Deer Hunting Strategy - Step Ladder
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
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Sometimes hunting from the ground can be your best option, particularly if deer are moving during daylight in areas with no trees around to hang a stand. Using a standard step ladder from your local hardware store can be a great option to get an extra few feet of visibility over tall grass, while still preventing you from becoming skylined. I chose to buy a 6' Fiberglass ladder because it's lighter and longer lasting that wood, yet it's quieter and warmer to the touch than aluminum. Of course, I camouflaged the ladder and added a carry strap. Now, it's a great solution to be able to deer hunt in some great overlooked areas.
This strategy is ideal in marshes, where the soft ground will usually allow the feet to sink in a bit for stability. Wood ladders have been used in some capacity like this for a long time. Here's a link to Dan Infalt discussing his ladder setup: • LADDER STANDS TIP OF...
He also has a ton of great knowledge on his forum and DVDs: thehuntingbeast.com
Werner ladder on Amazon: amzn.to/2yxd9H7
Keller Ladder from Menards: www.menards.co...
![เปิดใจ "อาจารย์เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม" อดีตเคยสุดทุกทาง ถ้าใช้หนี้หมดไปบวชแน่ l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IxeE0xVhy08/mqdefault.jpg)
Add some wheels, you could use it to haul deer back to truck
FYI here is another ideal for repurposing for hunting. Take an aluminium walker that old people use. Camo paint and add camo material. These walkers usual folder down and make great light weight ground blinds for hunting. I make slide over camo pouch in different design to match where or what I'm hunting. Match with light weight tripod camp chair. Drill holes at bottom of legs for tent spikes in high wind area. Good hunting.
MrFlyTWA genius!! Love it.
Don’t forget Grandma’s wheelchair.
J K lol as kids we would take blades off of self propelled lawn mowers and have races on the 4th of July. With grandma wheelchair. Funny as heck to watch going thru subdivision. As many 10 kids on wheel chairs. No sure this relates hunting but given a lemon there is lemonade. 😁
Yawn
I tried this with a really solid aluminum ladder because deer kept circling and winding me before they came near my blind. I set up an 8 ft ladder just next to a thick group of tall cedars protecting me on three sides, where no tree stand opportunity was available, I shot the two biggest bucks of my life this fall sitting on a ladder, with a butt pad on top, and the Lord's guidance and blessings on me.
I want to thank God for His leading in directing me to that perfect spot, and showing me this smart approach, and for helping me have access to such a fine area. I even got my young son on his first buck within 9 minutes of setting down in the blind! Praise Him...
+James Moore That's great! Congrats!
James Moore i thank god i can shoot left handed also because i need it when atop a ladder to shoot to my right. Bad back and all limits mobility
What state you hunting that allows 2 bucks??
Not sure what state he's hunting but Mississippi allows 3 bucks per season.
I use ladders a lot myself but I like the gorilla ladders at the box stores better because they have a larger platform to stand on and they are super light. I put my arm through the ladder and carry it on my shoulder, no need for a strap. its nice because you can move your stand location very easily and quickly.
I practice on top of a 12 ft A frame at my house. I have hunted with it as well. I practice with all hunting gear all the time, full cold weather camo and all. This will make it much more comfortable on a real hunt. I use a bunch of bungees and local brush to break it up. Also have a pvc pipe zipped strapped to it to hold practice arrows. I used same technique to spray camo on it. As long as you are blended in to your environment well and your silhouette is broken up you are good. Definitely would not recommend obese or disabled peeps to try but if you have some balls not so bad. Just straddle the top, one leg on each side, you will have 180 degrees with a bow. Obviously make sure it is on stable ground. Great idea to put wheels on it and use it as a carry out. 6foot will be better than a 12 for deeper hunts.
This is great. I’ve got a spot I sat in a brushy area went in during rain for cover noise no trees to get in and had a shooter buck at 20 yards but couldn’t shoot through brush at ground level. I am going to paint up a ladder for this spot. Thank you.
