Some other options for concealed, sit and stalk hunting include box blinds, ladder stands, and climbing stands. However, they will all be much louder to set up, or less adaptable than a simple hang-stand. You will normally be able to get a reliable hang-on stand for between $100 to $200 USD. If you want something a little bit more sizeable or comfortable, stands designed for more people or more comfort can be purchased for a little more money.
If the trees in your area are more than 30 feet (9. 1 m) tall, you may need more climbing sticks. Ask at your local hunting store for more guidance on how many climbing sticks you’ll need.
Ratchet straps are strong, flat straps that can be easily tightened to hold your climbing sticks and hang-on stand in place. Make sure that the carabiners you buy are designed for climbing. Some will not be safe or strong enough to hold the weight of a person.
Always make sure that the harness you choose is rated for climbing.
Look over the map to find swamps for bedding, farm fields for sources of food, and pinch points that might force animals together. A combination of these will increase your chances of a successful hunt.
A perfect tree will have a few branches around 20 feet (6. 1 m) up that can be used to cover your location and your scent.
If possible, you should also try to stay downwind from the animal trails to stop your scent from giving away your presence.
As the first 2 climbing sticks you attach to the tree will be very close to the ground, you don’t need to strap them to yourself. If you have extra room on your harness, you can attach them to make the process slightly easier.
While you can attach the stand to your harness and climb up with it, it’s much easier and safer to pull it up once you’re in the right position. If you slip and fall, landing or hitting your head on the tree stand can be very painful and dangerous. You can use the same technique for anything else you may need to pull up to your hang stand, such as any hunting equipment you don’t want to carry up with you.
Push down on the climbing stick to make sure it is positioned properly. This will stop it from moving as you climb up to it. Some climbing sticks may have foot stands or ladder portions which need to be locked into place for the stand to work, or they may be secured to the tree differently. Always read and consult the manufacturer’s instructions and safety guidelines on your own climbing sticks before using them.
If you slip and fall, the rope will catch on the bark of the tree and keep you suspended in the air until you can find your footing on a climbing stick. Use a double bowline knot or another climbing knot to tie the carabiners to your rope. You’ll need to move the rope up the tree as you climb it. Lean into the tree and shimmy the rope upward so that it is always horizontal to the points where it as attached.
Make sure you can comfortably climb from one climbing stick to the next when choosing the placement of each one. If you have longer legs, you may be able to put them further apart.
You shouldn’t need to climb more than 20 feet (6. 1 m) or so up a tree to hang a stand. This will be high enough to keep you hidden, without being so high that making a shot becomes difficult.
Avoid sliding the tree stand up the side of your tree to pull it up. As well as making a lot of noise, this may knock your climbing sticks around and make them more difficult to reach. If you strapped the climbing stand to your back, you can simply take it off to access it. Make sure you hold onto it tightly, as dropping it will be very noisy and mean you have to climb down the tree to go get it.
Make sure your safety rope is above the tree stand at all times. If the stand falls while you are using it, your safety rope will only work properly if it is above the tree stand. For extra safety, attach a secondary rope to a strong branch above your tree stand.
This will stop the tree stand from moving around as you step onto it for the first time. Most tree stands will have a metal post that sits against the face of the tree. This is a great point to grab in order to push the stand into place.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to fold out your tree stand if you’re unsure of the right way to do it.
Hang and hunt set-ups take a good amount of patience, but let you sit in place rather than stalking your prey. Don’t lose hope if you don’t see any animals for a few hours after setting up. As long as you’re in a populated area, it should just be a matter of time. Avoid dragging your hunting equipment up the side of the tree when pulling it up. This will make a lot of noise and may damage your equipment.
