hang on stands
 

gearing up for next year and looking to buy some hang on stands. i finally found some good properties too hunt. and would like to be a little better prepared before next year. the thing is is that treestand theft is a big problem around here. so i dont think it would be wise to hang $300.00 in a tree and leave it for awhile.does anyone know of some cheaper hang ons that are tried and true that i should concentrate on. i would say around $150. or less ,preferably less.

RE: hang on stands
 

I bought a Brutus Pro from Sportman' Guide for about 60 bucks. I saw it, and thought I'd give it a shot for that price. It's VERY solid, super quiet in the tree, and awesome comfy for this type of stand. The ONLY downside to it in my mind is that it's a little on the heavy side. I packed mine in about amile, and it wasn't too bad using the supplied backpack straps. I really like the way it mounts to the tree. You mount a collar first, and that has a pulley on it so you can hoist the main part of the stand up. My other hang ons are extremely light, but this wasn't a big deal to hang even though it's not as light. Seat folds up for when you want to stand, and even when standing quickly, or sitting quickly, this stand was extremely quiet. I plan on getting a couple more for the few places I can LEAVE a stand for most of the season...at that price I won't sob like a child if someone steals it, AND it works well.

RE: hang on stands
 

There are lots of hang on stands that can be bought cheaper than $150. And right now is the best time to buy if you can afford it at Xmas time. Wife just bought me a new Lone Wolf Alpha hang on stand at Gander Mtn. for $107.

RE: hang on stands
 

thanks for the info stoneman and coug,since i will be leaving them, the weight is not that big of a deal. as long as it is quiet and doesnt creek. coug, have you tried that lone wolf out yet? at those prices i could by a couple of each.:D

RE: hang on stands
 

What I do is put up hang on stands but leave off the steps or climing sticks, what everyou would use to getto he tree. I use climbig spikes to get into thestand, that way no one can get to my stand butme.

RE: hang on stands
 

Mike, I use the API Baby Grand Grandstand... I think the platform is 18x30... maybe 24x30. Either way it is a very comfortable stand with a flip up well cushioned seat. Usually this time of the year you can find them for around $130-140. I have the same problem as you so I use the screw in steps and remove the bottom 4 or 5... plus a heavy chain and solid pad lock... so far so good after 4 or 5 yrs.

RE: hang on stands
 

http://www.so-outdoors.com/catalog/p...products_id=79

A couple of those and some 20 ft treesteps which can be purchased at sportsmans guide for 40 bucks and ur set to go.

With the price of these you can hang 2 or three for the price of one of the others.

RE: hang on stands
 

Dunham's Sporting Goods had 20' sections of sticks for 38.00...be a little cheaper if there's one near you as you could avoid shipping. That stand looks pretty sweet for 32.00 bucks!

RE: hang on stands
 

Sounds like you need a tree saddle. I switched this year and I won't go back to a regular stand. You have the ability to silently move 360 degrees around the tree and shoot in any direction. And you wear it into the woodslike a climbing harness and you don't even know it's there (it weighs about 3 pounds). The best part is, nobody can steal your treestands. In fact, nobody caneven hunt your spot when you're not there so you keep your stand fresh.

RE: hang on stands
 

That saddle looks cool! I've hunted like that for years, just using a lineman's belt and strap...the last couple of years, my knees would get really sore though...I'm gettin' old and I thrashed them for years. lol Can you actually "sit" in that thing to relieve the pressure from your legs?

RE: hang on stands
 

Yeah it has a hammock-like seat that you can sit in or stand. It's pretty comfortable. I have actually fallen asleep in mine. It does take some getting used to but for certain situations it's perfect. I use it when I want tobe mobile and I don't trust other hunters to leave my fixed stands alone. LIke I said, nobody can hunt your tree and you don't have to worry about thiefs stealing your stands. I set up 4 or 5 trees with screw in steps and then decide which one to hunt that day based on wind, sign, etc. Some guys use the Ameristep strap on steps in a backpack or a Lone Wolf climbing stick. The best thing is you can silently move around the tree to stay out of sight of the deer until you are ready to shoot. I shot a buck that came from my right this year by moving 180 degrees around the tree to get him onmy left. You can literally shoot any direction - even behind you. That's the best part about it. Cabelas sells them. They're a bit pricey ($200) but if you consider that it replaces all your portable stands it's a bargain.

RE: hang on stands
 

Keep one thing in-mind when you are shopping for that next stand. You are putting your life in it's hands! When you buy a bow do you look for the lowest priced model available? How about arrows, or broadheads?? Kind-of cracks me up when guys spend $1,000.00 on a bow set-up, and $40.00 on a stand that they are using at 20ft up in a tree!

Lot's of good ones out there, but remember, you get what you pay for!

RE: hang on stands
 

I agree, but there ARE 40 dollar stands that are SAFE...you pay a LOT extra for other features, but you sure don't have to spend a lot of money just to get a safe stand.

RE: hang on stands
 

The thing about the saddle is that you have pressure on your feet at all times because that's all that keeps you from kissing the trunk of the tree. I've done the same thing with my rock climbing harness and it's okay for a short hunt in an unusual spot, but I prefer sitting on a stand. Gorilla has some nice inexpensive stands at walmart ~$50. Pretty comfortable but I don't like chains too much.

RE: hang on stands
 

THAT'S what I was afraid of...my knees have been giving me a lot of grief lately, and I'm afraid I'd get uncomfortable...and "an uncomfortable hunter is a lousy hunter". :D

RE: hang on stands
 

That's true - you normally do have pressureon your feet. But I've found that by lengthening the strap and putting tree steps in the right spot I can actually sit in mine to take pressure off my feet when necessary. You're right - they're not for everybody. But for me personally it is more comfortable than my platform stand and I like the added mobility and shooting flexibility. You have to weigh the benefits vs the costs. I still use my ladder stand when I'm on private property because it's comfortable, secluded, and nobody will steal it. But there is something primitively satisfying about hanging in a tree waiting for your prey. It's like you're a part of the tree hence part of nature. I feel more connected to my surroundings in the sling. I also blend in more in the sling that I do when sitting on platform stands.You just look like you're part of the tree - more so than with a fixed stand or a ladder stand. I think deer are getting better at spotting treestandsup in trees because that's how everybody hunts now days. I feel like the ultimate stalker when I slowly creep around the tree at full draw with total stealth-like silence so the animal never knows I'm there. What a rush!

RE: hang on stands
 

It sounds really cool...I'd sure like to try one and see if my legs could hack it...but at that price I'm gonna have to wait awhile. I don't know what is more bothersome, the fact that my 5 kids are keeping me broke :D, or that my 38 yr old knees feel like they're 90.

RE: hang on stands
 

Look into the Rivers Edge hang ons, the "cheap" one is the bandit, can be had for roughly $50ish, might even catch em on sale now. I have two of these, both the chain on model and they are VERY solid, easy to hand and comfortable. The one down side is they are a touch on the heavy side, but if you are leaving it in the tree anyway, this is no big deal. Find a SOLID way to get up and down the tree (I use Stepp ladder system) and then take out the first 8-10 feet of this (I take out the bottom 4 steps). Chain lock the stand to the tree and you are pretty safe. If someone wants it they are going to take it, but at least this way they have to work to get up the tree, fight through the lock and then out.

RE: hang on stands
 

I just bought a Big Game Boss XL at Rural King for 39.95.