Tips for putting up hang-on stands

[ninepointer]

I know this topic has been covered here or elswhere in the past, but its getting to that time of year....

First I pre-drill smaller diameter pilot holes with my cordless drill to install my screw-in tree steps. Then I throw a rope over a sturdy branch (or over a screw-in tree step if no branch is available), hoist up the stand and tie-off the rope. I wear a linemans harness (my full body harness is made to convert to linemans harness), so this leaves both of my hands free to safely secure the stand to the tree.

This year I'm thinking of using the assistance of my climbing stand to install my hang-ons. Anybody tried this?

More tips? Let's hear them....

[crazyfarmer]

I use the drill to put steps into the tree also, but mainly thats for hard bark trees. Pine and popular are pretty easy to get steps into. When its dry oak tree's can be a PITA. Beech tree's or hickory can be just like iron!

As for hanging, I live on the edge and carry the stand up, normally my stand shave backpack straps. Bu once up to the height I want I just throw the stand down, hold with one arm, use my teeth lol to get hte strap in place and go from there. Its hard, but I have it down to a science were it takes maybe 1 min to secure the stand. It all really depends on how heavy the stand is. I have about 20 hang ons and 10 ladder stands. I perferr hang ons due to the fact that most hunters wont climb into them and I usually take out the bottom 2 steps. Being 6'2 its hard for most people to actaully climb my steps anyway.

But I do need to get a harness though since im getting older and wont bounce up from falls like when I was 16 lol

[Big John]

I also do much the same as crazy. However this year after The Heart work things are going to be different. But, I do take out the bottom 5 or 6 steps as I come down. And I will be using a safety harness from now on. Either that or the wife will ensure that I would rather have a heart problem than face her!!

[bait pile willie]

I use a drill as well but this year I bouht a small pulley from tsc. and put pulley on a nail above where I want the stand, pull stand up on a rope and tie off, this made positioning and hanging the stand a breeze. the pulley cost about $4.oo.

[osimono]

I normally use strap on ladders but I have used my climber to install steps. I put my drill,an auger bit,and my steps in my backpack and climb to my desired hieght. Then I install the steps while standing in the climber on the way down. Much safer and easier because you can sit down and take a break if you get tired.

[wabi]

This year I'm thinking of using the assistance of my climbing stand to install my hang-ons. Anybody tried this?

More tips? Let's hear them....

Just finished hanging my ladder stand and wanted a little more coverage of the area, so I added a hang-on stand in the same tree. It was really easy to hang from the ladder stand. I used a nylon ratchet strap to a limb above it to adjust the height and hold it in place while i attached it to the tree with the cable, then added the ratchet strap around the tree and stand for more security.
Not sure if it will show up in the pic, but it's just above the ladder stand to the right. I also added steps so I can have handholds when I step up from the seat on the ladder stand to the platform.

[ninepointer]

This may be overkill, but in addition to the strap or chain that hold up my hang-on stands, I also tie the stand around the tree trunk with a piece of 1/2 inch diameter black nylon rope. This is a fail-safe in the event that the main strap/chain let go.

[ehntr]

I know this topic has been covered here or elswhere in the past, but its getting to that time of year....

First I pre-drill smaller diameter pilot holes with my cordless drill to install my screw-in tree steps. Then I throw a rope over a sturdy branch (or over a screw-in tree step if no branch is available), hoist up the stand and tie-off the rope. I wear a linemans harness (my full body harness is made to convert to linemans harness), so this leaves both of my hands free to safely secure the stand to the tree.

This year I'm thinking of using the assistance of my climbing stand to install my hang-ons. Anybody tried this?

More tips? Let's hear them....

I use my climber more than hang on's............most of the trees in my area are straight and few low branches so a climber can be used most anywhere. I always struggled lugging the hang on up the screw in steps and precariously "hanging" the stand. Last fall I bought some Lone Wolf Climbing Sticks. I haven't used them yet..........but I plan to use them soon. I dislike screwing in those steps and then deciding that hey what about that tree over there? Lots of sweat invested puttting in and taking out those steps lol...

