Ladder Stand Recommendations
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Bowboy
23-Apr-24
I’d like to purchase a ladder stand for whitetail. The property I hunt has a lot of narly trees where a traditional stand can’t be hung. I only need to be 18ft or less up. What are your recommendations.
From: Shug
23-Apr-24
I use and love the big game 1.5 Plenty big and amazingly comfortable. You can sit all day the platform is larger enough that you can stand and shoot with the seat folded down. It has a gun rest which I tie up to the tree and Ty-wrap branches on for cover..
From: DanaC
23-Apr-24
Have had a Big Game for years, solid.
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
23-Apr-24
i have 3 of the basic two man stands (rivers edge or big game) set up on my property and 1 spare still in the box. some are 15' and some are 18'. i have no issues with them. I use them for both bow hunting and gun hunting. they are easy to assemble...quiet...lots of room...and you can get them pretty cheap. i leave them up all year.
i usually watch the big box stores (walmart/menards/etc) in my area for the after season blowout sales and i get them for less than $100.
From: Old School
23-Apr-24
Millennium L110 - I’ve got 3 and they are my favorite by far.
From: t-roy
23-Apr-24
Old School X2^^^ I’ve got several different brands, and the Millennium is the most well made and comfortable, IMO.
From: DanaC
23-Apr-24
I have to disagree on that style of stand Ricky. That shallow foot rest would make placing my feet difficult for a standup shop with a recurve. Those are designed for seated riflemen - or crossbow shooters >;-)
The platform on a ladder stand, for a standing archer, should be 2 ft.²
From: Lawdog
23-Apr-24
Bowboy, do you care about weight and portability? If so, Summit makes one. It's still 50 lbs at 17 feet. I do not believe anyone makes an aluminum stand anymore.
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
23-Apr-24
"I have to disagree on that style of stand Ricky. That shallow foot rest would make placing my feet difficult for a standup shop with a recurve."
to each their own i guess...ive never had a problem shooting a recurve or longbow out of them.
From: 4nolz@work
23-Apr-24
I have the same as Ricky it is easy to stand and shoot the platform is plenty big enough
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
23-Apr-24
fwiw...ive shot my recurve sitting down also. no issues.
From: Basil
23-Apr-24
Look at Primal ladder stands. Well built & they have a cable truss system which eliminates the need for a brace. Braces can be very hard to use in crooked trees. They also have jaws that can be locked on the tree from the ground. I have a couple & really like them.
From: pirogue
23-Apr-24
Today’s modern stands just don’t have any character.
Today’s modern stands just don’t have any character.
From: VAMtns
23-Apr-24
Another way is Muddy sticks and hang on , stick will bend more then I thought and might work for your crooked trees using ratchet straps .
From: Boatman71
23-Apr-24
One comment I will add that I do not see yet... I have been hunting out of ladder stands exclusively for over ten years. A sling style seat is by far the most comfortable I have found. There isnt a cushion thick enough to allow me to set as long as I can set in a sling seat. FWIW
From: Jebediah
23-Apr-24
Really like the kind where you attach both the seat part and the foot part to the tree. I think this is more stable and safer.
From: BOHUNTER09
23-Apr-24
I like the ladder stand to have a fold up seat. You can stand close to the tree for better concealment. Most of mine don’t have this feature, but were only $50 on sale. I leave them out year round, but remove the ratchet straps
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
24-Apr-24
"Today’s modern stands just don’t have any character."
lol
ive built my share of stands like that over the years...but at least i made them out of pressure treated lumber. one of them is still being used.
:)
From: DanaC
24-Apr-24
Nailed plenty of boards up in trees back when I was a young monkey boy. Learn the hard way that porcupines love to eat plywood...
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
24-Apr-24
"Nailed plenty of boards up in trees back when I was a young monkey boy..."
first buck i ever shot was while standing on a single 2x8 wedged in the crotch of an apple tree.
memories...
From: Jebediah
24-Apr-24
Love to see old wooden stands in the woods. When I see an abandoned metal stand, it upsets me because it’s basically litter. But those ancient wooden stands seem like a bit of history to me.
