Thanks Chap. You're intentions are good but I think people are trying to look out for your safety. Don't take it as knocking you. They just don't want to see you or anybody else get hurt. Lot's of people get hurt in TMA approved stands too. No matter what kind of stand you use, inspect it regularly and use a harness.

Here is a Picture of a Low cost stand I made Yesterday!!!!

I alway use a harness and always pull my muzzie, bow or rife or flintlock up with a rope, never over my back with a strap. I agree, safety is job 1, cause there is no job 2 if your not safe. As for "knocking me", I find itquestionable that a person would knock something that they have not tried and to say categorically it is "unsafe", how could they know that when they have notactually stepped into the stand, and stepped onto the steps, if they did so Iknow they would be surprised.

I felt the exact same way about 'flintlocks" thinking there were a lot of mess, bother and trouble to fire a gun. Well I got into in-lines and I liked them, much more in fact than centerfire rifles, then I tried flinting 2 years ago in Pa late season (I grew up in Tioga Co Pa),and with proper instruction found that it was not only fun but very very challenging to understand everyting that goes into makeing a flinter fire. This year I plan to hunt a week in Pa late season flintlock. But I tried it, got some expert instruction, read some books and found it fun and challenging, as is bow hunting, which I also like a lot.

I believe the stands are safe, my friends and I have used them without incident over 20 years. We have had to perform maintenance, replacing frayed ropes, replacing cracked steps, replacing Y-boards that were chewed thru, all these are normal for tree stands. If you leave a ladder stand out in the elements, it will have to be replaced in my guess 10 years. I have several that have been out 3 years, none 10 years yet, since I just started buying them when I was 55, wanting to be all ladder stands when I was 60. I hope to hunt till I am 80, 10 more years in ladder stands and then 10 more years in ground blinds. There is my "risk model".
Thanks Chap Gleason

Looks like a very, very strong stand to me. Since the steps are into a4x4 not a live tree, they will not come out. 4x6 support beams that is great. Rail around the platform that is great. With maintenance done every year for cracked, split and boards that are loose, it should last a long time. If I was going to offer 1 safety suggestion it would be a rachet stap for $5 fromWally World, on the top 4x6 going around the tree, usethreaded lag bolds as fasteners,then you don't have to worrry about the thing coming loose from the tree in 5years.

Just add a rope or twofor pulling up your gear and your good to go. I see no problem with this stand. Very well constructed. Pressure treated would have been better, but I am sure you used what you had, which is the minimum cost way to do things. Thanks for sharing. This is what I had hoped, that folks would share their wisdom, on stand construction.

Thanks Chap Gleason

I used to climb up in some iffy stands. My cousin fell from a stand and was killed 8 years ago...I am very careful in what I climb in now.

you just have to becareful

heres my cheap and REALLY safe tree stand[8D]

what are you sitting on in that y boad tree stand or are you just standing the whole time?????????

Excellent. Chap Gleason

I am very sorry to hear that about your cousin, if he was your hunting buddy, then that was a very difficult thing to work thru. Good your no longer iffy. Chap Gleason