ladder vs hang ons

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Well busted again tonight after moving a ladder about another quarter mile. Nice ten point comes about five yds from where they been crossing a fence. Stops and looks in the woods right at my ladder and I could tell he saw it. He then looked right on up until he spotted me, head bobbed a bit and turned around and left. Anyhow long story short I have been busted so many times in these ladder stands I'm about ready to either ground blind or go hang on. I wonder how many others have the problem of deer seeing the ladders?   Thanks. Mike

[cajuntec]

Is it camoflauged?  Both of the ones I have came one color.  Dumb, dumb, dumb.  They stick out like a sore thumb.  I painted them camoflauge two months before the season started, and put them out a few weeks prior to the season.  So far... so good.  

Most of my stands came single color - climbers, ladders, etc... I camo everything I own - including the cushion seats - top, bottom, sides, straps, etc....

All the best,
Glenn

[el cazador]

Hang some limbs/brush on the rungs, seems to break it up a bit.  My father-in-law describes it this way... "You're in their home. How would you react if you walked into your living room and there was a new sofa?"  Best you can do is set your stand weeks in advance, and if you've got to move it try to brush it in. Good luck!

[Deadbolt]

Ive yet to have a deer be bothered by my ladder stands and 've had them brush up on it and rub against em.  I to camo my stands and brush them in a bit if there is poor cover otherwise i just throw em up and the deer never have a problem.

I am now enjoying loc ons though...I hate climbing the little steps but the clearence and ability to hide and brush a loc on in is great!  i love my king kong loc ons!

[Arwin]

Try a climber if you are moving quite a bit. I like to use mine for observation hunts and then decide if I want a permanent stand in that area.

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Yes they are camo colors. I realize hanging or setting weeks in advance is good for some. I like to hunt freshes sign I can find so I move a lot. I like the ladder as it is an easy  set but I am thinking easy is not the best. I mean that is how I got ten yards from the ten point tonight is by hunting over fresh sign. Ten yards is close but head on and him looking at ya is no good. I did brush in a bit and wondered if that is what ultimatly got me busted. He just knew that I was there and the wind was all mine. He really never ran off or bolted he just knew and left. I know he saw me but I don't think he took me for what I was or he would have bolted. Thanks for the replys. Mike

[doublewhopper]

I have been busted about 7 times this year by bucks in my ladder stand.  My problem may not be similiar to yours but, I made the mistake of putting my stand too close to a trail with no background camoflauge.  Every time they come down the trail they see me sitting in the thing, then they snort and walk away.  I know its not early in the season, but take the time now and move it.  It'll be worth it.

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Whopper, I am moving it tommorrow just as you  said off the trail a bit more. I'm sure he has traveled the thing like a thousand times and I stuck right out to him. I can't help but wonder if I had taken the time to use some screw in steps and set a hang on if I would be doing some knife work about now. I have a brand new novaculite side notch I just made yesterday and I want to see it fly smack into ones chest. Thanks Mike

[draco]

I can see the corners of square tubing stands a long way off.I dont know if the deer can or not but you might try one made of round tubing. Thats why I build all my ladder stands out of round stock.

[madness522]

Big buck don't get to be big bucks my being foolish.  You are in his house and he knows where every tree, bush and rock are and if he sees a new bush suddenly appear he knows something is right.  Might want to use a climber if you're going to always hunt to fresh sign.

[dino]

As a general rule I don't hunt ladder stands for about a week or so after I set them and I try to get them up about a week to two weeks before season starts and make sure they have good back cover.  I've never noticed or seen a deer spook because of the stand.  

My brother in law came out to hunt with me this year with a huge ladder stand.  We put it up and he wanted to hunt it the same night.  Had 3 in the first night that he could get a shot at and 1 next morning at 15 feet that he misssssssed. (Little buck fever I think:0).  So I think you can hunt them sooner after you set them, I just generally don't myself.

For hunting fresh sign and doing alot of moving around, hang on stands are the ticket.  I use Lone Wolf Alpha and Assault hang ons with climbing sticks to get into remote or fresh sign areas quietly, quickly and with little disturbance.  Ground blinds IMO suck for this.  You have to spend alot of time brushing them in or a whitetail will pick them things out at 100 yards.  Everytime I've taken my Double Bull out into a new area and set it up without taking alot of time to brush it in I have been busted everytime without exception unless the blind has been set up for a considerable time ahead.

