Latest trad bow ladder stand

Triple C

Triple C

Well-Known Member
In 2014, I switched from wheels n cables to traditional archery. Deer have sent many thank you notes as they are no longer in any grave danger from me of getting shot! ;) I love shooting my recurve. Simple, fun, no adjustments and light. And...I don't spend much time processing deer but do spend a lot of time watching them. Still after my 1st buck with a recurve.

The older I get the more I like ladder stands as opposed to hang-on's. And I've got a bunch of ladder stands. Problem is that most are difficult to hunt out of with a trad bow. Even the arm rests get in the way of drawing on a deer from the side of the stand. Plus, seems I'm always needing to move stands since my effective range is about 12 yds, maybe 15 max. Thus, I set out to find a more trad bow friendly ladder stand.

1st was the Ol'Man 15 footer (Don't think they make them anymore). It is extremely light, really easy to move but not very comfortable to sit. It has the very narrow ladder that will accommodate only one foot. With hip n knee issues, it's not very comfortable to climb. I've passed these along to my grandson as he can shimmy right up them. Only deer I've taken with my recurve was out of one of these. No arm rests so I was able to draw and release while seated.

Next was the Sportsmen's Guide archery stand. About 17 ft tall and very manageable to move with a sling style seat. I've got 3 of these. Concern with these is the thin walls of the tubing on the ladder. Afraid they will rust out as I've had a couple of their stick ladders already rust out after only 2 years of use. Still plan on using these this year but gonna hack saw the arm rests off and double strap to the tree.

Latest Is River's Edge bowman stand. It's 19' to the seat and weighs 64 lbs, so will be relatively easy to move. Has sling style seat and arm rests are optional. I left them off. Platform is braced well and sturdy. Think I'm gonna like this one. I purchased two of these and put one together yesterday morning. Hope to have them on a tree this coming weekend. Here it is strapped to a tree at camp.
IMG_0652 (1).jpg IMG_0654 (1).jpg
 
What's the price on the Rivers Edge? Last year I got an Ameristep 15' at wallyworld that looks somewhat similar for $59...
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I like the 19' long ladder, 15' is too low for many spots. and yours has a better seat. I'd say that's a good price for what you have.
 
Looks good. I have 2 and the best is the Field and stream. Cheap and easy to put up. The Millinium was a PIA on all accounts and 2X the cost. I hear you on shooting rails and arm rest with a long recurve. I still prefer hangon stands but then I'm so much younger so not a problem.:rolleyes: I do put burlap as back ground on the ladders. Good luck on your season. Do as I do, and just shoot over their back and they die of fright.
 
dogghr said:
Looks good. I have 2 and the best is the Field and stream. Cheap and easy to put up. The Millinium was a PIA on all accounts and 2X the cost. I hear you on shooting rails and arm rest with a long recurve. I still prefer hangon stands but then I'm so much younger so not a problem.:rolleyes: I do put burlap as back ground on the ladders. Good luck on your season. Do as I do, and just shoot over their back and they die of fright.
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Yep...Got 4 Millennium's out and 2 should be moved. I ain't moving em cause I can't. Even the boys are not fond of helping move them. Love em but man are they heavy. The 2 man ones will prolly never get moved. At 64 lbs, these are a lot more manageable to move.
 
Triple C, best compromise I’ve found for traditional bow is to use ladder sticks for safety to get up in stand, and then a hang on millennium M60U. I get a 20’ ladder stick and then hang my stand at about 15-17’ to make sure my angle isn’t too high. You can shoot seated but still have safety of climbing a ladder.

I also like the outpost xl from field and stream if you want a ladder and then I mount with only the right arm rest. I get comfort and secure feeling that comes with arm rest but I have left off for shooting longer bow.

Just sharing from my experiences.

My personal favorite stand is millenium l110 ladder but it’s heavy and not movable with ease. I also rarely use trad bow out of it.


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kwood...The boys hunt out of hang-on's and love me. At one time, that's about all I hunted from as well. Oddly enough, the older I get the more heights bother me. Not sure why that has happened by it seems to get a bit worse each year. Prolly mental, but the ladder stands just give me more confidence with the height. I actually looked at that stick ladder recently as it accommodates both feet. We've got a couple of the Millennium M150 monster hang-ons that I will sit a few times each season and that ladder stick would certainly help.
 
I understand it completely. I’m 33 my dad is 65. I have switched out all his stands with ladders. It gives me peace of mind when he’s out there. He’s not old by any stretch but he’s also not quite as nimble as he once was. We have 12 stands up now and I think 9 of them are ladders. We will continue to use ladders. We just don’t plan to move them during season.


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I've got about 25 ladder stands up. We only bowhunt. Every year I add 2 when they go on sale (about now). Don't put the side rails or shooting rail on. Easy as that. Buy yourself a good cusion and Velcro it to your butt.
 
I prefer a hang on than a ladder stand b/c of weight and mobility. If needing a fixed position, X-Stand The Duke is a good choice: not too heavy, comfortable seat and foot rest, 20' height.
 
I have a bunch of the cheap ladder stands without rests or rails. I use them like climbers in that I am willing to haul one on my back up two miles for a hunt. They aren't heavy and carry easily. They also fit our short and twisted KS trees. Sitting on the front edge should give you plenty of room for a long bow.
 
catscratch said:
I have a bunch of the cheap ladder stands without rests or rails. I use them like climbers in that I am willing to haul one on my back up two miles for a hunt. They aren't heavy and carry easily. They also fit our short and twisted KS trees. Sitting on the front edge should give you plenty of room for a long bow.
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You are one tough dude, packing a ladder stand 2 miles to hunt. But give it another ten years...
 
Mennoniteman said:
You are one tough dude, packing a ladder stand 2 miles to hunt. But give it another ten years...
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Lol. They aren't heavy and fit on my shoulders just fine. But you are right... in 10 years even if I can do it I won't feel like it. I hunt mostly from the ground now anyway.

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Can you believe that Field and Stream discontinued their Outpost XL stand? According to the folks who work there, it was their most popular stand. What brain trust came up with that decision? I love my Millennium L110 stands but they are only hung after sufficient scouting to make sure that it's the right tree, cause as others have said, they're not moving. My problem is that with the ash borer, trees that suffice to place a hang-on or ladder are becoming in short supply at some spots on my land. The best spots, of course...
 
catscratch said:
I have a bunch of the cheap ladder stands without rests or rails. I use them like climbers in that I am willing to haul one on my back up two miles for a hunt. They aren't heavy and carry easily. They also fit our short and twisted KS trees. Sitting on the front edge should give you plenty of room for a long bow.
Click to expand...
Wow them Kansas boys are tough SOBs.
 
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