That extra strap is not only a game change , it’s a life saver . I have set up many ladder stands , when your alone that top ratchet strap can be a nail biter . They should include that strap in the instructions for the stands . I will use you tip from now on . Keep sharing your ideas .
Really great advice. I recently started using a cable winch puller I had laying around. With a couple lengths of rope to tie to the stand, I use a nearby tree to winch it down before climbing up and strapping it down. But this would work well when there’s no anchor point available.
Love your video and passion. I put blocks of wood under the stand ladder. I use 2x12 PSL and bore a hole half way through so they ladder don't slip off the boards. Far to many times through rain, freeze, thaw that the ladder will sink enough to create a creaking noise when you climb and even sit. Hunt safely and you can't have a bad day my friend, many blessings.
Thank you sir for being adamant about safety. My wife works at a rehabilitation hospital for paralyzed people. Almost all the people are males who refused to be careful and fell and broke their back or neck while working. She says the paralyzed hunters are the most depressed of the group. Some ladder stands now come with a ground controlled top most tree clamp. These still require additional middle and top ratchet strap stabilization. Even with my ground controlled top clamp, I will be using your extra upper strap idea.
EXCELLNT IDEA VIDEO. I ALSO FOR STANDS I LEAVE OUT ON PRIVATE GROUND, CHANGE OUT THE STRAPS EVERY THIRD YEAR. IF THEY PASS VISUAL INSPECTION. I'M MOVING TWO 14" LADDERS THIS FALL AND ILL BE USING YOUR BRILLIANT METHOD. ALWAYS THUMBS UP!
Thanks for the tip regarding the green strap. Just had a scary situation recently where my grandfather and I were removing a tree stand after a storm. As he unhooked the top, it bent in half on itself like you said could happen. He fell 15 ft. Luckily, he was not injured seriously. Im sure if we had a middle strap secured, it wouldn't have happened. I will be using these tips for when I reinstall the new ladder!
Yep I hang over 100 stands a year and its the ladder stands that used to always freak me out and feel like a death trap. But the strap changes everything now. Glad he was ok and not injured.
This exact same thing happened to me. Stand was only 15 feet too. Dad tried to catch my fall and I hurt him more than myself. We were sore, but thank the Good Lord no injuries!
@davislogan7758 I am glad you both were okay. I am still weary of stands to this day and have a preference for blind hunting now. I have since installed life lines and never climb now without one, gonna be sitting in a tree tomorrow.
I fell while putting up a ladder stand in 2017. I secured the middle brace and proceeded up. I had tried using a board on the bottom of the ladder to have a firm platform but that was probably a big mistake since that may have allowed the stand to pivot. I got almost to the top (15') and it let go of the tree. I fell to the ground and fractured my tibia plateau on the left leg. Not much for cell signal I'd send a message to my wife as to what happened and where exactly I was. She was able to get to me on the path and load me up in the car. $6000 later and it has healed. I will still hunt from one but I'm leery about setting them up again. Sinking the feet of the stand in the ground and that green strap segment could save lives. Thank you!
Glad you are ok. It could of been worse. Yep hanging ladder stands uses to scare me more than any type of stand. Sinking the feet and using a extra strap has made it much easier and much safer. Glad to see you are healed and back in the woods.
What do you think about using a climber to go up the back side of the tree to attach it at the top. It seems to me that might be the safest approach . I would still have one or two people to help with a top heavy 2 man stand .
Another excellent video my friend, When my dad and I used to hunt, (back when he could) he was really bad about making his ladder stands look like a palm tree by the time he got done trimming it up, I would alsways try to find a really thick place to put mine hehehe, fun stuff. I would always do the extra straps as well. I used motorcycle type rope straps, quick and easy and hold strong until I could get up there and really strap it down nicely. The rope straps are sometimes hard to find, but they work great and quickly. Thanks again my friend for this fun video, safety is so important. Dale
Thanks dale! Yeah I have e found you really need to tuck the ladders in well. Excellent tip on the cycle rope straps. I remember those, probably easier to swing around the tree as well.
Rather then trying to sling your strap around the tree, the first one you hooked to the step, grab the end of the strap, wrap it around the tree, and then walk back up the ladder with the strap in your hand and ease it up the trunk and then connect to other side of ratchet. Works like a charm! Always buy your ratchet straps longer length for this reason.
