Tree stands are heavy. And they come with a lot of different parts. Two things that longtime hunters already know, but for someone just starting out, these two factors may influence where you choose to build yours before actually attaching it to the tree. Or, if you’re like us, you may want to have a metal detector (to help find any bolts or screws that are dropped into the grass) and an ATV handy (to move the tree stand to its final destination) to help you after it’s built.

I have two spots on my property where I plan to install tree stands before bow season begins (and have food plots already growing away). One of the spots is already set because I’m using one of my husband’s tree stands. The other spot still needed a tree stand and we decided to put up the Brotherhood 2-Man Ladder Stand so my husband could be with me when I hunt in this location. Lucky for me, I not only get to utilize his hunting knowledge, but also his hunting gear assembly expertise as I don’t think this tree stand could have been assembled without him and my father-in-law, Mark Schmitt.

This tree stand is going down to the edge of our property line where a few deer have been hanging out. Here’s a video of a buck in velvet in the exact area where this tree stand will be located!

No one told me how tricky this was going to be. Not only does this tree stand weigh a ton, but it’s also pretty awkward when trying to pull it up to its location. Using a basic pulley, we tied a rope to the front of our Honda Pioneer and pulled it up to where it needed to be. If we didn’t have this Pioneer, I’m not sure how we would’ve gotten the tree stand up!

But once it was up and secured to the tree, it’s not going anywhere!

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