Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

I've got a Big Game 2 Man Partner Stand that I used last year and loved. Very room and high enough up for concealment purposes.

But getting that thing up was an ordeal. It only weight 130 pounds and I was able to carry it well enough to the site by myself. But the problem comes when trying to raise it up against the tree. The problem lies within the majority of the weight residing at one end of the stand - the top. So I had my father and brother-in-law pushing it off the ground near the bottom of the stand toward the tree and myself behind the tree with tie on straps situated near the top of the stand, pulling as hard as I possibly could. We got it up but the top was wobbling all over and I could tell my in laws were a little concerned with everyone's safety.

Anyway, I want to move the stand this year about 100 yards and am wondering if anyone's had experience/tips to offer on making the processi of raising it up to the tree a little easier and safer? Thanks!

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

The method I use employs equal parts muscle and ignorance.

I make ladder stands about 18 feet tall with 2x4s and plywood, etc. They are awkward and as you say, top heavy. I find it necessary to tie the bottom of the ladder to something handy nearby, such as a tree or log, to prevent the bottom of the ladder from "kicking out" as you raise the platform and and push it towards the tree. I suppose you could drive a stake and tie to that if there's nothing else handy. You want to tie to something about at the location where you want the bottom of the ladder to end up, don't get too close to the tree.

If it is a tree you can climb, I suppose you may be able to rig a line with a pulley or maybe a 2:1 block and tackle and use a 4 wheeler or vehicle to raise it by the top. You still may need to tie the bottom, depending on how you position it before raising.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Thanks UncleNorby. This makes sense. If you lay the stand down with the top pointed awy from the tree and secured the bottom as you described. I'm wondering if you couldn't have two guys behind the tree pulling with secured straps to tip it up and a third guy jump in front asthe stand nears the tree to guide it on.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Had a lot of trouble getting our two man ladder stand up by myself. Finally took the extension ladder, put it up and drilled a hole in the tree at about 21 feet. Screwed a hook in the tree, put a pulley on the hook, attached a line to the top of the stand and easily pulled it up with a rope. Now the hook is used to hang my rifle or crossbow on.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

I think I must be about your size, about 5'3" and weigh around 130 (well I used to, it's diet time I think[&o]). I can't raise a normal ladder stand, let alone a two man stand. I am just not tall enough to get enough leverag to get it up. I always need someone to help me.

Paul

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

I try not to move my ladders very often, but when I do move the big heavy stands, I try to use my tractor with a front end loader. It doesn't work in every situation, but it sure makes it easy when I can.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

falcon, this makes a lot of sense too, if that hook was in there very securely!:Dthe main problem is that these stands are so top heavy that they're just awkward and dangerous to move. i was even thinking if I could get one section of the ladder underneath the top part and tip it up against the tree, then I could use a similar pully system to slowly pull it up and slip the other two sections under as she goes. I may even be able to pull the top part up with some rope myself if I secure an extenstion ladder to the other side of the tree.

Easier to get people to help you if you have a plan that doesn't involve a 50/50 chance of the stand crashing down on them.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Yeah, that's the idea.

I'm not a big guy, and I can set the stands I make by myself, if I get it right on the first or second try. With a helper or two it should be no probelm

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Reads like a pain....I got two words for you, "climbing stand" ;):D

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Red Lion, the comfort of the stand is worth the effort once you get er set up.:D I don't plan to move it much more often once I get it attached to the tree I should have set it up on in the first place.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

I can appreciate that. ;):D

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

"falcon, this makes a lot of sense too, if that hook was in there very securely!:Dthe main problem is that these stands are so top heavy that they're just awkward and dangerous to move."

Yes, they are awkward and very dangerous to move. My stand came with two long ropes for wrapping around the tree. These ropes attach to the upper part of the stand and hang down so you can wrap them around the tree in order to hold the stand in place temporarily while you make the permanent fastenings.Assembled mine with the top of the stand close to the tree trunkand pulled it up using the rope and pulley. Thenwrapped the standropes around the tree, tied them off, attached the brace, climbed up anddid the upper attachments.

In addition to the upper tie down straps i use a chain and padlock.Took a piece of treated two by four, drilled holeshalf through it for the legs to fit in and put this under the legsso they do not settle in the ground.

My son and grand daughter just love that stand. Katy spotted a ratty 11 year old buck from that stand last season and my sonkilled it. This made it all worth while for me.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Red Lion. I can appreciate the climbing stand too. Been thinking about getting one of those two but I need new boots and to restring my bow and a few purchases here and there doesn't seem like so much to my wife. :DSo climbing stand will probably be on next year's plan.

falcon, that's great you can use it to hunt with your family.

I thought abou doing a similar thing with the bottom ladder section cause mine sunk about 6 inches into the dirt.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

I can appreciate needing to prioritize your hunting needs as well, as I have #2 child on the way mid-october. I made a climber stand one of my limited priorities this year, and got a summit bullit backpacker climber. I have only used it twice to scamper up a tree, but really like it.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Congrats Red Lion! We have number two on the way any week now, which is nice cause it will give some time for things to settle down before I grab my bow this fall. I should be able to get out once or twice a week in the woods/sloughs right behind our house for a couple of hour morning or evening hunts and my wife understands now that I want to hunt sun up to sundown the opening gun weekend depending on how things go.

Anyway, my son is almost three and I'm thinking I'm going to bring him on a few hunts next year from my pop-up blind. Maybe in a couple of years he can start climbing the stand with me to watch.

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

Thanks and congrats to you. I wish our due date was not middle to third week of October, but what can you do. I will still be able to bow hunt during our season in MN, but will not be able to head north to Hill City for Firearms opener, so will stay more local around Big Lake and the state land around the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge. My wife knows that I would go crazy and be a major grouch if I was not afforded time to hunt all three season, bow, rifle and ML. ;):D

RE: Moving Big Ladder Stands
 

A two-man stand is not made to be put up by itself and most manufacturers actually mentioned that in their directions and manuals. I've struggled just like many of you and then I started simply asking a buddy of two for help. It's amazing how quick and easy they are to set when you have some help. Surely there's a friend or two that could help all of you folks. It's also much safer that way, a guy would be seriously screwed if something happened like one of those monster stands acttaully fell on ya or something. Be careful out there guys?