Ladder Stand

[Mr. Pike]

How many bow hunters out there use ladder stands? Do you stick the bottom rung into the ground when you put it up in the fall. Reason I ask, is mine is on some public land and I had it freeze into the ground one year and had to wait for the spring thaw to get it out. I don't think the ground it quite frozen yet. I could be wrong though.

 

[Allen]

Depending on where you are in the state, soil temps might be below freezing, but in general I'd say you still have a high risk of the ladder sinking into, and eventually freezing into, the ground.

https://www.ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/deep-soil-temperatures.html

 

[lunkerslayer]

Two pieces of 3/4 green treated plywood will stop the legs from sinking, we drill two holes into the plywood add some carriage head bolts to insert into the bottom of the square tubing to keep the legs from sliding around.

 

[NDSportsman]

Never not been able to extract mine even after the ground freezes. Should be able to pry it back and forth enough to loosen it.

 

[1lessdog]

I leave mine up year round, mine are on private in S.D.

 

[Wall-eyes]

How many bow hunters out there use ladder stands? Do you stick the bottom rung into the ground when you put it up in the fall. Reason I ask, is mine is on some public land and I had it freeze into the ground one year and had to wait for the spring thaw to get it out. I don't think the ground it quite frozen yet. I could be wrong though.

On public don't you have to remove them every day?

 

[Allen]

From the proclamation:
Tree Stands, Ground Blinds, and Trail Cameras – No person may construct or use a permanent tree stand or permanent steps to a tree stand on any state wildlife management area, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuge, waterfowl production area or National Forest System Lands. Portable tree stands and portable steps, and natural tree stands may be used. Portable tree stands and portable steps are defined as those which are held to the tree with ropes, straps, cables, chains or bars. The use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach steps or a stand to a tree is prohibited on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas and NFSL. Screw-in steps (allowed on state wildlife management areas) are those that are screwed into the tree by hand without the aid of any tools. Ladder type stands which lean against the tree are portable stands. A notched board placed in a tree crotch is a portable stand. Natural stands are those crotches, trunks, down trees, etc., where no platform is used. Tree stands do not preempt hunting rights in the vicinity of the tree stand. Tree stands, steps, ground blinds and trail cameras may not be put up on state wildlife management areas, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands, federal waterfowl production areas or NFSL before August 20, 2024, and they shall be taken down by January 31, 2025. Tree stands, steps, ground blinds and trail cameras not removed by January 31, 2025, are considered abandoned property and are subject to removal and confiscation by the Game and Fish Department, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or NFSL. Tree stands, steps, ground blinds and trail cameras left unattended on state wildlife management areas, federal waterfowl production areas, NFSL and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands require an identification tag displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number; or Game and Fish Department issued equipment registration number. Contact national wildlife refuge headquarter offices for individual refuge regulations. Portable tree stands, ground blinds and trail cameras on waterfowl production areas, NFSL and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands may be used in accordance with state wildlife management area regulations. Trail cameras may not be installed on private property without written permission from the landowner, or an individual authorized by the owner, and the camera must have an equipment registration number, or the individuals name, address and telephone number.