Private pre sets option ideas. Looking for ideas or suggestions.

[Blacksmith]

So my kids have been hunting with me more and hope to have even more opportunities this season. In my attempt to try and keep things simple and easier when I have two people to set up, Im looking for ideas on how to achieve multiple locations on the property I hunt with out spending excessive money. From early season to late season the deer seem to move different based on cover and pressure. So trying not to just pick one or two spots that work sometime and hope for the best. I had a blind set last year early and not convinced the more mature deer got used to it, and they just don't hold up to the weather. A nice shooting shack is some money to make, and can't seem to come up with the perfect spot yet. There is a few bigger trees around the property that make some nice hide outs to help conceal movement for younger hunters and my self, but the larger sizes makes platforms a little bit of a challenge. Thinking about making wooden platforms wedged into them to stand on and rope climb up into them. But I worry about squeaks in movement from the tree in a breeze or just us moving.
Also have a few heavy limb maples I think would be nice if I got up and trimmed some area out. But would like to have have some pre set platforms. Wood could easily be custom fit to each application, but could result in friction noise. But make some kinda platform, or giant ring of steps could be achieved I would think with some trial and error. So what I'm asking is If anyone has experimented with doing such things and what were the results. I could be chasing a dream as well, and maybe just purchasing a hand full of ladder stands again and hanging to the side of it may be an easier solution. But the idea is to get them into cover for concealment. Which would take some work anyway to cut them in where I want them. My vision is some form of wood platform pre secured to tree. DRT or SRT climb up a rope to the platform and hunt. If anyone has examples of what they have tried or seen please let me know. Even if it didn't work let me know. Than I don't try it..... Maybe. Lol.
Thanks

A friend of mine uses TV tower sections for semi permanent climbing set ups.

 

[MattMan81]

I'd go big nails or bolts for climbing and PVC pipe wedges for ring of steps and cheapo hang on for non saddlers if I was gonna preset private on the cheap.... @MattMan81 too bad u not local to me or I hook u up. I have a ton of 1" steel pipe that could easily turn into giant heavy oversized treesuits

I got access to electrical pipe and short pieces of strut. But It will be galvanized. Would I have problems with it trying to weld stuff together with the coating? Total newb at welding, but would love to mess around with it some.

 

[Weldabeast]

U would need to grind/sand off the coating before weld..... Might not be the right project to learn on thou

 

[BTaylor]

Either you had been a very, very, VERY bad boy, or he was just curious whether you'd survive .... LOL


Those Bakers were a test of character ...


Mine was stolen off the base of a tree, and you have no idea the pleasant daydreams I've had for decades of the thief in his "Oh, ****!" moment ...

LOL, he was climbing up behind me on a Baker too. That would have been circa 1975. I dont remember what the other options were at that time but was the type to never upgrade equipment if what was on hand worked or mostly worked. His first compound was a Bear Alaskan, either the year it came out or the next. He shot it until he and mom got to tour the Bear museum down in Florida and there was an Alaskan on display.

 

[Blacksmith]

U would need to grind/sand off the coating before weld..... Might not be the right project to learn on thou

I got access to electrical pipe and short pieces of strut. But It will be galvanized. Would I have problems with it trying to weld stuff together with the coating? Total newb at welding, but would love to mess around with it some.

@Weldabeast is correct! Not Something to Learn on. Also shouldn't breathe those sweet fumes! Kinda like hunting w/o a harness..

 

[Plebe]

M102 Chain Receiver Mount - Millennium Outdoors

Use with M7, M50, M60U, M100U & M150 Stands. Use additional M102 camLOCK Receivers to set up multiple stand locations

millennium-outdoors.com

Maybe something like that would work? You could still rack up a pretty good tab, and I didn't dig deep into it. But if you can set a few preseason and maybe add a few a year or something?

These are great for the non wonky trees, and the way I’d go. Set up some ladder sticks at your spots and these receivers and buy 2 M100U stands.

The fold down straps on the sides of the M100U seats kind of snug the user in, adding a bit more security against falling, which could be good for the kiddos. And the platform is ample (The monster stand is even bigger and has adjustable seat height).

The only downsides imo are no leveling adjustment and if you leave the stands out and it snows or is icy, boot soles moving around on the grating can sometimes make noise.

 

[ricky racer]

Since you're going to be on private property you may choose to do what I did with my daughter.

I watch Craigslist for used ladder stands or pick up new ladder stands after the season at good discounts. I prefer the cheaper stands that just have a platform at the top of the ladder and not a seat with arm rests.

I put the ladder in a good spot then hang a platform off to the side of it for me to hunt off of. The cheaper ladder stands are lighter than the more accessorized ones making it easier to put up or move by yourself too.

I think a ladder is easier and safer than other climbing methods for kids and they may feel more comfortable climbing the ladder too. If your kids have a saddle, no problem. A saddle works very well on to of a ladder. They also have an option to sit on the top of the ladder like a conventional tree stand if desired.

 

[Swamp Fox__On The Run]

LOL, he was climbing up behind me on a Baker too. That would have been circa 1975. I dont remember what the other options were at that time but was the type to never upgrade equipment if what was on hand worked or mostly worked. His first compound was a Bear Alaskan, either the year it came out or the next. He shot it until he and mom got to tour the Bear museum down in Florida and there was an Alaskan on display.

There were no other options for climbers at the time. It's possible someone was making something out of his garage to sell to the guys at church, but the Baker was the first and only ride up (and down!) the tree for sale to the public for a while.

 

[woodsdog2]

You can get cost effective buddy type ladder stands for reasonable $ I picked up a couple of 18’ foot sniper buddy style stands a few years ago for the private I hunt for $100 each and they give you enough room for both of you if needed. Also, if you have access to them and some skills and time, @Allegheny Tom has some great steel rack and step platforms either he or had someone torch into shape as mini platforms. Get some cheap pole sticks like @tailgunner has and you have some great presets.

We have five ladder stands and a stack together summit stick out on the 134 acre private I hunt. We also have 2 permanent shooting houses we built years ago but anymore I don’t hunt much out of them and they are gun only stands. I still have to move the climbing pole to another location and I do want to get a couple more. Sometimes during the grind of the season It’s nice to walk in with just your saddle and climb up for the day and all you really need to do is pull your bow up and be settled in.

 

[Antirain]

Both my sons have taken many deer through the teen years between one 2 man ladder stand and one ground blind made with 4 4" corner poles and 3"-4" poles laid for a roof and rubber mat over that to keep it dark and dry- think its been 7 years now. Just put up new camo material every 2 or 3 years. Started them with popup blinds but always had trouble with wind or snow damage.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

.... @Allegheny Tom has some great steel rack and step platforms either he or had someone torch into shape as mini platforms. Get some cheap pole sticks like @tailgunner has and you have some great presets......

For presets when their weight is not an issue, those Andy stands are the bomb. They'd be the greatest ever if they were light enough to also double as a mobile stand. Mine are heavier than what most guys would want to transport on the day of the hunt or into remote areas.
It still puzzles me as to why nobody is making a lightweight commercial version of them. The market for 'saddle-type" platforms is substantial. Thousands of hunters love their saddle platforms and so do I. I own 3 Predators. But as much as I like those, I like an Andy stand so much more. I even toy with the idea of tearing apart my Predators and use the lightweight section of the platform to make some Andy stands. My problem is that I don't weld or fabricate unless I can build something with basic hand tools and fasteners.

 

[woodsdog2]

It still puzzles me as to why nobody is making a lightweight commercial version of them. The market for 'saddle-type" platforms is substantial.

Indeed!!!