Just getting back into deer hunting now that I live on a little bit of land. Just picked up a metal 2 man ladder stand and set it up this past weekend. I noticed in the instructions/warnings it says not to leave it out for more than 14 days.
I venture to guess most people on private land leave them out year round, but curious what others really do?
I basically leave mine out year around. I do change out the bolts every few years though.
DT
Mine stay in the woods 365 days a year. I usually move 1 or 2 each year and will visually inspect the bolts and such, but that’s it. I also inspect the straps and ratchets, I replace them when they begin to show signs of wear. Harness straps come with me at the end of the year, but stay up all season.
One thing I have been doing the last couple years is adding a “good” ratchet strap to the top of the stand along with using the factory one. You can tighten a good ratchet much tighter than the factory ones. I lost a lot of skin on one of my fingers last year when the metal bracket broke on one of the factory ones when I was trying to tighten it. Of course I stayed on stand instead of getting stitches. 
DT
One thing I have been doing the last couple years is adding a “good” ratchet strap to the top of the stand along with using the factory one.
I’ve always thrown the factory straps right into the trash. For my ladders, I use three ratchet straps. One at the top, one at the platform and one for the ladder support. No cinch straps will be found on anything other that my battery box in my duck boat…
I leave mine out year around as well.
One thing that I find handy with ratchet straps is to write the date they were first deployed on the strap end with a Sharpie.
This leaves no doubt as to age of the strap. I replace straps about every 3 years.
Grouse
I have a total of 8 stands on 120 acres. 2 are climbers, those come in. 2 are ladders, those I leave out but bring cushions and curtains in. 4 are hang on, those stay out, bring cushions in. I replace ratchets every year. For my hang ons and ladders, I use 2 ratchets. Ratchets dont cost that much for good insurance. I use the old ones for work. Some rustoleum every other year in the spring has kept everything tip top. I’m fortunate to live in an area where I’m not worried about stands being stolen, and if someone did, as my neighbor knows, they’ll probably be on a camera or 2. I have 10 I keep out all year as well. If I notice the deer are avoiding walking past stands, I’ll move them. I hang most around 20′ up and don’t feel they are noticed. The less equipment I haul in and out of the woods each year the better!
Thanks for the replies! I figured most people would not bring them in but good idea to keep an eye on the straps/bolts, and maybe some occasional paint. I plan to bring in the cushions/curtain.
Thanks for the replies! I figured most people would not bring them in but good idea to keep an eye on the straps/bolts, and maybe some occasional paint. I plan to bring in the cushions/curtain.
Speaking of straps and bolts, always keep a good selection of spare parts in your truck or someplace else where you have them while hunting. I keep a bunch of those clip/pin things that hold the ladders together and some stainless 1/4 inch bolts with wing nuts and lock nuts in my spare parts selection at all times.
It’s amazing how often a bolt or nut gets dropped when moving a stand and good luck finding it! Or you inspect a stand before the season and see a badly rusted bolt or missing nut. In my experience, I figure I might as well invest in stainless so I only have to replace things once. Non-stainless hardware starts rusting really quickly when left outdoors and then it’s a real bear if you ever have to take things apart to move the stand.
Also make sure you have the wrenches/pliers available to tighten things up or take things apart whenever needed. A couple of my stands use metric bolts, which is a real PITA.
Grouse
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>311hemi wrote:</div>
Thanks for the replies! I figured most people would not bring them in but good idea to keep an eye on the straps/bolts, and maybe some occasional paint. I plan to bring in the cushions/curtain.Speaking of straps and bolts, always keep a good selection of spare parts in your truck or someplace else where you have them while hunting. I keep a bunch of those clip/pin things that hold the ladders together and some stainless 1/4 inch bolts with wing nuts and lock nuts in my spare parts selection at all times.
It’s amazing how often a bolt or nut gets dropped when moving a stand and good luck finding it! Or you inspect a stand before the season and see a badly rusted bolt or missing nut. In my experience, I figure I might as well invest in stainless so I only have to replace things once. Non-stainless hardware starts rusting really quickly when left outdoors and then it’s a real bear if you ever have to take things apart to move the stand.
Also make sure you have the wrenches/pliers available to tighten things up or take things apart whenever needed. A couple of my stands use metric bolts, which is a real PITA.
Grouse
The stands are behind my house, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Otherwise I am like you, I have straps and tools in the truck at all times. I also have a tool kit in the boat with wing nuts, SS nuts/bolt, tie wraps, tools, fuse etc, etc.
Just picked up a 12v air compressor and plug kit to keep in the wheeler, along with all the other tools I carry.
Which reminds me, I lost one of the pins for the ladder….need to bring one out this weekend!
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