An assistive apparatus for hanging a tree stand (e.g., in a tree) including a base pivotably mounting a pair of opposable arms, and a pair of springs for moving the arms between open, spaced apart set positions and closed tree clamping positions clamping a tree or pole there-between. A pair of trigger members operatively coupled to the arms react to a tree or pole being pushed there against to release the arms from their open, spaced apart positions to closed tree clamping positions.
