Best 20ft Ladder Stand?

[NYBuckHunter27]

Looking to buy a 20ft ladder stand, wondering whats the best on the market these days?

[Lawdwaz]

20' is a high sum-biotch!

I've only used a few ladder stands and most were custom built and nowhere near that high. I just bought one lag last fall and don't recall how tall it is as it's still in the box and at my buddies farm.

Good luck!

[grampy]

I mostly hunt from the ground now. But my hunting partner bought a Big Game Odyssey, last year that I hunted out of a couple times. It was very comfortable and stable. Not sure if it was 20' though. Think he paid a little over $200 when on sale at bass pro.

[sssurfertim]

We have 2 team real tree (Ameristep) 20ft ladder stands on our property, very well built and nice stands over all. 20ft on flat ground is high, 20ft on a steep hillside feels like 50ft!

[Merlot]

Man, that seems rather high. Imagine harder to move than shorter stands if you pick a poor location. I'd rather have 2- 12 foot ladder stands than 1 - 20 footer. JMHO.

[Sogaard]

If you're not worried about price, Big Game makes a couple of very nice 20' ers.

[grampy]

If they made 30 footers or higher, guys would use them. Not my cup of tea, but more power to the ones who would.

[reeltime]

big game does make some nice ones. I personally don't really care for ladder stands because I cant get them high enough, they stand out like a sore thumb, and they are heavy and cumbersome to drag through the woods. 

Give me 2 sets of 20' climbing sticks and a nice fixed position stand and I am a happy camper, I have never found a person in one of my stands, either because they are hidden well or they are afraid to be 30-40 feet up a tree.   works for me.

[ants]

big game does make some nice ones. I personally don't really care for ladder stands because I cant get them high enough, they stand out like a sore thumb, and they are heavy and cumbersome to drag through the woods. 

Give me 2 sets of 20' climbing sticks and a nice fixed position stand and I am a happy camper, I have never found a person in one of my stands, either because they are hidden well or they are afraid to be 30-40 feet up a tree.   works for me.

 

 

30 or 40 feet!!??……..You're spiderman

[GreeneHunter]

Not sure what make my ladder stand is - its been up for 7-8 years now - but its only 15 feet and boy would I rather have had a 20 footer !  You kinda get used to 15 ft and want more in a short time !  I just re-adjust and tighten every year !

[Nomad]

If they made 30 footers or higher, guys would use them. Not my cup of tea, but more power to the ones who would.

Guy at work says he found two 15 footers stacked one on the other ..........

[Zag]

only problem going that high is getting the dang thing up. I threw up a 16ft by myself one yr and almost busted a nut getting up right. Maybe there is a more simple way of doing it.

[sweet old bill]

12 foot is just right for most of the time, high enough to get the scent away from the deer, your ability to see deer coming in and sure helps with getting that bow up to shoot.

[dbHunterNY]

I've been wanting to look into this.  my dad had a built tree stand that was up in a huge pine tree.  it's probably around 30' up the tree, in a hedge row, that over looks 6 fields surrounding a swamp.  a couple fields or parts out of common rifle range, but most present shots within 300 yards.  it had a nice cushioned railing on it for a good rest.  if I put a smaller ladder stand there you won't up over some knolls in a couple fields.  not that big of a deal, but he likes watching deer and I like the idea of a ladder to climb.  before he just left an aluminum extension ladder up there to get into it.  it could comfortably sit a couple people with plenty of room.

[genesee_mohican]

 I personally don't really care for ladder stands because I cant get them high enough, they stand out like a sore thumb, and they are heavy and cumbersome to drag through the woods. 

Give me 2 sets of 20' climbing sticks and a nice fixed position stand and I am a happy camper.

 

Ditto, and 95% of the time my stand is in a tree with a lot of branches for concealment from deer and people.

 20' to 25', occasionally a bit higher.

 

 Rivers Edge makes a very good tree stand.

