I was thinking of using a ladder stand next season and wanted to get some opinions from experience. I've had a lot of people tell me they aren't as effective as climber or hang on stands because they are so visible to deer and often spook them. I was just curious if anyone has tried ladder stands and have had less or equal success in them in comparison to hang on or climber stands? Thanks for the feedback!
Lots of guys have used ladder stands for years and killed deer out of them... I think it's possible for sure, deer get used to em... That being said I like using hang on and sticks better myself. It's just opinion based I think. If you do go with a ladder I'd leave it out so they're used to seeing it. "Couldn't think of a good Signature"
I've only ever used ladder stands and not once have I seen a deer be spooked by ladder stands. In fact, probably 3 out of 5 hunts I've got deer walking between the ladder and the tree. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
The ladder isn't a problem. It's an inanimate object. I've had quite a few deer bump my ladder while I'm sitting in the stand. The downside of ladder stands is the restricted height (mine are all 15-16'), lack of mobility (think: regularly seeing deer 50 yards away) and often lack of concealment for the hunter. You have to be even more selective with the trees you choose. I prefer my climber and just ordered a nice hang-on, but I'll continue to use ladder stands in trees that offer good concealment for me, in areas that I need to get into quickly & quietly; that's the real benefit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Great points. I understand the 15 feet thing. I guess most people like theirs 20-30 feet. I guess the best time to put the ladder stand up would be in the summer a month or so before bow season? That way the deer would get used to seeing it? Does 15 feet in the air disguise your scent and presence any? I know one of the key benefits of being so high up is disguising yourself from the game (as they look forward when they travel) and it's much harder to smell you that high. Does 15-16 feet work any as well?
I will only use ladder stands. As far as the height issue I weld up extensions made with 1" black pipe to get them up to 21'.
They're a double edged sword- their biggest benefit and detriments are that they are semi permanent. Leaving them out is convenient and allows for local deer to get used to seeing them. It also exposes them to the elements and they tend to get creaky. And you can't exactly move them around if the winds are bad or the deer change travel patterns. But nothing's easier the slip into quickly and quietly than a good ladder stand. So, as with anything, there's good and bad. As far as deer getting spooked- There's an old double wide ladder stand right on top of the food plot at my buddy's. It's huge and has ZERO cover; we don't even hunt out of it. But we do have a trail cam mounted to it and the deer don't pay any attention to it at all. Local deer don't think twice about an inanimate object that they are used to seeing.
If I could I would only hunt out of ladder stands. To me they feel a lot safer and like everyone is saying on here you can be up a ladder and ready to hunt in seconds. As far as the deer being spooked I don't think they will ever think about it Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I guess I don't believe that at all, especially compared to climber trees. I can get in about 95% of the same trees a hang on can with a ladder. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
That's because you don't understand the statement. Maybe reread from the top of my post. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I definitely agree with that along the lines of being able to get higher up but I find it really easy to find concealment in ladder stand trees. Only downfall is when you need to trim too much to get the ladder up or if there is big branch where platform needs to sit. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
Great info. I appreciate all the feedback. Does anyone have a particular ladder stand they'd recommend to someone new to tree-stands?
I like the muddy skybox you can have it at 20' or 16' and the chair on it is great Sent from my SM-G920V using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
I often hunt from ladder stands that are only 8 to 10 feet high. One of my best set-ups is a big cedar tree with just enough limbs removed to put up my ladder stand. I have season long cover behind me and screened to the sides. Rub a few needles for cover scent. I have put up ladder stand and kill a deer in just a few hours of doing so. I have been putting them up and have deer come by. They do not notice the legs as a threat or climbing sticks for that matter. Big knot on a tree no matter how you get up there. How high? I have taken deer from the ground under 20 yards .... maybe they were looking 25 ft up. In Kansas 16 ft is very high.
