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For many hunters, a ladder treestand is the perfect option for hunting at a higher point. They work for both bows and guns, feature a ladder and a seat of some sort — and most notably, need to be directly installed to a tree. This means that you'll need to mount it before hunting season starts, and you need to be confident that it's in the perfect spot. Point being, if you don't have one, you need to grab one now.
Ladder stands have a more stable foot platform than a typical hang-on treestand, and can be a more comfortable fit than a climber. They're better suited to those who need to sit for long periods before they stand up. Climbing stands have their place and can take a hunter to more diverse places, but as we get older, the use of one is not always viable or desired. But what makes for the best hunting treestands? After all, there are as many ladder treestand brands as there are different shotguns, and everyone has their favorite. Still, we wanted to provide some insight as to what you can find on the market for a reasonable cost. Attributes to consider include things like: shooting rail, padded armrests, backrests, weight capacity, platform size, seat size, and height from the ground. It should be comfortable and functional, and it should work best for the kind of hunting you do. You should also note if the safety features—you'll need a safety harness, stabilizer straps, and ratchet straps. They should come with the product, but if not, you'll need to purchase them separately before the treestand is safe to use. With all of that in mind, here are six of the best ladder treestands available right now:
1. The Best Ladder Treestand for Two People
X-Stand The Jayhawk 20' Two Man Ladderstand - Amazon, $469.00
This stand weighs in at 122 pounds, so you're going to need some help placing it, but there are several reasons why this stand can be key to taking your deer. It's made for two people and has a 500-pound weight capacity — however, a two-man stand can be the epitome of comfort for one hunter, too. It gives extra room for a variety of gear and movement, plus it makes an entire day of hunting much more feasible. The Jayhawk comes with two full body harnesses, a whopping 42-inch wide deck, and is 20 feet from the ground to the shooting rail. It also comes with accessory hooks for your gear and drink holders.
2. A Ladder Treestand With Features for Silent Movement
Muddy Skybox 20' Double Rail Tree Stand - Sportsman's Warehouse , $269.00+
The Muddy Skybox is another stand that secures to the tree 20 feet from the ground to the shooting bar. It is made with heavy-duty, solidly-built steel construction that has a very tight design but does requires some assembly experience. Some of the best features are the silencers and padded shooting rail to keep noise to a minimum, along with the flip-up footrest. This system includes a full body harness with a suspension relief device, but interestingly enough, the ratchet straps are sold separately. You can find them here.
3. An Option Under $200
Big Game Hunter HD 1.5 Ladder Stand - Cabela's, $189.00
This ladder treestand from Big Game Hunter stands at 18.5-feet high, which is a little lower than the other options here. It features an extra-wide seat that flips back should you need to stand to take a shot, and a four-way adjustable shooting rail. Additionally, it has padded arm rests, and a flip-back footrest. It comes with all of the safety features needed, too: stabilizer straps, ratchet straps, and a harness.
4. A Two-Person Option At 18-Feet High
Muddy Stronghold 2.5 XTL 2-Man Ladder Stand - Cabela's, $349.00
As a two-person treestand, this one has a full 500-pound weight capacity, so it can easily be used by two large adults. It's also great for an adult and a child, or as a one-man stand with a load of comfort and space. It is not as high as some other stands—only 18 feet to the shooting rail — but it has a rock solid tree locking system to ensure safety. It uses silencing technology to keep game animals from hearing you, and padded Flex-Tek seats and armrests to keep you comfortable all day. This ladder treestand also comes with two drink holders and two accessory hooks to hold more of your gear. It does not list a fall arrest system in its description, so you'll want to get your own, like this one here.
5. A Low-To-The-Ground Option With A Larger Platform
Big Game Treestands The Maxim - Cabela's, $199.99
This sturdy stand is closer to the ground at only 17 feet to the shooting rail, but this ladder treestand is well-suited for any outdoorsman or woman. While it has the same 300-pound weight capacity as most, this stand has a larger 28-inch wide by 35-inch deep platform, so that even a larger person can easily move around and feel safe. The Rock Solid mounting system comes with a ratchet strap, two stabilizer straps, and an adjustable support bar. The built-in foot rest and seat platform flip back for full platform use whether you're rifle or bowhunting. With the large comfortable seat and included full body safety harness, this stand has all the features that smaller stands can't fit.
6. Another Solid, Sturdy One-Person Option
Rivers Edge Lockdown 1-Man Ladderstand - Sportman's Warehouse, $369.00
The Lockdown Wide ladderstand has a wide, flip-up seat with durable mesh for sitting or standing shots. The 35-inch deep by 26-inch wide oversized platform also has a flip-up footrest that provides plenty of room for stretching the legs or provides space to stand and shoot. It also features a two way adjustable shooting rail allowing you to set a height and depth that works for each individual hunter. The dual tree blades, oversized platform ratchet straps, and octagonal tubing gives it great stability. The description of this single-person ladderstand does not include a fall arrest system, but you can get one here.
This article was first published in January 2021. Looking for a little more or even hot lunch for your hunting blind? Follow my webpage, or on Facebook and Twitter.
