My 2 cents again are to proble not go with a ladder stand. Why you say, bc
1. People will know where you are hunting/move in on you.
2. People WILL sit in it if they find it.
3.They will try to steal it.
4. LAst but def not least you will be limited to one spot to hunt, Spend a little bit of money and get a nice comfy LIGHT climber and i bet you wont regret it.
As you are new to the sport you want to be able tomove and adjust your stand. You also want to be able to find the fresh food source and be able to move in quick.
You want to be moble esp on public land..... ive had places on public land that where perfect and i set stadns up before the season to show up to hunt and find everyone and there brother in the woods and people setting up around me....

ps. you want to be able to hunt the WIND. One stand =limited hunting bc of the wind.