Good thinking, keep going on those thoughts and share. Something we came up with was to cut a couple of small pine trees, dig 2 one foot holes and stand the trees up around your stand. Staking them and add zip ties help. (and your case a ladder). We only used one section of our ladder stand and the seat. We just learned this, this year and have several close encounters this year. It is easier to get busted though
I hunt in a lot of areas with junipers that you can't really hang a stand in. This is a great idea -- thanks!
I had the same idea for hunting CRP grass fields. However an addition that I would make would be to attach a stadium chair or self supporting seat to the top for additional back support.
i think sheetrocking stilts would look cool while holding a 3"magnum 12 ga slug..lol
I've seen this thumbnail for the longest time and thought it was clickbait... Not a bad idea! Thanks for sharing.
Genius! I injured my hand a few days before Bow season and couldn't use my climber so I only used the seat section of it to keep me off the ground wearing 3D Camo and used brush to break up my head and shoulders. I seen more deer in range in two weeks than I did all last year 25 ft off the ground shooting a deer from 25 ft up can give you a rush but shooting one 15 ft away on there level is friggin wild! Good luck to all
My son an engineer, he calls this kind of solution to a problem "elegantly simple" nice.
I did the same thing last year after getting the tip from Dan Infalt. I’m putting a padded seat on mine, but your carry strap was a smart move I think I’ll implement, I’m finding the deer on my lease are hanging out in treeless areas of overgrown cutover. This is just the ticket!
+Killemquietly Yep, Dan was the first guy I'd heard of using them too.
Here in Illinois I hunt primarily prairieland. There are some trees but none of the mature bucks bother even getting 150 yards from the closest treeline. This will be a game changer...
I would have never thought about that. Can't say that I will ever use it due to where I hunt, but it is a neat idea!
Diy sportsman I used your idea of using the boat buckle for tree arm base, works great. Also have four of the plastic tree steps on a strap for platform(I hunt out of saddle) that I use one for, and it works great for that as well . Thanks for the idea.
At first I thought it was a joke, so I had to watch it, very clever idea, I believe you have the first step ladder stand on TH-cam, take care
Dan Infalt was the guy I learned it from.
Had an idea of attaching a 5 gallon bucket swivel top so you can easily rotate around the ladder. I figure your already sitting where your not supposed to why not spin around too???
going to give this a try come muzzleloader where I hunt they get alot of pressure not only from bowhunters but the bird hunters as well , I've noticed deer walking calmly through this type of area many times and always wanted to give it a try but never got around to it. love your vids -keep em coming-thanks
Oh dang very cool idea and I already have a camouflaged ladder I’m gonna see if I can add a seat to it. This will come in handy at some of my new locations where a climber stand isn’t able to go like between field & marsh
I have half of an ols 12 foot aluminum ladder that is was going to use to get high enough to sit in a stand. Only problem I have now is figuring out how to make it sturdy and safe.
Oh yea man thanks I will definitely try this especially on public land for deer really pressured I will try this
Add wheels and you have a game cart too. Love it!
Man this is awesome and creative thanks for the Tip
this is a great idea and will work great for me as this is just like the spot I hunt. thank you for this tip. I know most on here don't understand it and all but we don't all think the same
I have an original LITTLE GIANT Ladder that we bought about 12 yrs ago it's Aluminum, But pretty quiet, it has an Accessory Platform to step on, Which would work out great also, Once I get it into the woods on my property I can chain it to a tree, For security to leave it there etc, I like the idea of Cameo painting it also Thanks for sharing this good info.Should work using Pistol, Rifle, Or even a Cross Bow Hunting etc.
I attached a plastic boat seat to the top and a slide out step for my feet. Really comfortable
Where’s the video of you hunting from this ladder? Would be a great video
Put a boat seat on top if stability is an issue ratchet strap it to a small tree or tall brush I've been thinking about this for a while I think it will be my project now that I saw yours I hunt an area that is really thick cover About 500 acres worth but no sizable trees
Pretty common tactic on the lower Maryland shore for sika deer. After this season getting beat up by those critters... this is on my list for next season. We can always count on you to think outside the box and show it on TH-cam. Good stuff!
lol. About 30 years ago in Arkansas I came across a 10 ft tall ladder leaned against a tree while rifle hunting deer. They had engineered a seat on it. I killed a nice 8 point not 20 minutes later from it
Great idea, thank you. Like you, I hunt a lot of public land and private land leased for public use. Its tough with all the hunting pressure but it's doable. Any tips like this help. Scott
Other adaptations-
I might of added would be mounting a larger piece of wood , such as a 12” x 16” to the top, for a larger more comfortable seating area, this would not interfere the ladder opening & closing.
