Taking down ladder stands.

UnlistMe
Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

Kirk

Kirk

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
14,209
City & State/Province
Charleston, TN USA
I plan to take down four, ladder stands now that the season is over. They have been in place for several years and I will probably need to replace all the ratchets straps when they are relocated.

Does anyone have some handy tips to make the job of removal easier?
 
Ones that I can drive too on tractor or truck....like on a food plot or field.....I've carried an extension ladder before and gone up back of tree and released ratchet strap from ladder...... obviously it's nice and safer to have a buddy to go along.

Agree with others...if going alone and releasing ratchets from platform...tie it off good with ropes and untie from ground.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
Kirk said:
I plan to take down four, ladder stands now that the season is over. They have been in place for several years and I will probably need to replace all the ratchets straps when they are relocated.

Does anyone have some handy tips to make the job of removal easier?
Click to expand...
Kirk said:
I plan to take down four, ladder stands now that the season is over. They have been in place for several years and I will probably need to replace all the ratchets straps when they are relocated.

Does anyone have some handy tips to make the job of removal easier?
Click to expand...
Have someone with you. Don't think you can't fall. I paid my way thru college painting billboards, yet 4 years ago, the unthinkable happened. 8 weeks not able to put any weight on my right leg followed by 12 weeks in a boot plus several months of therapy.
 

Attachments

  • 98D42A46-87A6-4CC4-8A47-3E549FA0ABFD.jpeg
    98D42A46-87A6-4CC4-8A47-3E549FA0ABFD.jpeg
    285 KB
I leave my four ladder stands up. I check and replace straps as needed. Check stabilizer bar as well. If I plan on moving one or putting up a new one, I use the "Heavy Duty Ladder Stand 2nd Man". I put two 21 foot ladder stands up this year solo. 65 years of age. It did kick my old a$$.
 
I second using 2 ropes tied at the top, wrap around the tree and tied off at the ladder. I do this putting stands up as well.
Taking a stand down, I'd cut the old straps with a pole saw so you don't have to climb up.

A few years ago I learned the hard way. It was no fun!
 

Attachments

  • 20259BDF-B7A1-4988-A5B6-35C4138629CD.jpeg
    20259BDF-B7A1-4988-A5B6-35C4138629CD.jpeg
    484.6 KB
Marlin308 said:
I use two ropes. Tie each to a corner of the stand where it attaches to tree and let drop. Climb down and criss cross ropes around tree and tie off to ladder pulling tight. Then climb back up, undo ratchet, climb down and untie ropes. Let ladder fall or walk it down. Easy peasy.
Click to expand...
If doing it solo this works great. If there are two of you have one go up and take all straps off starting at the top then working down. Once at the bottom pull on the ladder so the top starts forward and walk it down.
 
i have used climbing sticks and a lineman belt to climb up and do repair/work
 
ronnycl said:
i have used climbing sticks and a lineman belt to climb up and do repair/work
Click to expand...
This is what we have done for several years. works great for putting them up, taking them down, or putting a new strap on. If the strap has been on for a while we just cut it and use a new one. Not worth the money you save for the risk you can take re-using an old strap.
 
Kirk said:
I plan to take down four, ladder stands now that the season is over. They have been in place for several years and I will probably need to replace all the ratchets straps when they are relocated.

Does anyone have some handy tips to make the job of removal easier?
Click to expand...
Pole saw to cut straps.
 
Bring a small extension ladder and someone to help you. I fell 4 years ago taking my ladder stands down and broke my collar bone. It can happen quick. The older you are the harder you fall.
 
No help with the taking down. But when you put them back up use chains and turnbuckles and you won't have to worry about rachet straps rotting. Much safer method.
 
Take an extension ladder to take the straps off. We use chain and turn buckles on all our stands. Way safer then a ratchet strap. Just loosen everything up and end of year.
 
I just leave mine up and add a strap every year or two. That is to say I just add a new one and leave the old. Some stands have multiple ratchet straps. If I run out of room, I will cut one of the older ones, leaving the others (obviously) and add one in the one I cuts place.
 
Something fun that I have that you may not. I have 2 ladder platforms that have had the tree grow around them making them part of the tree. Stands were in the trees before we got the property. Let me tell you how much fun it is to take the 2 bolts out that attach the ladder to the seat platform (to release the ladder and step). That means no room for error on the way down. I take all ladder stands down every season and refurbish, repaint etc. before I place them again in summer. There should be no need to do anything different to remove the ladder from the tree vs putting it up. When I put them up, I tightly attach the ladder ratchet straps around both sides of the tree pushing the tree brace that is attached to the ladder into the tree and making the ladder steady so I can climb up and attach the ratchet to the platform. Now, that doesn't mean the pucker factor isn't high as I scale my way up the ladder.
 
Kirk said:
Does anyone have some handy tips to make the job of removal easier?
Click to expand...
I call SCN --- he is the King of Ladder Stands ;)

Seriously, SCN helped me place & move a heavy Millennium ladder stand on a remote high ridgetop saddle, and his experience made it fairly easy. He places & moves lots of ladder stands frequently by himself --- which I do not recommend --- but he does know how to do it fairly safely.
 
Marlin308 said:
I use two ropes. Tie each to a corner of the stand where it attaches to tree and let drop. Climb down and criss cross ropes around tree and tie off to ladder pulling tight. Then climb back up, undo ratchet, climb down and untie ropes. Let ladder fall or walk it down. Easy peasy.
Click to expand...

That's what I do. Safety first.
 
I mostly use chains on mine but do have some with rachet straps. Really like the idea of cutting the old straps with limb saw.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top