Treestand Selection

Treestand selection can be vital to the success of your deer hunt.  There are many different types of treestands available on the market.  Ladder stands, hang-on stands, and even climbers.  Each stand has advantages and disadvantages and this blog will go through each of those.

Ladder Stands

Ladder Stand

Ladder stands can work in many scenarios, but the tree has to be pretty straight.  There are many different shapes and sizes, but a majority of ladder stands are 15-18 feet tall and most have a decent sized platform.  Ladder stands are probably the safest treestand to sit in during a hunt.  There are also ladder stands that can hold two people which is nice when taking a spouse or child to the whitetail woods.

The downfall of ladder stands is they're usually tough to hide in a tree.  They stick out a ways from the tree and it is tough to blend the stand into the tree; usually a few too many branches need to be removed to place a ladder stand in a tree.  The other downfall of a ladder stand is they can be difficult to put up on your own.  I definately recommend at least two people to help get a ladder stand setup.

Also, a ladder stand can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.  It all depends on the features you are looking for in a ladder (platform size, height, seat, arm/foot rests, etc).

Double Ladder Stand

Hang-on Stand

Hang-on stands provide a lot of the benefits that a ladder stand does not.  Hang-on stands allow you to get close to the tree.  You can place a hang-on amongst branches for better concealment and climbing sticks are right up against the tree.  A hang-on can be hung by yourself; although it is a good idea to have another person with you just in case.  Some of the high-end hang-on stands (Muddy Outdoors or Lone Wolf) allow you to adjust to the shape of the tree.  Seat and platform leveling adjustments are key to being able to hang your stand in the right tree.

Hang-on Stand

The downfall of the hang-on is it can be a little more dangerous to get in and how of because when you climb up the tree, you are right against it, where as a ladder stand the ladder is more at an angle.  I highly recommend while hanging this type of stand to use a linemans belt with your safety harness to have the use of both hands.  Also, a product like a lifeline is a must when I use hang-on stands.  These allow you to always be connected to the tree when you climb.  Another downfall of a hang-on is the use of climbing sticks.  With a ladder stand, the ladder is included when you buy the stand.  When you purchase a hang-on, you must also purchase some sort of steps or sticks to get you up the tree.

Climbing Sticks

Climbing Stands

Climbing stands are great for backpacking into the timber, putting the seat and platform on a tree, and climbing the tree.  A climbing stand is similar to a hang-on, but you don't need the sticks.  A climber is also great because you can go up as high as you want.  I prefer a Summit climber because they are very comfortable and easy to use.

Climbing Stand

The disadvantages of a climber is that you need a very straight tree.  In the timber I hunt, a straight tree is hard to find.  The other issue with a climber is the fact that you need a very clean tree.  Since the platform and seat are connected to the tree, you cannot disconnect it to go around a branch.

I have used all three stands, and with a climber, there are a few things that are important to remember.  1) Make sure you are always connected to the tree when climbing, 2) make sure the seat and platform are connected by a rope.  Making sure these two are connected will allow you not to lose the platform if you feet slip out of the stirrups.  If you lose the platform, you will be dangling from the seat portion of the climber.

My personal preference is to use a Muddy Outdoors hang-on with cheaper climbing sticks.  This helps to keep my cost on the entire set lower, but also give me all the advantages of a premium hang-on stand.  I also like to have a packable stand and sticks so I can hang a set for one night to try to get on a big buck.  This year I will be using the Muddy Bloodsport and Muddy climbing sticks for my "run-and-gun" setup.

Next week I will put together everything I have been discussing over the past few months.......treestand location on the farm I hunt! 

Muddyhunter