Favorite ladder stand

[bwoods11]

I don’t know the answer in ladder stands that do not squeak, pop, or make some kind of noise.

I’m guessing I’ve had 3 bucks peg me in the stand due to that over the years. I’ve tried to add gorilla tape & foam padding in certain spots… it helps. Not a guarantee though!

 

[PatinPA]

I've thought about spraying the pieces that slide together with that rubberized spray paint. Just not sure about getting them together then. I've tried taping those pieces. Makes it tough to get them together that way too. Nothing worse than climbing a stand on a crisp morning before dark and nothing but creak and crack.

 

[356]

^ I bought a used Texas Tripod stand a couple years ago. It's wonderful once you're up in it. But getting into the seat, death defying. Sort of like that step ladder chair thing, "But how do I turn around?", but without the luxury of having the tree to grab on to. Scary.
First (and only time) using it, I stuck it next to a tree thinking it would help. It didn't really. But I was able to tie a rope to the tree for a safety line. Getting in mid day setting it up was exciting. Getting in it the next morning in the dark was terrifying. I was in it a while in the dark and started to think... "Am I leaning?" With daylight and more hours in the seat, the list was clearly getting worse. One of the legs was sinking into the 150 years of pine needles, I started to get worried about going over. Which made the idea of trying to get out of the seat and on to the medieval torture device they call a "ladder" even more terrifying. I decided it would be safer to slack jump/free rappel down the few feet, rather than risk getting impaled.

I took it home for a redesign, but haven't touched it since.

I know this is a “favorite” ladder stand thread, but knowing what does not work is helpful as well. I agree with Electrodigical that the tripods are scary. I put one up in 2017 and have used it a few times. The steps going to the seat are minimalistic, and potentially lethal should one slip. Once in the seat I am comfortable, but the stand always feels unstable. Another stand I hate is Guide Gear 18' Archer's Ladder Tree Stand. These are STILL under $100 and not worth the money, time or effort. The steps are too narrow, the blind is not deep enough to allow a comfortable draw and the straps that come with the blind are poor quality. I feel like the blind is going to buckle every time I climbed it, so it will be decommissioned this season.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

I need to get three of these to set it on to keep it from sinking into the ground.



Actually I'm thinking I'll just put it on the slab of the old house site. But getting in and out is still a trick. I can put it next to a tree with an actual ladder, but then why use it? Just use a regular tree stand.


I am still watching this thread though. I put the stand shown above right on the edge of my tiny food plot for bow hunting. But for gun season (which will amount to twice as many days in the woods if not more), I don't see sitting right smack dab in the middle of things for no reason as a good idea. I've been thinking about buying another stand and sticking it 50-75 yards farther back in the woods from the plot itself.

As for squeaking, I can't say I recall that Primal stand squeaking, but it does "ring". You know that sound from your hands and feet moving on hollow metal tubes in the middle of the quiet woods when climbing up.