Brushing Ladder Stands

[kykiller]

Does anyone do this?  I have heard it was a good way to conceal a ladder stand.  Any pics on finished products would be greatly appreciated.  I was going to cut some cedar tops and zip tie to ladder up to platform then attach some to tree behind me.

[lpcjon2]

Look during trash day(and yard sales) for artificial Christmas trees, the branches have no smell and can last forever without losing color. And they are wire inside and can be bent to fit your needs.

[bowslinger]

The artificial christmas tree is a great idea!  Also, a thick hemp rope may pase for a vine.

[don_h]

I always try to cover the bottom of my stand with branches trimmed from the creation of shooting lanes. Ladder stands are tough because the are away from the tree, but in my opinion it is better to hide the hunter then the steps.

[heydeerman]

If you put them out early enough deer get used to em.

[Guru]

I would think a bunch of branches, artificial or real, would be more noticed than a couple thin poles from the ladder....

[BobCo 1965]

I like to lean the stand against pines which I can get between the branches. I also like to brush in the bottoms in some cases just to keep the deer away from the stand a little. Personally, I will not take a straight down shot.

[Zradix]

If it's a stand that gets put up early ( before season) and taken down after the season...don't worry about it. The deer will get used to it.

[Birdbow]

Oak brush/saplings when cut with green leaves hold the leaves a long time after they brown and will still offer cover long after the other leaves have dropped

[mnbwhtr]

Never had to the deer don't seem to care.

[Montanawidower]

Now maybe this is specific to Montana whitetail, but I have killed two mature bucks BECAUSE they noticed my ladder stand.  

Both stands were newly hung, and both bucks walked to the base of tree and looked it over.  One sniffed it and bristled.  

I shot both bucks as they turned to walk away. NO BS.

Ill deer?  maybe a different reaction?

[Gary Logsdon]

I use beech tree branches for breaking up lower ladder and also try to find either a double trunk or a cluster of trees to set the stand into.  Beech tree leaves will stay on the severed branches for a LONG time.  I also like to place some sizable brush near the base of the tree to direct the deer away from the base of the stand.

[Hummer3T]

I paint mine to look like the trees i'm hunting in, white and black for aspen.  I think brushing just makes them stand out more.

[eddings220]

X2 on what Gary said above.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

i dont do anything to mine and we killed four deer last year, three out of the same one. Tree selection and letting the deer go past you makes all the difference.

[Gary Logsdon]

Many public land deer in KY have learned to LOOK UP.  I have seen many old does spot the rails on a ladder stand and follow them with their eyes up to seat level. Some hunting authors like to quote the phrase "Whitetails are whitetails."  Well, over 40 years of bowhunting public land deer have taught me otherwise.

[Altiman94]

The stands that I have 'back home' are only like 12' high.  I've found that late in the season with no cover the deer tend to 'look up' alot.  So, I know they know right where they are at.  Early in the season with lots of foliage they don't tend to look up as much.  I could get around that by either going higher (but I still think they see the stand legs) or using hang ons/climbers.  The ladders are just so nice to climb up.

[$bowhunter$]

just a thought ..... why not attach bark to the poles? make them look like trees?


steven

[Butchie]

Not to hijack the thread but...Does anyone still make a ladder stand where the platform attaches up against the tree?  Seems like most now attach at the seat and the platform is away from the tree trunk.  I like being able to stand directly against the trunk.  Thanks for any suggestions

[guspup]

Actually..... brushing in tree stands is probably the 2nd best thing to hunting for me. I pride myself in having really cool hidden treestands that if anyone ever really does find these things, says 'wow, check that out!!!'