Lately I've been thinking of switching to all ladder stands. Right now I have the cheap chain on stands and climbing sticks. The seats on the chain on stands I have are really uncomfortable and I just find ladder stands easier to use and more comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. I don't want the fancy ladder stands, just the basic cheaper ones. My question is most cheaper ladders are 15 to 17 feet tall to the seat. With my sticks I would just keep adding sections to get as high as I could in the tree. I'm curious as to what kind of success the ladder guys have? And has anyone who has used both noticed any difference? And does anyone have any tips as to what size or kind of tree works best with "hidding" the ladder stands or just set up in general? The sticks and chain on stands don't seem to stick out as much. Maybe some pics of other peoples ladder stand sites with a description of how high the stand is would be helpful. Thanks!
I guess I haven't really noticed any difference but I've only minimally hunted out of a ladder stand.
I find ladder stands are more difficult to put up unless you have a buddy to assist. A major disadvantage is you cannot adjust the height of a ladder stand as you can a portable to make it fit where you want it in a tree. Maybe you should consider purchasing treestands that are more comfortable. I like the Rivers Edge stap on stand with foot rest. You can sit it all day and have far more platform room than you will have with any ladder stand.
OOps. Pushed the wrong button at the wrong time.
stickbow,
I love ladders more and more. I have used steps and ladder plus hang-ons. Moving toward ladders more and more. I used one this year that is only 10 feet high and killed a deer. Same day another deer walked within 3 feet of the ladder. Another ladder stand I have has the ladder within 15 inches of another tree trunk. Tracks in the snow show multiple deer walking between the tree and the ladder-they almost have to touch the tree or the ladder to get through.
I don't know if I would add sections beyond what is specified-might not be made for the extra height.
I love the ease of getting in, the comfort, and the deer don't seem to mind the ladder. I use a seperate pair of gloves to grab the rungs to climb up and spray them down before I put them on, rubber boots. Use the safety harness.
Kirk, I was thinking about that adding sections stuff too. I think I'd want 2 braces to the tree instead of just the one that they come with if extra sections of ladder were added.
I searched the pow wow and found some other helpful info on the topic. Curious to maybe see some other peoples ladder stand set ups and what their success is like.
One of the Wensels talked of a section with just push together coming apart on the way up...top tied in and the bottom section sunk in the ooze and separated under weight. Recommended wire ties to hold the sections together...or was it "tie-wire"?
Second, I've hunted several recently and the bars interferred with shooting with a canted bow.
Third, they don't seem to bother critters much, but put a human body in one and they seem to notice a lot quicker than higher hang ons...and you can bury a hang on above limbs and with cover.
Joe Lasch has some neat ladders with long foot pieces and longer seats (than most) that "FOLDED UP"---way cool! But alas, discontinued models from Cabellas, but that surely made a big difference as my ar$e gets tired and I have to stand periodically, but don't like being 3' away from the tree or having to climb up on the top part to stand and make all that motion...
My $.02
I've tried the ladder stands but they are not for me. very hard to put up, you stick out like a sore thumb and, all I've tried were noisey.
just my 2 cents
Thanks Doc. I wasn't gonna get the kind that had shooting rails. I agree they get in the way. The new ones come with those pins that go thru and lock the ladder pieces together. My sticks have the same thing. Thanks for the info to consider.
Back on the farm we have pretty much all ladder stands. I'd say they are 12-13' high. Later in the season with not as much cover behind me the deer sometimes pick me out. But, for ease of hunting I feel they are the best. I think as the season goes further and leaves start to fall, a guy almost needs to go up higher to keep himself hidden.
I'm not a fan either,BUT....a guy I hunt with loves them and can hide one of those monstrosities very well into a hemlock or pine.
I'll try and snap a pick next time I'm by one of his stands.
If I owned my own land, I would have ladder stands all over the place. I have killed two deer with trad bows while hunting from ladder stands. One was a two-man ladder and the other was a 10 ft. ladder. I like them because of convenience, quietness, and the quickness of getting in and out of the woods.
