As a lifelong deer hunter, I’ve hunted from many deer stands and hunting blinds. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of hunting from elevated perches, and hunting from the ground. Don’t choose just any treestand. Analyze the situation, and then choose accordingly. Here’s what you should know when it comes to choosing the best deer stands for every hunting scenario.
Tripod Deer Stands (Tripod Deer Blinds)
Tripod deer stands are excellent for numerous scenarios, and stand on three legs with a ladder that ascends to the middle of the platform. Oftentimes, these are limited to gun hunting. With the open design, and 360-degree railing, it’s ideal for those carrying a firearm, but also works for crossbow hunters. Bowhunters can hunt from these, but it’s more beneficial for those packing heat.
Tripod deer stands are especially good for those who want to hunt from elevated positions that don’t have good trees for treestands. They’re especially good for snuggling up between two nearby cedar or pine trees. This way, it offers the elevated capability with the added cover from the conifers.
The Millennium Outdoors’ T360 16-FT Revolution Tripod Stand is a great pick if you’re looking for a quality tripod stand. It features a 300-pound capacity, 40-inch-by-16-inch platform, and powder-coated steel. It weighs 155.8 pounds, and has a nice shooting rail, too. If that one doesn’t check the right boxes, the T-100 10-FT Aluminum Tripod might do the trick.
Tower Deer Stands (Tower Deer Blinds, Tower Box Stands)
Like a tripod stand, a tower deer stand is another great elevated hunting perch. Rather than an open platform with railing and a swiveling seat, tower deer stands are usually enclosed stands or blinds that offer both height and concealment advantages. These are especially popular among gun hunters, but with the right window configurations, can be great for bowhunters, too.
Tower deer stands are ideal for many locations, especially in spots where you want to remain concealed while peering down into taller grasses, vegetation, etc. Oftentimes, these are warmer than hunting from treestands, too. Furthermore, depending on design, these can be good for scent retention and allowing space for multiple hunters at one time.
A good tower deer blind, or tower box blind, can be difficult to come by. The Q-180-00 Buck Hut 180 is a solid pick, though. It’s crafted with heavy-duty, water-resistant, soft-shell material. It includes a 7-ft height for standing shots, six viewing windows for 180-degree field of view, and more. It has a 600-pound snow load rating. It incorporates powder-coated steel, non-slip steps, and two handrails.
Ladder Deer Stands
Ideally, ladder deer stands can work in numerous settings. They’re one of the most popular treestand types in all of deer hunting. This is true for multiple reasons, including a safer feel during the ascent and descent, comfier seating, handy shooting rails, and more. Ladder deer stands are especially good for spots that might be hunted by multiple people, some of which might not have the balance or strength to hunt from a hang-on stand.
Ladder stands can work just about anywhere a hunter can find a viable tree for placement. Field edges, food plots, tree lines, or even inside the timber, these are excellent spots to place a ladder deer stand. That said, if in short supply, I tend to place these in areas that are more likely to be gun hunted than bow hunted, due to the associated shooting rail.
The L-124-SL Lite 18-FT Single Ladder includes the exclusively patented ComfortMAX contoured tight-sling seat, oval steel construction, adjustable padded shooting rail, accessory hooks, and durable powder-coated finish. It’s simple to set up, and a great choice for hunters looking for a versatile, well-rounded stand.
Two-Man Deer Stands
A ladder stand with enough seating for two hunters, a two-man deer stand has a wider seat, platform, and shooting rail. This is crafted to provide more spacing for two hunters to sit simultaneously. Permitting it fits into the space, it can be placed anywhere a ladder stand is compatible.
Like the single-man ladder deer stand, this is excellent for virtually all hunting spots where a treestand is ideal. Due to slightly higher pricing, it’s especially good for primary hunting locations that tend to receive more seat time, as hunters are more likely to get their money’s worth that way.
The L-224-SL Lite 18-FT Double Ladder Stand is the ideal buddy stand. It’s made for extended use. Plus, it comes with the patented ComfortMAX contoured tight-sling seat, oval steel construction, and durable powder-coated finish. The L220 18-FT Double Ladder is another great option.
Climbing Deer Stands
A climbing deer stand is designed for hunters to ascend the tree while remaining in the stand itself. It’s crafted as a two-piece system, including the top half (seat, arm rest, shooting rail, etc.) and bottom half (foot platform). It’s a highly popular method and is common among hunters who prefer the mobile hunting approach.
This treestand type isn’t ideal for those who lack the strength and balance to use it, though. Furthermore, if the target hunt area lacks tall, straight, limbless tree trunks (up to about 20 feet), and has an appropriate trunk diameter, a climbing treestand won’t be of much use. So, ensure the hunting property checks these boxes prior to purchasing one. Additionally, climbing stands are ideal when hunting public lands with mature timber.
Hang-On Deer Stands
The hang-on deer stand is arguably the most versatile selection on the market. These, paired with a set of sticks, can help hunters get into trees that climbing treestands, and sometimes ladder stands, aren’t compatible with. Place these most anywhere, but hang-on deer stands are great for deep in the timber, or other hard-to-reach places.
These stands are especially good for trees that won’t allow for other stand types, such as climbing stands. Plus, these are tailor-made for the needs of bowhunters. You can often get hang-on stands at lower price points than other options, and therefore be able to afford more of these as you position bow stands throughout the property. Furthermore, consider hang-on treestands for public land hunting.
The M25 Hang On is a great option for those planning to go with a hang-on treestand. It has a 20.5-inch-by-26-inch platform, 20-inch-by-16-inch seat size, 21-inch seat height, 300-pound weight capacity, and weighs 19 pounds. It’s built to be tough and last a long time. The M100U UltraLite is even more comfortable, and lighter weight, but carries a bigger price tag.
Ground Blinds for Deer Hunting
Some hunters prefer to remain on the ground while deer hunting. Ground blinds conceal hunters, and can even retain a little heat, making it slightly warmer. These are perhaps just as popular as treestands are for deer hunting.
Of course, hub-style blinds are very portable. Larger hard-sided can be moved, but require more effort. Either way, these are excellent selections for deer hunters to implement on their hunting properties.
The Antler Shak 30-06 Ground Blind is constructed with some of the heaviest-duty material on the hunting blind market. Its soft shell is water-resistant, and offers a 180-degree panoramic view. It has adjustable windows, brush-in loops, mesh panels, and more. Don’t like that one? Consider the GB-100 Buck Blind instead.
All things considered, there’s a right deer stand or hunting blind for you. It just requires considering the situation, and selecting a product that best fits the scenario. Do that, and you’re well on your way to being ready for deer season this fall and winter.
