permanent deer stands

[ditchparrotspreferred]

Is anyone hunting from permanent deer stands anymore? My group is debating this topic. We have a fair amount of private land, lots of open spaces and a pretty good idea of deer travel. Thoughts/comments?

Those of you that have them, how did you construct your stands? Materials, comforts, size, height? Would you do it again?

Thanks - Mike

[Gissert]

I see them all over. Personally, I don't hunt out of anything permananent. It would be nice if I was gonna sit in one spot all day long. We have some small wood stands on one property that strap to a tree, but can move them. I found the plans for these in a MDHA magazine. My wife wants a bigger stand with a heater, so we will probably build that this fall.

On the main property that I hunt, I scatter plastic lawn chairs around the place several weeks before season. I place them in likely spots, and then decide which chair to use depending on the wind and/or pressure on adjacent properties. It has worked very well for me.

[almostthere!]

Ditch,

I would be willing to help you build some treestands for your generous offer of letting me hunt on your private land.

I use good old oak on public lands; but since this is one private land, you might want to use good old 2x4's and particle boards. You find yourself a good oak tree with nice branches and build from there. If that is not the case, then get two 4x4's and create a triangle with a tree. Then nail 2x4's to hold the triangle together. Finally, create your platform and board up your shooting box.

[luckey]

We have about 20 permanent stands on 775 acres. All stands are built in trees and consist of a treated lumber platform and shooting rails. Steps are treated 2x4. Prior to the gun season we attach camo burlap between the shooting rails and the platform. This blocks our silhouette and prevents deer from detecting foot movement. The stands are barely noticable once the camo burlap is removed after the season.

Note: We also have a number of ladder stands and portables that get moved around throughout the seasons.

[Kyle]

almostthere-

I suggest reading the regs, but I was under the impression it is illegal to build perminant stands on public land. Infact I heard it was illegal to keep portable stands on public land over night. I am a fan of perminent stands also. We put them on our private land. I figured I would pass on the info to be carefull.

[Dave]

I would not use particle board for any part of a tree stand either.

[USDA3]

As per the 2005 MN Hunting synopsis

State land-

The use of portable tree stands is recommended, especially those which can be secured without driving nails into trees. Nails are a safety hazard for woodcutters and harm the forest. Personal property must be removed from State Forest lands. It is illegal to destroy state property, including the cutting of trees of four inches or more

in diameter at four and one-half feet above the ground for shooting lanes. Littering and erecting permanent buildings are prohibited. • Any unoccupied stand or blind on public land is public and not the property of the person who constructed the stand.

WMA-

• Elevated Stands: A person may not construct, occupy, or use any elevated scaffold or other elevated device for the purpose of hunting, watching, or killing wild animals, except that portable stands may be used if they are removed each day at the close of hunting hours and do no permanent damage.

Nat Wild Ref and Wild Prod Areas-

• The use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree, or

hunting from a tree, into which a metal object has been driven or screwed to support a hunter, is prohibited. Portable or temporary hunting blinds or stands can only be set up the day of the hunt, and must be removed at the end of each day.

[Ely Lake Expert]

I know that it is illegal now to build permanent stands on public land, but what is the rule about permanent on public land that have been standing before the (newer) law became the law. It would be good to know, because my family has built permanents on public land for 20 years before the new law came into effect and most of them are still standing.

[USDA3]

"Public Land" is a vague term for land in MN, it depends on what type of land it is, if it is state forest land or county land, someone correct me if I am wrong, but you can still build but there are no private rights to it once its up. Now state WMA's and state Game refuges along with federal public lands are a different story.

[USDA3]

Quote:

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"Public Land" is a vague term for land in MN, it depends on what type of land it is, if it is state forest land or county land, someone correct me if I am wrong, but you can still build but there are no private rights to it once its up. Now state WMA's and state Game refuges along with federal public lands are a different story.

---

Correction, this stuff is confusing no doubt, COUNTY land you may be able to construct a stand but I am unsure, if anyone has info on county land vs state land please feel free!

[EXTREME]

The rule that is stated above is only for wildlife mgmt areas and state land. County and tax forfeited lands it is legal to place a permanent stand...for now. You can also leave your portable overnight at your own risk. The only rule against portables on other land is that it is public property...in other words...anybody can use it. But as everybody knows it takes some guts to climb in another persons portable ; but I have seen it done. Hope this helps.

[bigbucks]

I think you could find a lot of info on this in similar threads from last fall.