Shaggy suits are another option.  Had a deer at about 8 ft the other night in my shaggy.  What a rush.  dino

[rascal]

I think a lot of this might hinge on the area you are hunting, personally Ive had no issues setting up a ladder stand in the morning and shooting deer out of it by afternoon.  Last year I shot an 8 point after setting the stand in the morning and this year my son did the same on another 8 point.  The deer dont seem to be bothered where I hunt when they see my ladders most of the time, although this year I had a little spike buck pretty rattled at the sight of my ladder stand but he was at about 4 feet from my stand.

I think maybe the deer you hunt see a bit more pressure and are reacting to that pressure by being that much more wary of any disturbances in their "living rooms".  I would say that you need to keep your stand sites well off the trail and out of the line of sight of approaching bucks, seems every time Ive been busted it was due to being where the deer naturally looked while traveling their trails.

[wingnut]

You need to get Jim Hamms book on Hunting whitetails.  It's great on this subject.  You have to be hidden not just up.  If your trees are big enough, set the stand on the back side and shoot the deer after it passes.  Or shoot around the tree while facing it.  I set most of my ladders this way and don't get busted much.

We set four ladder stands on Sunday and I would challenge anyone to find 3 of them walking down the game trail before I put an arrow in the air.  LOL

Mike

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Thanks for the replys. I think I just need to get a little sneakier and hide the things better. I have Jim Hamm's book, and you are right it is good. Mike

[buckracks7]

A new scrape just opened up 10 feet from my ladder stand. I come into it from the back. I use hang on's too, but it's nice to leave a ladder stand up for the whole season.

[southernarcher]

You might want to check out that Guido seat thing looks like it might be a good option for you.

[SuperK]

I have had great sucess with them but I always try to put them in trees with plenty of cover.  I have been busted more using climbing stands than ladders because you must have a "clean" tree.

[hormoan]

I truly love my ladder stands, because of there ease of use. But I also hunt 98% private land. And can leave them up year round if wanted. My next choice is my climber stands. I have found nothing yet for comfort better than either. SEE WHY

Why is, its a confidence level also. I'm a little skidish standing on a 20"x36" platform 15-20 feet off the ground with nothing but a tree behind me    If I do it long enough I overcome the feeling. SEE WHY #2 Of couse my 6"x13" boots leave me wanting just a little more.


I always no matter what, try if possiable. To position my stands in a group of close trees. NOT ALWAYS possiable, but came be done at times.

Nothing better than a group of 3-4 trunks coming out of the same root base. As it gives you some cover, and blockage from there eyes so you can move around a bit. (All good spots should have a group of these   ) I love them!!

Then when we have the big woods and trees without any limbs much. I really enjoy my climber stands, granted I stay awake in them  :D

One point and only one, no matter what type of stand you use. It has to have some sort of way to blend in with some cover. Like other tree trunks, leaves whatever you camo it up with.
If you stand back and it looks like a mercury light on a pole. You are not going to have much luck no matter what type stand it is.

Most of all be safe, and everyone use there harness systems no matter what kind of stand!

    PLEASE,for yourself,family, and us.

                Brent

[hoebow]

Ooogaboogachiefwalkingdeer,
Think like this. When you get in the morning and you walk to your front door you know where everything is, You can almost do it with your eyes closed You live there every day. If some one stuck a ladder in your living room would you notice it? You bet. Deer are creatures of habit. They notice any changes. Put that ladder up and wait a good while let them get used to it. Better yet put a manican in it. When you go to hunt hide the manican and dress simular. As long as they don't smell you they will get two feet away. That is a trick I learned from my hunting mentor. He has been doing that since the 60's they thought he was crazy then, but now after more deer kills then you can shake a stick at they call him a master.

[Oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

I moved the stand off the trail a bit more and brushed it in with some big ole ragweed that is growing right on the fence line they are crossing. I watched a doe and a yearling walk down the fence to where the ladder was until this eve. She stoped and started looking all up and down the tree it had been in. She looked as if she couldn't believe it was not there and it has only been up two days. After not being able to see the stand she knew had been there. She nervously left with the youngster in tow. I think this spot still can produce. Mike Smyth