1. What is the best method of hanging a Lonewolf alpha on the main trunk of a huge tree? Say 3X the span of your arms? I was thinking about using an extra set of straps (one for each side) and a length of chain with a open thread link as the adjustment. This would allow me to lock one versa loop into the chain and the other end of the strap would go over the versa button on the stand. 2. Are there any safety concerns as far as the platform seating properly on big trees? 3. Being that the width of the tree is wider then my body do I need foliage for concealment or is the width of the tree good enough for a backdrop with the assumption I am over 20' off the ground? I have a spot on the river that I saw a lot of activity during rut last season. The cover down in there is just straight up nasty with a lot of dead fall. Kind of makes me nervous. Believe it or not all the trees are straight as an arrow but they are huge! I would say the trees don't start to fork off from the main trunk until the 40' to 50' mark. My plan is to use screw in steps. Not sure what I can do for safety as my linemen's belt isn't going to work to get everything setup. Will defiantly have to rig up a safety line but that isn't going to help me get it up there. I thought about setting up a double wide ladder stand but there is just no way to get it down in there and setup without a small army of guys. Or a single for that matter. Heck... that area may be a swamp right now. Could explain why the cover is so thick come deer season.
My favorite set up is using a huge tree and getting 30ft up. Gives you great cover and typically can see a good ways. Never have been bust with wind or being picked out in these sets. Your best bet is to go and find the longest ratchet straps you can find. Assuming your going leave the set not out it up and take down every time? You may be giving away your honey hole but having a buddy to give you a hand with these big trees is almost a must to make it safe onn yourself.
I don't know why you'd want to sit in a different tree after seeing the buck you AND your buddy killed out of the same tree last year! Heck is that tree open this year??? Ill sit there LOL You can marry the lone wolf straps together by pulling the loop thru itself, once you have enough strap just cinch down one of the straps.
I only wish there was a better tree! Everything "regular" size is on the ground. I will take some pics next time I am in there. It's truly amazing.... Almost as if "We're not in Kansas anymore".
As mentioned longer ratchet straps can be had and I would use them on the stand and a climbing stick. I would probably put a strap on the base of the stand as well. The tricky part is getting the long straps around the tree so you can attach them(as you get higher especially). When I've put a stand on big trees in the past I take my son with me, I attach the straps to the climing stick wherever they belong (usually 4 or 5 of them) then on the opposite end of each strap I tie a long piece of parachute cord. As I go up he simply brings the parachute cords around the base of the tree to the side I need to hook them up on rather than me trying to throw them around and catch them. I even rigged up a small dowel with the end of a hanger on it to help reach the cord (sometimes the angle makes it so the cord is around my feet when he pulls it around). EDIT: If you find really long ratchet straps you may not even need the parachute cord until the very top if at all. I do pretty much the same thing with the stand except when I get to the desired height I screw in a large hook (like you'd hang a bike up with, make sure it has a sharp tip). Anyway I put that at the level I want my head to be at when I'm seated in the stand hunting, I then drop a long rope down to my son and he ties the stand off. The other end of the rope goes over the hook and also down to my son. Then we hoist the stand into position by both pulling (essentially I pull the stand into place whil he also pulls from the ground which makes it a heck of a lot easier on me). Once it's in position hanging just below the hook he ties the bottom end of the rope off and walks the ratchet strap parachute cords around so I can lock the stand in. Lol...sorry didn't mean to be so long winded. I highly recommend a work positioning lanyard for hanging stands, basically it's a souped up linemans belt. They vary in price and quality but a decent one can be had for a fair price. I work in a field where I use fall protection equipment all the time so luckily I didn't have to buy one but I think they are a good investment for guys who hang a lot of stands. Work positioning lanyard: the new version of the GRILLON | Petzl
