What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climbing
-
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2013 10:35 pm
- Status: Offline
What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climbing
I have hunted from a ladder stand for the last 10 years. I have been thinking about getting a lock on stand and climbing sticks. Or I could get a 2 man ladder stand. I do hunt my own land 95% of the time. I would love to know what you think is best for hunting on your own land and I do live on my land full time. Thank you for your input.
- Crazinamatese
- Posts: 5602
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:25 am
- Location: Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
I personally like ladder stands when I hunted private land. Since I hunt public property now, I need to be mobile and right now i use a lightweight lone wolf hand climber. In the works getting a lone wolf hang on. Whatever works for you and you are more comfortable in is the best option.
[ Post made via Android ]
[ Post made via Android ]
The cave you fear hides the treasure you seek!!!
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 9756
- Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:28 am
- Location: Central WI
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
Lock - on.
Preferred: Lone Wolf Alpha + Lone Wolf Sticks. The most flexible combination around as far as stands go (I still put a tree saddle as the most flexible).
Preferred: Lone Wolf Alpha + Lone Wolf Sticks. The most flexible combination around as far as stands go (I still put a tree saddle as the most flexible).
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:11 am
- Location: Missouri
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
Get a lone wolf alpha or assult, then pick the trees you want to hunt out of and use screw in steps and prep those trees and leave the steps in. that way you will have sevaral stand sites preped and all you have to do is climb up and hang your stand and hunt. When your done climb back down with your stand on your back and your ready for your next hunt. Thats what i do on all my favorite stand sites that i use year after year and it works great.
- whitetail4ever
- Posts: 375
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:13 am
- Location: West Cent. Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
Josh, do you think it is too late in the season to do this? (screw in steps and prep trees) I am thinking about rut hunts in particular at that top 1/3 elevation. That is a great idea vs. having to set up and take down climbing sticks every time.
The woods has so much to offer to the human soul...
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1282
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:32 am
- Location: South Central WI
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
For bowhunting I find it hard to beat a hang-on stand. Ladder stands restrict how high or low you can hunt. Climbers are tough too because you can only hunt certain trees.
If I had my own private land to hunt, I would have hang-on stands set up with pegs. To me that gives you the versatility to hunt however high you need to.
If I had my own private land to hunt, I would have hang-on stands set up with pegs. To me that gives you the versatility to hunt however high you need to.
- Bigb
- 500 Club
- Posts: 937
- Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:12 am
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
We have a mixture of both on the land that I hunt. Over the last three years I've probably added 15 stands with a mixture of both. Ladder stands are nice because they are easy to get into but due to the smaller foot platform that are a little tougher to manuever. My buddy and I have size 14 and 15 feet so we need a little bit of room to move around if a deer comes in from an unexpected direction. I do think they are a bit safer but like it was said before, you can only get so high. This year I bought a few extensions for some of our ladder stands to get them up to 20 feet and now I feel like they are a lot better for the spots they are in.
The last 6 or so stands this year we have put up have been hang ons with ladder sticks. I think the sticks are a lot easier to put up compared to screw in steps (even though we still do use screw ins here in there) plus we use the dual step sticks that make it safer getting into the stand. I mainly stick with stands that have platforms that are 24x30, again to accomodate our bigger feet. Plus, you can put it at heights to use limbs for cover.
Each stand has a benefit but I think hang ons are the best for us at the moment. I do always use an extra heavy duty ratchet strap for a little added security, I just don't trust the factory straps.
The last 6 or so stands this year we have put up have been hang ons with ladder sticks. I think the sticks are a lot easier to put up compared to screw in steps (even though we still do use screw ins here in there) plus we use the dual step sticks that make it safer getting into the stand. I mainly stick with stands that have platforms that are 24x30, again to accomodate our bigger feet. Plus, you can put it at heights to use limbs for cover.
Each stand has a benefit but I think hang ons are the best for us at the moment. I do always use an extra heavy duty ratchet strap for a little added security, I just don't trust the factory straps.
