the price. The Rivers Edge Bowman is also nice and has a great seat. Be aware too, that the advertised height is to the highest part of the stand like the arm rest or shooting rail, not the platform. You can always subtract 2 feet or so to get the real platform height.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=147350#000000
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I have killed a few out of ladders but my biggest gripe is that I can not get my body close enough to the tree when standing. With my lock ons I can fold up the seat and really get close to the tree to blend in and not be silouetted. Tuck it in good cover and the lower ones will be just fine.
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You can buy stands with a platform that extends all the way to the tree and a seat that flips up. I wouldn't buy one without those features.
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get a comfy seat if one doesn't come with the stand. sitting on metal grate is tiresome!
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Ok heres my two cents worth. First the height is not a problem as all has already been mentioned. Second not to long ago someone asked about the best ladder stand and one of the Wensels recommended a stand from Dicks delivered to your from like $60 and I believe it was like 15'. If it's good enough for them than I'd say its good enough for anyone,
With all that said I hate ladder stands for the following reasons. Hard to put up, hard to move and as such most folks leave them out year around. Being a dumb ol electrician and bowhunter I've never seen anything left outside year around have a long life span especially strapped to a tree. One also has to consider the metal is usually from the global economy side of the world.
I just can't see the benefit over using rapid rails and a hang on. Easier to hang, move, take down, can be used on a lot different trees and easy to height adjust by using less rails! I usually pick my rails up end of season sales for $34 bucks. Your mileage may vary
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Ron:
If your stand placement is semi-permanent, I like a 10' ladder with a platform and an hang-on stand above (gets you to about 12-15 feet). The ladder with platform is much safer to climb and you can just step onto the hang-on. I have a couple of ladder stands and they seem to always "creek" and "pop" when you move. Personally, I much prefer a Hang-On type with a big platform.
Recently, I purchased a Millenium M-25 ($99.00 at Amazon with free shipping) and it is rock solid with a lot of room on the platform. It also has a net-type seat, which is very comfortable.
Best of luck.
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Last year, I passed up a shot on a big ole matriarch doe I call dildo, because she has stuck it to me so many times. I couldn't stand up and was hesitate to shoot her sitting down. This year I drilled two while sitting with no problem.
Dildo is still out there, and if she gets any bigger, her head will be outside her ears.
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I have a couple 15/16 ft ladder stands that I purchased cheap at seasons end. I tote them into my public hunting area, minus one section, which makes them about 10 ft. to seat. The stands are extremely stable and I can be easily carried fully assembled over a mile off the beaten path. The stands I purchase are all metal construction and although you can shoot standing, I prefer to shoot from a sitting position. The older I get(69 in May) the more I find myself hunting from the ground but I do not hesitate to hunt from 8 to 10 ft. up when the opportunity presents its self. :campfire:
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Ron, I have several ladder stands up in the woods, Two of them are 15', the third (and newest member) is a 16' stand but I only use 2 of the three sections so I reckon it's 10-11' off the ground, tucked up against a thick old pine and it's blown-down diagonal upper half. I shot 2 deer out of that stand this year, so I know you don't have to go high if you've got the wind and cover right. PS I also bought these neat little things that stick into the ground, hold the bottom of the legs of the stand and allow me to "walk" the stand up alone! They actually work.
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I like hunting from ladder stands. Mine are 15-20 feet. Thinking of selling a couple and replacing them with a fold up seat model.
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Ron, you'll be fine. Just make sure you get a model like the Lookout Deluxe from Dick's that the seat folds up and allows you to get close to the tree....great price too!
When Cade started hunting I bought 3, and they've worked out great.
Good luck!!
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I got a stand at Dick's today, a lookout basic for 79$. They were sold out of the better models, this should work well for me in the bow only zone. Thanks for all the input and PM's with advice....... :notworthy: :notworthy:
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My best advice to you would be to also check out a lifeline/ safety line system to go with your new ladder stand. You clip your harness to a prusik hitch loop, and you are protected from the first step off the ground until you unhook after the completion of your hunt and descent.
There are several manufacturers of these type products. I have one on every ladder stand for my safety since I have medical problems that screw with my balance. The one I found that I really like is from safetreehunt.com .
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Also make sure it has a seat that folds up against the tree. Some of them don't and that leaves you with a very small area to stand on out from the tree.
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Ron: Check out the Leverege 5200 telescoping ladder stand available from www.treestandsinc.com (http://www.treestandsinc.com) or through the big auction site. Three ladder sections that telescope to set the platform at a maximum of 12 feet, seat 2 feet higher, or as little as 4 feet in one foot increments. Constructed differently than most other ladder stands.
It's basically a well made hang on stand with a ladder attached. No cables from the vertical seat posts to the platform to interfere with bow limbs or any other hunter movement, and no bars restricting your legs and overall movement. Seat folds against the tree if you wish to stand to shoot or just to stand for a while. I've looked at a lot of ladder stands, and this is the best one I've found. And they're selling them at a huge discount right now. Good luck.
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I was a guest at a new location and given a ladder to hunt from. It was an old one with a cheese grater for a seat. It took me two weeks to get the 10,000 dimples outa my butt. Get one that the comfy seat folds up to tree.
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Originally posted by LC:
Ok heres my two cents worth. First the height is not a problem as all has already been mentioned. Second not to long ago someone asked about the best ladder stand and one of the Wensels recommended a stand from Dicks delivered to your from like $60 and I believe it was like 15'. If it's good enough for them than I'd say its good enough for anyone,
With all that said I hate ladder stands for the following reasons. Hard to put up, hard to move and as such most folks leave them out year around. Being a dumb ol electrician and bowhunter I've never seen anything left outside year around have a long life span especially strapped to a tree. One also has to consider the metal is usually from the global economy side of the world.
I just can't see the benefit over using rapid rails and a hang on. Easier to hang, move, take down, can be used on a lot different trees and easy to height adjust by using less rails! I usually pick my rails up end of season sales for $34 bucks. Your mileage may vary
LC,
Can you provide a link to the thread where the Wensel's gave their recommendation for the Dick's ladder stand? I'd be interested in knowing the model they suggested and checking it out.
Thanks.
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I'm not LC, but here you go-
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=147350#000003
He recommends Comfort Zone Deluxe 16' from Dick's Sporting Goods- on clearance for $79.
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I saw somewhere in a different thread that he recommends AGAINST the 15' Standard Comfort Zone version.
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Look for simple Christmas garland at yard sales and thrift stores to wrap around the ladders and such. Wrap now for next fall. The deer will get used to it and it will lose its smell, if it has any.
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Thanks, Hawkeye!
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I've had deer actually scratch their necks on my stand. It has been up awhile but the loggers cut their normal path off and they came closer. Two years ago I had a fork rubbing a tree in front if my stand while a spike was rubbing his neck on my ladder. It was like he was waiting his turn. You can hide them easy enough.
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If you get 10-12' up, in the right place, you will be golden! Just make sure you get a ladder stand without handrails. All handrails do is mess up perfectly good shooting opportunities!
I shot a pig from the seated position in a 12' ladder stand last Friday!
Bisch