The answer is they ain't one.. other than maybe spotting one quicker, but both r noticed...after a few times they get used to it trust me...is it smart? probably not for a couple reasons..weather, thiefs ect

I would think that a ladder stand left in place for a while they probably get used to. I guess if you left a climber up year round other than scent when you used it would probably be no different

I never leave my climber in the woods for all the reasons you describe.

Did someone say something about saddle hunting? Bwhahahaha

I went as a guest with a boy last year, and even though he told me I wouldn't need a stand, I took mine anyway (just kept it in the cab with the back seats folded up because I drove 2+ hours in the pouring down rain, and it rained like a cow pissing on a flat rock all night). Good thing I did.... seriously that first morning he tells me where I'll be hunting, and says "I trust you are good enough to take my directions and find your own way in there, so just drive your truck over there to the gate and etc..." I drive across their club, get to the gate he told me to and proceed to walk a good ways down a firebreak to a stand he said was already hanging on the tree. He already told me it was a climber, so I was smart enough to walk in there with mine. Of course when I find it it's SOAKING@#$@ wet, and apparently I'm the first one who'd been in there all season because it was literally one big spider web. Well there was an identical pine not 5' from that tree, so I just climbed it with my own stand. I was funny/joking about it when we met back up for lunch, but I gave him down the road for that stunt!!!!

Leave mine in the woods about 90% of the time. Most of our place is behind a locked gate. If it's on the section that's outside of the gate,I use the locks made for buckshots/equalizer climbers. Dont find that it bothers the deer at all,and I do place cameras in the same vicinity of them,usually in always in bow range.

BIG difference in hanging a permanent stand that deer get used to and leaving a stand that you plan on hunting a couple days later they haven’t been used to seeing/smelling. It makes a difference. Trust me.

I put my stands in thrres before season where I plan to hunt that year then I go back after season and haul them out. I dont want to tote them 1/4mile every time I go hunting. I like to ease in quiet as I can. I can drive my mule most of the way to my stand locations, this also eliminates some toting.

When I climbed I had, well I still have them but don't use them, 4 climbers. 3 I left on my favorite trees, and 1 I kept at the barn so I could take it with me anywhere. Leaving them on the tree and just going in and climbing was much easier and quieter than carrying one in and setting it up in the dark.

I guess I don’t get the whole setting it up and making noise. Mine is quiet and easy. I can set it up in less than 2 minutes and make no more noise than if I just walked in and started climbing.

Not to mention the ladder stand is stationary, the climber isn’t. I’m sure they can tell the difference

This is my M.O. in a lot of places. I’ll hang it and usually don’t hunt it for a couple or 3 weeks at least. Matt, what stand do u use?

Dr. B

Lone wolf Alpha hand climber.

I only leave what I want to disappear by a thief. Which is nothing.

I guess I bought a lone wolf because it was light, so I carry it in and out. Cost too much to get stolen and I don't want it to get weathered. If i'm leaving it why not just put up a hang on?

I left my climber when I had 8 acres right behind the house and would want to slip in and out SUPER quietly. But I would only leave it for a day or two at a time. Never anywhere else.

I run summits and typically run quite a few out at any given time. I always have an extra for if I get invited to hunt with a buddy at his place, or if I want to move in on a deer. I use mine like permanent stands. Never had an issue with deer moving around them because the stand and myself are quite mobile. Mine get put out and stay out until I feel like its time to move them.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is any stand or ladder that catches water can also freeze and bust, destroying the stand. Always drill drain holes at bottom of ladder stand legs.

Honestly, I wouldnt care if someone stole some of the stands I have left on public land. I dont think I've ever paid more than $30 for one on facebook marketplace, and the threat of someone stealing it doesnt scare me bad enough to make myself tote one in every time. To me, hunting is supposed to be fun, and a harsh walk in the woods with a treestand on my back wears me out and I'm so tired by the time i get there that the whole ordeal is kinda ruined for me anyway.

Have bucks walk so close to my ladders they would bump them with antlers if they turned their heads.