Treestands & Ratchet Straps

[Cabin Fever]

Thought I'd mention something that I've noticed very recently. I've been to 3 different ladder stands for various reasons in the last couple of days and was very surprised that most of the ratchet straps were fairly loose and in need of cranking 3-4 more clicks to secure. I've been in these stands all during bow season with no issues. I'm wondering if the cold weather that we've had in the past few days caused some "shrinkage" in the trees or if the wind and swaying trees cause the straps to stretch or if it could be a combination of the two? I was installing a shooting rail on one stand today and puckered a bit at how much the stand shifted when I got to the top of the ladder stand. 

Before you climb into that stand in the morning, you might want to double check at how secure it is, just to be on the safe side... 

[Bolt action]

Good tip..

[mowin]

If the straps are older, the stitching starts to separate. I always have two straps on every stand, one that is new every fall. The oldest gets cut off and replaced. The following yr I add a new one, and cut the oldest off, leaving a new one and a yr old one on every stand. 

[Cabin Fever]

These are all brand new to 1 year old heavy straps, not the cheapos that come with the stands either. It was odd, as it just happened in the last few days. I never thought about checking the stands, as I'm in them all during bow season. The only assumption I can come up with is that maybe the freezing temps constricts the tree a bit or maybe the high winds and swaying trees stretches the straps a bit? I only have ladder stands, so maybe between the swaying tree and supported legs on the ground causes the straps to stretch? Hell, I don't know! Just thought I'd throw it out there for everyone to double check before climbing into the stand in the morning.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Cabin Fever

[50calpeephole]

On 11/19/2021 at 9:35 PM, Cabin Fever said:

These are all brand new to 1 year old heavy straps, not the cheapos that come with the stands either. It was odd, as it just happened in the last few days. I never thought about checking the stands, as I'm in them all during bow season. The only assumption I can come up with is that maybe the freezing temps constricts the tree a bit or maybe the high winds and swaying trees stretches the straps a bit? I only have ladder stands, so maybe between the swaying tree and supported legs on the ground causes the straps to stretch? Hell, I don't know! Just thought I'd throw it out there for everyone to double check before climbing into the stand in the morning.

You sure someone's not fucking with you? 

 

Winds can stretch the straps, and we certainly had that, but the cold temperatures wouldn't loosen them, it'd tighten them. With this said though, all of the ladder stands on my hunting property are nice and tight to the trees just as they have been since I checked this summer.

[Hock3y24]

I've never had a strap loosen. interesting. something to keep in mind though. 

[G-Man]

Sap is out if tree they could loosen depending on type if tree, better than  other problem of tree growing and strap is simply tore apart .  We always loosen straps after season so tree has room  to  grow when sap runs in spring.( Feb/ march)

[Team Hoyt]

My 1 ladder stand was loose as well and that had a new strap on it. I thought it was odd as well

[GreeneHunter]

I have only one Ladder Stand on my property and years ago I found it loose like stated above so I bought a roll of Band Iron and screwed the stand to the tree - allowing for growth - and have not had a problem since !

 

[fasteddie]

I have always had the straps tighten to the tree . I try to remember to loosen them at the end of the season so they don't gerd / damage the tree ............