Main Discussion Area > Shooting and Hunting
Tree stand recommendations
Pat B:
A full body harness is the best and safest. Most tree stands come with a safety harness these days.
You can get a ladder stand for under $100 to over $300. Having a closed cell cushion to sit on helps with butt fatigue. Ladder stands are a little cumbersome to set up but for me now a much more secure feeling while hunting. Like I said I hunted from tree stands since 1978. I used clamp on and climbing stands. I was fortunate enough to be able to leave my stands in the tree all season and move them when I wanted or needed to.
Hawkdancer:
Good stout climbing rope tether and full body harness ladder stand or tree house blind. Learn to tie and use a Prussic knot, and be very careful! Bring gear up last. Staying on the ground is much safer, the fall is limited! Be sure to have a hunting partner nearby if you are above ground level. Haven't used a tree stand of any kind, but Jimmi has good info! I'm too old for climbing trees even with a ladder.
Hawkdancer
jimmi the sammi:
How many stands are you planning on installing? That could make a difference in how much you want to spend for each. We are using relatively inexpensive stands and having good luck with them in our drier climate. Under $100 each for sure. Sometimes half that when they are on sale. Be sure to check the structural integrity each year or maybe every use. Check welds, connecting pins, etc. We have had the lower step sink into the ground and rust away in some locations. Replace the ratchet straps and/or ropes at least every year. Just because they "look" good doesn't mean they are.
The safety belt I use was commercially made specifically for tree standing. It is adjustable for body size and tree size and distance between the 2. It works best for the type of body positioning for a shot as I stated previously. Practice installing whatever fall protection method you plan on using on the ground! Connect it to you and to a tree so you know what process you must use before you get in the air. Get familiar with all of the necessary safety steps on the ground. In the air is no place to start learning.
jimmi the sammi:
Find places where a number of trails intersect. Try to put the stand on the downwind side to maximize your opportunities. Or find "funnels", pinch points, where a single trail has a narrow area to pass through causing the animals to stay on that trail. Have a number of different stand locations so you can take advantage of whatever wind direction is taking place the day you may want to hunt.
Taller is not necessarily better. We have killed animals out of 8 - 10' stands just as much as out of 14 - 16' ones. Try to have some background behind where you will be sitting/standing. We are starting to use our leafy suits almost all the time when sitting in stands. Helps break up the body outline. Practice shooting out of the stand. It is way different than being on the ground. When you mmmmmiss it will usually be high because of not leaning into the shot. PM me if you've got any other questions. Don't have all the answers but do have a lot of tree stand hunting experience. There are 7 of us that have been learning together for over 30 years.
Azmdted:
Thanks all, I appreciate the information. Time to go look around and touch some stands, and harnesses.
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