I set and maintain 12 ladder stands on private land. Two suggestions: 1). I dicovered what can be described as hinged ground spikes...heavy duty plastic, 3 sided "cups" fit on both feet of your ladder and the spikes can be hammered into the ground. The cups are hinged at the top so as you raise the ladder the cups pivot to a vertical position and completely eliminate the risk of the base of the ladder kicking back/out while raising the ladder. 2) I have tried every combination of extra straps etc getting up to secure the platform. My answer is a 10-foot extension ladder that allows a separate and secure route up the tree and makes attach9ing the platform ratchet straps much easier than trying to reach around the tree from the front of the stand...yes, it is a PITA to lug the ladder in and out of the woods but the additional security is worth it.
What do you use stand it up? I made some spikes that bolt and pivot to bottom. I stick them good and them lift and walk it up. I have used the middle strap but attach it before I stand it up and wrap it around the tree and bring it up with me. It’s longer than I need but I don’t have throw it around or go back dow to get it. But it does make a big difference in how wobbly it is.
I only use the 15 or 16 foot stands so very easy to just lift and walk them up. Once I have them where I want I stop the bottom of the ladder into the ground.
Ok thanks i shoot a Leon Stewart lil Slammer bout 56” longbow thinkin bout adding a ladderstand to my setups but started thinking about the frame work around your legs wondered if they wud get in the way but i also shoot a slight cant but thanks for redponding love the videos thinking about the lone wolf , well i guess novix now
I have my harness on when I set my ladder stands . And park my atv in front of it . As soon as I get up Leaning against the tree I strap in then strap in my stand.
I actually went in today to do one my self and realized when your in a huge tree it makes it a lot harder. I had to put a anchor hook in the tree at the top and Ratchet to that. I could barely swing it around the top let alone half way up off the Ladder
Tree stands usually come with 2 anchor straps that attach to the top of the stand and can be anchored to the ground or the base of another tree. The green strap is still a good idea though
Yep some do come with cross over straps but many don't. Always find a way to lock it to the tree before you get to the top is important. Glad many stands do come with those cross straps.
Love the content Jason especially all your content on mobile tree stand stuff. Hunting public land in northern Michigan, tired of depending on only having a couple tree stand options. Looking to get into some sticks and a nice lightweight platform. Appreciate the thorough reviews and demonstrations on how to hang stands properly and safely. Keep the videos coming and good luck in the field@@SamkoTradBow
@MrTumorHumor glad you are enjoying the content. Key thing if you are gonna run mobile with a stand up and down each sit is to make sure you have a good harness and a lineman belt. They will keep you safe and let you hang everythign with both hands (not having to hold on to the tree).
Absolutely, I will be getting a Ropeman 1 for sure I always used to use just a knot but that was ages ago, seems like the technology and technics have really come around in the last decade. Thanks again@@SamkoTradBow
On ladder stand set ups I like using bright straps so people see that someone is hunting there. I often use them for decoys as well. These are cheap 45 dollar ladder stands so nobody is gonna steel them. But great point if you don't want it to be seen dont use bright straps!
how many feet tall was this stand? I have a 20' skyscraper stand, and the X straps are dried out and brittle. I cannot find replacement straps. Could I do what you're doing instead of those long X straps? Thanks!
@bongnp this was a 15 foot ladder stand. The x straps on the 20 footers do a good job keeping you safe as you climb. Not sure how well this method would work on those with so much flexible space between the support bar and the top.
@@SamkoTradBow yeah they're just impossible to find/replace when the old ones get too old! looking to keep using this stand safely, but current straps are too brittle and crumbly
@@bongnp I would imagine the ones from any brand 20 foot stand would work. Id call some of those stand compaines to see if they will sell replacements.
This might be a very dumb question. But when going up a ladder stand do you use a tree climbing belt like the one you made the video of making with the ascender. Or only the tether at the top? Went up the ladder stand this morning and didn't know if the climbing belt would work or not but did tether in even though I was told I didnt need to.
Too hard to use a lineman belt with a ladder stand. Best thing to do is when you put the ladder stand up install a safety line from the top with a Prussik slide and clip you harness to it and alid it up and down as you climb up and down. Hunter specialties sells 3 packs of those safety lines for 80 bucks i think. Or a single for 30 bucks.
