Safety rail

A method comprising:

• affixing a safety rail to a tree trunk;
• attaching a first end of a lifter to the safety rail;
• attaching a second end of the lifter to a top end of a ladder stand;
• tightening the lifter to raise the ladder stand from a non-erect position to an erect position;
• and
• supporting an inner section of the ladder stand in a receiving region of a stabilizer of the safety rail during erection of the ladder stand and prior to a top section of the ladder stand being secured to the tree trunk,
• wherein attaching the first end of the lifter to the safety rail includes attaching the first end of the lifter to an elongated member of the safety rail along a length of the elongated member by first and second guides attached to the elongated member, and
• wherein the stabilizer includes first and second stabilizing members extending between first and second cross-bar members, the first stabilizing member directly connecting to a top end of the elongated member, and the second stabilizing member and the cross-bar members defining the receiving region.