Latest trad bow ladder stand

[Elkaddict]

Triple, I’m also just doing the ladder stand thing these days. I’ve got it worse though, my preference is towards doubles for extra room and to share with a grand pup someday. They are a pain to put up....makes stand location all the more important. The older I get, the more comfort and perceived safety matter.

 

[Triple C]

Update...Ordered another Rivers Edge archery ladder stand. Brooks left of CO last Thursday so I was solo at the farm this weekend. Swung by and picked up ladder stand at this house on way to farm. Assembled Friday afternoon. Decided I could attach to tree by myself Saturday morning. Did the walk the ladder up the tree thing until I almost had it touching the tree but a stray limb hung it up. Tried to walk it back down but things went bad about halfway down. Only option was to let er go and assess the damage. Not pretty. A bit warped. Managed to get it up and then the straps became the issue. Finally got it done. Sits a bit crooked now with the warpage.

Lesson learned...At 63...wait until you have help to put up a ladder stand. NEVER again. It's in a great spot though.

 

[Tap]

Update...Ordered another Rivers Edge archery ladder stand. Brooks left of CO last Thursday so I was solo at the farm this weekend. Swung by and picked up ladder stand at this house on way to farm. Assembled Friday afternoon. Decided I could attach to tree by myself Saturday morning. Did the walk the ladder up the tree thing until I almost had it touching the tree but a stray limb hung it up. Tried to walk it back down but things went bad about halfway down. Only option was to let er go and assess the damage. Not pretty. A bit warped. Managed to get it up and then the straps became the issue. Finally got it done. Sits a bit crooked now with the warpage.

Lesson learned...At 63...wait until you have help to put up a ladder stand. NEVER again. It's in a great spot though.

Ladders suck.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Triple C]

Ladders suck.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

In my 30's, 40's n most of my 50's I felt the same way. In my 60's...not so much. They just suck when you try and hoist one up solo at 63. Mind says still 30. Body cries otherwise.

 

[Tap]

In my 30's, 40's n most of my 50's I felt the same way. In my 60's...not so much. They just suck when you try and hoist one up solo at 63. Mind says still 30. Body cries otherwise.

Im 61. If I can haul and install a stinkin ladder, I can certainly hunt a saddle and predator.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[DrDirtNap]

Update...Ordered another Rivers Edge archery ladder stand. Brooks left of CO last Thursday so I was solo at the farm this weekend. Swung by and picked up ladder stand at this house on way to farm. Assembled Friday afternoon. Decided I could attach to tree by myself Saturday morning. Did the walk the ladder up the tree thing until I almost had it touching the tree but a stray limb hung it up. Tried to walk it back down but things went bad about halfway down. Only option was to let er go and assess the damage. Not pretty. A bit warped. Managed to get it up and then the straps became the issue. Finally got it done. Sits a bit crooked now with the warpage.

Lesson learned...At 63...wait until you have help to put up a ladder stand. NEVER again. It's in a great spot though.

I know what you mean Triple C! I put up two last year...used one of those winches that attaches to the tree...that made it a lot easier but it was still a pain in the rear by myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Buckly]

I’ve also found some of these larger ladders to be a 2 person effort to walk them up. If I’m by myself I take a little extra time and use an aluminum ladder to put a pulley block up on the tree Then a rope down to the ladder I can raise the stand from the ground easily by myself. A quad with a winch makes it even easier. A little extra equipment to haul out but, these things don’t get moved around much so it’s a one and done deal.

 

[Triple C]

Im 61. If I can haul and install a stinkin ladder, I can certainly hunt a saddle and predator.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Tap...We're about to find out first hand how the saddle hunting thing works. For my son's birthday, I ordered him a Tethrd Nation saddle kit with saddle, platform n ropes. The thought of just slapping a stick ladder on a tree and them using the saddle n platform to move from stick ladder to stick ladder is appealing. I think he'll be all about it. And who knows...if I can get comfortable with hanging from a tether with a tiny platform under my feet I may adapt as well. The problem I have is the older I get the more heights bother me. Ladder stands just provide a sense of stability I don't get from a hang-on and I feel more comfortable and confident hunting them. However, they are a pain in the arse to move around. Looking forward to seeing how the saddle thing works out.