@@SamkoTradBow Ok that's kind of what I figured, but i had heard someone say to first attach a linemans belt and I was thinking. How the heck is that possible. Thanks so much for letting me know what to do instead.
That extra strap is not only a game change , it’s a life saver . I have set up many ladder stands , when your alone that top ratchet strap can be a nail biter . They should include that strap in the instructions for the stands . I will use you tip from now on . Keep sharing your ideas .
Glad you enjoyed the video and that it will help keep you safe! Appreciate the comment. Makes all of thos worth it when you hear your helping someone!
Really great advice. I recently started using a cable winch puller I had laying around. With a couple lengths of rope to tie to the stand, I use a nearby tree to winch it down before climbing up and strapping it down. But this would work well when there’s no anchor point available.
Love your video and passion. I put blocks of wood under the stand ladder. I use 2x12 PSL and bore a hole half way through so they ladder don't slip off the boards. Far to many times through rain, freeze, thaw that the ladder will sink enough to create a creaking noise when you climb and even sit. Hunt safely and you can't have a bad day my friend, many blessings.
Great idea as well. Thank you!
Thanks for the great idea.
Thank you sir for being adamant about safety. My wife works at a rehabilitation hospital for paralyzed people. Almost all the people are males who refused to be careful and fell and broke their back or neck while working. She says the paralyzed hunters are the most depressed of the group. Some ladder stands now come with a ground controlled top most tree clamp. These still require additional middle and top ratchet strap stabilization. Even with my ground controlled top clamp, I will be using your extra upper strap idea.
Yeah it's so scary how fast life can go from great to life altering horrible. Always do everything you can to be safe in a tree.
I watched this video from the bush after failing twice to get the stand up. Many thanks for this tutorial.
Glad you were not seriously hurt. And glad you are thinking about taking your safety to the next level.
EXCELLNT IDEA VIDEO. I ALSO FOR STANDS I LEAVE OUT ON PRIVATE GROUND, CHANGE OUT THE STRAPS EVERY THIRD YEAR. IF THEY PASS VISUAL INSPECTION. I'M MOVING TWO 14" LADDERS THIS FALL AND ILL BE USING YOUR BRILLIANT METHOD. ALWAYS THUMBS UP!
Glad you watched it and hopefully it will add that extra element of safety
Thanks for this video! My husband and I are setting up our first tomorrow!
Wish you guys great luck! Have fun and be safe.
Thanks for the tip, will be using your technique from now on. Consistently solid advice on all your vids, well presented, many thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it and are trying to stay safe hanging those stands
Thanks for the tip regarding the green strap. Just had a scary situation recently where my grandfather and I were removing a tree stand after a storm. As he unhooked the top, it bent in half on itself like you said could happen. He fell 15 ft. Luckily, he was not injured seriously. Im sure if we had a middle strap secured, it wouldn't have happened.
I will be using these tips for when I reinstall the new ladder!
Yep I hang over 100 stands a year and its the ladder stands that used to always freak me out and feel like a death trap. But the strap changes everything now.
Glad he was ok and not injured.
This exact same thing happened to me. Stand was only 15 feet too. Dad tried to catch my fall and I hurt him more than myself. We were sore, but thank the Good Lord no injuries!
@davislogan7758 I am glad you both were okay.
I am still weary of stands to this day and have a preference for blind hunting now. I have since installed life lines and never climb now without one, gonna be sitting in a tree tomorrow.
Thank you for the tip I did this last year and worked great
Awesome. Glad it helped keep you safe
I fell while putting up a ladder stand in 2017. I secured the middle brace and proceeded up. I had tried using a board on the bottom of the ladder to have a firm platform but that was probably a big mistake since that may have allowed the stand to pivot. I got almost to the top (15') and it let go of the tree. I fell to the ground and fractured my tibia plateau on the left leg. Not much for cell signal I'd send a message to my wife as to what happened and where exactly I was. She was able to get to me on the path and load me up in the car. $6000 later and it has healed. I will still hunt from one but I'm leery about setting them up again. Sinking the feet of the stand in the ground and that green strap segment could save lives. Thank you!
Glad you are ok. It could of been worse. Yep hanging ladder stands uses to scare me more than any type of stand. Sinking the feet and using a extra strap has made it much easier and much safer. Glad to see you are healed and back in the woods.
