Ladder Tree Stand Safety

Ladder Tree Stand Safety Tips

As a hunter, you likely already know that ladder tree stands come with a ladder. For you, this means added convenience once the stand is installed. You climb up the ladder to get into the tree; there is no having to climb up the tree itself. Most hunters also feel as if they get added safety with a ladder tree stand for that very reason. Yes this is true but all stands that get you up and off the ground do pose a safety risk. What can you do to minimize risk and injury?

Proper Installation: Yes, having a ladder to climb instead of scaling a tree yourself is much safer and easier. However, there is a huge risk of injury if that ladder was not properly installed. Your purchase should include a number of nuts, bolts, and other similar devices. These will be used to properly construct the ladder, attach the platform and seats, and so forth. Despite how easy this construction and assembly sounds, it is vital that you review the owner’s manual and assembly guide beforehand. Don’t take a guess. A ladder tree stand can have up you to twenty feet in the air! Do you really want to fall from that high or even ten feet?

Checking Of All Parts: When buying a ladder tree stand, most hunters install this stand on their property and leave it there. If you have an agreement with a property owner to use their property for the season, you may take your ladder tree stand down then. Either way, it is important to do a quick check of the stand and all hardware before climbing up. Manufacturers recommend taking down the tree stand after each season. If you leave yours up for a year or two, it was exposed to various weather elements. Ensure no important bolts were rusted. Unfortunately, you also have to consider tampering. What if some came along and tried to steal or mess with your tree stand? It might not be as stable as it was before; therefore, you should do a quick visual check of the entire stand.

Friends and Family: Ladder tree stands are not only great permanent tree stands, but they are also ideal when teaching young adults to hunt. In fact, you may decide to buy a ladder tree stand designed for two-people. In this case, you want to educate each and every person who climbs up your ladder tree stand. Quick movements, jumping, and so forth are advised against. If the ladder stand is installed in your home and if you have small children, you want to teach them the importance of proper use or use only when supervised. To small children who don’t know any better, unless told, a ladder stand for hunting looks like a neat tree house and this can be a disaster waiting to happen.

So there you have it: a few helpful safety tips for a ladder tree stand. If you have yet to buy your tree stand, you have many great brands to choose from. For the largest selection of makes, models, and prices do your shopping online.