Anybody ever build one of these?

[fishnfur]

I'm contemplating building an elevated two-person blind, something like the one pictured below.  Does anyone have experience and/or guidance relating to design or other features that might limit my mistakes before they happen?  I'm not planning anything too fancy, just something to get up in elevation, out of the weather, and also allow some occasional standing/stretching movements without alerting the critters out in the reprod. where I plan to put it.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[JimmyHoffa]

Carpet or some kind of sound absorbing material helps a lot.  Bumping your foot against the wall can be noisy.

[headshot5]

If it were me, I'd make it wide enough to fit a cot in there. 

[Southpole]

Yes, we built one. We call it the espresso stand, it’s ridiculously over built  . I’ll get pictures up later.

[PolarBear]

Ask Tod Reichert.  His tree stand overlooking his oat hat fields is super dee-luxe and set up where several guys can "hunt" in maximum comfort and quiet.  Think you could hold a dance party in there and not alert the critters.   

[Jpmiller]

I don't think ol Tod is up for giving out any advice anymore. I've thought about this too and I would insulate walls floor and ceiling both for noise and for warmth. Removable windows too. I'm curious to see anyone elses pictures.

[fishnfur]

Thanks for your responses.  I figured there were quite a few out there, especially on the East side ag. areas. 

The windows are one of the big questions for me.  Some people use framed sliding type; some use a hinged lift up or drop down type.  JPMiller says removable - I'm assuming Plexiglas inserts that could be pulled out for hunting.  A vertical window or two makes sense for use during archery season, though that complicates design and raises costs a bit.  In some ways, keeping it simple with just sliding Plexiglas windows, a flat sloped roof and a lockable door might be all I really need.  A box with four cutout windows and a door.  I imagine it would be used primarily for Muzzleloader or Modern Rifle Season when I'm more likely to hit the road to hunt, but ya never know what might come up down the road.  It would be very easy to get crazy and overbuild.

Carpet seems to be standard on the floor.  In my mind that necessitates the box is absolutely watertight or very exposed to drying breezes. Otherwise, a wet carpet might lead to massive mold/mildew problems if it remained wet for several weeks in a warm box.  Maybe indoor/outdoor carpet ??

I'm thinking that since I'm working alone, I'll build it complete at home, dismantle into workable sections, then re-assemble onsite.  That sounds good in theory.  I'm not sure it is workable in a real life situation.  Things getting a little out of plumb in the field might change alignment of pre-drilled holes etc..  I've got a small tractor that may make up-righting the stand and lifting walls up to the platform easier, but the headache of trailering the tractor two-plus hours each way makes my head hurt just thinking about it.  Assembly starts sounding like a two-day project very quickly.

I'd love to see pics if anyone has some to post.

Thanks again!

[headshot5]

Also I'd put some aluminum flashing on (around) your poles to keep mice from climbing up.   

[fishnfur]

Good thought!

[NRA4LIFE]

I've built numerous elevated stands.  The one thing I would suggest is to not use wood for the supports.  It just doesn't last, even if treated and stained or painted.  Use 2-3" galvanized conduit, depending on the height.  The conduit stands I put up on my place in Missouri have now nearly 25 years on them and still holding.  The wooden ones have long since died.

[JJB11B]

I've built numerous elevated stands.  The one thing I would suggest is to not use wood for the supports.  It just doesn't last, even if treated and stained or painted.  Use 2-3" galvanized conduit, depending on the height.  The conduit stands I put up on my place in Missouri have now nearly 25 years on them and still holding.  The wooden ones have long since died.

not only that but we seem to be getting pretty good at catching Washington on fire these days

[fishnfur]

I've built numerous elevated stands.  The one thing I would suggest is to not use wood for the supports.  It just doesn't last, even if treated and stained or painted.  Use 2-3" galvanized conduit, depending on the height.  The conduit stands I put up on my place in Missouri have now nearly 25 years on them and still holding.  The wooden ones have long since died.

Interesting.  What hardware do you use to connect conduit legs to the underside of platform?  There are several systems available to attach 4x4 lumber legs so they angle out at an angle.

[Mallardmasher]

Rigid conduit comes in 10’ pieces. I think I would use 3”” black iron pipe you can get in your desired length. And then just weld black iron beam brackets to the top to support your joists. If you need help? Sounds like fun

[fishnfur]

There's always this method....

[KFhunter]

deeelux blinds like that are a fantastic way to get kids out hunting, and older folks too.  I'd build it with a wheel chair ramp, drive a hoveround up in it.