Wanting to put up multiple stands on the land I"ll be hunting next year, but at $100 a piece, that's going to add up especially for a new hunter buying everything this year. So I'm looking into building some homemade ladder stands to put up around the property Who uses a homemade wooden tree stand here?
Wait until after season. You can usually pick up some hang ons for $25. Then a set of climbing sticks for another 25 or 30 bucks. Or you could always go with screw in steps and save up to buy some sticks. But to answer your question, no I don't use homemade stands.
I've had a couple homemade hunting stands... I can tell you though they probably cost me more to make than a $75 chain on stand would have. I made a couple wooden Tree Lounges for rifle hunting too... those are cheap to make! Twenty bucks and you're done!
You can snag some deals on lock ons and ladder stands when the season ends. I would just stock up. Would be the safer route.
Personally I won't trust my life to just nails or screws and 2x4s....I'd rather have a cheap $25 Guide Gear stand+ratchet straps+cheapest ladder/sticks available.
I have used homemade stands, unless your building a box stand/ shoothouse etc or can weld good, your better off buying after season
Yup, much safer to buy cheap made ones than making your own...well I mean unless you're a welder and have access to tools to make metal ones like you can buy.
Where was that thread with the "treehouse" some kid built last year with 2x4s and deck nails? I recall it was built on a triple-trunk tree that was just waiting for the first big storm...
We use to use home made wooden ladder stands. They were heavy and a pain to put up. They would loosen the nails and screws so bad that everything got loose. They would also grow moss on them and be slippery in the rain and even worse if there was ice. There is only 2 left standing in my woods and everyone that hunts my land has strict orders not to go up them. They are going to be coming down after hunting season this year. Metal ladder stands last way longer and let snow fall thru. no moss issues and they don't loosen up in the trees. I have bought 6 ladder stands and 3 hang on stands. I will be welding up my own from here on out taking the best ideas from all of them and combing them into one. I also have my own welder and metal fab tools so this wont be a issue for me. Beefie
i use my homemade ladder stand....i made them from iron pipe 1"x1" and have 3 section..join them in pipe to pipe and upraise on tree...very stable, safe and durable and cost me about 35$
I've done it. I find a tree with a "y" and nail/screw a 2x4 on both sides then just nail some across the top of them in between the "y". Get the job done and for a decent price.
I have one I built a few years back. If I would've paid for the materials it would've cost as much as a lone wolf set. Sistered up 2x6s notched for ladder rungs. 2x6 joists under the platform and doubled up 3/4" form ply as the platform itself. It is safe for now but as it weathers it won't be for long. it was more of a project to do with my kids.
Valid comparison. Roof trusses are 2x4s with metal plates on them that stick into the wood half an inch at most.... Would you feel safe on your roof? Same could be said with an elevated deck, after all, that's basically what a wooden stand would be built like....