 

[Tap]

Tap...We're about to find out first hand how the saddle hunting thing works. For my son's birthday, I ordered him a Tethrd Nation saddle kit with saddle, platform n ropes. The thought of just slapping a stick ladder on a tree and them using the saddle n platform to move from stick ladder to stick ladder is appealing. I think he'll be all about it. And who knows...if I can get comfortable with hanging from a tether with a tiny platform under my feet I may adapt as well. The problem I have is the older I get the more heights bother me. Ladder stands just provide a sense of stability I don't get from a hang-on and I feel more comfortable and confident hunting them. However, they are a pain in the arse to move around. Looking forward to seeing how the saddle thing works out.

I've never had problems with fear of height, even on some of my small home made hang on stands...stands that some friends look at and say " NO WAY!"
But I gotta say this, after a couple seasons in the saddle, the couple times I recently stood on a conventional platform without the saddle felt awkward to me.
Once you learn to trust the saddle, so many of the old concerns go away. I mean, who of us isn't conscious of how close our feet are to the edge of a platform (of any type) when we stand or maneuver for a shot? When we should be concentrating on our shot sequence, there is a tiny part of our subconscience that is thinking about not stepping off the platform. That all goes away with a saddle.

Once you learn to trust the saddle, you will feel more secure and relaxed in the tree than you ever have on a conventional platform and old school harness.
My learning curve was short.
One day and I was comfortable.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Mike Bolin]

64 and I prefer ladders. Have a couple older Loggy Bayou 20 footers and 4 of the F/S Outpost. Still use sticks with my Chippewa Wedge Lock when the tree dictates. BAD accident when I was in my 30s with a tree step! Step broke and my body swung into another step. Pierced my scrotum and when I pushed myself away from the tree I pulled out my left testicle. Will NEVER use tree steps again. Ladder stands allow for safer and quieter access and egress. I do set them well ahead of the season and I hang limbs on the tree for additional cover if need be. The Wensel brothers use ladders almost exclusively and they still put down big bucks almost every year.

 

[Cedar Ridge]

64 and I prefer ladders. Have a couple older Loggy Bayou 20 footers and 4 of the F/S Outpost. Still use sticks with my Chippewa Wedge Lock when the tree dictates. BAD accident when I was in my 30s with a tree step! Step broke and my body swung into another step. Pierced my scrotum and when I pushed myself away from the tree I pulled out my left testicle. Will NEVER use tree steps again. Ladder stands allow for safer and quieter access and egress. I do set them well ahead of the season and I hang limbs on the tree for additional cover if need be. The Wensel brothers use ladders almost exclusively and they still put down big bucks almost every year.

Well. Officially never using any kind of step ever again.......

 

[Drycreek]

Well. Officially never using any kind of step ever again.......

I usually screw a tree step in to hang my pack on when hunting from a tripod or ladder. Now I’m gonna throw that sucker in the river.......

 

[Butcher]

Welcome to the trad bow family Triple C!!! Longbows are the only bows I have ever really hunted with and I cannot express how emotional I get every year on the first deer down with one. I like bigger platforms on stands but they usually come with arm rests or shooter bars which are usually in the way so I have used those super cheap small platform ladder stands. I am more of a mobile hunter with the lonewolf and climbing sticks but its a lot less to carry and do near a bedding area or high use trails before the sun comes up with a ladder. Im drinking a cup of coffee as I head out this AM and just want to wish you the best of luck in your stick n string flinging adventures

 

[Triple C]

64 and I prefer ladders. Have a couple older Loggy Bayou 20 footers and 4 of the F/S Outpost. Still use sticks with my Chippewa Wedge Lock when the tree dictates. BAD accident when I was in my 30s with a tree step! Step broke and my body swung into another step. Pierced my scrotum and when I pushed myself away from the tree I pulled out my left testicle. Will NEVER use tree steps again. Ladder stands allow for safer and quieter access and egress. I do set them well ahead of the season and I hang limbs on the tree for additional cover if need be. The Wensel brothers use ladders almost exclusively and they still put down big bucks almost every year.

