Thinking of switching to all ladder stands?

[Bill Turner]

I prefer ladder stands in the 10 to 12 ft. range. Anything over 12 ft is differcult for 1 person to put up safely. I usually buy the 15/16 ft models(Cabela's), rated to 300, pounds and only use two of the three sections. No side rails for me. I just feel safer in a ladder stand. Never had a problem getting deer close with a 10 to 12 ft ladder.

[psychmonky]

We use them in places that have proven to produce deer every year. Basically they are "permanent" stand locations.

We have a ton of red cedar growing here and the best way to hide the ladders is finding a big hardwood with a medium cedar growing close enough to touch it. The other way we do it is to find a post oak or black oak with tiny little twigs shooting off of it all the way up the trunk. Those little twigs hold their leaves all year and make ladders disappear.

Scott

[psychmonky]

I should also add that we started using them because one of our guys fell from a power pole several years ago and now has both ankles fused. He has trouble with getting in and out of hang ons, and he simply can't use a climber.

They work great for him and we have come to love them

Scott

[LC]

One thing I'd keep in mind is it seems everyone leaves them out year around cause they are so dang hard to hang carry etc. I'd sure be skeptical of anything left chained, straped to a tree or any metal left out year around. JMHO.Just wonder how many "tree stand falls" we will hear about in the next few years when all these 50 dollar foreign stands have been exposed a few years strapped to a constantly growing swaying tree?

[amazonjim]

If you want a great hang on and very comfortable try the millenium, easy to set up use buck steps or rivers edge ladder to get up the tree. A little pricy buy really comfortable and easy to shoot from

[blazelefty7]

I've been leaning more and more towards using ladder stands too.  I slipped off the middle step of a lone wolf stick when it was raining out about a month ago and fell about 8 feet getting beat up on the way down pretty good. Tore a hole in my sleeping indian jacket too.  

I always wear my harness in the tree, but I'm looking into prussiks from here on out.  Ladder stands just seem safer getting into.

Also, it really depends on the tree setup and area you want your stand in.  Many times you can hang a ladder stand in a "hole" where there might be vines or other stuff growing around the lower sections of the tree.  

We have a stand on the property called the Booner stand...two booners have been killed out of it the past 10 years.

[jax]

I think it depends on where you put em. No difference in a hang on or ladder if they are placed out in the open. I can hide a ladder anywhere you can hide a hang on. I have a ladder I  have killed a deer out of for the past 10 years

[Fletcher]

Like most things, treestands are a compromise, and a ladder can be a great choice in many situations.  I don't like the cheap ones, tho.  I stand as much as I can and insist on a fold up seat and a platform that goes all the way to the tree.

Pa, don't neglect to wear a full harness and a full length tether line from the ground all the way up is the way to go.  Just go read Barry Wensel's "Close call" thread.

Kevin, thanks for your report on the Rivers Edge Oasis; I've been thinking about one of those.

[PA stickbow boy]

Fletcher,  I always wear a full body harness. I've never used the sliding knot tether thing though. Where would you fasten the top and bottom or the ropes to? This is a different topic though and one I'll have the search the archives for.

I like the info recieved so far.  Good stuff.