Ok so I own a couple LW stands and if I was rich I’d just buy 10 of them and wouldn’t need to ask this question. I want to hang 2-3 stands on some private ground I have permission on and I want to leave them in a specific tree for a lengthy period of time. Some of these pieces have other hunters and one or two of them are known to have trespassing issues. So basically I’m wanting the cheapest but yet good quality lock on I can find. Trying to stay under $100 a piece. Suggestions??? Thanks in advance Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I like the Hawk Mega Combat... Not incredibly expensive, but light, quiet large, and comfortable and not bad if you find them on sale.
Rivers Edge lock ons. Can usually get the lightweight aluminum ones for $80 on sale at Farm and Fleet or Rodgers; then just put vinyl washers on all the fittings and you have a lightweight dead quiet stand under 15lbs that didn't break the bank. I also spray the platform with rubberized undercoating which adds a bit to the weight but further quiets it.
I’ll look into all these suggestions. Thanks everyone Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I have hunted out of cheap and "cheap" stands my whole life. Never spent over probably $150 for one. Guide Gear brand are very serviceable, and I've never had an issue, I always add a second ratchet or minimum replace their ratchet with a better one though. I also have Hawk and Millenium stands. Both have offerings in the sub $120 range and WELL WORTH IT and an upgrade vs Guide Gear for sure.
I buy cheap and make mods... Like with a welder and some stock you can expand the base, not ideal for stands that are constantly being moved but for private and permeant it's great. Washers and spray coating was mentioned by Noodles already. And if I use a ladder I always buy camo burlap and make a screen and it works great
I had a hang on stolen on private land back in late 2017 and after that I always install a cheap trail camera on a nearby tree when I put up a stand that I am leaving out there. I mount the camera about 20ft high on a tree thats behind my deer stand (so the tree the stand hangs on blocks me from the camera while I am hunting and doesn't waste battery/memory taking photos of me) and orient it so that if somebody were to lean over and reach around the tree to undo the ratchet straps (I put the ratchet part on the back of the tree) the camera is going to get a clear shot of their face. I make sure that the camera is fairly well camouflaged and a few trees away so its hard to find and I make sure to get one with No-Glow night vision instead of the Low-Glow style since anybody stealing tree stands is going to recognize the purpleish glow from a trail cam flash. The batteries last practically forever since the camera rarely gets activated 20ft in the air. It does add somewhat to the cost of each tree stand I put up, but usually I'm able to find a cheap no-name brand camera with the No-Glo flash for under $30 if I look hard enough on amazon/ebay and keep an eye out for something on sale at cabelas, bass pro, etc.. Nobody has tried to steal anything since I started putting up cameras, but if they do I'll hopefully have what the game warden and/or sheriff needs to find the jerk and arrest them.
I'll go with dnoodles on this one and say rivers edge and hawk stands. I have both and find them very durable.
River Edge or this version. https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...a-comfort-deluxe-hang-on-tree-stand?a=2183312 Maybe also remove the bottom section of the sticks. Wireless cameras are cool to get instant photos of game or poachers and when your old game cameras take a crap secure them way up in the air on the main trails where poachers can see them but not get up to them.
Been hunting since 92. I've never had a permanent stand. Got an old man climber around 1995 and have been portable ever since. Prior to that I hunted off the ground and even climbed a few trees without anything other than my boots and a bow. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
can get the aluminum RE stand for same price and 15# lighter. https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...ite-foot-cast-aluminum-hang-on-treestand.html out of stock now but check every week or so come august- and they usually run a good sale before October.
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com They have some really good stands for good prices. Fast Shipping and a pleasure to do business with.