Worst thing about'em is they aren't very mobile so if you hunt on different properties a lot then climbing stands are the only way to go.
I have a couple ladder stands I hunt from. I prefer lock-ons but depending on the situation the ladder is sometimes better. One is just the basic $50 15 ft. But it is in the middle of a swamp on a slight ridge that deer use to travel. The ridge is only a foot higher than the surrounding area, if that, but it's enough for them to use. The surrounding trees are not big enough to support a lock-on and a taller ladder would put you above what little cover is available.
The other spot is on the edge of the swamp where deer travel the edge. One tree is in the perfect location with the most cover but makes a gradual "S" from about 16-22 ft. I just can't get a lock-on to work so I have one of the 18 ft brush ladder stands with the narrow ladder there. Not comfortable but I can make it a few hours.
Around here you will be better off hunting off the ground if you can't get highher than 15 foot. I go about 22 feet and got busted twice this year. I would like to be lower but the deer will pick you out about 75% of the time. As said before, ladder stands are hard to put up without help, hang out like a sore thumb and in my opinion dangerous to put up, if not very careful. The few I've hunted from are noisey but may be the brand. I use hang-ons with climbing sticks. I also use a climbing rope with purresit( spelling) rope. NEVER leave the ground without a restraint. A buddy at work told me last night " I use ladder stands so I don't need a harness". As I told him " If you don't use a harness, your an idiot". You owe it to your family to stay safe. They depend on you . Sorry,I'm off the soap box now. If ladder stands work for you, get good quality and be safe. Good hunting, Don
I do have a couple ladders up and I somewhat agree with above, they can be noisy, they are the worse to move. they stick out (but nobody wants to steal them because well they suk to move)
also I find if your sitting on the top and you go to stand you havealmost NO room to move your feet around and if you turn your foot anyway it hits the bar on the side and makes a small thump sound-- I need to remember to not move my feet at all when I'm in them.
they are the easiest to get in and out of and I do feel safer I guess in one..
I use both. Of course ladders are much heavier and one generally doesn't want to pack them very far. Not as much room for your feet and a little less maneuverability overall compared to hang ons. Very comfy though, and the easiest to get into an out of.
15-16 feet is great plenty for height. I don't go any higher than that with my climber or hang ons.
As with all my stands, I try to place them in trees with multiple trunks where they and I am less likely to be seen.
I'm 65 now and starting to use ladder stands a little more for their ease of use. Still spend 75% of my tree stand time in climbers or hang ons though.
I know you didn't ask this but I gotta say I can't see the fasination with ladder stands these days. I've had a few and sold or gave away them all. I just don't get it for all the reasons stated above , give me a cheap set of steel rapid rails and a large chain or strap on stand with a good seat cushion.
I've thought about buying one of the new Ol'Man ladders. They have the same net seat as my climber and it is the most comfortable seat I have ever sat on by far. You might check them out.
I'm a ladder fan. As long as you have relatively straight trees, it's eay to find a spot. I like the cheap ones that are 15' and usually only $50 after season.
If your hunting somewhere that you can leave a stand, theyre great. Wouldn't want to pack one in very far on my back though.
As for the height, I prefer it to being higher in the tree. I don't like the angle of a 25' shot, 15' is just about right
Personally, I love ladder stands. I own 6, I buy them from Dicks when they are on sale for 50 bucks. I hide them in Hemlocks, brush in the ladder part (remember, there is no such thing as a straight line in nature)and put burlap and pine bows around the upper part. I have them place around out property, and can stalk in carrying not much heavier than a bottle of water, pick my stand for the sit based on the wind or whatever, and feel safe climbing up and being off the ground. I have a couple lone wolfs, a summit, and a bunch lesser brands, but I like my ladder stands by far the best.
If you like to stand at all I think ladder stands suck. You are about a foot away from the tree, so you can't really lean against it and you stick out like a sore thumb.
