Tree stands/Tripod stands

[PurpleFloyd]

Thinking about getting a stand for myself and my son. Went to a fleet/farm and saw stands from Rivers edge and another company that didn't look as nice. Then there were tripods which are more money but have swivel seats and don't need a tree which might be a good choice for some of our spots.

What are some good stands an what features do you look for in a stand?

[fowldreams]

The thing I look at the most is the platform size. Little more piece of mind to me anyway

[BuckSutherland]

Build your own and do whatever you want.

[96trigger]

I like ladder stands. Rivers edge makes a nice stand. If you want to be comfortable with your son, get a double stand. I like the stands with the full foot platforms. Some just have one grate where you put your feet, others have it going all the way back to the tree. I like the full platform so I can put stuff under the seat. The are also big enough for you to stand up and stretch in. Put some burlap or any blind material around it and you can conceal a lot of movement. Cheapest quality stands I have found are guide gear.

[MJ1657]

I wish they would make the two person ladder stands just a little wider. They tend to be a little tight. I've had good luck with the ladder stands from the save big money store. The two person ladder stand they have that slightly wraps around the tree is one of the bigger two person stands I have. The blind it comes with is nice for blocking some wind and hiding some of your movement.

[PurpleFloyd]

I like ladder stands. Rivers edge makes a nice stand. If you want to be comfortable with your son, get a double stand. I like the stands with the full foot platforms. Some just have one grate where you put your feet, others have it going all the way back to the tree. I like the full platform so I can put stuff under the seat. The are also big enough for you to stand up and stretch in. Put some burlap or any blind material around it and you can conceal a lot of movement. Cheapest quality stands I have found are guide gear.

Rivers Edge was the brand we were looking at. I have the tools and ability to make my own but after talking about it for 20 years I think I am going to just buy one. Besides, when I do it myself it tends to get embellished too much and by the time I was done there would be a hot tub, satellite and a full kitchen .

For myself, after looking more and more it seems the best solution is to buy one of the platforms that I can put my hub blind on and for my son, he wants a regular tree mounted stand and i was looking at either the Relax or the spin shot. The spin shot is more money but has the fabric and a swivel seat which I think would possibly be helpful. Has anyone hunted with a swivel seat before and are there drawbacks?

[nwhunter]

We've gone all of the routes you're considering. Ladder stands, tripods, build-your-own, etc. and each has it's pro's and con's. It's really up to you to determine which will work best for you in different situations. Quality wise, Rivers Edge is an excellent choice and one that we've gone with. We have 4 - 2-man ladder stands, 2 towers, and 1 hang-on, all Rivers Edge.

In our tripod and built stands, we have swivel office chairs that we use. The biggest problem we have is the inevitable squeak of something... we try to minimize before the season with some wd-40. There are smaller fold-up chairs that swivel, but we've busted about 10 of those over the past couple of years.

[Bear55]

I use a lot of the cheap 2-man ladder stands. They are great for hauling way back in sticks and setup in minutes. I love them but cramming two hunters in them is not ideal, sure you can do but I would try and find something a little more comfortable. I haven't seen a lot of tripod stands that would fit two all that easy so not sure on those. There are the big box blinds with stands but you are looking close to $1000 for the stand + blind but they would be pretty nice.

Your best bet might be to find a high end ladder stand with a little more room and maybe a beefed up ladder as well. Not sure who makes these but they look nicer than the average. Probably cost more too in the 200-350 range.

[PurpleFloyd]

Yeah, that one looks like what we were leaning towards. I should have been a little more clear after rereading my first post in that we will not be sitting together as he is finally old enough to sit alone. Until this year we sat together in one ground blind but now that he is spreading his wings he wants a tree stand. One big factor is going to be safety for him. I am under the impression thy all have some sort of containment device to keep him from falling. Are they decent or would i want to purchase some sort of aftermarket restraint? As far as getting up there I see the regular ladder types and then some just have the pegs with a center brace. It looks like those would be harder to climb up if you had muddy feet or am I wrong?

Also, what is the best way to get the unloaded gun up and down from the stnd? Do you carry it or pull it up with a rope or something else?

[Lund79]

Definately pull the gun after you are in stand (no bullet in chamber). I like to have my rope tied up at the top waist level when seated and keep the rope off the ground to about chest level. This way the gub will be off the ground when clipped in (using a caribeener at the end of rope). There is not a chance the will get nocked around or debris in barrel if you were to have the rope longer and rest the gun on the ground or against the tree.

Teach him how to open the action about 1/2 way or a little more and then slide the bullet up into the chamber.

[Lund79]

The only safe way when climbing is to use a prusic knot tied another rope (that is attached to the tree at the top and bottom) and stay clipped to it during ascent/descent. This is when most falls occur not once you are in stand. I have a safety harness that I wear all the time but don't usually clip in until once I am in stand.

Two years ago I climbed to the top of the stand (hang-on) and when I went to put put my second foot and full weight on the platform, it gave way. Think of a trap door. The top ratchet strap came loose and I fell 18 feet. Luckily I did not hurt anything. Just the scared the heck out of me. A little pain in the knee but no broken bones or bleeding anywhere.

[96trigger]

In terms of safety and possibly comfort. I think the ladder stand is the best route. Get one with sides, a comfy seat, and a shooting rail. Make sure you attach it to the tree properly and you will be good to go. They are not quite as mobil, but I feel like they are a lot more stable.

