hang on or ladder stand?

Chain and lock it. If you use one that straps onto the tree, use screw in steps and start them at about eight feet off the ground. Then bring screw in steps to get you that high and climb the rest of the way up. These things will make it annoying for someone to steal your stand and while not fool proof it is lazy proof. Thieves tend to be lazy because being too lazy to work, earn, save, and buy their own stuff is why one might steal in the first place. You could probably yank down a ladder stand without even climbing if you tried hard enough.
I've failed to follow these directions in the past, and it led to me shopping for replacements to what was stolen from me.

I have had a hang on stolen. It was cable locked. I had detachable foot pegs halfway up. The stand was a 45 minute hike up a mountain to boot.

People suck. I have a ladder stand I bow hunt from, but my place is private. Not much thievery out here. AND, there's not a lot of straight trees out here once could climb, so it's either a ladder stand or another tripod for elevating. I hunt during gun season in a box blind with a heater. The ladder stand gets me elevated which I feel I need in bow season and it's kinda hot, usually, during bow season here. I have a ground tent blind, too, but prefer the elevation during bow season.

Millennium hang on tree stands slide into the tree chain bracket. Padlock the chain, then slide the stand out of the bracket lower to the ground and take with you or stash someplace on the ground near by.

When you climb back up lift the stand, all aluminum very light weight. Slide into bracket and your set.

I use ladder stands for some locations for my hunters. They are a struggle to put up even with two people at times. Once up they tend to stay for years. I hate moving or handling them. They also seem to me to have much more squeaks and creaks when you shift your weight or stand.

They have a more secure feeling and a shooting rail ( on mine) all my ladder stands are doubles. Usually for dad and son type situations. The singles are certainly lighter, but need a more user friendly tree and ground conditions to secure and keep level.

I've had the legs sink into the ground over time requiring complete remounting on the tree. Annoying when you arrive to hunt and it's in need of work.

The biggest problem with the millennium hang on is staying awake. The lounge chair is so comfortable I doze off frequently!

I don't think the type of stand will really matter. If you're chaining it to the tree, it wouldn't make any difference whether or not it was a hang on or ladder stand. The chain is what's keeping it there.

If you're that concerned about it just find a good, lightweight climber and take it in and out with you.

I know this is a little off topic, but that's why I don't mind spending the $ on lease membership. We routinely leave ladder stands, hang on stands, climbers and game cams in the woods strapped to trees with nothing more than a ratchet strap. Box blinds have portable propane heaters in them and most have no locks. They're all inside a locked gate and we've never had an issue.
Sure makes it nice. I realize not everyone has that option though for one reason or the other.

Arkansas Paul said:

I don't think the type of stand will really matter. If you're chaining it to the tree, it wouldn't make any difference whether or not it was a hang on or ladder stand. The chain is what's keeping it there.

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Yep, and if it's public land be aware that in most cases you cannot injure the tree. This means no trimming of live branches and no screw in steps or hooks of any kind.

Depends on how old and fat you are. I'm not really fat, but not agile enough to mess with hanging stands anymore. I used to really like them when I was younger and it was easier to hang them and get into them. Anymore I just hunt on the ground. Ain't worth breaking a leg or worse for a deer. If I were to use an elevated stand now it would be a good climbing stand or ladder type. But both of those are much more trouble to carry into the woods

How about some kind of Low Jack device on your stand? For me, I would put a good cable and padlock system on the ladder stand, +/- a picture of Jesus, and go from there. That will keep most of the honest people honest.

A $150 ladder stand from any of the major big box guys will work. Chain it and lock it onto the tree so that they need bolt cutters to get it off. If they want it bade enough to bring bolt cutters back in the woods to steal a ladder stand then they would take anything you have.

Lock ons work great and you can use the "step ladders" to access the stand when you hunt but this makes noise while assembling the steps. When I hunted in less than secure areas I tended to use a climber or a ladder stand. Now I build stands and use both ladder and lock ons.

Strap on climbing sticks - take the lower section or two with you when you leave

I own several of each,but on public land I mostly use climbers.It's pretty hard to steal one when a guy with a rifle is sitting in it! Ladders and hang-on stands are quicker and quieter to get into,once they are set up,but climbers are more portable and you can move around the tree when you get up it.As a plus,you can adjust your elevation if you can't see well when you get up.The portability is very handy when you see deer out of range,or don't see any at all.You can also adjust your location when the weather changes to keep your scent out of the area you believe the deer will come from.It is considerably more trouble to move a hang on,or worse,a ladder than a climber with backpack straps.Just something to consider.

Like others have said cable or chain and a lock. Ladder stands I put the sections together with bolts and lock nuts.Your stands not much good if somebody takes the bottom section plus a 18 or 20 foot ladder stand bolted together is a miserable thing to drag thru the brush.

For the sake of not having to carry it in to where you'll be hunting, I'd say go with a hang-on over the ladder. Hang-ons are much lighter, and you have tons of options for what type of ladder you get. cable lock around the top. Like Courtgreene said, you could put screw in steps 8-10' off the ground and then just use a section or two of strap-on ladder to get up to that point.

Hang on all the way. Ladder stands are easier to set up. Hang-ons conceal you much better. A tip: Don't mark the path to your stand with those little reflective pins or flagging tape. And don't hang it in a wide open tree. If I wasn't an honest man I could probably steal 4-5 nice stands every year because people mark them nice and purdy for me. I know, right now, where a Summit, API, and (this guy is really oblivious) a Lone Wolf are. All are clearly marked and are also on plain trees that a climber would have no problems getting up.

Stands

After having had multiple stands and other hunting items stolen on private land, I hunt almost exclusively from climbing stands. I hike in and out wiht them stapped to my back. Summit Goliath is my favorite. I'm 6 feet 185, and the stand allows me to move if needed, in great comfort. Just be sure to wear your safety harness!

You can shop around and find decent prices on new, but if you buy used I would make SURE the stand is not modified structurally. Paint and add on accessories are fine,but avoid any non factory welding or drilling.I currently have an API and a Loggy Bayou climbers, and they weigh in the 28-32lb range. Summit makes good quality light climbers as well as others.You may sacrifice some comfort if you go real light. Do remember that carrying a 30 lb stand on your back is much easier than lugging a ladder on your shoulder.Not a big deal if you hunt close to the road,but the climber gives the ability to pack up and move quickly and quietly if the need arises.I usually carry a backpack nested in and strapped to the climber for warm clothing,water,haul ropes,lunch,etc. Just my opinions based on using tree stands since 1978.

Remember that in most places if you have a ladder stand on public property someone else can just as easily be sitting in it when you get there. Anyone can use it if you leave it there and are more likely to climb up in a ladder stand. If someone is in it when you get to your spot then there is nothing legally you can do about it. I remove the the steps to my hang ons and have never had anyone in them but I prefer lightweight climbers on public land as people can't pattern you as easily. I get stalked by other hunters more than I get patterned by deer.