Homemade tree stand I built for this season

blasted_saber

blasted_saber

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A blue part of Ontario
I put together this tree stand this summer just because I wanted too. Cost of materials was about $130 at the local hardware store. The main structural components are 2x6. Theres 2x4 in there too. The uprights are 12ft, with the "floor" at just over 8 ft up. Its rock solid and much bigger and comfier then any commercial ladder stand in that price range (although admittingly not as high). I kinda winged it on the design, I dont have any plans or anything.

The guys at camp really liked it, so I think I'll build a couple more next year. We're going to make a few changes and modifications which we determined after a few guys had sat in it for a few days.

Please comment if the pics dont work. Ive been having some wierd issues of late with this forum and pics.

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I've made a few similar, i worked off a set of plans i found on the net called the Scheierl Deer Stand, except instead of 4x4's for the ladder legs i used 12' 2x6's.

https://www.co.carlton.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/105/Approved-Deer-Stand-Example-PDF?bidId=

When i made mine princess auto had "wood pile tarps" that were brown and the perfect height to cover the sides and back below the seat to block a bit of wind and mask any foot movements. I also hung some camo netting to cover the front side for the same reason.

I like being able to tuck my pack below my seat to have with me and a bit more room than your typical ladder stand, plus it just feels solid, not flimsy like it could fold in half if you step the wrong way.

The only downside i found was that it is heavy! I assembled it at home and brought it out, next time i'd put it together in two pieces and assemble it wherever it was going.
 
Looks ok for a shotgun or rifle stand. Pretty low and big and bulky for a bow stand. I don’t see the incentive to going this labour intensive route when higher thin profile ladder stands can be found in hunting classified ads for less than a hundred bucks. I’ve bought several cheapies including double wide from kijiji and they set up in minutes and light to move in the field.
 
Nice.

Keep your eye on bargain bins at sporting goods store.

I got a $299 18' double wide ladderstand at C.T this Fall for $99 on "clearance aisle" , the box was damaged but stand wasn't.

It's light enough you can carry it into spots 200-300 yards in 2 trips.
 
Scamaniac said:
Looks ok for a shotgun or rifle stand. Pretty low and big and bulky for a bow stand. I don’t see the incentive to going this labour intensive route when higher thin profile ladder stands can be found in hunting classified ads for less than a hundred bucks. I’ve bought several cheapies including double wide from kijiji and they set up in minutes and light to move in the field.
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I agree that for the price you can get a good store bought ladder stand. But maybe the guys at camp are pretty big and dont fit comfortably in a single man stand. The double stands are usually 199 and up. And this one looks like itll last a long time! Plus with a bit more wood you could enclose it and be protected fairly well from the elements.
 
Scamaniac said:
Looks ok for a shotgun or rifle stand. Pretty low and big and bulky for a bow stand. I don’t see the incentive to going this labour intensive route when higher thin profile ladder stands can be found in hunting classified ads for less than a hundred bucks. I’ve bought several cheapies including double wide from kijiji and they set up in minutes and light to move in the field.
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Its a full time gun hunt stand. Many of the guys in my crew like it because of how large and stable it is. They arent all comfortable in commercial stand. And I built it because I wanted to, for no other reason. I have several other commercial stands as well.
 
One major thing you could add, a roof.
I roof all mine, a short chunk of metal roofing, or plywood if you have no porcupines. Makes foul weather hunting a bit more bearable.
You can buy one of those tree stand umbrellas, but they don't handle snow well.
 
As a complete noob, would it be a crazy idea to build a big enough platform that you could throw a pop-up blind on when you get there?
 
John Y Cannuck said:
One major thing you could add, a roof.
I roof all mine, a short chunk of metal roofing, or plywood if you have no porcupines. Makes foul weather hunting a bit more bearable.
You can buy one of those tree stand umbrellas, but they don't handle snow well.
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Ive been thinking about a roof, but I worry about the snowload. The camp is in WMU49 between Hutnsville and Parry Sound and sees a fair amount of snow. I guess if I overbuild it it should be fine
 
Next time go to Home depot and buy some Cull lumber at 70% off....twisted and warped wont make any difference in the stand but will save you $$$$$$$

I like it - 8 feet up is lots.
Thats exactly how we started making them in our group - now our stands look like tree forts with roofs and sides (to keep the rain off me)

Nice job though, should work fine
 
blasted_saber said:
Ive been thinking about a roof, but I worry about the snowload. The camp is in WMU49 between Hutnsville and Parry Sound and sees a fair amount of snow. I guess if I overbuild it it should be fine
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Just put a good enough angle on it for the snow to slide off if you do, even 2X2 will support a small roof.
One caution. If you use this for cross bow, make sure your roof braces angle back to the tree instead of making posts. Hitting a post with the bow when you fire can be a painful experience I am told. Also one less thing to have to swing around when rifle hunting.
 
"When in doubt, build it stout!" Words to live by when it comes to building tree stands.

After the crazy, crazy weather (cold and snow) I went through with this years hunt, something has to change. On the, (first ever), ATV ride out of camp (fricken lake was frozen but not safe for walking) I was talking with a guy (retired carpenter) who has built several really, really nice stands. Him and his wife hunt more than anyone I know, they probably spend two months a year in stands. This year, he'd had enough and put the first roof on one. He says the next one he builds, next spring, will have a platform big enough (he is talking 5x8) to put an instant ground blind/tent on. He has worked it out in his head.

