Well I have used tree stands for many years. I have fallen once but was not hurt. I almost fell one other time. That was when I went and got a harness and have used it ever since.

One of my platform stands I built railings on the thing so I was a little safer. One other platform stand I mounted a tent on the top of it and that was a great blind. Plus I have a couple climber stands, but lately .. I have been using a ground blind more and more.

You will like tree platforms. But a harness is a good thing.

Ya'll be careful...I cringe when I look at those homemade ladder stands...Trees grow, nails rust, boards weather and get rotten...Now, I've made them and hunted out of them but I quit 20 some years ago...I use two API climbers and my safety harness goes on when I climb in and start up and doesn't come off until I climb back down...

I just retired my hang-on stands and am replacing them with ladder stands. I got tired of the "thrilling" climbs in the dark. I chose 2 man stands for the extra room and the 500 lb. capacity. Plenty of margin strength wise.

I was going to build them but found stands for $100 each. The wood and braces would almost cost as much. This way I get a safety harness in the package which saves more.

I also "service" my stands. Every year, I check them but, every couple of years, I take them down treat any rust, paint what is needed and change or supplement the strapes with additional ones. I usually put on extra strapes anyway. More safety is better!

I still have ladder stands, that i built 20 years ago... I still hunt from them and the worst thing about damage is the damn squirrels, they love treated wood.... Mine are old enough they have arsenic in them but they will just not die..

I do however use galvanized nails and check my stands every year for any damage that needs correcting. I would rather hunt from a ladder stand, i have built. Than any store bought contraption... No different than climbing a ladder and sitting on your roof. if you have any common sense and carpentry skills, IMO they are safer. I do not use a safety harness but as i said, the way i build them.... they are safe. your completely surrounded and the ladder is 5 ft. from the tree.... Plenty of room to stretch out and be comfy, for them all day hunts...

Nice build MD I enjoy hunting out of permanent stands. The problem is that I hunt a lot of public land which means no nails. I hate lugging my climber back to my stands because it's so far. So I end up on teh ground a lot which is fine by me.

Hope you kill a big 'n out of it.

I'm sure you guys are safe but we have had two different huntes killed the past 2 years with homemade ladder stands...Now, one of these guys actually climbed one that was on someone else's property and he didn't have permission to be there...It took us 4 days to find him...The buzzards lead us to him....

You never know when a kid or someone other than yourself will see one in the woods and decide to go take a look....

MD, I alway thought that you look up at tree stand hunters? Either I'm confused, or you're really tall!

Built many ladder stands out of two by fours. Mine have the front supports protruding about one foot above the seat. Gives you something to grab onto. Some of mine also have a folding foot rest.

Its more comfy when the back of the seat is about two inches lower than the front.

I'd agree, build some railings and wear a harness.

I still use climbers, hang on and pop ups.