ORIGINAL: NC hunter

Easiest,safest way I've seen is with a strap,rope and pully. Always attach steps as others have said while wearing saftey harness lineman style. Have a camlock strap with S-hooks rigged up with a pulley on one of the hooks with 30 ft or so light rope on the pully. Tie one end of the rope to the top of the stand before going up,tie a big knot in the other end so it can't fall out of pulley. Hook strap on a loop in saftey harness. Hang steps,while at top reach as high as safe,wrap strap around tree hooking bare hook into the eye of the pully hook adjust so pulley is offset to the side of steps (where you want the stand)and pull tight. Back down a few steps grab knotted end of rope hoist the stand to where you want it tie off to offside top step now both hands are free to fasten stand. Remove strap with pulley and move on to the next stand. One trip up the tree,no acrobatics or broken bones and with a little practice only a few minutes to get the job done.