The Advantages of Portable Stands

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: What's your favorite type of tree stand, and why?
Answer: My favorite tree stand is a chain-on or a strap-on portable stand. I like these types of stands because they allow me to climb trees with limbs. I can find a section of the tree at the height I want that's flat enough or straight enough to allow me to get among the limbs and hang the stand. That gives me a lot more concealment than a straight tree with no limbs does. I also like smaller stands because they usually fit a variety of trees. You don't need a totally straight tree; you just need a section of the tree to be straight -- maybe 2 feet or so. Third, and very important, is the size of the stand. I like the smaller stand because it keeps me from moving a lot. You may think that's not good, and in a sense it may not be if you're not comfortable with that. But, if I'm not moving around as much, I'm not going to alert as many deer. Since, I've become accustomed to setting up and sitting in a small stand, I know how much room I have and I adjust my techniques and style to that. Another advantage to using a smaller stand is that it is less conspicuous than a larger one.

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

Tomorrow: Setting Up Portable Stands Safely