By Tim H. Martin
For Safety, Fun and Fellowship
Treestands are expensive, yet all-too-often neglected pieces of hunting equipment.
Hunters who leave portable stands attached to trees year round are asking for trouble. The same goes for those (myself included) who don’t always inspect permanent stands before Opening Day. This can be costly and sometimes dangerous.
Climbing Stands
Cables, webbing and chains will rust and weaken if left to the elements. Climbers are often stolen over the summer months.
Lock-on Stands
These will grow into a tree in just one or two hunting seasons, and straps will weaken or break as the tree grows.
Ladder Stands
Every time a wind sways the tree your ladder stand is attached to, it loosens steps, anchors, bolts and braces.
In order to preserve my stands, I organize designated maintenance days before and after each season.
These gatherings with my friends and hunting club members can be rather festive, with food and ATVs. Sometimes we even bring a portable radio to entertain us while we work.
First comes Checkup Day, which we set aside for inspecting permanent stands. It’s just prior to deer season, usually in late summer.
On Checkup Day, I strap my toolbox to my ATV, including a box of nails, a Crowbar, a roll of netting and rope. A buddy or two will join me, visiting each permanent stand to check for loose steps, dry-rotted belts, shifted ladder legs and torn camouflage netting.
Don’t forget to bring wasp spray. I’ve found wasp and hornet’s nests in permanent stands on several occasions. Opening Day is not the time to discover them!
Treestand Removal Day comes immediately after each hunting season. Again, I plan this day with hunting club members, friends and family, and we help each other take down stands.
Because removing lock-on stands requires climbing and tedious work up high, we bring safety harnesses and use the buddy system while working.
Setting aside two days each year to remove and inspect stands isn’t just for the equipment’s sake. It’s for the fellowship, fun and memory making. It’s one more excuse to get into the woods.