From: Franzen
24-Apr-24
I used to like the basic ones you would get from "insert your local name" farm or big box hardware store. Those have gone so far downhill it is a shame. Don't really have the desire to spend $200-$300+ to get a halfway decent stand. Honestly considering going back to wood, but the issue with those is weight during installation. I've put one up solo before, but wouldn't attempt that now.
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
24-Apr-24
who here remembers these gems? i used to call them "hibachi stands" because it felt like i was sitting on a hibachi grill.
From: DanaC
24-Apr-24
"Don't really have the desire to spend $200-$300+ to get a halfway decent stand. "
Nowadays, you can spend that on a dozen arrows. A solid, quiet, comfortable stand may allow you to hunt longer. No point being 18 feet up in the air if you're constantly fidgeting.
From: CBFROMND
24-Apr-24
We have a Rivers Edge Two-plex and plan on adding another... seat goes up as you stand... Alot of room on this stand and very sturdy..
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
24-Apr-24
a little off topic but who has tried one of these over your 2man ladders?
i picked one up a number of years ago and it is the cats meow for late season rifle and muzzleloader hunts.
ive even used a buddy heater in it.
From: Franzen
25-Apr-24
If a dozen arrows is $200-$300, which I doubt I'd spend, then a dozen stands is $2500-$3000. I'm not a rifle hunter, so I need more than one ladder stand. If fidgeting is a problem, you should definitely consider that.
From: DanaC
25-Apr-24
Yeah, I don't have the place to set a dozen stands. My days of being able to scrounge free wood and build stands for the price of nails are long gone. If I needed to hunt a dozen locations from trees, I'd look at climbers. Or 'bracket' hanging stands.
(Now stand by for incoming from the saddle junkies ;-) )
From: Jebediah
25-Apr-24
Careful of the flip-up seats, cost me a deer two years ago when mine kind of fell down as I was trying to fold it up. KLANG—end of story. My own stupidity, obviously. Nevertheless, it happens.
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
25-Apr-24
"If a dozen arrows is $200-$300, which I doubt I'd spend, then a dozen stands is $2500-$3000. I'm not a rifle hunter, so I need more than one ladder stand."
thats why i keep my eyes open at the end of the season for the box store blowouts like the one i posted. im sure they dont have all the features that some like but for $50 - $100 bucks...they do everything i need and more. I just set em and forget em.
at the end of the season i just take the pressure off the ratchet strap and cinch it back down the next season.
From: StAvisy
27-Nov-24
I’ve been in the same boat with tough tree placements! For my own hunting, I ended up going with a ladder stand that was easy to move and set up around those awkward trees. I’d recommend looking for one with adjustable height options, so you can tweak it based on the tree you’re working with. I’ve also used a step ladder from Astro Lift around the house for various tasks, and it’s surprisingly stable for outdoor use too. It’s compact but sturdy enough to give you the extra reach you need when setting up in tricky spots. Just make sure whatever you get has solid footing for when you’re out there in the woods!
From: KSflatlander
27-Nov-24
I have 17 ladder stands on my place. They all have flip up seats, foot rests, and a HME bow holder on the top left rail. Some have an hidden Apple AirTag on them.
From: Acres4wildlife
27-Nov-24
If the trees are gnarly, you might consider a saddle. However, there are some great deals on ladder stands out there. I just bought a 22' a Mac Daddy at Dunn's for $120.00.
From: hdaman
27-Nov-24
For those looking for a new seat for your ladder stand. I purchased a therm-a-seat ladder stand seat off of Amazon this fall and it's pretty nice for $40. I'm going to take a look at the millennium ladder stands.
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
27-Nov-24
You can get these for less than $90 at Menards. Like I said before, not the most bells and whistles but they are a great stand for the money. Tons of room...very comfortable...relatively easy to maneuver.
https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/outdoor-recreation-sports/hunting-equipment/tree-stands-hunting-blinds/big-game-reg-guardian-xlt-18-2-person-ladder-treestand/bgm-ls4860/p-1642874268092455-c-13885.htm?exp=false
From: duckhunterbrad
27-Nov-24
I've used Family tradition treestands out of Michigan that last 10 years, and they have been nothing short of great. From hang on stands to ladders they are exceptionally well built.