I use a lot of permanents. I like hunting out of them better & for me it's a cheaper way to have more stands to hunt, as opposed to buying more portables. I tend to use the portables in an area & then if I locate a really good spot that I think will mostly likely continue to be good I think about building a permanent.

I've built them with a lot of things. Lately I've built several by putting 2 X 6 or 2 X 8 stringers across & then putting a skid or pallet, occasionally two side by side across them. Then depending on the top possibly adding plywood. Even untreated that will get you 5-10 years. I generally use any piece of 2 X 4 for steps, occasionally even 2 x 2's on the lower 2-3 steps. I scavenge what I can get for free & add from there.

So far all of the ones I've ever built have been in trees. I did help built one last year with two legs attached to a tree. The plan for the next one is an elevated box to go on an old wagon bed (just the running gear portion that a hay rack or gravity box would sit on). I'm hoping to make it so we can take it off with a tractor loader if we need to. The plan is to be able to pull this to the corner of a field in a pasture & move it along with where the crops are. Kind of a massive portable if you will.

[BLACKJACK]

In my earlier days I built a number of stands in trees but I've stopped doing that for several reasons, 1) they don't last, the tree grows and expands or if you try to span 2-3 branches or trees, the wind and tree movement eventually wrecks them. And the steps that you've nailed into the tree eventually pop off. Any stand nailed into or on a tree is dangerous after five years. 2) As a guy that has done a lot of woodcutting over the years, I've started shying away from putting nails in a tree. 3) After the stands are unusable, they become eyesores. How many stands have you seen erected that are used a year or two and then abandoned?

What I do - on private land - is build ladder stands any where from 12 - 20 feet high and then lean them against the appropriate tree, tied to it with nylon rope. The nylon rope expands as the tree grows, and if that spot isn't good, I can move it in a few years. In the archery forum is a thread on wooden deer stands where I described in detail how I build them. I've also built a few that have four legs, but I also locate them close to a tree for stability and cover. When my stands go bad, I'll be able to haul them out of the woods and burn them. I still have a few portable stands that I put up, but then I use ladder sticks, no more putting in tree steps for me, I'm getting too old for that!

I will have to clarify that most of my deer hunting is archery hunting, so I don't want lots of rails and walls to block my shooting. If I was a gun hunter and had a great spot, I might be tempted to build a stand with walls and top where you could put a heater, nice chair, and stay all day. For the gun hunting that I do, a portable folding chair works just as good, it keeps me mobile, I can pick any spot I want.

[Sutty]

Most of our permanent stands are 4x4 or 6x6 "decks" using 4x4's as posts. and we attach plywood from the railing down to cover foot movement etc.

We also just set up a ground blind in a new area to see how good it is by driving metal posts in the gorund and wrapping camo netting around it.

[luckey]

Blackjack makes a lot of valid points. Here is what we do to overcome the problems.

1. Experience has taught us how to select the tree(s) and how to erect the stand to minimize the problem of wind and tree movement damaging the stand. Note: each year all stands are checked and repaired prior to use. You are right about the steps. When building a stand, we use pole barn nails and leave them about a quarter inch from flush. They are a little loose for 3 years but will last around 10 years before additional nails are required.

2. When a stand is abandoned, all boards are removed except one to mark the tree(s) with nails.

Although building a stand using three close trees (or clump of basswood) is the easiest, it is also the most likely to be damaged by the wind. Instead, use two stems, by making brackets similar to the ones in a closet shelf and put your platform on the bracket.

[Johnny_Namakan]

Technically, even if the stands were built prior to the new regs., they were supposed to be removed. They aren't "grandfather'd" in so-to-speak. But there's no proof who made the stands. Whoever is occupying the stand if and when a CO stops you is the person held responsible for the stand. Someone stated that tax forfeit land can have permanent stands, but tax forfeit land is still "public" land, meaning anyone and everyone can hunt it. So I'm not sure if that's true or not.

As to the orginal question: Our whole hunting group still uses permanent stands. It's all on our private land though. We've all made the switch though from bench seats, to boat seats on a pedestal. That way instead of turning your body you can turn the whole seat. Oil them up in the Fall and they stay quiet all season. I also have a wood burning fire place and camo burlap around the stand. I light a fire every morning in the stove, unless it's warm of course. I think the smoke helps cover my scent, and burning wood is a pretty natural smell to the deer. I've shot two 10 pointers and an eight pointer the last two years with a fire roaring in the stove. Just don't use Pine. When that sap in the wood pops it echoes through the whole woods .

