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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: nhbuck1 on November 20, 2016, 12:57:00 AM
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What do you all secure your tree stands with around the tree? Anyone use heavy duty ratchet straps? What's the safest?
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Some stands have chains, others have straps. There are even ladder stands. I have well over a dozen different stands of different types. I think to answer your question that chain on stands and ladder stands are the safest. We have our own property so we leave our stands up all the time. The problem with chain ons is that the trees will grow into the stand and make it difficult to move them or refit them. Straps are easiest and ladder stands are all I would have if I were starting over. The really safest setup are ground blinds. Love my Double Bull blinds but you need privacy so they won't get stolen. Hard to chain them down and lock them onto a tree.
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I use ratchet straps.
If I leave them out all year (which, for safety reasons I should not, and am planning to stop) I change the straps before each season. I use 2 and sometimes three points of contacts. Top of stand, bottom of stand, and if adjacent to another bole (I like forked or close trees) I even attach a corner of the stand to the adjacent bole. This prevents the stand from even budging.
I've had chain stands long ago but I only buy stands that have adjustable "backs" to deal with a bit of lean in trees. Very few stands have that option and the ones I use (Lone Wolf and Muddy) use straps.
I don't hunt public land.
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I try to use quality ratchet straps, not them cheap junkers you get at the flea markets. If I plan to leave them up, I'll loosen them after deer season so they don't girdle the tree. Straps allow less movement and give you a more snug feeling to the tree. JMHO!
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Good quality ratchet straps for me.
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Usually use ratchet straps except in areas where theft is common, then a chain with a small chain binder where I can run a padlock through the chains.
It's not fool proof but it would make the casual thieve work a lot harder than they like to.
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I prefer chains. but I also use 2 ratchet straps on the top of hang insurance with no chain. I replace with 1 new one every year, and rotate the one I remove to the bottom of the stand. after its removed from the bottom I discard them. 3 straps per hang on stand, replace the oldest every year and the one on the bottom just stops the stand from wiggling. it don't hold any weight so that's where the oldest one goes. on ladders I use 2 at the top and replace 1 with a new strap yearly. if I have a hang on with a chain, I use the chain and then put a strap on top and bottom. again rotating 1 out yearly. I buy different colors when I can so I know what one to rotate out or Mark them with tape or permanent marker so I know how old they are.
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If I am leaving a stand up all year I much prefer chains with a screw link. I really like the lone wolf straps
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I mostly use ladder stands with heavy duty ratchet straps.
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I like chain on anything that may stay out all year and that is rare. I will use a strap but they only stay out for the 4-6 weeks of hunting season and come down. I will eventually phase out all straps and switch to chain.
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Chains on all mine except the Lone Wolfs. They have their own straps, and I always use both the top and bottom straps.
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Not trying to hijack this thread but how do you guys go about hanging them? Lineman's belt? I still haven't found a good system that doesn't about kill me when i hang one.
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Originally posted by buckeyebowhunter:
Not trying to hijack this thread but how do you guys go about hanging them? Lineman's belt? I still haven't found a good system that doesn't about kill me when i hang one.
Depends what kind of tree you're hanging it in. I've found that if I put a hang-on stand in a straight tree, it works so much easier using your climber (if you have one). Climb up, pull hang-on up and fasten. On the way down, screw in your steps. Reverse when you want to take it down. It does require bringing both stands in at the same time, but so much easier than trying to hang onto tree with one hand while hanging the stand with the other.
To the OP, I use ratchet straps also. Check them on each use for squirrel chewing, etc.
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I carry in and carry out now. Heard too many horror stories of straps and chains breaking. I use a lone wolf and small hooks from home depot. Hook gets screwed into tree right above where I want my seat to be. Hooks are so small they stay in tree and I never had one hit my lower back. I added a loop of paracord on my stand and i hook that to the hook when i climb up so the stand supports itself and then i put lone wolf strap on top button only. I have a 50 pack of hooks (8$). I either use treehopper bolts to get up tree and leave the hook in tree or use climbing sticks. Either way i take the 30 seconds to screw in a hook so hanging the stand is so much easier. Put strap around then remove my paracord loop and pull strap tight. You get used to carrying in and out and the peace of mind of stands not being weathered and stolen is well worth it!
To answer your original question I would trust a chain stand over a strap.
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Originally posted by shedhunta:
I carry in and carry out now. Heard too many horror stories of straps and chains breaking. I use a lone wolf and small hooks from home depot. Hook gets screwed into tree right above where I want my seat to be. Hooks are so small they stay in tree and I never had one hit my lower back. I added a loop of paracord on my stand and i hook that to the hook when i climb up so the stand supports itself and then i put lone wolf strap on top button only. I have a 50 pack of hooks (8$). I either use treehopper bolts to get up tree and leave the hook in tree or use climbing sticks. Either way i take the 30 seconds to screw in a hook so hanging the stand is so much easier. Put strap around then remove my paracord loop and pull strap tight. You get used to carrying in and out and the peace of mind of stands not being weathered and stolen is well worth it!
To answer your original question I would trust a chain stand over a strap.
X2. . . Pretty much my system. AND I would NEVER leave a stand in the woods without a chain. I have heard too many stories- even just one night- where squirrels have chewed on a strap, let lone reality of sun and weather weakening the strap fiber.
Dan in KS
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I use ratchet straps times 2 on each hang on. I use climbing sticks so I set those up first except for the last section to give me room to hang the stand. Once in done hanging the stand I put the last section of stick on. I also use a hunter safety system lifeline the whole time I can just adjust the spot on the tree as I work my way up that way I'm always tethered. Hanging and climbing up and down is the most dangerous part of using a stand so I recommend that lifeline system so your hooked up all the way up during your hunt and as you get down.
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I used 3 on my hang on idk I'm just afraid one won't do the job and give out on me, anyone else go crazy with the straps?
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For hang on stands we use only Chippewa Treestands - they have a chain hanging brace that is quiet - safe. Our equipment much of it now almost 20 years old still looks new. I gave away 4 Screaming Eagles and 4 Climax Stands within weeks of buying my Chippewas late 90s. We very rarely leave a stand in the woods. I carry mine in with me -bring it out with me - seldom morning hunts being the exception. We do prepare trees by drilling and trimming shooting lanes constantly but we don't leave stands.
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