Stands....food plots...

[The_King48]

Since deer hunting is on the mines of many I thought I would ask these questions. What size of enclosed stand do people feel comfortable for two people? What do you use for windows in your stands?

Second question is about food plots. I hunt in NW MN by some decent farm land. Would I attract deer to my plots or is just a waste of time since there is so much for deer to eat already. I was thinking of planting soybeans and maybe some sort of clover.. The farmers around the area farm a lot of soybeans but they are combined usually by or during rifle season. Anybody had any luck with sugar beets or turnips? Also what do people use to till up the land? I have a 4 wheeler but I'm unsure if I could break up land with it. I'm sure once its broken up it wouldn't be a issue.

[slimngrizzly]

I think it takes a 6x6 or 6x8 to move comfortably. Sliding windows is the best option if youre going to heat your stand, otherwise and windows that you can fold up or down would work.

Any food is good food. Food is the one thing you can control that is capable of manipulating a deers patterns. Its tough to say whats going to work best in your area. Personally I find that of all the junk I plant, the oats are what they favor most during gun season?!?! Corn and beans and clover is always good if its taken care of and the brassicas seem to be better once it sweetens up during the late season.

Ive never regretted planting any food!

Good luck!

[Lunker]

1- I don't hunt enclosed stands so not sure

2- Yes, food plots work in agricultural areas. The key is variety. I hunt in N MN and SW WI. In MN where we hunt there is plentiful agricultural fields. 99% of these fields consist of hay, mostly alfalfa and clover mixes. We learned quickly that planting alfalfa or clover(even in small plots in the woods) only get occasional grazing similar to the main fields. But plots planted with other things like brassicus, turnips, rape, corn, soybeans, or other nutrient rich plots that aren't seen by deer usually get lots of attention.

In WI where I hunt the corn, soybean, and alfalfa are very common, so again other plant varieties are more appealing for plots. Timing is also something to consider, like planting for late season crop when the rest of the crops are out can be good.

and yes deer LOVE the turnips. they will browse the greens heavily after an initial frost first and move onto the turnips after a good freeze. Until the first good frost the deer won't touch them though so it's not a good early season plot.

[WalleyMN17]

I second the above posts. I have a 6x6 stand and with fold out chairs and its adequate for 2. Any less might be tough. Slide windows. My food plots were placed between the "destination plot" which is the farmers, and where i think the deer movement consistently goes. My destination fields are southwest of me and the bedding area is northeast. You put a few small plots of varying crop in between and the deer will most certainly make a stop for happy hour on the way to dinner.

[BobT]

You guys hunting from deer stands or cabins?

[laker1]

When is it not hunting?

[slimngrizzly]

I only hunt from ladder stands or on the ground. But I have been in enclosed blinds of friends. I will be building a large enclosed blind with heat so I can try to get my girls interested as early as possible. You can call it hunting or you can call it something else... I just want them to be comfortable and have fun.

[deerminator]

I hear ya. I'm going to build one in the woods behind our house for next year. Maybe start on it in the garage this Winter. My main purpose is not so much comfort but the fact that I have a 6 and 9 year old that are liking to go with me now. And I like them to come along. The ground blind we have works but I'd like a little more room and concealment. I like the layout of that Shadow Hunters 6x6 bow blind but I don't want to pay $1,500. May try to make that layout myself. Thought it may not be as pretty. : ) Good luck.

[paceman]

I have built a few heated enclosed stands on the land I rifle hunt. They are 4x6 with slider windows. I built them so I can take my young kids and for the older hunters that come out there. I tell you what they are really sweet and they make my wife happy as they are safe!. The kids love to sit up there with me and will sit most of the day. we sip on hot chocolate, play card games, read books, watch for wildlife... Just spending time together! I sit out in the elements on other properties for archery and muzzy hunting which I enjoy more anyways. Once you build one you will build more.. They take time and cost a bit but they are so worth it. IMO.

[deerminator]

Cool. I am thinking about 6x6 or 6x8. The latter is huge I know. But I'm just thinking that really would fit 3 nicely. I also have an old swingset that got banged up in the June windstorm that I was thinking of converting into two story deerstand playhouse. Long story short, it was damaged too badly to really invest a lot of time fixing to get it too look right. ButI could brace it and fix the cracked posts and support beams enough where it would be safe for a basic box stand that isnt fully enclosed. The tower is about 6 1/2 feet long by about 3 feet wide. And about six feet off the ground. So a little too small for 3 but that one might work for two.

I also have 4 pack of those elevators that have been sitting in the garage for a few years. Looking forward to using those finally.

[MJ1657]

I built a 6x6 platform 10 feet high and put my Double Bull Blind on it. I used some screws and big washers to put through the stake holes to secure or to the floor. It worked great.

[deerminator]

Cool. I've thought about that too. But are you shooting gun or bow or both out of it? I would think it would make closer shots hard for bow. I was also thinking if I were to do that it would almost make sense to still build a railing that would to inside or outside the blind for safety reasons.

[Barbelboy]

My favorite part of this thread is how the two fussbudgets were completely ingnored!

I've hunted out of both a 6x6 and 6x8. If possible I would lean toward the larger. More space cannot hurt.

And +1 on the food plot info already posted.

[deerminator]

Ha! To me its like saying, you need a fancy fish house to ice fish? Pfffttt. Why do you need a motor on that boat when you could paddle? Sure those things are luxuries but its still fishing, right?

[loosegoose]

This stand is like 48"X44", fold down/in windows, metal on roof for extended life, 8' 4'X4 legs 2' in the ground, you can fit two people in the stand but it is a little tight. I have two of these up, and am building another one this winter. My intent was so my daughter would come deer hunting, and she does. Then I started to think of myself when I get older how nice these enclosed stands are, a little buddy heater heats them up wonderfully.

Thanks for the tips on food plots. I am going to be planting some sort of seed mixture, or turnips this coming spring.

[fr0sty]

Don't your ears explode when shooting inside an enclosure like that?

[paceman]

Don't your ears explode when shooting inside an enclosure like that?

I have shot quite a few deer out of mine and I haven't noticed much of a difference. I stick my gun out the windows so the end of the barrel is outside.

[Tripleplay]

I've got both a 4'x6' and a 4'x8'. The smaller is fine for 2 hunters although my son loves it as a single enclosed stand. Buddy Heater and he is good to go. The larger has hunted 3 of us before although the kids were younger. Big Buddy is way more than enough unless the wind is roaring.

Honest truth is 3 out of the larger is a bit tough depending on where the deer shows up. There are spots in the stand where only 2 could shoot at any one time except out front where all 3 can let them fly.

[loosegoose]

fr0sty, yes the ears do ring a little bit but it isn't really any more noticeable than shooting out in the open. Maybe it's because my ears are half shot already anyway and hopefully you only have to shoot once.

[The_King48]

loosegoose....

Do you use plexi glass for your windows? How do you get them to "seal" up?

[loosegoose]

Have plexi in one and glass in another. I will use plexi in future stands. I just use caulking to fasten them to the window frame. They aren't 100% sealed so I do get a little draft.