picked one up at dick's last year ,not a bad stand for the money!!

 

I have several diff makes of 2 man ladders and hunt them by myself because of the extra room they provide. Prob would be ok w a small child but would'nt consider any of them to be truly 2 man stands as it would be too cramped IMO. I like my Viper the best.

 

Two man ladder stands are nice. If you are taking your child, you may want to eliminate one of the ladder sections and keep it low for a year or two to make them comfortable.

One thing I have done with my daughter is to put up a single ladder stand and then a hang on right next to it. I go up first and step over onto the hang on. She gets to sit on the ladder stand. It saves money and is a lot more mobile if needed.

 

hmm, that is a thought. Because later on I am going to buy some tree sticks and a hang on stand so I can go hunting with my father-in-law on his place, so if I do your method I could get those up front and buy a single ladder stand for my property, then use either the hang on or ladder by myself until my kid gets older.

 

sportmanguide.com has 2-man stands from 90.00 and up. I bought one of their 90.00 stands 5 years ago and its been in the woods ever since. I like using a 2 man stand by myself for the extra room and able to move a bit to get the right shot (backpack and such) mine is only 15 ft but the deer walk under me without any notice.

I take my 12 yr old daughter and we fit but we are snug - ( gun hunting she does not bow hunt)

 

I have had various brands. I found the cheaper ones are very uncomfortable because of the platform positioning too far back and very awkward position of the bench seat / backrest. I am 6'1, #240. However, I bought the Bone Collector 2 man stand at Walmart.com at $150 w free shipping. By far the best 2 man stand and a great value. It is heavy at #90, but is very comfortable. Comes with a very large platform that goes all the way back to the tree, flip up foot rest, and sling style single seats. If seating 1 person, you can flip up the other seat and use the space for backpack. It has adjustable shooting rail, which I use, while in harness, to lightly lean on while shooting bow. This is not a "portable stand" and does take 2 persons to carry and set-up. I think it would be great for use with child. I have not noticed the animals seeing me any more than when I had a single stand there. Good Luck

 

I have several of the Big Game Accessories....built like a tank.

 

I don't own this one, but have always wanted it. Looks like it gives both people plenty of room.

http://www.huntriversedge.com/foundations/store/shopdetail.asp?params=RE636*132**2-MAN_BOWMAN_

 

I find the heavy cheaper made double ladder stands to be uncomfortable and a pain to set up.I own two that I set up in funnels on my property but they just aren't good for long sits.

 

Make sure it has a wide seat. I hunt a lot of 2 man ladder stands. The biggest problem with some of the lower end ones is the seat is only a few inches wide. It can be uncomfortable for long sits.

Don't worry about what people are saying about sticking out and being a pain to move. They are bulky and heavy and can be a pain to set up. But once they are, they're very nice to sit in. Plenty of room to stretch out.

If you find a great spot to put it up, do it early and the deer will get used to it like everything else. Also, since it is a good spot you don't have to move it around all the time.

 

I've done two hang ons, one ladder one hang on, cheap two mans. Putting up a 2 man was a chore because I do it by myself most of the time. I have a system that works in 10 minutes and I don't even get sweaty now. If you want details let me know.
I haven't found the cheap two mans to be uncofortable because a kid will only sit so long anyway.

 

I hunt areas that have no agriculture.It's big woods and the food sources and deer patterns change constantly.A big heavy stand doesn't cut the mustard.

 

Check with I Like Meat, he has been hunting thirty years and is the AT expert on ladder stands, he owned one once ......

 

your a funny guy .... until I get old and feeble I wont own more than one either ......

 

I will add to the list of a guy that would prefer a single ladder with a small hang on. You can buy those small hang on stands for 35 bucks. I am not a fan of the two man ladders.

 

I agree.I can put a two man up by myself relatively fast but hauling them more than 1/2 mile is a pain.I normally hunt from a climber because up here,you need to hunt fresh sign when it's fresh.Last year,my 8 year old started hunting during archery season and I tried several way to get him in a tree including using double ladder stands.I just found them to be completely unflexible for the type of hunting I do.

 

Excellent advice from the above responces.

I will add this..

When you put together the ladder stand, use nylon/Teflon washers with every nut and bolt.

This will eliminate the creaking noise that comes with shifting your weight while on stand.

 

thanks for all the advice. I will still look at a 2 person stand, but will also price out and consider a single ladder with hang on and see which way to go.

 

Thanks!!

 

This looks really nice if you are willing to spend that much:
http://x-stand.com/product/the-jayhawk/

 

man, did you see that Big Bubba one, looks comfy. It looks a lot like the Muddy Prestige but $80 more. The Jayhawk looks nice, but if I am going to spend $300 (Prestige price) I don't know if I would get the Jayhawk. The Muddy looks more comfortable but I haven't used mesh seats like that before, at least sitting for long periods.

 

Others may have better systems. I'd be interested in hearing how others do it as well. By no means does this make these stands 'mobile'. I move two of them. Move them into 'archery' spot, and then to 'gun' spot. One stays put year round (I don't take them down anymore either, did that for a few years too) It just gives an easy spot that we know will produce sightings, and they are set up in easy access spots for kids.

 

There's tons of two mans out there, but if you are buying just one and you want the best quality most comfortable one there is I would look into a family traditions double. I'm 6'4 350 and it could comfortably fit two of me side by side, I have 5 of them and hunt out them all the time with other people, no creak, no flexing, the most solid comfortable stands I've ever used

 

maybe you should just stick to waterfowl.... :tongue:

 

Maybe I could take you out with me once and then you could be an expert on that too.

 

I have 2 + 3 singles & 1 hang on. I do bowhunt with my G-kids out of the doubles & my adult daughter. Snug but not a real problem. I just get them when on sale, usually around $90 for double. I can't say uncomfortable since the hang ons to me are the worst in that department. I like to put camo netting around the doubles which allows kids to get away with moving around. Killed lots out of them for sure.

 

Well I will throw my two cents into the mix. This one is great. Comfortable and roomy. http://www.hawkhunting.com/collections/ladderstands/products/17-co-pilot-ladderstand

It is not a stand you want to move around very much, but for putting over a food plot or something it is perfect.

 

Ilikemeat-boy have you got a lot to learn. I'm definitely OLD. a little over weight but sure not feeble yet nearing 74 & nearly 60 years of bowhunting. Hell, I cut my teeth on a Baker Climber, now that's an eye opening experience. Who cares how anyone hunts out of a tree anyway. Hell, I killed plenty sitting on a limb but then, us OLD, FEEBLE, probably worthless Bowhunters killed lots just standing next to a bush or tree with a longbow or recurve b/4 we got the bright idea to get up a tree.. The guy wants "INFORMATION" for what ever reason.... Getting old is not for PUS-Ys, trust me on that one.

 

Oh, I've ALWAYS shot sitting, be it limb or tree stand.

 

Each has their place...with portables that we use, we also use skyhook steps and lags, when we go so do the skyhook steps....we put in 5-7 lags and the rest are screw in's, stands are 20-25 ft up usually....even though we do cable the stands in, odd's are no one is going to get up in the tree to steal or mess with the stand.... on the state lands we use LW's and 4 sticks, or when we do leave a stand up on state lands, no one is likely to get into it...cant say that about a ladder..... this year I'll have 16 portables up and as for ease of entry, there isnt a problem.