What Makes a Good Tree Stand?
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
I'm looking to buy 1 or 2 stands to leave up.
I'm not seeing much difference between a $70 stand and a $200 stand.
What do you look for when purchasing a stand?
I like a big platform and what looks to be a comfortable seat that can fold up for when I want to stand.
I look for the most cost-effective stand with a bigger platform. Seat doesn't really matter as I normally end up sitting on my outer layer fleece. I just go over the stand before hanging to make sure everything is tight and secure. I leave all mine up year round but check every Spring/Summer to repair or loosen straps as needed.
I like Bigfoots XL. They have a new seat design and are around $100 right now.
90% of my stands are Rivers Edge and the others are Lone Wolf. I always take my stands down after the season ends, it will get you a few extra years of use without having to change out or fix parts. Take care of your hunting gear and your gear will take care of you.
Are you looking for hang on stands or ladder stands? I second the fact that you will want a large platform. I leave my ladder stands up all year but make sure to adjust the ratchet straps every year. My hang on stands I take down, too risky.
I want a stand that is quiet. I'll sacrifice comfort for quiet. I want to be able to shoot out of it standing or sitting.
Compact light, and simple. I have a collapsible aluminum one I got 20 years ago that I use. Just got 3 helum stick for it. I also have an old Loggy Bayou climber that I cannot part with, one piece, folds down small and it is light.
I want the most one can offer, but that comes at a price, no matter how you look at it. I hunt private land, and I'm an older, big fella, so portable hang on stands are out. If I was younger and lighter, and obviously more mobile, I'd go with a hang on and sticks, and go to where the deer are. Today, I go where the deer will go, and I hang ladders. I have 19 on the 960 acre property I hunt, and I'm hanging two more in the next couple weeks. I want a full base, that goes to the tree. I want my knees at my waste, or lower, when I'm in a sitting position. Nothing worse than sitting too damn low. I want a flip up seat, that is out of the way when I stand. I will tie a piece of twine to my seat that will hook on a tree hook, when I'm standing. I want a tree with limbs, or cover that offers me to be hidden from my predetermined shooting lanes. I like my prominent shooting lane (where I think the deer will be) to be at my left (right handed), and in the seated position. I want the tree I'm in to offer the most cover when the deer is where I suspect them to be. I never set up a stand to shoot exactly forward in a seated position. I put a lot of emphasis on the tree versus the stand, but a great treestand needs a great tree. A great tree DOES NOT always coincide with a great opportunity, but you can create that by bending trails. I feel like this might be my most successful thing I do when it comes to stand placement. I used to find a tree that was perfect for comfort or ease of setting up the stand, only to realize my shot opportunities were absolutely limited. Today (probably 30 years later lol) I set up a stand and move the trail through blocking or pruning existing deer trails to maneuver the deer towards my location. It has proven to be successful, and takes very little effort. Again, I got off topic, but you want a comfortable stand first, and in a close second, the best opportunity to utilize that comfort. When I stand to shoot, it is usually to the left hand side of the tree I'm in, and I use the tree as cover. I also have two bow hooks in each tree. One for sitting, which is at shoulder height, slightly on the back side of the tree, and one when I stand, which is just a screw in tree step that I wrap in electric tape to cover sound. I really never have my bow in my hand. The reason is, I find it much easier to maneuver into position, without a bow in hand, and way more deliberate to grab the bow off of the holder once in position.
For me, and a ladder stand, I don't think there's anything of greater value than the Big Game Hunter 1.5. Muddy also put their name on the same stand, but they are the same company. That said, you need to shop smart. I buy mine from Dunham's. I either wait until my birthday month, and buy it regular price, reduced by 25% with a coupon, or wait for a hot deal, or use the standard 20% off coupon off their regular price. Now that said, Dunhams has not offered me a birthday coupon or 20% coupon since Covid-19. Either way, for 120 to 130 bucks, there's nothing I've found with a better value. Full base to the tree. Foot rest to lift your feet, and man, that helps to adjust on all-day sits, comfortable seat, arm rests, flip up seat, and rock solid with no squeeks. The stand comes with 3 ratchet straps. One for the ladder brace-bar to the tree, and two more for the seat, and the base. 18.5 feet to the seat, getting you off the ground enough to reach almost any tree's first branches to break up your outline. I endorse the product like I have stock in the company, but truly, it's just the best value I've found. Your back is away from the tree for less noise obviously, and it has a backrest on the seat. I remove the seat at the end of the season so squirrels won't shred them, and adjust the ratchet every year. I never install the shooting rail, because I think they are silly-stupid. I know guys who insist or at least say they replace their ratchets every year, but I only do it when they reach their end life, which is over 10 years old lol, but I'm also one of those guys who doesn't wear a harness, so to each his own. A lot of info for sure, but that's me!
I agree with two feathers. I cant stand when everytime I move a stand squeaks. Could care less about comfortability
Quiet, with a seat height of 25". This limits the choices substantially.
Yes, quiet is a big one, almost as big as one that stays in the tree while you are in it.
River's Edge Big Foot XL's are now $80 at Fleet.
That’s a good deal for at stand Muskybuck.
I agree Reggie and I'm going to pick one up. I've been using them for years and no complaints.
To answer your question; A good blood trail.