How to Select a Tree Stand

EDITOR'S NOTE: Brad Harris, of Neosho, Missouri, the vice president in charge of public relations for Outland Sports, the mother company of Lohman's and M.A.D. Calls as well as API tree stands and other outdoor products, has hunted deer avidly for three decades. He knows where to put tree stands up to give hunters the best opportunity to take bucks.

Question: Brad, I know Outland Sports owns API tree stands, a company that makes all kinds of tree stands -- ladders, fixed-position stands and climbing stands. How will you advise someone to choose a tree stand?
Answer: The first two things to consider are what makes you comfortable as a hunter and your physical abilities. If you're fairly agile, aren't afraid to climb and you like a portable stand, consider using a smaller platform stand such as a lock-on, a chain-on or strap-on stand. If you're less agile and feel more comfortable climbing something steadier and sturdier, then plan to use a ladder-type tree stand, where you easily can climb up to 10, 12 or 14 feet and sit on a platform. Those stands are very comfortable and safe. They're easy to get into and out of, and they offer very secure shooting. Also, you need to think about the types of trees on the property you'll hunt. The Ozarks, the big North woods and big river bottoms often have large, straight oaks, sycamores and cottonwoods that will enable you to climb as high as you want. But if you hunt in Kansas, in some of the panhandle country or in south Texas, for example, the trees aren't as large and aren't very straight. For a more crooked, smaller tree, you may need a ladder or a tripod-type stand.

To learn more about Outland Sports, call (800) 922-9034 or check out their website at www.outland-sports.com.

Tomorrow: The Advantages of Portable Stands