[frayluisfan]

Hi, guys.

I'm new to the South and whitetail hunting, and am thinking about getting a deer stand, ideally one of the two-man jobs so my son can be up there with me. But when I went to check one out at Dick's Sporting Goods, the thing turns out to weigh almost 100 lbs., and is in such a big box I don't know if I can get the silly thing into/out of the truck myself. Do any of you have experience with these things? Are they easier to set up once you get the box open? Or are they as much of a pain in the neck as they seem? Would building a little tree house be easier?

Thanks much,
Frayluisfan

[john1911]

I use a 2-man stand. Once you get the box open, there are several different pieces. Still pretty heavy.

I can put mine up by myself, but it's difficult and takes several trips to get all the pieces in position. It's much easier with 2 people. I mainly set mine up on field edges or places that allow vehicle access. I wouldn't want to pack it too far through the woods.

[Muzzy_B]

2 man free-fab stands require a bit of work to assemble, haul in, and set up. However, they are much easier to break down and move out after the season ends than a tree house is (if you're like me and don't leave your stands out all year). Though tree house blinds have their advantages too. You can carpet the walls and floor to minimize sound and they are a little better at keeping the weather at bay. Take a look at some of the kits sold in some of the hunting rags. Good luck.

[Wolfgang2000]

I use the 2 man ladder stand. Putting it together wasn't a problem. It is kind of a bear to get up. But my wife and I did it. You might think of using a rope over the tree. 1 person can pull the rope while the other lifts the stand.

A word to the wise. If the ladder joints aren't pinned, put a board or something under the ladder to keep it from sinking into the ground. Or sink it into the grown up to the first rung.

[frayluisfan]

Thanks a lot! That gives me what I needed to know.

[Rembrandt]

Built about 10 of these permanent stands that work well for an adult and youngster. They measure 3'X4' and are 20' high. Access is provided by two 10' pre-made ladder sections lag bolted to the tree. Plenty of room and rock solid. Seat swivels or can be pulled out for more room. To get them into a tree we throw a rope over a limb, one end to the stand, the other to an ATV and pull the unit into place. Don't care for "tree-houses", too much maintenance. The expanded metal allows snow and weather to pass through, metal is allowed to rust which matches color of tree bark. Not for everyone....but we enjoy them, safe secure, and roomy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Treestand1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Treestand2.jpg

[Neophyte1]

"American" ingenuity still lives: nice tree-stand

[B.D. Turner]

I picked up two twelve foot Ameristep two man stands to hunt in this year. Walmart had em for $89. They have the additional ladder extentions to make it into a 16 foot stand too. These stands weigh about 70# but I don't plan on moving them but twice a season.

[Ken]

I just put up a two-man stand. It wasn't hard to assemble. But, I did take it into the woods with an ATV and it took two of us to get it on the tree. Needless to say, I am not moving it anytime soon.

I also plan on hunting out of it even when my son is not with me. There is so much more room in there than the one person stand.

One word of caution--you should plan on using a harness with it (mine came with two harnesses). Right under the front rail, say from waist height down, it is real open and, to me, easier to fall out of than the narrower single person stand.

[B.D. Turner]

I feel a bunch safer when moving around in our two man stands when hunting alone. The harness is a must most guys hurt during hunting season are stand related. Hunt safe.

[MCgunner]

I'd like to have a two man box blind on a 10 foot tripod someday. The harder it is to carry, the better. Damned thieves in my area ripped me off twice. My tripod isn't covered, would be nice, too, to be somewhat out of the weather.