Holy Cow!!! Talk about a bad day. I ain't using no screw in step to step on. That made my stomach churn just reading the modern day version of a gut hook.

 

[Triple C]

Welcome to the trad bow family Triple C!!! Longbows are the only bows I have ever really hunted with and I cannot express how emotional I get every year on the first deer down with one. I like bigger platforms on stands but they usually come with arm rests or shooter bars which are usually in the way so I have used those super cheap small platform ladder stands. I am more of a mobile hunter with the lonewolf and climbing sticks but its a lot less to carry and do near a bedding area or high use trails before the sun comes up with a ladder. Im drinking a cup of coffee as I head out this AM and just want to wish you the best of luck in your stick n string flinging adventures

Butcher - Life has come full circle. Up until 1977, compound bows were not legal in GA. My buddies and I all started out with recurves back in the day when we were 15 yrs old but I was absolutely terrible at hitting anything less than the size of a mattress. I bought a Shakespeare Wonderbow that looked really cool cause it was so short. Couldn't hit a thing with it. Killed quite a few deer in the 90s and early 2000's with a compound and decided to go back to the beginning a few years ago. As for the ladder stands, the arm rests are the 1st to go on my latest set up. Hard to shoot a trad bow sitting in stand with arm rests sticking up. I've bought 3 styles of ladders over the past 4 years for trad hunting. The latest is the Rivers Edge Bowman Lock Down ladder. It's secured at both the platform and upper section and is rock solid. That's the one I attempted to push set by myself. Really like it.

Who knows...just gave my son a saddle n platform setup for his birthday and I'm gonna strap that on to see how I like it.

 

[dogghr]

Nothing is safe once you leave the ground quite honestly. I have plenty of every stand type including couple ladder stands. My buddy hunting last year in Missouri from a ladder stand, had his foot slip on the way down and it went thru step and compound fracture of leg. 4 hours to get him out of the woods. Has a nice rod in his leg and about 12 screws including 6 screws that have came loose in the repair. Still struggles some. One thing for sure, use rope attachment from ground to stand and play safe, yet accidents can still happen.
But ugh, what a story Bolin, that hurts to read. Friend lost one and a half testicle in an IED explosion couple years ago. His leg was wrapped around his neck!! He says he's happy to still have the Half.

 

[Keith Nehrke]

My Mom's husband was putting up a ladder by himself (he's in his 70s), and the ladder started to slip on him. Rather than letting it go, he tried to hold it up using himself as the fulcrum. His wedding ring got caught on one of the bolts, and it ripped his finger off at the first knuckle. Beyond being simply horrifying, he was a good banjo player, so this was particularly hard on him. I always take my wedding ring off now when I'm doing stands. I love the Millennium L110 ladders and have put up many of them, but it does take two guys, and it helps to have one of the guys (usually me) in the tree. I keep a set up climbing sticks just for putting up ladders, with a linesman's belt and toe spurs for safety.

 

[KSQ2]

Wow, this was an informative, but tough read. I learned to never put up a ladder stand by myself again, and to throw my screw in steps away! Actually I think I'll hold onto them for a few more years, but goodness Mike, I'll be careful after hearing your story!

 

[Triple C]

Update on the Rivers Edge Lock Down Bow Pro - After nearly one season of use with this stand I can say that it is by far my favorite ladder stand for archery. Rock solid. Beefy and large platform. Locks down at top and bottom of platform. No wobble at all. Ladder is rectangular and much sturdier than the small square tube steel ladders. No noise. Only mod I may do is to saw off the arm rests to allow me to better shoot from a seated position with trad bow. If you can find these on sale after season I'd highly recommend them if your a ladder stand guy.

To Tap...Son's been using the saddle since early October and loves it.

 

[Tap]

Theres some new saddle gear coming on the market. Ive been testing some of it.
This stuff is sweet!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk