Deer Stand for an Old, Fat, Gimpy Guy

[redlevel42]

I haven't seriously hunted deer for nearly 15 years. I on't really intend to hunt seriously now, but my adult daughter, a professor at a private two year college, has decided she wants to hunt. I figured I needed to build her a stand (I did that last year) and one for myself. I had back surgery about 7 years ago, and shoulder replacement a year later. I put on about 70 extra pounds during that span of time, and haven't been able to get rid of it. Besides all that, I'm nearly 65 years old. My stand is a platform, built on an old farm trailer, that was made from the frame and rear end of an old 30s model 2-ton truck. It is portable. All I have to do is hook my truck or tractor to the hitch and pull it where I want it. I will use a 3-screw Ruger BH I bought in 1973, and maybe a Rossi 92 Winchester clone, both in .45 Colt.



That isn't me in the seat. It's a young man who helps me sometimes.


The stand is located in a field that is about 8 acres of pasture and about 10 acres of pines in a "plantation cut," meaning they are pretty thin. There is a heavy undergrowth of common lespedeza, goldenrod, and various other early successional species following this summer's heavy rains, so I have cut shooting lanes.

[contender]

Looks good to me! As we age,,, our requirements change a bit. Good luck hunting!

I will offer a slight bit of advice.
You've added burlap as concealment. Notice the shadow of the guy in the stand. I'd add a material that doesn't allow sunlight to penetrate & show movement.

[stevemb]

Where there's a will, there's a way. Good hunting ! stevemb

[sixshot]

I believe thats sturdy enough to hold either Hoover or Fermin! Maybe double line it with the burlap, & if you get wind where you hunt you might want to tie the burlap down so it doesn't spook them. Good luck with the hunt, thats great that your daughter wants to start hunting.

Dick

[Shakey]

A big +1 on comments about the heavier material. A see-through material doesn't work well at all when you are elevated and back lit. If it's cold, the heavier material also blocks the wind better. On a semi-permanent stand I actually prefer plywood/paneling.

In your other thread you asked about shooting sticks ...don't know about them but suggest you add a well padded top rail to the stand to use as a shooting rest. The stand is not all that tall but the added security doesn't hurt either. For mine, I used 3/4" conduit covered with stick type foam water pipe insulation. Yours looks like it would like 2 x 4 s better.

You didn't ask for advice but, if you are new to this type of hunting, you may not realize how loud it sounds when you slide a boot across a wooden floor (use carpet), or something creaks when you shift your weight. Be very sound conscious with your construction.

I see good times a comin'.

[oldschool]

I wasn't quite as motivated. Last year I bought one of those popup ground blinds with zip-out windows. Doesn't work well if you have a lot of ground cover, but keeps scent contained and breaks up my silhouette. Had deer walk within 5 feet of it last year!

[Markbo]

The only time I don't feel completely exposed in something like that is when I wear the head cover from my Ghillie suit. Does it really help? I don't know, but it makes me feel more un-seeable.