There is always room for a good quality ladder stand in everyone’s hunting arsenal. While ladder stands are not the most convenient to haul around due to weight or size constraints but offer a great deal of stability and consistency. With plenty of different styles of ladder stands to choose from, every hunter should pick one up and have it available to use. They range from versatile free-standing tripod systems to tree stand styles that can be left up year round at a favorite hunting spot. Deer and other wild game will become familiar with the stand in their surroundings. Other larger two-man types make excellent choices for teaching new hunters, filming hunts, or accommodating hunters with physical limitations.
Ladder stands offer several benefits including:
- Rigid construction provides stability when climbing and a consistently accurate platform to shoot from
- Sectional ladder segments allow for easy ascending/descending
- Free-standing types and tree stand types can be left up year round
Looking at stand-alone varieties of ladder stands, there are many types among themselves. Hunters can pick out a stand that will often have a separate blind atop which is great for not only open field hunting but even placing in densely wooded areas. These blinds will provide good shelter and easy access which is essential for hunting in areas with extreme weather conditions. It can be advantageous to select one that offers sound structural stability, ample seating room, and a generous platform (especially for bowhunting).
Some of the more popular types of ladder stands are the tree stand variety. They allow you to carry a fixed frame or sectional frame stand into the woods and set up on a tree. They tend to weigh more than your typical tree stand with their durable tubular steel construction but lighter weight aluminum versions are popping up from different manufacturers. When selecting a ladder stand for use as a tree stand, be sure to look at features like platform size (ideal for bowhunters), section length and overall weight (for portability), and whether or not it has ratcheting straps for stability. There is a significant range in price on these types of stands due to the differing construction materials and included features.
Two-person, or two-man style ladder stands have become increasingly popular over the years. These types of stands are being used for training young hunters on their first hunts and for filming hunts or wildlife photography. They are favored over smaller stands for their ability to provide ample space for a hunter to move about more freely. Two-person ladder stands tend to be left up for an entire season or even several seasons which lends itself to overall hunting consistency. When you are able to lock on to deer movements between feeding and bedding locations, these stands can be set up to take full advantage of this and left year after year.
No matter which type of ladder stand you are in the market for, Best Hunting Blind will review several different types and brands, pointing out the more prominent features that appeal to hunters worldwide. If you have stuck primarily to hunting in ground blinds all your life, ladder stands are a great way to venture out and try your hand at the style of hunting and concealment a tree stand can provide. Who knows, you may find yourself having even greater success when hunting off the ground!