OK, one more comment :-). I have exclusive permission to hunt an 85 acre farm. I only have one stand on this property, but one day the wind wasn't right and I stalked around, only to find someone had set up one of those double seat stands on my 'exclusive' property... nice gesture I thought so I tried it out for a bit. I twas a new experience for me..... with the double width, I could position myself for a shot 360 degrees around the tree. An hour into my new adventure, I arrowed a nice doe that had no idea I was there. I might have to buy one of these too, unless folks keep setting them up for me to use :-)
I forgot to mention, I always shoot standing up. Just my two scents :-)
I'm with TxAg and guspup on this one.
I still use my Lone Wolf climber and I have a nice set up with a chain on in a triple poplar that produces a deer every year. But my favorite stand of all time I placed about 6 years ago. It's a cheapo 15' ladder stand in a group of pines. It's safe to climb, no rails, and I can get in and out very easily. Best of all, between my son and I it produces multiple deer every year. I just had a nice 8 pt. walk right up to the ladder on Thanksgiving morning. Problem was he came straight in and never gave me a good shot. I could have dropped my bow straight down on his beautiful rack. I hope to see him yet again this year from any stand. 20 yards away would be nice!
Wow! Lots of bad comments about a great type of stand. I agree there's some bad ones out there but most are fixable with a little bit of work.
We kill big bucks, turkeys and plenty of does out of them every year. Most are set up as doubles so I can hunt with Tradgang buddies or my boys, But we do have several singles too.
Like said already try to blend them in with multiple trunked tree's or you can not beat a good ceder for hiding the stand. I have no idea how many deer have been shot out of this stand over the years, I have moved it around several times but on the same ridge and area within a couple hundred yards.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/l1.jpg)
Thats Ryan Steadman on this years hunt and he shot many times out of this stand
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a14-3.jpg)
Shot a nice buck out of this one last year. 6yd shot!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a11.jpg)
Can you even see the stand in this pick?
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/l2.jpg)
How about now, Thats Mr. lamb hiding in there.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/l3.jpg)
All are stands are 15' to 16' tall and we don't spend much money on them. There some good ways to make them rock solid and quiet if you just put in the effort. I think there plenty safe to. we have climbers, chain on's and strap on's but probably use are ladders the most.
This thread reminds me I don't have enough pictures of my stands so I can post picks. My son shot another booner this year out of a ladder sitting in a ceder tree.
Works for us! :D :wavey:
Tracy
Like the combo ladder and hang on!!! I do that too.
Some of mine have been there so many years, and have killed so many deer for my friends and family, they are like family treasures.
My friends that come from other states as far away as Georgia, text me and and ask how their pine tree stand is producing this year :-)
I hear you Brian sounds alot like some of are stands. :bigsmyl:
Glad to hear some of the good comments too :thumbsup:
Tracy
I have been using a.climber and a ladder stand for several years now. On days I don't feel.like dragging out the climber I.just.walk up a ladder and have a seat. My stand is a 15' stand. I've taken plenty of deer out of that stand. You need to plan your stand placement a little better. Those things are heavy.
Here in the straight hardwood trees in WV you just as well get a bullhorn , flashing lights and pour gasolne all over you as hunt out of a ladder stand . Deer will pick you out 125 yards away or farther . I tried them and have sold all but one . It is in my yard to practice out of.
They aren't as stable as you would think they are either . If you hunt in pines or other low limbed trees I would say they would work well, but not here .
Jack
A friend hunts off ladder stands that have him far too exposed to be very effective. At least by my standards he is far too exposed.
He has shot two honest-to-goodness Pope and Young bucks out of those stands over the last two years.
He just "sits real still" and draws when they are "looking the other way."
I've never got a Pope and Young.
Bill
I own about 8 of them...not sure, I'd have to think a bit. I love them, think they are pretty versatile, comfy, high enough, and even the cheap ones, which is pretty much all I have, can be made to be excellent.
I use them in places where I never move them...tried and true spots. Just like any stand, you have to use common sense in where you set them, and how you hunt them, but I find the older I get, the more I'm liking them. I also use a lot of hang on stands, but I plan to get more ladders.