My main concern would be stability, if you are lucky enough to get a deer in your sights, there would be good chance you’re gonna take a tumble after pulling the trigger, especially over uneven/unstable terrain.
But it’s a good idea for the open fields.
+Darin- USMC B- 85-93 You've definitely hit some of the major points. Most of the guys who've done this and who I got the idea from, do it in marshes, where you'll either have the feet sink into the mud up to the first step which adds stability or will be able to stick it on rough ice/snow for a completely flat surface.
New sub here. Loving your videos! And this idea... fantastic!
Can also be used to cross small creeks
Great idea....why have never thought of that?....simple but affective
Keep up the great footage!!! We love love this channel and the cool diy tips to get to the game.
Did ya get one in the ladder of the season or first day
this is a good thing for bow hunting. . If rifle hunting you gonna need a way to support gun . Plus it is hard to shoot behind you. You can make tripod with seat . weight about 10lbs.
I dont think some of you realize he is bow hunting not gun hunting so recoil is nill.. I have a few spots i might have to this out in... Get my ASAT camo gilly suite on and this would be a very awsome idea for bow hunting...
Im a now hunter and rarely shoot sitting down. Definitley would take practice but i think doing an all day hunt one would suck.
Good tip but I got that one from Mr. Coyote himself G. Blair. He used a ladder for predator hunting. Works real good if you make a shooting stick for it.
+Jeremy Clark Nice, Dan Infalt was the guy who I initially got the idea from. I'd imagine shooting sticks would be a necessity for longer range predator hunting.
I got that from Tom Sullivan Predator Hunter
Good idea but I’d imagine it’d be SUPER uncomfortable
Brody T Vlogs I’d probably build a sitting platform for it as well as a ratchet strap to at least strap the bottom to a tree for some stability
The seat would be a necessity, but what about using anchors? Something like a couple of those spiral anchor they use for dog runners, and ratchet straps
justin childress anchors would be more reliable because you could put the “stand” anywhere and everywhere. If you use straps you’d pretty much have to set up next to a sturdy tree. That’s a pretty good idea too
Brody T Vlogs to
I put a seat on mine. Awkward to get into but if you put next to a tree you can use the branches to pull yourself up to the seat.
Great idea never seen before definitely will try
Perfect this is exactly what I was looking for wish i thought of it 💭
Adapt and over come. Great idea
Just pondering the distance vs bulk problem. Why not rig it as a wheeled deer hauler. If you carry into brush a long distance, how you gonna carry a deer too? Its already litter shaped.
+Don Quixote In a lot of the types of areas I'd personally use mine, wheeled carts don't work well because there's too much grass and root clumps, so sleds usually work best. But I could see how adding an axel and wheels could work for more open ground. Seems feasible.
How good did that work?
Have you considered attaching a stadium seat or cushion to the top to add comfort?
+Josh Stromatt It would be easy enough to do. I would probably lean towards trying a cushion first due to potential noise of a stadium style seat. Something like a soft crazy creek seat might work too for a backrest.
Awesome. I really appreciate your hunting videos and all of the tips and tricks that come along with them. Having just started self-filming some hunts and trying to get behind the camera with a few friends I've learned just how difficult it can be to get it all together for a video, but it's so worth it when it pans out.
This is a great idea!!! Would love to see a video of you killing a big buck off the top of a ladder!
I thought about using a ladder years ago, But never got around to trying it etc.
Might be a good idea to strap the ladder to a tree.Put some comfort on the seat lol.Good hunting.
I know this would add cost and weight but if you used a ladder with steps on both sides and a swivel seat you would have more flexibility.
