Treestand Question

[Steve H]

After 20 years the ladder stand I made from pressure treated 2x4's is no longer safe to use, so I bought one o' them newfangled steel stands. Is it common to leave these up all year or do you normally bring them in after the season? Wondering about rust.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

After 20 years the ladder stand I made from pressure treated 2x4's is no longer safe to use, so I bought one o' them newfangled steel stands. Is it common to leave these up all year or do you normally bring them in after the season? Wondering about rust.

I leave mine up year round.

 

[Jmac00]

we have private property in the Adirondacks, we have 7 tree stand out on about 240 acres ( between three of us, Me=30, Mike=60, gary=150) thse tree stands have been in the woods for 20+ years, a couple have been there so long the tree grew around them. 3 of them we tend to move ever few years.

But to answer your question, nope,never bring them down. The oldest is still in good shape,, except for the swivel seat, that is FUBAR, LOL

 

[Jmac00]

and we named all ours,

7-trails = where 7 deer trails come together

Jo's stand (the oldest) is the prime spot, many deer taken from there

Ken's = it where Ken originally wanted it, he moves that one every few years, maybe 60 to 70 yards at a time

5-point = named because 45 minutes after setting it up, I shot a 5 point buck ( 6, but one tang broke off)

End of trails = it at the end of the four wheeler trail, it a double, so if the children want to hunt, we put them up there and sit with them

Beaver pond = the furthest one out, takes awhile to get there, it's the "big buck" stand, several 8 and 10 pointers have been harvested there

Porcupine valley = it where all the porcupines tend to be found, I think more porcupines have been shot there, than anything else

Pats = second furthest out, in deep woods on the edge of the big swamp ( don't recall any deer taken from this spot)

all these stands are at least 200 yards apart, with heavy woods and valleys and hills in-between. When everyone is up, we have kinda drunk fest the night before (Friday night) and we all figure out which stand we are going to go to, all the trails to the stands start at Gary's cabin, so we meet there and all head out to *a* stand at the same time, and we have out phones on vibrate, we text mostly to keep the noise down, if we hear a shot, we check the phones to see who did what and if they need help bringing the deer in. Generally the closet guy goes and helps, the rest of us stay put.

It a good system, and not everyone shows up, if someone comes out late, they just broadcast a text and asks where everyone is so they don't spook any potential shooters

 

[repete]

I leave mine out all year but I do loosen the ratchet straps a bit each year in the spring and then tighten before season, I don't want the tree growing around the stand.

 

[Robin]

I leave them up, but do go around and reset the belts that secure them to the tree. Tree's grow, belts get stretched, and with the sun breaking down on that synthetic fiber used in their manufacture they can snap.
More people are killed and maimed in tree stand accidents every year than gun or bow shooting mishap's combined, by far. It doesn't take long and gives you another excuse to hit the woods.
Good Luck!
Robin

 

[Blimey]

All the instructions say to take them down each year. Nobody does. They will rust eventually, though. Surprised I don't hear more of people falling from rusty stands. The vast majority of falls are people not using a harness.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Off season, Rustoleum spray can. Trim your shooting lane, inspect your straps, touch up paint.

 

[Steve H]

Thanks for the replies, sounds like good advice.