I'm having problems getting my straps around a very large hickory. My straps are long enough - just can't figure out how to get the strap around the tree so I can ratchet my ladder stand to the tree. Suggestions???
Archery
Stand in big Hickory tree
When I put up a new stand or move a stand, I always have to trim shooting lanes, so I bring my extendable pole pruner. I hook the ratchet strap on the folded blade of the pole pruner and either have a partner walk it around the tree or hook it on, climb down and walk the pole pruner around the tree and lean it against the tree and climb back up to secure the stand. When I use ladder stands, I only use two-man ladder stands, so it is usually a two (or three) man job to put one up. The pole pruner is 14' long and when combined with the height of your 'helper'...even my 5'1" wife can help me with this task! Once the stand is strapped to the tree, one of us stays in the stand and the other one walks around and trims shooting lanes. It's a pretty good system.
I usually take a curved branch in one hand and wrap that as far as it can go around the tree. Then I just toss the strap with my other hand and catch it on the branch, then I just pull it around. Basically what eyesman said with the conduit, but just using something in the woods.
Take a length of 1/2” electrical conduit and bend a half a circle out of it. Attach a hook to one end. Place stand in tree and attach the center brace. Climb part way up and reach the conduit hoop around the tree to catch the tag end of the strap and rotate the hoop to bring the tag end around the tree. Another method is have a helper with a pole and hook to catch the tag end of the strap and feed it around the tree.