Purchasing 1st LADDER Stand

[Speedwell-Hunter]

I am purchasing first ladder stand, any tips for set up? Any brand you prefer for the ratchet straps to the tree?

Is a swivel seat necessary or is fixed seat fine?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Jcalder]

Whatever you decide, get something comfortable.

I have a muddy stand it's comfortable, but the instructions were wrote by a 2 year old in some poor south African country. Thankfully, the box had had pictures and I still had pieces left over.

 

[BSK]

No less than 2 people for set-up. All brands that I have used come with an adequate ratchet strap to the tree, but realize they will need to be replaced from time to time as they weather. When I first saw the additional cross-straps, that run from top-corner then behind the tree to opposite bottom corner (making an "X" behind the tree), I thought those straps were just more work and not worth the effort to attach. But I've learned they really do stabilize the stand as well as prevent the legs of the stand from pulling out of the ground.

When putting up the ladder stand, put some outward "bowing" tension on the ladder with the metal support bar. This prevents the stand from flopping in and out from the tree while climbing. Then use the cross straps to prevent the legs from popping out of the ground away from the tree due to the outward pressure from the stabilizer bar.

Personally, I've come to really like the ladder stands with a shooting rail. I feel far more secure with the railing around me. I'm also a big fan of the web seats.

 

[BSK]

Whatever you decide, get something comfortable.

I have a muddy stand it's comfortable, but the instructions were wrote by a 2 year old in some poor south African country. Thankfully, the box had had pictures and I still had pieces left over.

The Muddy and Guide Gear ladders are great. I believe they are made by the same manufacturer, although the Muddy has the advantage of the lumbar support the Guide Gear doesn't have. The fold-out footrest on both are great!

 

[TNTreeman]

Check out the millennium two man , whatever height you feel comfortable at. Take two friends and some rope just in case. Practice set up at home on a tree if you've never done it before. Take loppers and a hand saw and maybe some wood discs for the feet to rest on.

 

[Pic IN the Casa]

Muddy's are comfortable. I have had many naps 17 feet in the air.

And don't let comfort make you complacent. You need a harness in a ladder stand too.

 

[Bucket]

X2 on the mesh style seats. Soooo much more comfortable than the flat bench ones.

 

[BSK]

Check out the millennium two man , whatever height you feel comfortable at. Take two friends and some rope just in case. Practice set up at home on a tree if you've never done it before. Take loppers and a hand saw and maybe some wood discs for the feet to rest on.

I truly love 2-person ladder stands. We have 24 of them. But I have to admit, as time goes by, we've gotten really tired of how hard they are to relocate. The take-down, move, and set back up is a bear. We're slowly going back to high-quality 1-person ladders. We'll always use some 2-person ladders, as we have a few youth who hunt with parents. But we've stopped buying 2-person ladders as our "primary" ladder stand.

 

[Jcalder]

I have a 22 foot primal that's nice. My next may be be a hawk

 

[TNTreeman]

I truly love 2-person ladder stands. We have 24 of them. But I have to admit, as time goes by, we've gotten really tired of how hard they are to relocate. The take-down, move, and set back up is a bear. We're slowly going back to high-quality 1-person ladders. We'll always use some 2-person ladders, as we have a few youth who hunt with parents. But we've stopped buying 2-person ladders as our "primary" ladder stand.

They are a pain to move but boy i love the extra room. I've actually hung one by myself with the help of a rope and my truck. Throwing a rope around a limb or nearby crotch in the tree and around your stand really helps with walking it up to the desired spot.

 

[BSK]

They are a pain to move but boy i love the extra room.

After buying a couple for a youth hunt, we fell in love with how much room they have. You can actually stand up, walk around, and stretch. But moving them (and we move a lot of stands each year), is a growing problem.

I've actually hung one by myself with the help of a rope and my truck. Throwing a rope around a limb or nearby crotch in the tree and around your stand really helps with walking it up to the desired spot.

Oue place is primarily near-climax forest. Trees go up 60 feet before the first branch.

 

[TheLBLman]

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...ree-stand-installation-hoist-system?a=1945968
SCN uses one of these frequently to move ladder stands all by himself.

