These simple platforms provide about four square feet of space. They must be hauled into place and secured to the tree with belts or chains. These stands require separate climbing aids such as segmented ladders or climbing sticks.

The Fixed-Position Treestand Also called the hang-on treestand or hanging treestand, this deer stand is often the most affordable. Like the name implies, these tree-top hunting stands are fixed in place, which means you'll be hunting from the one location you choose.

That way I can have a good comfortable step up there and the most important part of this whole process is a lineman's rope. So doesn't really matter whatever safety harness you want to use.

Hang-On Treestand The most obvious reason for this popularity is because this stand has the ability to be hung and left for the entire season. I like this stand because it allows for the ability to hunt an area in stealth mode. I love to hunt an area in which I know that a lot of deer are moving.

Given the desire to be high enough to stay out of sight and blow scent over nearby deer, but not so high as to negatively affect shots, I generally aim to set my stands between 17 and 22 feet.

Most Comfortable: Millennium M150 Monster Millennium is known for their great seats, so it shouldn't be surprising that we unanimously picked the M150 Monster as the most comfortable. It's the type of stand you can nap in and actually get quality sleep. The seat is mesh and has just the right give for comfort.

It's a personal choice. Although tree saddles offer more benefits in mobility and flexibility, some hunters don't feel comfortable using them and prefer to stick to the comfort of tree stands. Whichever method you use, it's crucial to make safety your top priority.

safety harness Always wear a safety harness, also known as a fall arrest system, when you are in a tree stand, as well as when climbing into or out of a tree stand. A safety strap should be attached to the tree to prevent you from falling more than 12 inches.

No one wants to bother the deer at sunrise or sunset if they can help it, so we tend to focus our stand-hanging efforts around lunchtime. This is also the hottest time of the day a lot of times. Personally, I'd much rather wait for a truly windy day, or maybe a day where a light drizzle falls.

Best Overall: Lone Wolf Custom Gear . I tested a lot of impressive tree stands, but the Lone Wolf Custom Gear . 5 was the lightest, easiest to hang, and nearly silent during setup. The . 5 is made for mobile hunting, and it has a lot of features that make it one of the easiest to pack hang ons.

A hang-on is also able to go in a specific spot where the hunter has scouted and found the best sign. This is why a lot of hunters will have multiple stand sights on one piece of property, such as a stand for certain wind directions, food sources, travel routes and water sources.

Finding the right tree is the first step in placing a good tree stand. Trees around 18 inches in diameter or larger seem to work best. They're sturdy enough to support your body weight and wide enough to hide your shoulders. Thinner trees will expose your outline.

Unsurprisingly, falls are the primary cause of tree stand accidents and injuries. Many tree stands are placed 15'–20' in the air, significantly increasing the risk of a life-threatening injury in the event of a fall.

Portable tree stands come in three basic types: hang-on stands, climbing stands, and ladder stands.

Water Regularly "You should really be watering your tree daily," says O'Connor. "Especially during the first seven to ten days, which is when they take up the most water." For a standard size tree with a trunk diameter in the 5-inch range, you'll want to maintain at least 5 quarts of water in your stand each day.

Depends how cold. If it's below say 25, I get really antsy after about 3 hours. I usually sit the entire day the first day and a half, but after that i can only sit for a few hours. But for the next few days I walk and sit, walk and sit.