[growalot]

That must have been better built than mine...I have put up and moved all my ladder stands by myself...I just bring two stakes and bailing twine ...hammer those in at the base...tie legs loosely to the stakes and then walk the ladder up to the tree...I also bring 2 extra ratchet straps and secure the ladder as I climb.

 

Now if I got a double rail stand that would be different...several of my built ones are 20 + ft...but I wouldnt want to be higher due to shot angles.

 

BTW what ever brand for 20ft I'd suggest a double rail stand...more money but as you get older you'll find if feels more secure..

[Bow Addict]

I love my 20' River's Edge ladder stand.It's a very well built and stable stand.

[sssurfertim]

Rivers edge makes the best built stands IMO. I have 5 of their hang on stands.

[Bow Addict]

Rivers edge makes the best built stands IMO. I have 5 of their hang on stands.

I have 4 River's Edge hang ons and 5 ladder stands.

[moog5050]

We have a few field and stream altitude stands that are 24' to the platform.  They are a pain to set and heavy, but pretty stable as long you maintain the straps.  You will notice that the straps on ladder stands that high tend to become loose because the tree is moving more up there from the wind.  It put a big scare into me last year on gun opener when I sat in one and the stand slid down the tree 6".  I was nervous standing up to re-tighten the strap.  lol

 

Honestly, I agree with others that if you plan to go high, a hang on and sticks is a better option.  At least the straps are not being loosened by a stationary ladder stand and its much easier to set.

[phade]

River's Edge has a new model out this year that is right around 20" that I saw at Gander Mtn. It looks nice. We have well over 40 ladders ranging from 15' basics to 24' Altitudes, which are a pain to setup but give you good vantages. The majority of our stands are either 15' or 19'. 

 

Once you get beyond the basic 15' height the cost for a quality stable stand goes up pretty quickly. A few of our basics are 19', which are just the 15'ers with the 4' extension and second brace. They are so-so, there is alot of flexing to notice when climbing. Cost-wise, I'd look at that River's Edge stand OR go to Dick's or Field and Stream (same company) and buy an Outpost or similar Field and Stream model with an extension piece. We have a few stands of that brand and they are pretty darn good quality. Comfy, too.

 

I also do think alot of people over-estimate the height of their stands, amongst other things, as a bragging right of sorts. I can't tell you how many times people have told me they sit 25' up and when I see the stand, it's more like 17ish. Our 24' ladders are pretty far up there and that stand gives steep shooting angles for bow as it is when within 15-20 yards. I had a 32' stand once and that stand was in heavy cover but did allow for decent shooting. Still angles at that height are hard.

 

The only time I see a need for major height beyond 20' is when on uneven ground -ie a 15'er could be eye level in front of you and 45' high behind you in hill country. Or, when needing vantage, as is the case with out 24' models to see over a marsh and be able to shoot down into it.

[nyslowhand]

I use ladder stands soley. One of my pet peeves is the mfger's advertised stand height. Some are to the platform, while most are to the gunrail.  I have one that is 20' to the platform, adding another ~4' when standing shooting a bow. This gives way too much of any angled shot for my tastes at 20yrds or less. For strictly gun hunting, this is a non-issue.

 

The best ladderstand....sort of a subjective thing. Did you mean material & construction, safety or stability, comfort, platform/seat size, cost..? Firstly, any one with ladder rails made from more substantial material than the typical 3/4-1" rectangular tubing. All the ladderstands I own have terrible seat & back cushions, so you have to improvise per your own seating comfort. Another place the mfger's do "cost savings" is the supplied straps & lashing ropes. I've had to buy more substantial ratchet straps & larger diameter lashing rope to give me a "warm & fuzzy" feeling about safety. Last thing on my ultimate ladderstand list is mfger supplied foot pads for the base of the ladder sections. My DIY solution is a 20-24" length of pressure treated 2x10".

 

Best ladderstand I own, a F&S model from Dick's with large platform & very substantial "D" section ladder rails. Believe I paid ~$135, during a pre or end of season sale.

 

Everyone knows this, but beware of s&h for catalog or on-line sellers.

[NYBuckHunter27]

thanks for all the info guys!