Man thats a huge tip!!
Thanks Brother for this video! Extremely helpful. Thank You! 🦌🦌🦌
@@brianswails289 glad you enjoyed it
What do you think about using a climber to go up the back side of the tree to attach it at the top. It seems to me that might be the safest approach . I would still have one or two people to help with a top heavy 2 man stand .
That sounds like a great idea. Never seen it done but would probably be the safest way.
Thanks bud im about to set my first one by myself. Great advice
Glad the video was helpful. Be safe and good luck out there.
Another excellent video my friend, When my dad and I used to hunt, (back when he could) he was really bad about making his ladder stands look like a palm tree by the time he got done trimming it up, I would alsways try to find a really thick place to put mine hehehe, fun stuff. I would always do the extra straps as well. I used motorcycle type rope straps, quick and easy and hold strong until I could get up there and really strap it down nicely. The rope straps are sometimes hard to find, but they work great and quickly.
Thanks again my friend for this fun video, safety is so important.
Dale
Thanks dale! Yeah I have e found you really need to tuck the ladders in well. Excellent tip on the cycle rope straps. I remember those, probably easier to swing around the tree as well.
Rather then trying to sling your strap around the tree, the first one you hooked to the step, grab the end of the strap, wrap it around the tree, and then walk back up the ladder with the strap in your hand and ease it up the trunk and then connect to other side of ratchet. Works like a charm! Always buy your ratchet straps longer length for this reason.
Need those hands free to properly set my lineman belt first. Atleast I do i should say. I'm not as young as I once was..lol
I set and maintain 12 ladder stands on private land. Two suggestions: 1). I dicovered what can be described as hinged ground spikes...heavy duty plastic, 3 sided "cups" fit on both feet of your ladder and the spikes can be hammered into the ground. The cups are hinged at the top so as you raise the ladder the cups pivot to a vertical position and completely eliminate the risk of the base of the ladder kicking back/out while raising the ladder. 2) I have tried every combination of extra straps etc getting up to secure the platform. My answer is a 10-foot extension ladder that allows a separate and secure route up the tree and makes attach9ing the platform ratchet straps much easier than trying to reach around the tree from the front of the stand...yes, it is a PITA to lug the ladder in and out of the woods but the additional security is worth it.
2 fantastic ideas. Thank you
I think leaving the green strap would add to the margin of safety. Good video. Thank you
Sure would not hurt anything.
Thx Jason!
Glad ypu enjoyed it
What do you use stand it up? I made some spikes that bolt and pivot to bottom. I stick them good and them lift and walk it up. I have used the middle strap but attach it before I stand it up and wrap it around the tree and bring it up with me. It’s longer than I need but I don’t have throw it around or go back dow to get it. But it does make a big difference in how wobbly it is.
I only use the 15 or 16 foot stands so very easy to just lift and walk them up. Once I have them where I want I stop the bottom of the ladder into the ground.
Do you ever have any trouble hunting with longbow in ladderstand as far as metal frame work hitting bottom bow limb
No. But I also shoot with my bow canted about 30 degrees. If you are a straight vertices shooter might be tougher
Ok thanks i shoot a Leon Stewart lil Slammer bout 56” longbow thinkin bout adding a ladderstand to my setups but started thinking about the frame work around your legs wondered if they wud get in the way but i also shoot a slight cant but thanks for redponding love the videos thinking about the lone wolf , well i guess novix now
I have my harness on when I set my ladder stands . And park my atv in front of it . As soon as I get up Leaning against the tree I strap in then strap in my stand.
I don't mean anything bad by my comment it's not smart-ass I just use my harness myself. Always good to have a buddy there. Good video.
I actually went in today to do one my self and realized when your in a huge tree it makes it a lot harder. I had to put a anchor hook in the tree at the top and Ratchet to that. I could barely swing it around the top let alone half way up off the Ladder
Yep those big diameter trees are tough. Better to use a stick and walk the strap around the tree from the ground.
Any suggestions on ladder stand extensions? Cannot find any. Seems many are only 15ft tall. Not high enough
dont know about extensions but I do know they make a lot of options in the 20 and even 24 foot ladder stands.
Good video
Make sure top ratchet strap is lower than the v-bar that hits the tree, if placed higher it can pull stand apart in the wind; I’ve been there!
