questions on cementing in posts for an enclosed deer stand

[Crow Hunter]

I have been building a 4x6 enclosed deer stand for my land. I intend to put it on a slight rise out in a slough, where there are no trees for a conventional stand. Since there is a better than even chance that water will seep (or run) into my post holes, I am wondering how best to cement in the posts. Do I use bags of the cement that you aren't supposed to mix, just pour in a hole that already has water in it? Or mix cement in a tub, then pour into the hole even though it already has water in it? Some of each? I am using 4x4 posts. I intend to dig the holes approx. 33 inches, then put about 3 inches of gravel in under the posts. How many pounds of cement am I likely to need per hole? I will be digging the holes with a post hole digger. The ground on my land is quite sandy. Thanks for any advice.

[B-man715]

I used to construct Wick pole sheds. For the vast majority of sheds all we used was precast concrete "cookies" to set the post on.

We also had to nail on blocks of 2"x6" to the post, this kept it locked into the ground. (say you had 3' of post in the ground, nail a 1' chunk on a couple sides, at about 1' from the cookie.)

This stops any vertical lift caused by wind.

[paceman]

I have had really good luck by simply pouring the quick-crete right around the posts in powder form. Put a litte water on it, take an rodd and tamp/mix it up, and let sit for a day and then top it off with dirt.......

[buckhunter21]

I do all my stands like paceman said, just put the post a couple feet in the ground and pour a bag of quick crete in the hole and just pour some water on it until it stops soaking it up, then pack it down good.