Deer Stand

If I join the Broad Hunting Club, eventually I will be allowed to build deer stands on the property. Even before then, I might want to build stands for Carlos. For example, a replacement for his blind on the pipeline would be nice. Eventually, I would like to experiment with fiberglass, but for now, I should build just a basic plywood and steel stand.

Steel

The boys in Arkansas build some excellent stands, using tubular steel as the material. There are basically two parts: the legs that support the stand (including a ladder) and the skeleton of the structure itself.

They tend to use square tubing of various sizes, welded together.

If I could find tubing with a 135° angle, I could use it to build octagonal enclosures.

Enclosure

The enclosure is made of plywood. It needs walls, a floor, a roof, a door, and windows.

3/8" plywood is a good thickness for walls: strong enough to be kicked but otherwise reasonably light. The floor should be 3/4" plywood, and the roof should probably be 1/2" plywood.

Windows

The windows are the most important part of the stand. They need to be individually closeable and provide a place to rest a rifle.

Some windows need only be narrow things, large enough to stick a rifle out of and see through the scope. Other windows want to be wide things.

I would like to have a "brow" above each window to help shed water away from the window.

A sill can be constructed that is a sturdy and quiet rest for a rifle, but also slants outward to shed water out of the stand. It can fit over the lip of the window opening and protrude both inward and out of the stand.

A peep hole in each window would allow me to look out without opening the whole window. Alternatively, the peep holes could be separate from the windows.

Roof

For longevity and dry comfort, metal roofing (on top of plywood) would be nice.

Shelves

A shelf on which to set binoculars and other items is very much desired.

Paint

I would like to experiment with camouflage paint patterns. Flat paint, not gloss. Multiple colors in broken, natural patterns. I might use a combination of spray templates and stamps.

Seat

I don't know if it is practical, but a built-in seat with a swivel would be nice, especially for a stand on a long stretch like the pipeline, where it is necessary to be prepared for a shot in either direction.

Such a seat must be quiet, and it should be good for a big guy like Carlos.

Size

I need to do some experimentation to figure out an ideal size. Ideally, the distance from the seat to the windows should be ideal to stick a rifle out of.