How to Hang a Treestand: A Comprehensive Guide

Hunting from a treestand can give you a significant edge in the field. You can observe your surroundings from an elevated position while remaining unnoticed by smell and activity. However, knowing how to hang a treestand properly is critical to your safety and the safety of those around you.

While hanging something may sound easy, it is a bit tricky when it comes to treestand. You need to choose the right gear, pick the appropriate location, ascend the tree safely, and then you can set up the treestand safely. Don’t worry. You will find in-depth information about how to do all these.

Table of Contents

Picking the Right Gear

Before you head out to the woods, you need to make sure you have the right gear for hanging a treestand. Here are some of the essential items you’ll need:

A hang-on or lock-on stand. This is the type of stand that is easiest and quietest to set up. It consists of a platform and a seat that can be attached to any tree with a rope or a ratchet strap. If you want something more comfortable or spacious, you can also opt for a two-person stand or a lounge stand.
Climbing sticks. These are metal or plastic poles with steps that can be attached to the tree with ratchet straps or carabiners. Climbing sticks help you climb up and down the tree without damaging it or making noise. You’ll need about 4 or 5 climbing sticks depending on the height of your tree.
Rope, carabiners, and ratchet straps. These are the items that will keep you and your stand safe on the tree. You’ll need rope to tie your stand to your harness and pull it up the tree, carabiners to connect some good climbing sticks and your harness to the tree, and ratchet straps to secure your stand and your climbing sticks to the tree. Make sure they are strong enough to hold your weight and rated for climbing.

A harness. This is the most important piece of safety gear you’ll need. A harness is a vest-like device that covers your chest and torso and has loops for attaching ropes and carabiners. It will prevent you from falling if your stand or your climbing stick fails. Always wear a harness when hanging or hunting from a treestand.

Choosing the Perfect Location

Now that you have gathered all the required gears, it’s time to find yourself a suitable tree to hang your treestand

Here are some factors to consider when choosing a location:

Size and shape of the tree. The tree should be large enough to support your weight and your stand, but not too large that it makes it difficult to wrap your rope or ratchet strap around it. It should also have a straight trunk and few branches that might interfere with your climbing or shooting.
The health and stability of the tree. You need a healthy tree to stay stable on your treestand. It should also be firmly rooted in the ground and not leaning or swaying too much. Avoid trees that have cracks, holes, fungus, or insect damage.
Visibility from the tree. Pick a tree that will give a clear view of the hunting area as well as allow you to spot any approaching game. It should also be downwind from where you expect your prey to come from, so that they don’t smell you.

The regulations and permissions of the landowner. Choose a tree that is public property. However, you can choose one on private land if you have the permission. You should also check the local laws and regulations regarding hanging treestands and follow them accordingly.

Climbing the Tree

After you’ve found your ideal tree, it’s time to climb it and learn how to hang a treestand. Here’s how to do it safely and efficiently:

Attach the first climbing stick to the base of the tree. Take one of your climbing sticks and wrap its ratchet strap around the trunk of the tree at about waist height. Connect the strap to the other side of the stick and tighten it until it’s snug and secure. Make sure the stick is level and stable.

Put on your harness and attach yourself to the tree with a lineman’s belt or a prusik knot. Put on your harness and make sure it fits you well and doesn’t restrict your movement. Attach a rope or a strap to one of the loops on your harness and tie it around the tree with a lineman’s belt or a prusik knot. This will allow you to lean back and have both hands free while climbing.
Climb up the first stick and attach the second one above it. Use the steps on the stick to climb up until you reach the top of it. Then, take another stick and repeat the same process as before: wrap its ratchet strap around the tree, connect it to the other side of the stick, and tighten it. Make sure there is no gap between the sticks and that they are aligned.
Repeat until you reach your desired height. Keep climbing up one stick at a time and attaching them to the tree until you reach your preferred height. You can use a carabiner to clip each stick to your harness as you go up, so that they don’t fall down if they get loose. Don’t go higher than you feel comfortable or safe.

Attach yourself to the tree with a tether or a lifeline. Once you’ve reached your chosen height, use another rope or strap to attach yourself to the tree. A tether, which ties your harness to a loop around the tree, or a lifeline, which runs up the trunk of the tree and has a prusik knot that moves up and down with you, can be used. If you lose your equilibrium or your stand fails, this will save you from falling.