But you would never catch me in a climbing stand or strap-on stand.
Interestingly, I find ladder stands overall more dangerous than climbing stands.
This is assuming the climber is always wearing a safety strap while climbing, sitting, & descending.
Too many people have a false sense of security with ladder stands, often not wearing safety harnesses, and not realizing old ladder stand metal can simply break, as can support straps holding the ladder against the tree.
Also, many ladder stands now have narrow ladders, for which it is very easy to place your foot outside the ladder rails, and once you miss that step you thought was under your foot, you're either breaking your arm and failing, or letting go to fall (hopefully feet first).
Personally, I've had 2 seriously bad falls from stands.
One was from a height of about 10 feet when I missed the step on a narrow ladder stand (and didn't wear a safety harness while climbing/descending ladder stands). Barely missed getting a sharp stob thru the chest, along with missing some good sized rocks. Hit more on my right foot, and was immediately lateral on ground beside that sharp stob. Broke my right foot, 4 toes, and seriously sprained right ankle.
Other was over 20 feet from from a hang-on stand, when metal step broke as was getting in (and wasn't wearing safety harness at that moment). Probably would have killed me if hadn't been on a very steep slope. Did knock me unconscious and break multiple ribs along with abrasion & impact injuries.
Also sprained my shoulder & broke ribs when fell less than 3 feet, fall stopped by combination of safety harness and chest slamming a limb (breaking ribs).
Hard to be too careful.
