Ladders almost exclusively. Homemade with a huge platform and 15' tall. They've been there for about 10 years and the deer see them as part of their environment.
My pops has monsters all over his walls (kills one virtually every year) -all killed from ladder stands 16' or less. You just gotta know where to put 'em and how to hide 'em
Ladders for me. As a guide, clients may have never have been in a tree stand. I'll take a ladder anytime
If a ladder stand has been in the woods for 3.5 years, do you as good of a chance of killing a 3.5 year old buck as a hang on? Hmmmmmmmmmm.......