Yes, that's true. My main plan is to hopefully be able to set up in locations where there's really only one shot opportunity, and set up for that one shot.
Sound good. good luck out there and thanks for sharing your hunting strategies. I have a swamp that looks a lot like the video and will try this.
Im gonna try this with a 12ga this weekend and post it.
Here's what happened
th-cam.com/video/LNL7FIE-gx8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for sharing this with me..🏹🦌😉.
I would add 4x4 pads with 8 inch spikes to the bottom of the legs
Going to apply this! Thanks!
you could lay it down and walk on it to cross creeks also.
Lowes now has a camo Werner ladder.
But it's only 5 feet tall. Home Depot carries an 8-footer. The only place I can find a 6-footer online is from a west-coast outfit, and they want $36 to ship a $75 ladder. Was going to order it until I saw the shipping charge.
Very good video, well done!
Love hunting swamps in over pressured areas. Luckily I can usually find at least one tree in there.
Is there a way to add a back rest to it?
Some guys have added swiveling chair seats to the top.
How is it to sit on for hours tho? That'd be my only concern
That and stability
+Yackety Yak I haven't spent much time on it yet. It's cold enough now that I wear heavy bibs which act like a cushion, but an additional pad could be added.
+Yackety Yak I think this strategy is best suited for pinpoint locations, where you set up in a wet marsh, where the feet can sink in a little, or the water is frozen and you're on flat ground. And then the ladder is set so that you can basically shoot towards the primary trail without having to stand or pivot.
DIY Sportsman understood, I don't hunt the same types of areas u do but can think of a few spots around me where this would be great!
Cool idea! I’d probably end up on my a$$ as soon as I pulled the gun up, but my daughter would find it hilarious.
59 It's not too bad.
th-cam.com/video/LNL7FIE-gx8/w-d-xo.html
What happens when you fall off the top of the ladder?
Jeff Sartain You get right back on! :-)
You hit the ground lol
But how do I attach the saddle ? 😆
Would be handy for an Alabama clear cut too.
TievelaneyWest I'm glad you mentioned that. I hunt clear cuts in PA and this would be a great advantage.
I don't think one could sit on that for more than 30 mins if that. Need some padding. It's a good idea BUT not sure how practical it would be. Just don't think I could sit on that thing for 3 hours. And I'm not that good of a shot in the off hand position.
+Maximuspadus I got the idea from the Hunting Beast, where they've done it successfully to take some big swamp bucks. Generally it's a later season strategy, where it's cold enough you have a lot of insulation and padding and are usually only sitting for a couple hours tops. I hadn't mentioned that in the video.
Why not bolt a cheap plastic chair seat on top, similar to one of the bass boat seats. then you have a bit of back support. AND for those guys worried about safety..... just stay at home, its really safe there! lol
+TheSkinking Its definitely an option. Id be worried about any kind of additional noise being a source of squeaks in cold weather. Another option for back support would be a wide band the wraps around your lumbar region and also your knees. So when you lean back, it provides support and you can't lean back far enough to get your legs to lift up. I remember seeing a product like that once marketed towards parents who'd go watch sports games on bleachers or fishing on bench seats in a boat.
It's not going to block the wind very much.
Need to stake it in the
Ground somehow not real smart specially if u are bow hunting
+Taylen Caudillo I think it would be pretty tough to fall off, though if you did, the broadhead would certainly be a risk.
I don't think I would be able to shoot a 7 Mag off of a ladder maybe a 22
+Erick Mcguire Most of the guys I know who use this technique use 12 gauge shotguns with slugs.
my butt's starting to hurt just thinking about this lol
Maximuspadus lol
I like the idea
Great Idea!!!
Or just buy a camo ladder? But good tip no doubt!
No lean. And highly visible to deer just sitting up top there isn't it?
+Ross Headley The idea would be to tuck up against taller brush to break up the outline, like the dogwood in the marsh.
Add some wheels that be sweet deer hauler tree stand homemade bridge lol yea buddy
You know I’ve never though of this
I am not sitting on a ladder
Brett Jansen i fall of em just working. lol
A camo ladder is a good idea in grassy areas.