[Woody Williams]

First off I have found that the easiest way to hang treestands is to have my son do it for me. He is 23 years younger than me.

If I have to hang them myself this is the way that I do it:

It is imperative that I am tied off in one form or another whenever my feet leave the ground. When going up the tree to hang the stand I use the line man’s rope that came with my Summit Seat of the Pants full body safety harness. The lineman’s rope is around the tree as I go up.

I have two pull up ropes in use. One is tied to me with the other end tied to the treestand. The other rope is tied to the treestand with the other end tied to my Summit Climbing System Rope.

If I am using screw in steps I put them fairly close together as I am somewhat short legged and it can be a real stretch in heavy hunting clothes. My usual 20 to 25 foot up will take as many as 14 or 15 steps. The amount of steps I use is also determined by the postion of my starting step and what step will allow me to step into the stand at the top.

When I get to the height that I want to go to I screw on two steps at the same height. That way both my feet or on the same level. I then either use a pulley type device to pull the stands up or just use the pull up rope. If I use the pulley type device it will hold the treestand in place while I hook it up to the tree. I have found that much easier and safer.

Either way I hook the treestand to the tree below where My lineman’s rope is fastened to the tree. That way when the treestand is in place I can climb into without unhooking the lineman’s rope. When the treestand is in place I unscrew one of the top steps and screw it in a little higher up so that can step DOWN into the treestand instead of trying to step UP into the treestand. A lot of falls occur when a hunter is stepping into and out of the treestand. This makes it much safer.

Once I am in the treestand I will pull up the Summit Climbing System Rope. I will install it on the tree high enough that when I am hooked up to it in a sitting position almost all of the slack of my tether is taken up. Having too much slack in your tether can allow you to fall below the level of your stand.

After the Summit Climbing System Rope is in place I then hook up my Summit Seat of the Pants full body safety harness tether to the Summit Climbing System Rope. I can then unhook my lineman’s rope. At no time am I ever not hooked up to the tree.

I then climb down using the Summit Climbing System Rope Prussic knot.

For hunting - I tie a small looped rope on the bottom end of the Summit Climbing System Rope to use as a pull up rope for hunting. When I get to my stand for hunting I loop the small rope around the stirrup of my crossbow and the weight of the crossbow will hold the Summit Climbing System Rope in place as I climb and I slide the Prussic knot. I then pull up the Summit Climbing System Rope with my crossbow attached. That way the rope is in the treestand with me so that the deer cannot smell it or see it wiggle if I move in the treestand.

This is the way I do it.. YMMV..

[ninepointer]

Hey Woody, have you ever thought of tackling Mount Everest with that system? Good job, nice & safe!

I'm glad you mentioned positioning your tree steps so that you step down onto the stand platform. I can't say enough about how much this little detail improves the safety of getting in & out of a stand.

[ecoaster]

Not the safest way, but I usually climb up the steps, tie myself to the tree with a ratchet strap, then pull up the stand and use a few more ratchet straps to secure the stand. Finally a chain to deter theives.

[FredBear]

"This year I'm thinking of using the assistance of my climbing stand to install my hang-ons. Anybody tried this? "

I tried this yesterday, worked very well for me. I do NOT like getting off the ground so this made me much faster with the feeling of working from the climber. The steps went in much easier using two hang at eye level! I think i'll be using the climber everytime now. To bad this was my last stand i'm using screw ins for. The rest will be ladder sticks. 5 more to go! Can't wait to use them :):)

[DesertRat]

I use my climber where I can. It makes installing a fixed stand quite easy.

Here is my plan for my fixed stands this year.

Attach a rope to the fixed stand. Attach other end to the climber (have enough rope).
Climb to proper height.
Secure harness.
Lock climber in place.
Install fall guy 30 foot safety belt.
haul fixed stand up and attach it.
attach FG to harness.
climb down and screw in peggs on way down
attach pull rope to FG harness.
go home have beer.