Best Ladder Stands For Bowhunting
Summit Tree Stand 81120 Viper SD (Editor’s Choice):
81120 Viper SD was introduced by Summit as a perfect product for bow and rifle hunters. Maximum comfort is guaranteed with this ladder stand. It is a well-designed, premier product for a great price. It is equipped with ‘flexible to use’ accessories. The aluminium makes it sturdy and light with a weight of 20 pounds only. You can get the luxury of a ladder stand weighing 20 pounds and able to carry up to 300 hundred pounds. The most important feature is Dead- Metal Sound technology which lowers the noise. This feature causes a quiet and concealed setting of the stand into the trees. Thus, it is great for hunters ready with crossbows in their hands and target in the front of their eyes. The stand is equipped with Comfort Tech seats and adjustable shooting rails depending on the hunting requirements. The Summit 81120 Viper SD is designed in a way to adjust, again, any hunting requirements. The climb stir-up and padded, suspended, foam seat keep your worries away about safety. It has a full perimeter scale that allows you for stand-up or a sit-down position.
Pros
- Quiet, comfortable and noiseless operation
- Light enough to walk in long distances
- Well designed and sturdy closed-front aluminium
- Weight capacity of 300 pounds
Cons
- Slightly lowered down bar, not ideal for rifle hunting
Guide gear 18’ jumbo tree stand:
Pros
- Moderate height limit for average hunters
- Oversized platform with a flip-up design for the comfort
- Lightweight and withstands the harsh condition
- Comfortable enough in the long hours of hunting
Cons
- The paint is not of high quality and comes off easily
Big Dog Hunting Stadium Series XL
Big Dog Hunting Stadium Series XL was introduced as a perfect product for bow/crossbow and rifle hunters. Maximum comfort is guaranteed with this ladder stand. giving a soft cushion feel by providing you a padded arm back-rest, padded armrests, and padded shooting rail. It is a well-designed and the construction makes the stand look classy. This amazing stand is made of durable steel, it is capable of being strong and sturdy. . It is great sturdy stand and is capable of holding 500 pounds!
The unique curved foot platform which measures 56”w 13″d offers great comfort and support. Another addition to the outstanding dual-rail ladder. This makes climbing easier as you can choose to climb from either side. It also offers full-coverage letting you cover 360 degrees during the deer hunting session. The sections of the ladder are pinned meaning you can easily carry them anywhere you want. This makes the transportation and storage of the stand quite easier. A premier product for a great price.
Pros
- Durable
- Dual-rail for easy access
- Sturdy construction
- Extreme cushion comfort
Cons
- Shooting rail is stationary
- Only 2 gripes
My personal experience:
When the hunting season comes, you need to bring out all the necessary hunting equipment including crossbows, rangefinder and hunting flashlight. A ladder stand is one of these necessities. Just like me, no other bow hunter intends to fall from a tree stand and cripple. Last year, on October 7, I had this horrifying experience of tripping off the ladder stand I was using that day. I was lucky enough on being just a few feet away from the ground. I got hold of myself and grabbed my crossbow from the ground. From that day, I decided to invest in the good quality ladder.
How high should a tree stand be for bow hunting?
There is no exact science in finding the perfect height for a tree stand. It all depends on the target and the location. The general rule that I found from my personal experience is that with abundant cover, you stay concealed. In this way, you don’t have to stand much higher. The height that I, normally, keep is 12 to 17 feet because I am not too fond of steep angle shots.
Do you aim high or low when shooting from a tree stand?
Quick decisions are the mind-bending moments for bowhunters in a big game. This is a classic question. But, the linear distance from the target is much important. The best way is to keep in mind the height of the stand and the distance. This way, you will be able to calculate the compensation angle. Keep in mind that at height, you might want to take a steeply angled shot.
Can you shoot deer in the head?
Shooting a deer in the head is considered a “bad shot”. This is because a deer’s head is different from a human head. The size of the brain of the deer is nearly about a fist. So, it is more likely that you either miss the shot or not be able to have a perfect kill. A deer must always be shot in “the vitals” which are the lungs, heart and liver. This guarantees a neat kill.
