rookelkhunter:

In addition to "hang stands," I use commercial (metal) ladder stands and fabricated wood stands that have 2 x 4 supports with 2 x 4 steps. I cannot say that I have ever detected that a ladder stand spooked a deer. In fact, two seasons past, as I approached one of my commercial ladder stands, I observed that there was a doe lying on the ground beneath my stand, between the ladder section and the tree.

I do put up my commercial ladder stands about two months before deer season. I also break up the stand by tying strips of rubberized camo net/leaves on stand.

If I am not in a ground-blind -dependent upon where I know the deer will move, my next preference is a ladder stand. However, many bowhunters do not have access to areas where ladders stands can be used and left, and/or are not convenient to use.