Well, we got the ladder stands out this past weekend to get ready for early archery for deer. Will also use the same stands for gun/muzzleloader season. Most of the stands do not have rails on them do to archery.

This will be my first year hunting with a muzzleloader. Anybody have any tips on rigging a monopod etc to a ladder stand. I would really like to have a decent fore rest of some sort.

Depends on the design of the ladder stand. If the rest does not have side rails..


I personally use a pair of shooting sticks, even in ladder stands. Open them so they do not go over the sides of course, and it does not hurt to tie one leg of the shooting stick to the stand incase things start to slip, but sitting down, I can rest my rifle on the shooting sticks and it sits very comfortable there all day.

From a sitting position with practice you will find that shooting stick is every bit as steady as a single bag rest. If need be, make a custom set of sticks for the stand. I often times do. Something as simple as a two1x2'sx4' long and a wing bolt will make a nice set of cheap stick.

For instance, the one ladder stand my friend uses, is made of a metal wire mesh base, so we put blocks on the bottom of his sticks with a 16d sinker through the block. The nail goes through the base of the ladder stand that keeps it from slipping, and he sits up there all day like that.




Another way if the stand is all metal is use a Pony Pipe Clamp with a 4 foor pipe. Then make a hanger that goes in the end of the pipe and is on the concept of the hangers off that partical board you hang things in the shop off of. The hanger goes in the end of the pipe and you shoot off the hanger of course. With a all metal Pony Pipe Clamp you can put that about anywhere you like to the base of the stand and tighten that down. Just do not consider that something "safe" to use as support to yourself.

You can also use a shooting rope. I use a climber with a bar so I don't know for sure how it's done. Someone else might know.

If you gun hunt after the bow season, why not make a rail set-up that you can attach to the platform with lag bolts at the ene of the bow season.

Maybe add a shooting rail like this one:

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=356124

I use this, it's very comfortable, adjustable and very light:

http://www.crossbow.com/KP100.aspx