With many choices in deer hunting treestands it can be hard to choose one that works for you from the wide selection of outdoor sporting goods available. There is mostly likely a tree stand to meet your needs from manufactures like Summit, Gorilla, Ol’Man, Big Game, and Ameristep. In picking a treestand it is important to focus on where you plan on hunting. After considering what type of terrain you will be hunting and what prey you are going after you’ll be left with three choices of tree stands; ladder stands, climbing treestands, or hang on tree stands.
Climbing Tree Stand
Climbing treestands come in two forms either a sit-stand climber or a hand climber. In a hand climbing tree stand you support the weight of the stand with your arms as you move it up and down the tree. The hand climbers are less popular because they require a greater amount of upper body strength to operate. The sit and stand climber is the most popular type of treestand because it is easier to operate and you support the weight of the stand on a built in bar not your arms.
Climbing treestands are available in many sizes and you should look for one that will support your weight and also one that is light enough for you to carry. Climbing treestands tend to be heavier than some other hunting options so you should put a focus on how far you will be carrying your stand as heavier options can be straining on some hunters. Tree stands made from aircraft-grade aluminum are great because they are light and strong. A great climbing treestand that is light weight and comfortable is the Summit Goliath, $278.99 with an overall weight of 21 lbs. and a weight limit 350 lbs this treestand works well for a majority of deer hunters.
Hang on treestands, unlike climbing treestands, don’t offer you assistants in getting up the tree. With a hang-on treestand you will need to bring a ladder or climbing sticks to get up and down from the stand. A hang on treestand doesn’t have the front bar which allows for more freedom while hunting. From a weight stand point both lock-on treestands and climbing stands are fairly comparable with about a 5-10 lbs. variance. The lighter weight of a hang on stand can make it easier to carry if you are hunting in terrain that requires a lot of hiking or moving. A good hang-on tree stand is the Gorilla King Kong Lounger HX, $178.99. Weighing in at 21 lbs. and supporting up to 300 lbs. the Gorilla tree stand makes a great choice for those looking for a cheap quality treestand.
Ladder Stands
Ladder stands are tree stands that use the tree as a support anchor. A ladder stand works well if you have access to the hunting area with a motor vehicle because typical weight is well over 60 pounds. For ladder stand safety and tips
Tags: aircraft grade aluminum, climbing treestand, deer hunting, Gorilla, hunters tree, ladder, terrain, type, upper body strength, weight