When I hang a hang-on stand w/ a climbing stick, I use a linesmans type safety strap in conjunction with my full-body safety harness. I can relax backwards into the strap support while leaving both hands free to secure each section of the stick while ascending up the tree.

Before starting up the tree attaching the stick, I tie a rope to the hang-on stand and the other end to my belt. When the stick is in position and secured to the tree, I place the tree strap end of my safety harness on the tree.

Pull the stand up and attach to the tree. Secured to the tree with the safety harness and supported by the linemans strap, attachment of the stand is quick and safe.

I also like to position the platform of the hang-on stand about 2-3 feet below the top of the stick so that you can maintain a three-point connection while stepping DOWN onto the platform.

With a climbing stickor a ladder type stand, it can be difficult to attach a safety strap as you are climbing upward. A caribeener (sp?) can be used to keep your strap attached to ever other rung or so of a ladder stand, but still not a reliable application on a climbing stick.

Just as in climbing a ladder to trim a tree branch in your yard orcleaning the gutters, MAINTAIN a three-point connection at all times. Also when climbing a ladder type stand, never lean outward or away from the ladder. Follow the belt buckle rule - never allow your body to extend to either side that would position your belt buckle outside ofthe vertical rails of the ladder.

As far as safety goes, the ladder stand has a slight safety advantageas compared to a stick ( I use both )mainly because of the added support of the side rails and the wider rung width.

Most treestand falls occur while going up or climbing down, so the three-point rule applies more than ever. The majority of treestand deaths happen because the user did not unload a firearm before ascending or decending from a stand ( shot themselves ).

Hope this helps...