@deanmccabe8783 good tip
Thank you
Very welcome
Tree stands usually come with 2 anchor straps that attach to the top of the stand and can be anchored to the ground or the base of another tree. The green strap is still a good idea though
Yep some do come with cross over straps but many don't. Always find a way to lock it to the tree before you get to the top is important. Glad many stands do come with those cross straps.
Love the content Jason especially all your content on mobile tree stand stuff. Hunting public land in northern Michigan, tired of depending on only having a couple tree stand options. Looking to get into some sticks and a nice lightweight platform. Appreciate the thorough reviews and demonstrations on how to hang stands properly and safely. Keep the videos coming and good luck in the field@@SamkoTradBow
@MrTumorHumor glad you are enjoying the content. Key thing if you are gonna run mobile with a stand up and down each sit is to make sure you have a good harness and a lineman belt. They will keep you safe and let you hang everythign with both hands (not having to hold on to the tree).
Absolutely, I will be getting a Ropeman 1 for sure I always used to use just a knot but that was ages ago, seems like the technology and technics have really come around in the last decade. Thanks again@@SamkoTradBow
Like the video but hard to see the stand but that bright red strap sticks out now might want to use a black or brown strap
On ladder stand set ups I like using bright straps so people see that someone is hunting there. I often use them for decoys as well. These are cheap 45 dollar ladder stands so nobody is gonna steel them. But great point if you don't want it to be seen dont use bright straps!
How many times did you wrap the top strap around the tree?
honestly no idea. Made this video along time ago and dont hunt from ladder stands often.
Good advise. Good video.
Thanks
great video on safety, i hope all hunters watch it
Thank you
how many feet tall was this stand? I have a 20' skyscraper stand, and the X straps are dried out and brittle. I cannot find replacement straps. Could I do what you're doing instead of those long X straps? Thanks!
@bongnp this was a 15 foot ladder stand. The x straps on the 20 footers do a good job keeping you safe as you climb. Not sure how well this method would work on those with so much flexible space between the support bar and the top.
@@SamkoTradBow yeah they're just impossible to find/replace when the old ones get too old! looking to keep using this stand safely, but current straps are too brittle and crumbly
@@bongnp I would imagine the ones from any brand 20 foot stand would work. Id call some of those stand compaines to see if they will sell replacements.
@@SamkoTradBow that's what I was thinking. I'm trying that as we speak
This might be a very dumb question. But when going up a ladder stand do you use a tree climbing belt like the one you made the video of making with the ascender. Or only the tether at the top? Went up the ladder stand this morning and didn't know if the climbing belt would work or not but did tether in even though I was told I didnt need to.
Too hard to use a lineman belt with a ladder stand. Best thing to do is when you put the ladder stand up install a safety line from the top with a Prussik slide and clip you harness to it and alid it up and down as you climb up and down. Hunter specialties sells 3 packs of those safety lines for 80 bucks i think. Or a single for 30 bucks.
@@SamkoTradBow Ok that's kind of what I figured, but i had heard someone say to first attach a linemans belt and I was thinking. How the heck is that possible. Thanks so much for letting me know what to do instead.
@@SamkoTradBow Also how long does the lifeline last if you just let it up with the ladder stand? Thanks again for the reply.
@@hellcatchuck2723 a couple seasons if you don't leave it up all year. Maybe 3 or 4 depending on climate, Temps, rain etc.
@@SamkoTradBow excellent thanks so much for your time.
Good video for hanging a ladder stand safely. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
Why would you not leave the green strap attached? Seems you would need it. When talking the stand down.
you could. But i was setting this stand to leave it for a season. so didnt want that strap there.
Nothing wrong w leaving that “green” strap doesn’t hurt a thing to leave that. That 3rd strap is only securing the ladder that much more.
Agree completely
Did the stand magicly walk it's self up the tree? Getting the stand all the way up against the tree is the hardest part!
But that's not a safety concern even though it's a pain to get it up the tree. Once it's there strapping it down as you climb up is the danger zone
That tree diameter where the upper portion of the Treestand rests on the tree is too small.
Thanks
You didn’t show how you stood it up!
Sorry. I just assembled it on the ground and walked it up to the tree.
@@SamkoTradBow standing it up is the hardest part.
@@ThomasRZack can be. But thats not the dangerous part. But I should of definitely showed standing it up.