"falcon, this makes a lot of sense too, if that hook was in there very securely!the main problem is that these stands are so top heavy that they're just awkward and dangerous to move."

Yes, they are awkward and very dangerous to move. My stand came with two long ropes for wrapping around the tree. These ropes attach to the upper part of the stand and hang down so you can wrap them around the tree in order to hold the stand in place temporarily while you make the permanent fastenings.Assembled mine with the top of the stand close to the tree trunkand pulled it up using the rope and pulley. Thenwrapped the standropes around the tree, tied them off, attached the brace, climbed up anddid the upper attachments.

In addition to the upper tie down straps i use a chain and padlock.Took a piece of treated two by four, drilled holeshalf through it for the legs to fit in and put this under the legsso they do not settle in the ground.

My son and grand daughter just love that stand. Katy spotted a ratty 11 year old buck from that stand last season and my sonkilled it. This made it all worth while for me.