Wis bow hunter, and steelhead:

The only thing in your words of wisdom above that i would have to disagree with is that I think he should start with a climber. I feel that climbers are safer than hangons because most climbers have a bar around the front and most hangons do not. also a ladder stand with a bar in the front is a good idea. If a stand has a bar in the front in all honesty you have to try to fall out of that thing. It being your first time in a tree you will be safer and much more confident with it comes time to move around if you have a stand that has a bar around in front of you. oh yeah and WEAR A HARNESS!!! but dont worry the last 4 treestands that I have bought have come with harnesses.