I didn't call anyone stupid... I'm sure some of you who posted are more than qualified to build a safe stand...Long story short, I just don't want to see anyone get hurt!!
I was at Walmart last night and they had ladder stands on close out at $55. I bought my hang on stands this year at Menards for $29.95. Each. I don't think you could buil them for that. Back when I was a kid we used to build them with posts cut from surrounding trees. Each year we would go out and refurbish them to make sure they would hold us. I don't know how safe they were, but I sure would not do it today.
A treated 2x4 wont come even close to lasting forever out in the elements but it is better than plain old pine.
No.. you didnt call anyone stupid, but I do think it was implied. I do get you dont want to see anyone get hurt and I dont either. But I think most people have more than enough skills to build a wooden treestand that would be more than safe. Thats all I was saying. I have both store bought and home made stands. Its nice to be able to move a store bought ladder stand, its quick and easy. And I couldnt live without my climber!
i've built LOTS of wood ladder stands. never had 1 fail but i don't like using them anymore. seems like no matter how many screws i use, they still creak when its real cold out.
I will build a platform out of wood and use a Summit Tree Seat to set on. I've had great luck with them. Quiet and warmer than metal.
Took a bunch of scrap wood from when we built our porch and deck and built a few stands and they've lasted for 5 years. But i prefer to hunt the ones i bought because they have comfy seats
I have had 2 home made ladder stand fail. I made them about 15 years ago. Both times I had them ratchet strapped to the tree so they were solid. We had a good wind storm and since it was strapped so tight, it had no room to flex and the tree swayed and split the stand. The bad part is it didn't split all they way through so it wasn't really obvious. I inspected them after the storms and found severe stress cracks. I was a young kid then and would never think of it now, as most people have stated how cheap Menard's stands are.
I have before on an old property that my stepdad and I built...without a safety harness. Not proud of it and these days I am a safer and better hunter.
Anyone over 30 has probably hunted in a home made tree stand with no harness. We have come a long way in safety technology. My first harness was just a chest strap. I never used it. Now I have lifelines and am connected from top to bottom. Hopefully we get smarter as we get older.
