Re-Building a Legend

[medicsnoke]

I re-built the tree stand I shot my very first deer out of. It was originally built by my Grandpa. He passed in 2002. I thought it would be a good pre-season project and help keep his memory alive as well as a reminder of how it all started. This is honestly what deer hunting means to me. This stand is real close to the road and the family barn so I dont plan on hunting in it much. its more for sentimental value, but It still has some potential.

Before
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08015.jpg
My helper
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08020.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08022.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08024.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08026.jpg
Finished project........anyone wana give it a try?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/medicsnoke/Sept08027.jpg

[whitetail_joe]

Nice pics and story. Maybe you will kill your next deer there as well. Looks pretty nice and sturdy, be sure to strap in. We built a stand similar to that one year in how it sticks out and is supported by angled 2x4's, except it was on a single straight large oak tree. It held for 5 seasons with no work until we finally tore it down just because of age.

[coonskinner]

be very careful in stands built like that ...winds will twist and move them trees in opposite directions...loosing up nails and joints...i have seen them torn completly apart in very high winds...also you should have some kind of board or a cable support about 3' up on the trees coming down to each corner of the base of stand...the steps can work loose and crack from high winds or even low winds too...i personally would not use a stand like this and hopefully lil kids stay out of it too...i remember those stands well...and from my xperience of using them...we had to redo them each year and were constantly fixing them...i completely quit using these when portable tree stands became easily available...:D...another thing i did that i felt really strengthened these stands was nail a small block of wood...2x4 or bigger under where each board is nailed to the tree...they only need be 5 -6 inch long...these will not twist with the trees in wind as trees move and will prevent the stand from moving downward...another problem is the trees is still growing and this can eventually cause problems too...chances are granpa didnt use a safety harness either but be sure to have one and be very careful climbing up those steps...good luck ...

building them in a single tree would be better...

[ncboman]

I use to build and use stands of similar design.

Tore em all down when my boys started followin me around.

[Buckmaster]

George,
What do you use? I'm guessing a climber on the Wn.