Brett Jansen lol
I would think my ass would be totally numb after the first 5 minutes.
@@richmofield think using a ladder while handling a dangerous device is OSchnidt approved? Liability insurance must be out the arse!
There is a good reason why you do not ever see someone hunting from a stepladder. Go build yourself a mini-tripod stand and live to hunt next year. If you have not fallen already!
+corkdecoys1 Do you have any examples of mini tripods? I've only seen ones that are fairly heavy due to the construction of the pivot points but would be open to suggestions based on three legged stability. A tripod design was the first thing I looked into, and I hadn't really seen anything that I liked all that much.
No it was just a thought, if you are gonna do it anyway this is my suggestion to at least sturdy the ladder. Get a piece of grey 2'' pvc pipe 8' long do whatever you have to do to attach one end of it to the ladder with a quick link or similar quick disconnect. on the other end on the ground cap the pipe off and put an eyebolt in the end and use a rebar T stake to anchor it to the ground. Anything similar would work. You need some type of rigid 3rd leg to extend from the ladder at a greater angle than the angle of said step ladder.
build a teepee out of existing trees and tie cross pieces as steps
What a great idea.
good thinking
Very unsafe
Pretty sure that's a step-ladder,Nick!
Seems like it would sink into the mud
+Samantha Jennings It can sink up to the first step in soft enough mud, which can actually make it a little more stable.
bad idea, seriously bad idea. Strapped down to something is different. Sitting atop a 6 foot stand alone step ladder with intentions of shooting from it? really. This is the kind of stuff you see in the public hunting areas. At least get a 12 foot and cut some rungs out of the middle and sit there. gonna get somebody hurt
+corkdecoys1 I've evaluated and accepted the risk. This solution works because it's effective - lightweight, quiet, mobile, not because it's a gold standard of safety. It's indented to give you just enough extra height to see over some grass, and not stand out too badly. Other guys have already posted videos shooting 12 gauges off of short ladders, and people have been doing this with old wooden ladders for way longer than I've been alive. If I somehow managed to tip over into a bed of cattails, in all reality the worst case scenario is maybe a broken wrist or collarbone from trying to catch myself awkwardly, and I'll accept that fate if it occurs.
maybe you shouls watch ladder fails on you tube and ponder the problems of being injured miles from anywhere
Screw a boat seat on top
Awesome
This looks highly uncomfortable for a sit.
Oh yes, not too comfortable to sit in, but also much easier to carry than other more comfortable options like a tripod and swivel seat.
supper!like
they can smell the paint as well as your newly cleaned gun
No its a ladder, completely different
Interesting....
I don't see how you deer hunters do it. I can't sit still all day waiting on a deer, but that's just me. I prefer bird, rabbit or squirrel hunting where sitting is just to rest for a short time.
+David Haworth I really like small game too. It's just a challenge/reward difference for me. Deer hunting isn't usually as exciting, but when it comes together it's great and you end up with a lot of meat.
David Haworth I too love small game hunting, but you don’t have to sit for hours hunting deer. Take some of your squirrel hunting tactics and apply them to deer hunting. Sneaking through a wooded area quietly and stopping near big trees can help you sneak a deer.
Just sat all day today but not on top of a ladder! 45+ mph winds. I'll pass.
Nothing says stealth to a deer's nose like the overwhelming smell of your krylon rattle-can job. JFC
+emerson bigguns You do realize the smell subsides after curing? And if they can smell the thing you're sitting on they can surely smell you. That's why hunters play the wind.
I just sit in a chair on the ground
Stodoys has a lot of plans to choose from.
peoples talking bird
I'd bet a dollar you won't shoot my 45-70 off a 6 foot step ladder....lol.. well you would ..once🙄
fastdraw30.
45-70 for whitetail ha.
John Shuman
Yessir, worked great on 125 lb indians back in the day. Lol
In the woods of the South many times your shots are about 100-150 yards. A 45-70 works just fine.
From pa i shoot .444 just a little smaller and have never had to track a deer yet. 265 gr leverution from hornaday