What type of stand do you use?

I have a couple ladder stands, a box stand and a tree house. The tree house is by far the most comfortable to hunt from. its screened in metal roof over head and comfortable office chair. great 360 degree view 20' up in a huge oak tree. This is a pic before it was done and screened in.

 
Used to hunt extensively out of hang on stands. As with others, age has changed my perspective and preference in tree stands. Ladder stands for bowhunting with an occasional hang on and ladder stick. Redneck and home made tower blinds for gun season with a healthy mix of ground blinds and just sitting next to a tree in situations. Having known several people who have fallen from trees, tree stand hunting is conducted these days with a good dose of caution and safety equipment.
 
I use millennium hang on stands. I get the chain hang on brackets for about $30. Use tree sticks and leave the chains in my trees. 2-3 sticks and a chain and I have a new set. The alluminum stand comes with me as it only weighs about 10 lbs. I like the sling back and big platform. I feel safer with the chain bracket.

This allows me to have a lot more sets that are all comfortable. I use a big platform because I'm 6'3" and shoot a compound. My dad uses their little platform and shoots his recurve.

Nice thing with the millennium is my dad and I can both be comfortable in each set where before it was either him or I. And you know who won that one.
 
With my son now coming along much more. I typically run double set stands. One ladder stand with a platform hanging either next to or directly above the ladder stand.
 
A good variation of stand types.

Nobody has stated that they regularly hunt from a structure like an old barn. I have killed 2-3 over the years hunting from an old house and an old barn during rainstorms.
 
I don't hunt out of climbers much anymore. Ladders are so much quieter to get in and out of. Box stands are nice for plots if they are in the right spot. Also nice when it is cold and raining. I hunt from my electric golf cart some, just find a long fire break to watch. I only rifle hunt , so I don.t have to be too close. I am not as mad at them as I once was, so I am picky about what I shoot.
 
Man I'd like to know how you guys use climbers and avoid getting all sweaty & smelly, I could never do it. I bowhunt most of the time so scent control keeps me from using my climber much anymore. I have mostly hang-ons at my farm with ladder sticks. There have been a few ladder stands donated over the years but they are so freakin' heavy and awkward, they haven't been moved in years.
 
On public land, exclusively muddy climbing sticks and an aluminum hang on. Stand goes in and then out on my back every hunt. That will put some hair on your chest.

Primarily ladder stands on private land, but I'll still occasionally go beast mode (hang and hunt) if I have a good feeling about a different spot.
 
Honestly, a 5 gallon bucket painted with green, black, and brown is hard to beat. The bucket can be placed where there isn't a good tree to hang a stand, can be easily relocated, and it gives a better angle on a double lung shot than a tree stand. I only use a ladder stand during gun season.
 
My bride and I spent yesterday helping a friend move stands and trim branches for his bowhunting clients. I fell in love with the CB ladder stands he uses.

They attach to the tree with a chain that fastens on a lever. Once attached, the lever is pushed flat on the seat platform and a caliper pin locks it in place. No ratchet strap involved.

2" tubing used as well. Sturdy. They are manufactured in North Augusta, SC, and we are going to buy two, regardless of cost.
 
I hunt out of a TreeSaddle most of the time. I prefer it because it is comfortable and I can straighten my legs without much movement.

When I'm not in it, I'm in ladder stands and ground blinds.

Would you recommend a tree saddle setup over a lightweight hang on and sticks setup for hang and hunt setups? I've been intrigued by tree saddles for years but have not tried one. I read a lot of bad press from people who have trouble climbing trees with the lineman spikes...


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I'm 53 and i hunt from loc-ons,ladderstands and climbers. Bowhunting is the only time i use the small loc-ons. I have a homade loc-on that is made out of steel and is 36"x36" with a swivel boat seat and handrails that is my favorite to rifle hunt from. I use 2 buckshot climbers that IMO puts summits to shame for safety and comfort. As i age comfort is more important, as well as safety.
 
I have two ladders, one of which I haven't put up yet just because they are a pain for one person, and I am constantly trying to decide the best spot. I will probably pick up a climber before this years bow season.

Last year I got one from a tripod and one from the ground. Set the popup ground blind up the night before. Not sure where I will put it this year. I will probably reserve it for when I can get my wife out there, she has never hunted before, and my ladders are one person.
 
I guess I qualify for the graybeard category ! Most of my hunting is done out of ground blinds that I made myself. I do have one of them on a 10' platform though. Comfortable, dry, and when it gets really cold, I just crank up the Coleman heater.
 
Would you recommend a tree saddle setup over a lightweight hang on and sticks setup for hang and hunt setups? I've been intrigued by tree saddles for years but have not tried one. I read a lot of bad press from people who have trouble climbing trees with the lineman spikes...


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I highly recommend the tree saddle. I hunt out of it almost exclusively when I'm hunting with a bow. I picked up several sets of 20' sticks when they were on sale for $40 and use those in most trees I set up.

If I hunt a new spot I have a set of lone wolf sticks I take with me that get me 20' up. I have never used lineman spikes. I also use a lone wolf assassin stand for the platform. It's light and easy to get on the tree. I pack it all easily in a Eberlestock X2. Now I've got to figure out how to get the camera gear in there too.
 
I primarily use hang-on stands with tree steps. I used to use climbers, but have gotten away from them just because I found them to be too loud, and you are limited on what trees you can utilize. Plus, as I get older I feel that the hang-on/tree step combo is much safer.
 
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