Big Dog Big Dog IV Treestand

Complete package, mobility ready, and easy to put together. I purchased because of size and shooting/safety rail. The sling seat is comfortable and there's room for my pack under seat. It's quiet too.

Great stand for the money and comfortable for long sits. It’s not light weight, in my opinion, but I’m not planning on moving it anytime soon. Straps for the stand are a joke, to hang it to the tree, but like everyone else I used 2 ratchet straps. It’s a solid stand that I’ve been using often. My favorite feature is the rail in the front and the arm rests. All are pretty solid rests for a crossbow or rifle. I also like how the seat folds up. You can use the bungee straps for the backrest to keep it closed and out of the way when standing or leaving the stand. Lots of room on the platform which is larger then my other hang on stands. I like it!

Just arrived yesterday.First impressions? it's big. Its heavy.Any thoughts I had about moving this thing around day to day ended. I had to scrap that plan immediately when the box arrived. It's been 20 years since I was in my 20's, so I'm not as athletic as I once was.Parts appear very well constructed. Nice welds. All the parts came and were accounted for.The instructions are a bit garbage....pics are in black and white and you couldn't see a thing.I just muddled my way thru using common sense most of the way. Just think this way, Every joint that is meant to move gets a plastic washer to keep stand quiet, so use that as a tip. If you actually read the instructions, they do help. I'm more of a picture guy so.....Took me about 2 hours to assemble....mainly because some parts I installed backwards due to poor photos. Luckily I put all the nuts on just tightened by hand until I had everything correct, then went back and tightened all the nuts properly. Trust me, that's what you want to do with locknuts. You never want to tighten and then take them off and re-tighten. They lose effectiveness.So I got it all assembled. Have a tree in the back yard, so today I decided to put it up. Keep in mind I was standing on the ground. I have no idea how I am going to hang this by myself off of climbing sticks to be honest. I will need someone to help me. Still not sure how it will work.Top strap works fairly well, though I got behind the tree to reef on it. I won't have that option in the air. ...bottom strap not so much...it's not a ratchet strap..its just a slide grip strap without hooks....and it keeps wanting to move as you pull. I think I will purchase a true ratchet strap to solve that problem ...or heck, I can even use the slide grip style with the hooks....that would probably work just fine.I climbed into the stand and felt fairly sturdy and safe. I'm short and still had to duck to put the shooting rail down, so keep that in mind if you are taller.I hunt lots of public land and it is against the law to leave a stand up overnight, so this wasn't the best stand to buy, that said for the price if the DNR wants to take it they can go get it down.EDIT: Just occurred to me looking at the box it arrived it that although I ordered the Big Dog IV, Amazon sent me the Big Dog Bearcat XL. Looks very similar with some subtle differences.

Metal is relatively low quality but for the money may be its fair. The stand has lasted 3 seasons and I’ve left it out there all year around (which I know isn’t good). I’d buy this again for the right amount.

The seat is so rock solid that you're sitting there in pain your whole hunt worst experience ever. Contemplated hanging myself with my lineman's rope (Sarcasm) but that is the only thing I can complain about if they made the seat comfortable this would be a great hang on.

Could sit all day in this lounger

This is not a bad stand, but you get what you pay for! I am used to hunting Millennium lock-ons that are rock solid when in the tree but also expensive. Because of the price, I decided to give this one a try. The directions for putting it together are poor and the diagrams are useless but with a little common sense you can figure it out. Once I put it together I hung it in a tree to try it out. It will be difficult to hang when I am 20ft in the air on climbing sticks and using a harness. It is pretty comfortable to sit in but feels very flimsy. It does not feel rock solid on the tree and you can tell that the metal is cheap. I will use it this year and see how it goes but I do not think I will purchase another one.

This is my first hang on stand. It’s a little heavy but not to the point of not being able to hoist it into and attach it to the tree myself.I sat in it briefly and it feels solid and comfortable. We’ll see what it feels like after an all day hunt.The hardware came one nut short so I had to run out to get a replacement nut.I hunted out of it today. Padded seat material creaks when you adjust your position. Not ideal for a tree stand. It does the job though and I was able to stay comfortable for the whole hunt