I don't know how it will go getting in and out of the thing but it sure got me thinking...
 
Scamaniac said:
Looks ok for a shotgun or rifle stand. Pretty low and big and bulky for a bow stand. I don’t see the incentive to going this labour intensive route when higher thin profile ladder stands can be found in hunting classified ads for less than a hundred bucks. I’ve bought several cheapies including double wide from kijiji and they set up in minutes and light to move in the field.
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Yes the OP's stand looks heavy duty and well built, and like he says very solid. Keep in mind cheap and thin can cost very dearly. A friend of mine several years back bought el'cheapo tree stands on sale at the end of the year. He set it them up at my camp the following year. Long story short one broke he fell 10ft, backwards onto a old stump. We carried him out of the bush to the waiting air ambulance helicopter. Broke his back in two places and is paralyzed from the waste down. His life changed for ever in those seconds it took to fall. And all the time and money he saved on that cheap tree stand is long forgotten.
I used to go visit him at the convalescent hospital, he introduced me to a couple other fellas one day also in wheel chairs. Guess how they earned a seat in wheel chairs..?? yep they had tree stand accidents, and were also paralyzed.
So OP, keep on building them sturdy, strong and rock solid, as your good health and well being depends on it.

As a suggestion build free standing structures from 4x4 posts no higher than 8ft. from pressure treated lumber, with an enclosed place to sit. You then do not depend on the tree for any structural integrity of the stand, and being enclosed your out of the wind and weather.
My present one is 6' x 6' and is only 5' off the ground, which puts your eyes when sitting about 8' up which allows you to see over brush etc. Mine sits on a 4 x4 frame work on concrete pads.
It has a well sloped tin roof and is completely insulated and heated, with an old office chair and carpeted floor for quite movement. Plus small glass windows that can be opened silently.
 
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mrgoat said:
Yes the OP's stand looks heavy duty and well built, and like he says very solid. Keep in mind cheap and thin can cost very dearly. A friend of mine several years back bought el'cheapo tree stands on sale at the end of the year. He set it them up at my camp the following year. Long story short one broke he fell 10ft, backwards onto a old stump. We carried him out of the bush to the waiting air ambulance helicopter. Broke his back in two places and is paralyzed from the waste down. His life changed for ever in those seconds it took to fall. And all the time and money he saved on that cheap tree stand is long forgotten.
I used to go visit him at the convalescent hospital, he introduced me to a couple other fellas one day also in wheel chairs. Guess how they earned a seat in wheel chairs..?? yep they had tree stand accidents, and were also paralyzed.
So OP, keep on building them sturdy, strong and rock solid, as your good health and well being depends on it.

As a suggestion build free standing structures from 4x4 posts no higher than 8ft. from pressure treated lumber, with an enclosed place to sit. You then do not depend on the tree for any structural integrity of the stand, and being enclosed your out of the wind and weather.
My present one is 6' x 6' and is only 5' off the ground, which puts your eyes when sitting about 8' up which allows you to see over brush etc. Mine sits on a 4 x4 frame work on concrete pads.
It has a well sloped tin roof and is completely insulated and heated, with an old office chair and carpeted floor for quite movement. Plus small glass windows that can be opened silently.
Click to expand...

Thankyou for this comment and the real life experience youve told us.

I insist that everyone who uses our treestand (commercial or otherwise) wears a harness from the moment they leave the ground until the return down the ladder.
 
Excellent job on the stand. I've made three tower bases made from steel a few year back to prevent the tower stand from burning to the ground. In my area everyone likes grass fires in the spring and most of the time the fires travel out of control. Now if I can just get off my butt and finish the towers on my land...:)
 
Good job op, looks strong and safe!

When portability is not an issue and you need a good sturdy stand to last, a well-built wooden stand fits the bill. My first one was very similar to yours although not as overbuilt, still, it supported my two-fidy frame well..

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Found the plans on the interwebz for free, about a dozen years ago, some clown took this exact picture, antiqued the edges and was selling the plans for profit..
Lesson I learned from this first one, DO NOT NOTCH FOR STEPS, after a couple of years in the woods the uprights bowed significantly. All I do now is glue-and-screw the steps, never had a problem.

That was the only wooden stand I constructed that had a fixed seat. Every other one since then has been a platform type. I like to be able to stand when needed and an addition of a simple 5-gallon bucket for a seat completes the build.

An absolute necessity in the ones I build are these angle bracket beauties, from the big-box store:

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I use them to secure my uprights (2X6) to the platform (2X4), screwed-in they are rock solid, the addition of the 45-degree 2X4 support makes them indestructible.

I've used them for little 2ftX2ft platforms

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All the way to 3X3, no problems. My original 3X3 is about 12yo and still solid.

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Has been moved a couple of times to different locations too.

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A couple of points that I've learned making them:

+Use 5/4X6 PT deck boards (ripped in half lengthwise) for stairs, very sturdy. Install cut-side down, enough width for 2 3" deck screws per side, PL Premium and screw!
+Attach major parts (i.e. angled cross-member support to deck and upright with bolts, nuts and washers.
+If you take the time to paint it, you can get away with non PT wood, I only use PT for the 2X6 uprights.
 
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