Ladder deer stands are more bulky and not as portable as climbing tree stands, and it's usually at two man job to set them up, but they offer advantages that you won't find in other portable stands.

Ladder stands are made as a combination of a seat and platform along with the ladder to climb up in to the stand. The stand connects to the tree with the ladder coming down the front of the platform to allow you to climb up to the stand.

While not as easy to move around as smaller stands, ladder stands give excellent stability and a solid hunting platform. Some suppliers even offer exceptionally well decked out stands for two people with lots of extras. These are larger stands with side rails, padding and other accessories to make the stand easy to use and safe to hunt from.

Some of the smaller ladders tree stands weigh in at 50 pounds or so and could be considered to be a 'portable' stand. But most weigh 75 pounds or more and are a two man job to get into the woods and get set up. You can find both one or two person ladder stands. And the stands are rated for the amount of weight they will support.

Some of the deluxe stands offer amenities like extra wide seats, padded arm rests and padded shooting rails. Many of the less expensive stands do not come with a padded seat so make sure you bring your own if it's going to be a long day in the woods.

Once the stand is set up, many deer hunters leave them in the woods for the season. As hunters we don't like to think of this, but remember to be aware of the risk of theft. There a lots of stories about disappearing stands.

No matter what type of stand you are using, always remember to check your stand over before using it to make sure it is in good condition. Safety first is the rule in the woods and while we all know it, we have to try to remember it constantly. Check all the parts of the stand and the supports attached to the tree frequently.

Ladder tree stands are an excellent portable stand alternative for those hunting on public land or in places where you can't put up a fixed stand to leave year round. And while most of the photos you see on the internet show the stands bare out in the open attached to a pole, you can use your creativity with some camo burlap and natural branches, leaves and other cover you find nearby to help camouflage your stand.

Update 9/11/09: Here's some additional info on backpack ladder tree stands.

Check out the different stands available. And if you decide to get one, here's to your next good (and a little more comfortable) hunt!