- live2hunt
- Posts: 375
- Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:33 am
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
I see a lot of deer out of the climber but I hate searching for a tree, I always find one just seems like its always 15 to 20yards away from where I need to be. The ladder stands I use are just to lean into trees that no other stand would work in but I need to be in that spot. Lock on with sticks is my go to. More mobile than screw in step can have it down and put up in a better spot in less than 10minutes. I have thought about doing the screw in steps and carrying my stand in just to keep others from climbing in my good spots when I am not around.
-
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
If I owned my own land I would prep all my tree's and use the treehopper system. Cheap to get pegs and with a cordless drill its simple and fast. Then when you hunt all you need to carry is the stand its self and you would never have to be concerned about theft.
[ Post made via Android ]
[ Post made via Android ]
- SouthernHunter
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:41 am
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
My answer would depend on the scenario.
I would use ladder stands on funnels or similar setups that you know well and understand how deer travel through it. In these type setups you know where the stand needs to be setup and your not planning on moving it. This gives you a convenient option for hunting a well known rut funnel or food plot.
Most other hunting scenarios require at least some level of mobility so that's were lockons and climbers come in. I use both types but prefer to use a climber when possible because of comfort and quicker set-up. Climbers can be a pain to lug in/out but I will often leave my climber attached to a tree or stash it at a point on my access route in to where I plan on hunting next. I cover it with a small piece from a camo tarp and then cover with some leaves, branches, ect. This on private land also.
I would use ladder stands on funnels or similar setups that you know well and understand how deer travel through it. In these type setups you know where the stand needs to be setup and your not planning on moving it. This gives you a convenient option for hunting a well known rut funnel or food plot.
Most other hunting scenarios require at least some level of mobility so that's were lockons and climbers come in. I use both types but prefer to use a climber when possible because of comfort and quicker set-up. Climbers can be a pain to lug in/out but I will often leave my climber attached to a tree or stash it at a point on my access route in to where I plan on hunting next. I cover it with a small piece from a camo tarp and then cover with some leaves, branches, ect. This on private land also.
- backstraps
- Moderator
- Posts: 10122
- Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:44 pm
- Location: Tennessee
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
Being on a private piece of property I think personal preference would be the key.
Like mentioned already though, I think the setup would help decide which type of stand I use.
I know the ladders are very nice and comfortable, easy to get in and out....but I am a concealment freak. I like my setups to not be noticed very easy??? I like cover, especially being able to get inside natural canopy... Dunno its just me. I am not big on placing stands and hunting them over and over, so usually a portable lock on or climber works well for me.
If you have areas that are good rut funnels and will not need to be within bow range, id go with comfort, ease, and quietness of a ladder stand.
Like mentioned already though, I think the setup would help decide which type of stand I use.
I know the ladders are very nice and comfortable, easy to get in and out....but I am a concealment freak. I like my setups to not be noticed very easy??? I like cover, especially being able to get inside natural canopy... Dunno its just me. I am not big on placing stands and hunting them over and over, so usually a portable lock on or climber works well for me.
If you have areas that are good rut funnels and will not need to be within bow range, id go with comfort, ease, and quietness of a ladder stand.
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 4576
- Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:26 am
- Location: IA
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
You have to evaluate just what you want out of it. If you want to just relax and enjoy spending time outdoors do what is lowest stress. If mature buck encounters are a major goal then you need to put convenience at a lower priority. The big problem with pre-set stands is that they are easy to hunt, and that means they often get hunted too much. If you set up in the same spot once a week through the season mature deer, both bucks and does, will figure that out.
- hoyt
- Posts: 257
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:45 am
- Location: Illinois
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
I use 64" and 62" recurves so my favorite is either loc-ons or Lone Wolf Hand Climber. I like my Hand Climber best because it's less trouble than drilling holes for my loc ons using Woodpecker hand drill and bolts.
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:11 am
- Location: Missouri
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
Whitetail4ever, I think you would still be ok to put your steps in but I wouldnt get too crazy trimming though. It would be ideal if you could prep your trees on a day during the rain. Good luck!
-
- Posts: 156
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:11 am
- Location: Missouri
- Status: Offline
Re: What is better for bow hunting, Ladder , lock on , climb
By the way, I use cranford ezy steps. They are razor sharp and screw in with very little effort.
-
- Advertisement
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: TrendictionBot, YandexBot and 36 guests