Homemade tree stand I built for this season

I built a few of those ladder stands over the years similar to OP's except they were about 14 to 16 feet long and were slanted (like a ladder should be against a building).
About 30 years ago I built two ladder stands that came together at the top (facing each other) to make a platform about 4 ft. square .we added walls covered with mill felt(wind proof) and a shed roof . Reassembled in a buddies bush we shot many deer from it .It was comfortable for one person but two would fit in there .
Sadly when buddy clear cut all the trees around it the wind blew it over .
That first stand alone stand was the start of at least 6 more bigger (8x8) taller(16') shooting shacks some insulated with wood heat .
 
I don't like putting stands on Poplars.
Be very careful to inspect the tree if you do, as well as any around it. They have a habit of losing their tops. I've seen the trunk snap off 15 feet or so up. That's a huge weight to come crashing down.
This year I was sitting in a stand that has a number of big poplar around it. These would be 16" or better at chest height. I noticed on of the neighboring trees had a section of wrinkled bark about half way up the tree.
For safeties safe, I felled that tree. It broke in half on the way down.
 
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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My old camp was west of Huntsville. I had a 6 x 6 stand there. The whole stand was structurally framed in 2" x 2", even the roof which was 2 x 2 built like engineered trusses, then 1/2" plywood, topped with steel roofing, 4/12 pitch. Absolutely no issues with snow loads. The snow tends to periodically slide off the steel roof.
 
There is a picture of one of the bigger ones in "Keepa's Album" but jeez have the pics ever turned blurry .....I wonder why ?
I bumped keepa's album up in Photo and Video Gallery if anyone is interested .
Sorry to OP for intruding .
 
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FEDGE2.0 said:
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?
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That's what I plan on doing.
I got these 4X4 brackets to build a platform big enough to put a popup blind on it.
This could be a stand alone platform
ht tps://www.amazon.ca/HME-Multi-Use-Brackets-Observation-Platforms/dp/B07BGJ5ZQ8

Or you could use these straight brackets but probably attach to a tree...maybe only need 2 out of the 4 brackets when using a tree....?
h ttps://www.amazon.ca/Summit-Outdoor-E1000-Straight-Elevators/dp/B00L2SQHFG/ref=pd_sbs_200_t_1/141-2285576-5817968?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00L2SQHFG&pd_rd_r=c77b7615-37d1-49f0-838c-217c1bfd2197&pd_rd_w=RXBbN&pd_rd_wg=sol62&pf_rd_p=9926bb69-42b9-46e4-b788-f665992e326d&pf_rd_r=20QS6EEZ9X7FX70Q930N&psc=1&refRID=20QS6EEZ9X7FX70Q930N

An added bonus with these brackets is that there are "stake pockets" for adding a 2x4 to make a wall so you could add material like burlap etc and/or plywood etc and make a permanent blind on the platform.
 
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FEDGE2.0 said:
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?
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Your idea is not crazy. I have a 6 x 6 platform at one location that sits on the ground that I can set up a tent ground blind on. If you build the platform off the ground any distance I would highly suggest some sort railing around the perimeter so if something happens you and the tent don't end up falling to the ground. See my earlier post in this thread of what happened to my friend. That's the reason my tent platform sits on the ground.
 
I like the stand, its something that doesn't look terrifying to climb up into (and back down when you are cold and tired) Some of those commercial ones have such flimsy ladders and tiny platforms waayyy up there.

When I walk around in public forests I'm dumbfounded at some of the home- builts that I see. Rickety piles of scrap tacked up there, some of them must be 30 feet up!! Stand hunting is not supposed to be an extreme climbing sport.

Personally I use a climbing stand and I only go 6-8 feet up.
 
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