Also, pulling the UNLOADED gun up with a rope is probably your safest bet. put two loops on your rope so the gun doesn't come up pointing straight up or straight down.

[Lund79]

I agree on the ladder stand as far as safety level. I feel much safer when using my ladder stand than a hang-on due to my accident 2 years ago.

[PurpleFloyd]

Thanks guys. Next question about the son's ladder stand. Most are 15-17 feet off the ground. What are your thoughts on the height? Is it necessary to get up that high or, since he is younger, would there be anything bad about cutting it down to 8-10 feet off the ground instead? this is cornfield shotgun zone so the shots will be close and most of the hand built stands I see are in the 8-10 foot range so would he lose anything by keeping him closer to the ground as far as spooking deer?

As for mine, I am thinking this is the route to go since I have the blind.

[nofishfisherman]

We debate the height issue in camp alot. One of my buddies likes to take his climbing stand as high as possible. I've seen him swaying at the top of some mighty skinny trees and he thinks nothing of it. Personally I don't like heights and will stick closer to the ground.

I'm usually in the 10-12 foot range. Staying lower sometimes can have an advantage depending on the spot. I try to set up so that the backdrop behind me is leaves and branches to help eliminate my silhouette. Wear as my buddy who climbs to the top often times has blue sky as his backdrop. The deer may be less likely to look up that high but if they do he sticks out pretty bad. I've had deer less than 10 yards staring right at me and by playing the wind, not moving, and not giving them a silhouette to see they went right back to grazing in front of my tree.

As far as the safety restraints, I haven't bought many stands so can't comment on all the different brands but the restraint that came with my lower end climber is not great. It will keep me from falling but its really uncomfortable, hard to get on, and doesn't fit well with my cold weather gear. I'm 6'4" so I'm not sure if it was designed to expand to the size I need. Often times I find myself trying to get it on before walking in and I end up saying screw it and leave it in the truck. Don't tell my wife but it gets left in the truck far too often. I try to rationalize by saying I'm not climbing very high but in reality its still stupid and dangerous. To avoid my situation you may want to look at an after market restraint that is more user friendly. Its best to get him in the habit of wearing one early so it just becomes second nature.

After typing that maybe I'll go look at some better restraints myself. I really want to make sure I don't have an unexpected and painful encounter with the ground.

[Scott K]

I am afraid of heights, and I am not very comfortable above 12 feet, so its best to keep me closer to the ground. I am much more comfortable, and less shaky. I just go up to see over the top of brush, grass, and small thick tree areas. If that is 6 feet, or 10 feet, thats all I am trying to do is get a better visual. I have shot many deer from the ground, so height isnt as big a deal as you think. Unless you plan on sitting in the middle of an area, and watching 20 deer walking around you, to pick out the biggest one of the week. Then you may want to either be inside a stand like the one you have pictured, or be up out of their site.

[Lund79]

You wouldn't have to cut it down. Just leave a section out. They are usually 3 or 4 sections to a ladder stand so only putting together 2 or 3 sections will lower the height.

As far as safety harnesses, I agree that the ones that come with the stand are not that comfortable. I bought a Hunter Safety System ($79.99 on sale) and am very happy with it. A lot easier to put on and more comfortable than the ones that come with the stand.

[nwhunter]

I don't think height matters. If you play the wind right, ground blinds can be just as effective. The height gives you different shooting options, not necessarily better, but different.

I'm in Scott K.'s boat, I don't care for heights, and am normally found in our built stands less than 12 feet off the ground.

[PurpleFloyd]

Good to know. I have always hunted on the ground except for two years I made a home made stand a few decades ago and that was only probably 6-7 feet off the ground. But on the ground I hide behind grass or something or have a ground blind. I like the idea of using one less section on his stand and having less section of steps to climb.

Any other ideas on restraints? He is about 5'7 and 150 pounds.

[Scott K]

All I have ever used was a rope about 3' long with a cinch a snap clevis on each end, one hooked to my belt, the other I would click to the steps of the stand as I was climbing, then when I got in stand, I would clip it to the back of the stand, or to a eyelet I screwed into the tree. That was before they made the fancy set ups like they do now. But now I hunt from a personal built stand, and I would have to work pretty hard to fall out of it.

[MJ1657]

Buy him a decent harness to put on. The harnesses that have come with all of the stands I've bought end up to be a tangled mess and hard to put on.

My latest stand is a 10 foot tall 6x6 platform to put my Primos double bull double wide door ground blind on. I have to finish the railing and ladder up for it this weekend.

[HNTNBUX]

I have had a stand break like someone mentioned before, it is like a trap door. I was wearing a realatively simple saftey strap and I will tell you that it hurt like hell and I nearly fell out of it. That morning I bought a new full body harness and do not go in a tree without it. The full body harness is worth every penny.

[Scott K]

I have had a step break, that was about 8' up, I dropped straight down and landed on my feet. My knees hurt pretty good for a few weeks after that. I know I got lucky, my leg could have gotten caught in another step, and I wouldnt have fared as good.

[bigbucks]

I have the same $80 on sale Hunter Safety System vest. Very easy to use & very comfortable. I don't use a vest in ladder stands or bigger permanents, but any time I'm in a hanger, climber, or a smaller permanent I'm using it. Occasionally with ladder stands, but generally they are so stable I don't worry much about it there. I guess if I bow hunt out of a single ladder I probably use it then too.

[Lund79]

I have the same strategy...ladder stand I typically don't strap in but hang-ons I always use it.

Like I said before, most accidents happen while climbing in or out of the stand.