My dream deer stand is taking shape

I started to build a deer stand that hopefully will serve me for yrs to come. I have been working on it for a few months as time allows. It's 8 ft by 6 ft and sits atop 16 ft telephone poles. I have them just sitting on top of the ground and I have galvanized 3/8 steel cable tying the corners to the two hickory trees at the corners at the top. Still have to put the carpet down and put the chairs in and then a few shelves for gear and a coat rack to finish it off.
Here are some photos as I went. First lifted the frame work for the platform up into place. I then made a set,of,stairs to be able to walk up instead of climbing. Next I started to prassemble in the shed the walls with flip out windows. I found some gas struts at princess auto that worked out great for holding the windows up in place and allows easy and quiet operation.

Next I gave it the Quick Camo in a can spray job to blend it in abit. I took it all apart and loaded on the trailer and drug it back in the bush and lifted the sides up with a chain fall and nailed it all together. Next came the tin for the roof. Got it on just in time as it started to rain this afternoon. Will have to finish it later as I get more time.

The last of the pics from this weekend putting up the walls and the roof panels

That's a cool stand....

Very nice.

Very nice. If the wife ever kicks you out you'll have a nice place to crash.

Splendid. Making me jealous and raising the bar for all of us.

That's one heck of a stand. Should serve you for years to come. My favourite feature. Stair case instead of ladder :)

Is tin not going to make the deer more spooked in a rain?

I have two other stands with tin roofs and I have been in the one during rain with deer eating 50 ft away and it bothered me more than them. I was concerned when I was up there and sitting inside with the sound of rain beating down and as I watched the deer move about they didn't even react one bit so I don't have much concern. And als this is up yr around so it's just another part of the bush. Heck they walk the trail not far from my work shop and the steel roof on that is 60 x 75
And the wife has already said I now have another place I can sleep if i ever get kicked out

Fantastic job!

Nice work!!! good luck to the hunting season

It does look sweet....Very nice

Dandy Job! I agree with Turkey Rookie - Stairs is the way to go. I would add a hand rail of sorts for wet or frosty days, not really a criticism - great job. Good luck this coming season and enjoy all that hard work.

FB

I can't see the photos on my phone, just wondering if you put the telephone poles right on the ground or had a base? We used patio stones to set our posts on to prevent rotting at the base. We also anchored it all with cables. I know many are a fan of flip up or out windows, we went with flip in widows, they stop flat and double as bench rests when long shots are required, (the glass is thick aquarium grade stuff, and we have sand bags in a big coffee can) We put nice swivel office chairs in our towers. They are labour intensive to build but the ultimate in all day hunting in any weather. Also we ran PVC pipe into the ground to address any number 1 bathroom breaks that eventually come.
We do still hunt ground blinds, tree hangers and ladder stands, but with the box blinds there are no cabin days due to weather, and we've taken deer in those in some of the worst weather you can imagine. You won't be disapointed.

That's an awesome stand! Should be plenty of warm, dry hunts in your future. I like the idea of being able to maximize your time in the field on crappy days that would keep most guys back at camp playing cards. By the looks of it, you can probably still play cards!

Looks great.

As mentioned by a few the hand rail for the stairs is next. Still have to put a handle on the door too. Swivel office chairs are a must as they allow for long sits. And yes the urnal in the corner piped down to the ground. I built one of these a few yrs ago at the other side of the bush for my dad and his is 4x8 and I just find with two guys and gear it's too narrow so hopefully the extra 2 ft will be a huge difference. Still have to squirrel proof it( some wire screen mesh and spray foam the gaps on the tin roof and trim up some gaps around the windows if not the chairs become nests. This defently beats sitting in the elements on them cold rainy days when you only have a short holiday to be out sitting.

Looks great goose. I would spend the night in that for sure.

Wow - that is A1.

Do you plan to insulate it for those cold days. Hehe

Awesome!

That's a sweet set up.....I would spend the whole season in there! Nice work!

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Originally Posted by Mattones

Do you plan to insulate it for those cold days. Hehe

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Good job, Ive built a few of these myself and I'll offer some advice if people want to hear it.

first they are a lot of work to do it right .... We've insulated them but more important is vapor barrier and making it airtight ...

give thought to to the position of your door and windows especially if you intend shoot compound out of it and how it will sit in the woods... If your going to use insulation use roxul or green sm everything else the mice build nests in and the wreak like mouse piss .

as for the poles at ground level, proper hydro or bell poles should be direct buried in the ground or preferably have round footings buried down to frost level with saddles connecting them.. We make our poles with square 10 by 10 cedar and then use true 2 by. 6 crossers.. Forget nails heavy duty screws and bolts at key points.. These things catch a lot of wind depending where they are and I've seen them crumpled flipped etc. if you tie them to a tree over time the tree wil move and so will your stand... That makes noise.

they also can bugger up a spot for a season as deer bears know they don't belong at first.., be patient build a good one and you will have it for a long time ....

ps stairs are great but they squeak on cold quiet mornings ... I speak from experience

HAHA my first thought too. Nice job..

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Originally Posted by Species8472

Very nice. If the wife ever kicks you out you'll have a nice place to crash.

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I'd still anchor that with some reasonably sized earth anchors (that you can screw in or install yourself). Very, very nice. Inspiring as a matter of fact.

Great project, looks great

When is the deer stand warming party? Looks pretty comfy for sure.

outback

Where do we get old utility poles?

Looks awesome!

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Originally Posted by mbmellis

Where do we get old utility poles?

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I got thes when they pulled a service out on my farm. The service was for a gas well jack pump that they decommissioned. They didn't want the hassle of getting a trailer to haul them and I knew exactly what I could use them for

you obviously picked a spot where there deer trails etc.............drop some salt down now as well

Wow...it looks just like mine ..LOL...

I used a plywood roof and just fastened a rubber membrane product to it to avoid the sound issue. After a few years the pine needles built a nice 'mulch' over top of it and there is no noise inside.

I also DIDN'T seal up the inside, I built in a 1" air space around the roof to wall joint to allow the fumes from my catalytic heater to escape.

I have to say, it was worth the effort and I have been enjoying mine for many years. Congrats on getting her built !!


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...treestand1.jpg

This is a great looking stand! Sure beats the piece of plywood I have over my head! Good work!

That's a house! lol, When is recliner being delivered. Very nice indeed, well done!

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Originally Posted by standup

Is tin not going to make the deer more spooked in a rain?

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They'll become acclimatized to it quickly.

I mean they stand in peoples backyards, and en entire house doesnt spook them.

Beautifull stand.
just sorry something this nice cant be used longer period through deer season.
Firearm season is so short in Ontario....

I can hunt out of my stand from Oct to New Years Eve....I shot a Buck on Boxing day from that stand.

I was thinking of rifle,SH or ML season... Generally in southern Ontario season is one week for each and my comment was more of a compliment than anything else

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Originally Posted by Drastic711

I was thinking of rifle,SH or ML season... Generally in southern Ontario season is one week for each and my comment was more of a compliment than anything else

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I understood, thanks, these kind of permanent stands are a great place to escape to just to watch the wildlife.

In the Eastern Ont...it's Bow, rifle, Bow, then ML and then Bow again....3 months of hunting...my wife hates it :)

I made the windows so I could hunt with the crossbow or my compound also. Plenty of room to draw the bow in there. Thanks for all the comments. I have the carpet inside now and 2 office chairs just need the crisp fall air and I am set to go. Lots of deer tracks along the trail to it so the deer are already accustomed to it

Looks like you are finally ready for another day at the office...