Deer Stand Recipe

2021 features the launch of what is likely to be a three year program of deer stand replacement.  Think of it as a miniature local infrastructure improvement program.  The present goal is the construction and deployment of two new Guard Tower deer stands each year.  

This is a consequence of several factors:

First, the pending loss of three stands that were previous constructed in ash trees that are sick and dying from infestation of Emerald Ash Borer. Plenty of deer have been taken from those stands and as hunting platforms they will be missed.  For sure they'll be utilized this fall and maybe for an additional season to follow. Inevitably, as the trees die these stands are doomed.

Second, the logging operation earlier this year significantly opened the forest canopy and created space and opportunity to deploy additional stands as the deer hunting dynamic and animal movement patterns are altered as well.  Nobody knows for sure precisely how movement patterns will change so this contains an embedded learning curve.  What we do know for sure is that the opportunity for whitetails to hunker-down and hide in the impenetrable cover has been significantly reduced. 

Finally, free-standing platform stands constructed of pressure-treated lumber are both safer and more comfortable than tree stands or cramped and rusting metal stands.  There is a high probability that the stands featured in this post will likely be occupied by yet-to-be-born deer hunters.

Here is an easy-to-follow recipe:

How To Build a Guard Tower Deer Stand

Step 1 - Assemble your materials:  Pressure Treated Lumber, 8 - 4X4X8 posts, 10 - 2X8X10 boards, 12 - 2X4X10 boards, 14 - 1X4X8 boards.  One large box each of 3" and 2.5" deck screws.  Assorted carriage bolts, washers and nuts.  (Pro-Tip - purchase hardware in bulk at Fleet Farm $2.69/lb).  Deck boards purchased periodically at Menards warped lumber sales.  The ladders were salvaged from two previously-abandoned tree stands.

Step 2 - Cut lumber to specified lengths and bore 1/2" holes for the carriage bolts.  The platforms were partially pre-assembled and since they are 5X5 foot square they will fit inside a standard pick-up box.  The balance of the deck boards will be added when assembled on-site.

Step 3 - Scout locations.  Consideration was given to clear shooting lanes, known (and unknown) deer movement patterns, bedding locations and safety.

Step 4 - Haul materials, cordless tools, etc. to pre-scouted positions and assemble in-situ.

Yield - Two Guard Tower deer stands with little - if any - scrap waste.  

BTW - if you measure the tolerances from top to bottom they might be 'off plumb' by about an eighth of an inch.

The deer stand in the background was constructed in 1995 from repurposed boards salvaged from the demolition of a deck three houses-ago.  The tree in which it was constructed is dying and is going to fall before too long.  Because the stand is no longer safe it is being retired and will be disassembled at a future date.

Out with the old - in with the new!