Mark Baker said..."but I find the older I get, the more I'm liking them."
Ain't that the truth ;)
Ladder stands are not an option for me. No way could I get even one way back in the rugged country I hunt. It's all I can do to get myself back in there. Can't even get a 4 wheeler in there to haul one. Although it would be nice if I could.
I have over a dozen ladder stands on my farm. Haven't hunted out of a hang-on all year. Using them as much as I do I find them less work to put up than an hang-on plus I like the stability of them a heck of a lot more not to mention the ease and safety of climing in and out.
I love ladder stands for leaving them out in one place or for a double set. I have 3 or 4 12ft stands I made out of treated wood and galvanized nails/screws. Heavy, but rock solid and quiet. I also picked 2 or 3 of the cheap metal ones. They take a little work to get them quiet. All in all, ladder stands work great if you are not moving them around alot. At the end of the season I loosen up my ratchet straps a little for tree growth. Before season, I check the straps and replace those that need to be replaced and trim a little and I'm ready to hunt. I have killed several deer and hogs out of them. The critters don't seem to notice them. I still have and use my lock-ons and climbers as the situation dictates.
We have 5 different ladders and one hang on w/sticks on our land. Every one of them has produced deer. I take grapevines and weave them thru the sides of the ladder to the seat area and will stop at the craft stores and buy the fake vines with leaves on them and zip tie them to the stands as well. You can also get the artificial pine garland when it goes on sale and do the same thing if your stands are in pine trees. I'll also cut hickory/oak limbs before the leaves fall off and tie them into the tree behind me to assist in breaking up my outline when I'm in the tree. Like to put them into multiple treetrunked trees as well. Like most, I don't like hanging them by myself, but have found a way that helps out a lot. Take a long rope and tie one end to one side of the back of the stand. Run the rope around the tree you're going to put the stand in and then tie that end to the other side of the back of the stand. Once I have the stand up against the tree, I grab the rope and pull it as tight as I can and tie it off to another tree behind the one I'm putting the stand it. Now the stand is being pulled as hard as I can pull it into the tree, and I'm able to climb up and attach my ratchet strap around the tree and finish snugging it up from there. Also, like Frizt does above, I loosen the ratchet strap at the end of the season to allow for tree growth. All of the ladders are also chained in once they are up, as thieves will steal anything they can, given the chance.
I pretty much use ladder stands exclusively since I've had my hip replacement. I bought two new Rivers Edge ladder stands on sale at Farm & Fleet this year and I really like this new model....Oasis 17' it's 15' to the platform.
It has a full platform that goes all the way back to the trunk of the tree and has mesh backrest and seat that tips up. I didn't put on the arm rests and shooting rail. I don't gun hunt anymore and they would just be in the way for bowhunting.
You've all been a great help! The reason for the switch is I feel more comfortable climbing a ladder than the sticks. I've slipped on the sticks more than once and not fond of the way the pattern of steps go. I dunno, I just feel more comfortable climbing and sitting a ladder stand. Nothing against any other kind (have and use them all) but personal preference I guess.
The tips I've learned so far for blending in and set up:
1. set up in a pine the limbs hide you and the ladder well
2. setting up in a multiple trunk tree can hide you and the ladder better than a single trunk tree
3. A tree wider than my body will hide me better
4. A flip up seat would be good so you can stand closer to the tree to "hide"
5. Can set the seat of the ladder and platform of the ladder above limbs on a lower limbed tree. This would hide the ladder some and probably me as well
6. Weave grape vines around the ladder and seat. We've got lots of grape vines on the private land I hunt.
7. Loosen the strap to allow for tree growth. (wish I knew this a few years ago)
8. Always check the rachet straps before every season. sun and weather can weaken them
Very helpful guys. Thanks! :thumbsup:
If anyone has any other tips or setups they like, feel free to post.
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.
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
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
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?
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
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.
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
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.
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.