 

[buckaroo]

I like the 1.5 Big Game, also I put a chain fairly loosely around the tree just incase ratchet strap breaks

 

[BSK]

I like the 1.5 Big Game, also I put a chain fairly loosely around the tree just incase ratchet strap breaks

Those 1.5 Big Game's are nice too. And the chain idea is a very good one.

 

[Remington700]

I like the 1.5 Big Game, also I put a chain fairly loosely around the tree just incase ratchet strap breaks

We use a chain also to prevent theft.

 

[Thelonegoose]

Millennium two-man stands if budget is not much of a concern. I love them and wish I could afford to buy a dozen of them.

 

[dsa5455]

A two seater for sure with the widest "depth" of seat you can find. Two to Three inches of extra sitting room can make a big difference for an adult. Also, mine had one that the seat raised up as well as the rail. Just made it easier to get in and out of the stand and get your gear situated where you wanted and then drop it down. It also made it nice if you wanted to stand for a bit; just lift the seat and you were pretty close to the tree trunk. The stationary seats made me feel like I was out in the open if I wanted to stand. Best of luck.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Best stand on the market. Bring your buddy, this thing is a beast.

https://millennium-outdoors.com/product/l110-21ft-single-ladder-2/?v=7516fd43adaa

 

[TnKen]

I've never hunted out of a two seat that I found comfortable. That bar in the back gets in the way when I lean back against the tree.

 

[Gravey]

Millenniums are great but pricey. Whatever you get make sure it has a zero gravity mesh seat. Otherwise your backside will be numb in 30 minutes and you'll start to fidget. Once that happens you'll climb down. I like 2-person stands because you can put your pack beside you.

 

[Speedwell-Hunter]

I truly love 2-person ladder stands. We have 24 of them. But I have to admit, as time goes by, we've gotten really tired of how hard they are to relocate. The take-down, move, and set back up is a bear. We're slowly going back to high-quality 1-person ladders. We'll always use some 2-person ladders, as we have a few youth who hunt with parents. But we've stopped buying 2-person ladders as our "primary" ladder stand.

what brand single seat stands then do you reccom?

 

[BSK]

Muddy, Big Game, Guide Gear, in that order.

 

[square]

River's Edge

 

[square]

River's edge makes good stands. Those straps BSK spoke of are critical when erecting a stand. The second person can cross those straps behind the tree and hold the platform to the tree until the first person attaches the ratchet strap. The Tee bar secures a second point of contact

 

[BigAl]

I like the 1.5 Big Game, also I put a chain fairly loosely around the tree just incase ratchet strap breaks

I have a few of these and really like them. I'm not a fan of the 2 person ladders as I can't seem to get comfortable in them and setup is a bit difficult. Also have a couple of hawk ladders and they are roomy and comfortable as well.

 

[BigAl]

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...ree-stand-installation-hoist-system?a=1945968
SCN uses one of these frequently to move ladder stands all by himself.

I've got one of these and can raise and setup a 20 ft ladder by myself. Haven't tried to raise a double with one of these.

 

[BSK]

If anyone lives nearby a Sportman's Warehouse, I just ordered store pick-up Muddy Huntsman Deluxe stands (17') for $199 each. That's about $50 off the regular price.

 

[Bone Collector]

If money isn't a factor get one with comfortable seats. these usually fold and often times on the two person stands have 2 individual seats. they run $200+ but when you are sitting for long periods they help.

 

[rifle02]

This week I ordered online and picked up from Sportsman's Warehouse Chattanooga, two Rivers Edge lockdown stands. I think they are very pricey. I am going for the best quality I can find and safety is an issue too. Haven't even opened the boxes yet but they feel substantial. The features that sold me on them are the two persons stand has no bar in the middle so you can sit in the middle without getting your butt crack gouged. Also on both the seats flip up so you can stand on the whole platform or most of it anyway. I've had some cheap lightweight ladder stands in the past that I ended up not even hunting from just left them in the woods cuz I hated them.

 

[K-dub]

I prefer the two man stands with the mash/sling style seat. You can put your pack in the empty seat and lean your gun in the corner. They are a bit more awkward to put up, they want to twist up top because of the width, but my wife helps me and we don't have problems. My suggestion is if it's on your land and you're not gonna be moving it, go two person if not and you might have to take it down each season go one pers. Other than that just follow the directions on putting it up in order. Like others have said use the straps that cross behind the tree, set the stability bar and then go up and attach ratchet straps.