[EXTREME]

Johnny; are you sure that is a stand or a condo . To each their own. I have thought about how nice a stand like that would be when it is below zero and windy...but, never had much use for one. My dad told me once that you can't shoot a deer when you are sitting around on a couch...that may be true to some; but not Johnny. Just razzing you. don't burn cedar either...makes a heck of a racket!!

[Johnny_Namakan]

Well, I stand corrected. I checked the DNR HSOforum and it does say that perm. stands are allowed on county and tax forfeit lands. Wierd???

[PRWoody]

We use a different approach on our land, we use spools

from the local REA or phone company. We place two

together. You can pre-build at home and then reconstruct

the stand on your land. We screw in the supports and

rails for easy moving. I move two to three stands a year,

takes less than 2 hours to move one stand.

Woody

[almostthere!]

Quote:

---

As per the 2005 MN Hunting synopsis

State land-

The use of portable tree stands is recommended, especially those which can be secured without driving nails into trees. Nails are a safety hazard for woodcutters and harm the forest. Personal property must be removed from State Forest lands. It is illegal to destroy state property, including the cutting of trees of four inches or more

in diameter at four and one-half feet above the ground for shooting lanes. Littering and erecting permanent buildings are prohibited. • Any unoccupied stand or blind on public land is public and not the property of the person who constructed the stand.

WMA-

• Elevated Stands: A person may not construct, occupy, or use any elevated scaffold or other elevated device for the purpose of hunting, watching, or killing wild animals, except that portable stands may be used if they are removed each day at the close of hunting hours and do no permanent damage.

Nat Wild Ref and Wild Prod Areas-

• The use of nails, wire, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree, or

hunting from a tree, into which a metal object has been driven or screwed to support a hunter, is prohibited. Portable or temporary hunting blinds or stands can only be set up the day of the hunt, and must be removed at the end of each day.

---

According to the regs above: permanent stands are legal on State forests and Nat Wild Ref and Wild Prod Areas, as long as you do not construct them with nails. There is nothing wrong with good old ropes and trees smaller than 4" diameter.

Permanent stands are illegal in WMA's. Doesn't matter though; we have climbers for those.

[slopmaster]

I would recomend building a perminit stand we have about 5 of them in our hunting land and we shoot all of our deer out of them. we usually build them in the summer go out and put them were we want them and by deer season the deer wont mind them at all most of our stands have trails within 10 to 15 yards of them. we usually build them 9 to 12 feet tall.

[ditchparrotspreferred]

hey slop -

I'd like to learn more about how you construct your 9-12' permanents. Shoot me a private email if you prefer - [email protected] ...thanks in advance.

[ducksnbucks]

We have 11 permanent stands over 350 acres, each person has their own, after opening weekend some of us take our portables around the woods after most of the group goes home. We have shot tons of deer out of our permanents but have also shot lots deer thanks to the option to move with the portables. Both are great, it depends on what kind of hunter you are and how much room you need in the stand.

[NELS-BELLS]

I am almost finished with my permanent stand. It is a 4 x 7, fully inclosed stand with sliding windows. It will be 10' off the ground when finished. I will have just over $300 invested in it when complete. (A little more than my Summit climbing stand)

This will be the first year that I have bought a gun lic. in many years. I am a diehard bowhunter but my kids are getting to the age that they want to sit out in the deer stand with me and the gun opener is a big family event with my in-laws. So this year my family and I have decided to join the group. I very much want my kids, including my daughter, to become hunters. The comfort of a fully inclosed stand should make for a good introduction to the sport and hopefully keep them in the stand with me longer.

Nels

[colonel42]

I to use permanent stands and have since I started hunting 30 years ago. Wow I'm getting old!!! Most of our stands are built at the shack and then taken apart and rebuilt on site. The reason for a permanent stands are the same as yours NELS-BELLS. Kids. I love taking my girls out hunting they can enjoy the experience and be comfortable in doing so. I to have a heater that I bring out to the stand. It is an ol'alcohol heater my Grandfather gave me. It is like a big wick that burns and is covered with a can the size of a coffee can. I bring out a few bottles of isopropel and that will last me a full day. Granted I have not had to use it the last five years because it has been so warm. I have also purchased the new Summit Vipor and look forward to heading out and climbing anywhere I want. I have went out already and precut some limbs off a few trees so now I have access to about five different areas. Can't wait 38 days and counting.