Types of Treestands for Hunting


this is one of the three types of treestands for hunting


Even hunters who are just starting out know that having a bird’s eye view of the surroundings is the best way to locate game while still remaining concealed. The safest and most effective way to achieve this is by investing in the proper hunting treestand. A treestand is a portable platform that allows you to safely and easily move to a higher vantage point. There are four main types of treestands—hang-on treestands, ladder treestands, climbing treestands, and saddle treestands. Each type of treestand offers slightly different features and functions to fit your hunting needs. Understanding each type helps you determine the best type of treestand for your needs. 


Before determining which type of treestand works best for you, you need to keep four pieces of information top of mind—material, mobility, weight capacity, and safety.


Treestand Material



Treestand Mobility


  • Treestand mobility is an important factor when choosing a treestand. Portable treestands can quickly be set up on a variety of different trees, allowing hunters to explore different areas and move locations quickly. They are a great option for the mobile hunter. 


Treestand Weight Capacity


  • Every treestand will note how much weight it can hold. The weight capacity of a treestand includes both the hunter’s weight and the weight of the gear. 


Treestand Safety Harness


  • No matter which type of treestand you choose to use while hunting, we always recommend every hunter wear a safety harness. With a treestand safety harness, you’ll stay secure to the tree should something happen with the treestand from the moment you start climbing up the tree until your feet touch the ground at the end of your hunt.



Saddle Treestands

Saddle treestands are becoming increasingly popular as they offer an alternative to both climbing and hang-on treestands. This type of treestand is designed to provide hunters with a comfortable seat which attaches to the tree trunk via nylon straps. The seat allows for a greater amount of mobility than other types of treestands. Saddle treestands are lightweight and portable, making them ideal for mobile hunting. While there are several advantages of using a saddle treestand, it does take a bit of practice and experience to get used to using one. 


Pros:

  • Allows for greater mobility
  • Compatible with any tree height
  • Extremely Lightweight and portable
  • Highly portable and versatile
  • Camping Grills & Stoves
  • Natural cover of trees allows for easy positioning


Cons:

  • Takes some practice and experience to get used to
  • Not ideal for heavier hunters looking for a stationary stand
  • More visible to deer



hunter standing in a saddle treestand

Hang-On Treestands

A hang-on treestand is designed for hunters who want to get up quickly and quietly to their position. New lightweight options have made hang-on stands extremely portable, but you can still leave them up for extended periods of time and can easily move them throughout the season to follow changing deer patterns. With a hang-on treestand, you can move to any tree height with the aid of climbing sticks. To make installation even easier, some treestands have an available quick-release bracket sold separately. 


Pros:

  • Compatible with any tree height
  • Standing or sitting positions available
  • Highly portable and versatile
  • Camping Grills & Stoves
  • Natural cover of trees allows for easy positioning
  • Wide variety of stand bases and seats available
  • More visible to deer


Cons:

  • Need climbing sticks or screw-in steps (depending on state restrictions)
  • Straps can weather quickly with long-term use
  • May not offer enough adjustability to accommodate trees with dramatic slants or angles


hunter in a hang on treestand
Climbing sticks are used with hang on treestands

If you choose to invest in a saddle treestand or hang-on treestand, you’ll also need to purchase a set of climbing sticks too. Climbing sticks attach to the tree and create “stairs'' to help you get into your treestand. A growing trend among mobile hunters are tree saddles which allow you to use a smaller platform to rest your feet and a harness system to secure yourself to the tree.

Ladder Treestands

When selecting a hunting treestand, hunters who prioritize comfort for convenience should start by looking at a ladder treestand. With a ladder treestand, hunters enjoy a larger, roomier platform compared to the other two types of treestands. Just as the name suggests, a ladder treestand features an attached ladder making it easier to climb into the stand. Although the heaviest and bulkiest option, a ladder treestand is incredibly secure once properly in position, making it ideal for rifle deer hunters who want a more permanent stand. It’s important to know that a ladder treestand includes several different parts and typically requires at least two people for set up.


Pros:

  • Very secure
  • Comfortable, plenty of room
  • 2-hunter capacity styles available
  • Often come with options for a rail to rest the gun on
  • The best option for bringing a youth hunter with (aside from a ground blind or enclosed permanent stand)


Cons:

  • Less portable
  • More visible to deer
  • Hand Garden Tools
  • Metal can be loud on contact
  • Require more room for offseason storage
  • Can require more than one person to set up
  • Transportation and weight



Hunter sitting in a ladder treestand

Climbing Treestands

A climbing treestand is constructed of two different pieces—the seat and the platform. With a climbing treestand, you don’t need to pack or set climbing sticks as this type of treestand is designed to help you actually climb the tree (hence the name). Learning how to use a climbing treestand can be a bit challenging at first, but with some practice, you’ll become more efficient and confident. Although bigger and heavier than hang-on treestands, climbing treestands are carried like a backpack for easy portability and usually weigh between 15 to 35 pounds depending on the style. It’s important to note that using a climbing treestand may require some pruning of the trees in order to reach your preferred height. 


Pros:

  • Portable
  • No additional accessories needed
  • Once you find a tree, you can be hunting out of it in 5 minutes.
  • Simple design



Cons:

  • Noisy compared to other stands 
  • Heavier than hang-on stands and Saddle setups
  • Requires practice for successful hunting 
  • Requires cleaner, straighter tree for sturdy positioning 
  • Difficult and possibly frustrating due to knobs or a rapidly decreasing trunk shape when scaling to higher heights
  • Often have to position the stand at an aggressive angle when sitting higher up 



climbing treestand

Additional Treestand Accessories

Aside from your treestand safety harness and treestand, you may want to consider adding a few treestand accessories to create a comfortable and safe hunt. For cushioning during long sits in the stand, add a padded treestand seat to your setup. For convenience in holding your bow in the stand, add a bow holder to your setup that helps keep your bow at your fingertips without having to hold onto it all day. Also, reflective tape allows you to mark your treestand for easy spotting. 


If you have additional questions about the types of treestands for hunting or treestand accessories, speak to a hunting expert at your local ERLEBNISWELT-FLIEGENFISCHEN or chat, email, or call us at scheels.com.