My new deer stand project

I started on my new stand today. It will be fully enclosed and 5×5. I will post updated pictures as it comes along.
DT

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Be careful. It’s easy to get carried away

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Good luck DT, I am just finishing up on my latest one that is also 5′ X 5′. Are you going to have a trap door in the floor for entry? The last 4 I built have the door in the floor and I like that soo much better.

I got a bunch of wood for free that I had to reclaim from a couple large crates including tongue and groove 7′ boards, 2″ x 2″ X 7′ and 14-16′ 5″ x 5″ posts, so mine is going together very cheap.

Yes, the large square in the upper right is the door. My last stand had a side door that leaked all of the time. I’m also doing mine on the cheap. as least as cheap as I can. I found a bunch of used cedar lap siding on CL for free. I will need a little more t finish it but I will be close. What are you doing for the legs? I bought the steel brackets and this one will sit on top of the ground secured by cables. Going up in 2 weeks to put it up and plant some plots.
DT

You’ve probably already thought of this, but make sure it will stand up in a strong wind.

Guys on a neighboring property put up a couple of fancy stands 3-4 years ago. Both stands blew over in the first big wind and were just smashed all the heck. We could see across a clearing that they had blown over so we went over to look. What a mess. It looked like they had only buried the supports a few feet in the ground and no guywires or other support. That’s a lot of sail area and weight up there in the breeze.

Grouse

Mine will be tucked backed into the trees along a field and I will have cables at each corner to the ground.
DT

Awesome! I know a few fellas who would gasp at such a “large” stand. My husband and I built two 4×4 portables a few years back and we’re still hearing about how unnecessary that much leg room is and how “they’ll be too cold!”. The stands aren’t fully enclosed (being portable and all), but I really don’t think I’m going to stay noticeably warmer in a 3×3 versus a 4×4. My husband is 6’2″ so I’m sure he favors the leg room over any additional warmth we might be losing. The way I figure it – if I’m TOO comfortable out there, I’m going to fall asleep while the deer play tag with one another around me.

Sharon wrote:

if I’m TOO comfortable out there, I’m going to fall asleep while the deer play tag with one another around me.

I like to call that deer management
DT

DT I as well am building my FIRST deer stand for the property. I was thinking 4×6 but now you have me thinking again about 5×5. Any tips and tricks you have for me? What plans are you going off of? Thanks!

I’m looking in to getting one of these stands and then using it for ice fishing too.
http://www.portable-huntingblinds.com/

Dan, the last one I was 4 by 6. I went with 5 by 5 this time because I will have my kids with and when we sit in opposite corners we can each look out two Windows easily. I’m not going off any plans but will continue to post pictures as I build it. just make sure you don’t put your windows too high. I did that last time and would have to half way stand up to shoot.
DT

Sticker, feel free to post any pictures you have of yours to help others.
DT

Sticker or others, what is your measurement from the bottom of the window down to the floor? My last stand I put the windows too high. It’s kind of hard to judge where they should be when the stand in not at the hunting height and sitting in my garage.
DT

Got the main wall frames built so I can frame the roof. Going to my buddies woodshop tomorrow so I can build my windows. Then I can finish framing the walls. One thing I cant decide if I should go with 10 or 12 foot legs. 10 is probably enough.
DT

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I am going with 5″ x 5″ X 12′ for the legs and bury them roughly 12-18″ in the ground, then one bag of cement in each hole.

The windows on this one I made a little larger so I can shoot a bow out of them. I put the windows at 40″ from the floor to the bottom of the window and the windows are 16″ high X 42″ wide.

Here are a couple pics. Going to stain it, install the windows, then take the walls and roof off for transport.

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Great help guys, thanks. Is insulation a big deal? I plan on having a buddy heater up in the stand with me on those bone chilling day. Any opinions?

The last stand I built was insulated. I’m not going to insulate this one this year. I run a buddy heater in our non-insulated stands and you are comfortable in a long sleeve shirt. With my insulated stand I could hunt in -20 weather in my
t-shirt.
DT

Got the windows built. They are 16×48.
DT

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A few more braces and my base will be done. I will put the walls on it when we get it in place.
DT

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Looking good, but I think you ladder might be a little too long

Nice looking so far. Are there pl;ans you went off or just building from scratch? We could use something like this.

Just building it from scratch.
DT

Looks great so far!

deertracker wrote:

The last stand I built was insulated. I’m not going to insulate this one this year. I run a buddy heater in our non-insulated stands and you are comfortable in a long sleeve shirt. With my insulated stand I could hunt in -20 weather in my
t-shirt.
DT

Yeah i’m thinking no insulation and I should be fine. As long as there are no cracks and holes in my building process! Yours is looking good, can’t wait to start mine. Will probably wait for my fishing crave to end.

Looking good!

Heres a nice link for anyone looking for specific plans. May follow this one a little bit but not entirely.

http://www.nwtf.org/tv_magazines/images/GITG_box_blind.pdf

These all look great men!!

The stand is done and will be sided when I put it in place. I will put the roof steel on tomorrow and that will be ready To go. I will also put the roof on when I get there.
DT

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Looks awesome!!! Very well built! Can’t wait to see the final pics of it installed.

We are loaded and headed northbound!
DT

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