I'd say 8 to 10" diameter would be the smallest I would try. I have a hang on an oak tree about that range. It's fine on a calm day, but you don't want to be in it when the wind is really blowing.
I like a bigger tree to help break up my outline. A little tree makes you stand out like a big fat blob.
I usually try and find a tree that is as wide as my shoulders but the spot where I'm needing a stand the trees are smaller!
I was in a 12" tree last year and it started getting very sketchy when the wind picked up. For a climber I say the bigger the better, unless you like motion sickness.
Just see how wide the v bracket on the ladder stand and that's what Id.go down to in size. I'd say 10 in across but bigger is better to hide you better. Inless its like a hedge tree. Or pine tree. Tyler Rector BHOD prostaff
I been know to put a stand in just about any tree, as long as it has good back cover and is growing where I need to hang a stand The perfect tree is rarely in the perfect location ... Wind can be an issue in a tree like this This is only about 15' up.. Had a baby gorilla stand in this cedar and had several nice bucks walk by 20 yds or less Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
I've had ladder stands in trees that were about 11" in diameter and they fit just fine, you can feel the sway of the wind for sure though. I tried climbing a 9" tree last season with only 15 mph winds and I felt like I was on a boat in the middle of the atlantic.
for reasons mentioned you always want bigger but I've been up in 8in dbh trees and at about 5 inches with no issue but the swaying...enough so you couldn't shoot sometimes. It depends on the species of tree as well and the condition of said tree. I would not be up 25 ft in a 8inch aspen/poplar where the stem is only 5-6 inches in 15-20mph winds no how! I don't like being in one of them that's 18inches in that wind(which is common for us during Oct-Nov). Hard/Sugar Maple(solid), Ash or Oak then I wouldn't worry too much about 4 inches at my back. If the stand will stay locked in place and not twist(most I used are rated for no less than 6 or 7 inch stem and that's tricky anyway), then I'd say go for it though(except the dang aspens - liable to break off on you).
The ladder stand that I'm putting up is 12ft tall so now I just have to find a tree with enough coverage! If I can't I'm gonna go with the double bull!
When I was a kid I found this hot run and all I could find were small maple trees to put my stand in. Well the deer came out and I shook so bad and the tree was so small that the whole tree was shaking. LOL Like others I like a big tree to break up my outline. When I use my climber my favorite situation is to find a cluster of at least three trees and as I go up my tree I turn my stand so that when I'm at my height I'm in the middle of the cluster.
