All About Tree Stands

A tree stand is a good way to get above the level of the game your after.  Deer, coyote, bear can be hunted successfully with a tree stand.  They've become very popular in the last few years because bow and firearm hunters can use them.  They have some very clear advantages, but they also have some drawbacks too.

Advantages

•  You can spot game sooner than you would on the ground
• A good back stop for arrows and bullets that miss due to shooting downward
• It positions the hunter above the animal's normal field  of vision
• Makes the hunters scent less detectable and movement less noticeable

Those are just a few of the advantages.  Now no one should look at just the advantages and not look at the drawbacks so now look at the drawbacks.

Drawbacks

• Risk of injury resulting from falling
• Difficult to carry, especially large portable stands
• No protection from cold or wind 
• Little room for movement
• Not being able to move towards game while hunting

But if you still want one there are 3 types of tree stands.  Hang-on stands, climbing stands and ladder stands.

Hang-On stands 
These are stands that you use if you want to keep a stand up in a tree for a while.  It uses climbing steps or segmented ladders.  It can still be moved but you would have to take it down and set it up all over again.  They can be cheaper than most ladder stands when you combine the stand and climbing steps cost together.

Climbing Stands
If you want to go one place to another with a stand a climbing stand is what I'd recommend. You can take it up and down a tree with relative ease.   You climb the tree by pulling the top part of the stand (the part you sit on) with your hands and the bottom part (where you put your feet) with your feet.  It is recommended that you don't use this stand on crooked trees or trees that have ice or snow on them.

Ladder Stands
If you want a permanent stand somewhere, I recommend the ladder stand.  This kind of stand can be bought for 1 person or for 2 people if you have someone with you.


Tree stand safety
If you get in a tree stand, always wear a full body harness to protect you if you fall.  Good brands of those would be Tree Spider and Hunter Safety System.  If you should fall with a harness on :

•  Don't panic, your harness will hold you
• Signal for help
• Get back into you stand as soon as possible
• Take action to avoid suspension trauma (covered later) if you need to be rescued

Suspension Trauma is when the leg straps of the harness constrict blood  flow and if the blood keeps getting blocked it can lead to death.  To avoid it, if you have a suspension relief on your harness step into it and stand up.  If you don't have one move your legs continuously by pushing off the tree or raise your knees and pump you legs often to keep blood flowing till help arrives.
Haul your equipment up to you with a haul line.  Never climb holding you equipment.  And never haul up equipment that is loaded or has a knocked arrow.  When you haul up a firearm, keep the muzzle or the barrel of the gun pointed down, and have the stock pointed at you.
It is important to always be safe when hunting, No matter what.