Here is a set of deer stand plans that someone e-mailed me. As always – use these plans at your own risk. I’m not liable for anything… etc.
(To download the images, right click on them and click “Save Image As…”)




Overview:
The plans were designed to maximize wood lengths- as they come from the lumber yard. There is almost no waste. Our plan was to assemble the stand (minus the deck) at the cabin (where we have power and tools) then disassemble it into two separate sides (Let’s call one assembled side of the deer stand a stantion). We could then get those stantions out into the woods with the remaining wood pieces cut, holes drilled, and ready to go, and bolt the stantions back together.
Assembly:
We built the whole stand laying down on its side.
First we built two opposite sides of the stand- the sides with the deck cross beams- headers. We built the two stantions, side by side, laying flat on the ground. As shown on plan, we positioned the 2”x6”x8’-0” bottom cross beam 1’-4” up the piers. Then we positioned the 2”x4”x4’-11” top rail at the top of the piers.
Before drilling holes for the bolts through the piers, top rail, and bottom cross members, we temporarily fastened each stantion using one nail at each of the 4 locations were these pieces meet. This allowed us to ‘rack’ the structure. Using a tape measure, we measured diagonally from one side at the bottom cross member up to the opposite side top rail, and then repeated this across the opposite side. We then racked the structure until these measurements were the same. What this does is ’square up’ the stantion, which makes the structure symmetrical. Once the stantions were symmetrical we located the 2”x8” deck cross-member-header 12’-5 3/4” (13’-1” less 5 ½’ + 3/4”) up each pier. Then we positioned the diagonal braces and nailed them in place. Once the diagonals were nailed in the place, the structure will no longer rack and will remain symmetrical. Then we drilled holes for the bolts and bolted the structure together.
Next we stood the two completed stantions on there sides and temporarily braced them (plumb). Following the same processs as above, we attached the remaining cross members, top rails, deck joists, and diagonal braces. (Again, on each side, we used the tape measure and racked the structure for symmetry).
As an afterthought (not shown on the plan), we fastened a 2”x4” diagonally across the bottom of the completed structure. We nailed it into the bottom cross member next to one pier, then across and into the bottom cross member of the opposing pier. This stiffened the structure so that the whole stand itself would not rack. * add a 2”x4”x12’-0” to your shopping list.
We then cut the deck boards and joists to length .
At this point the structure was completed enough (and heavy enough) to be moved out into the woods.
Once out in the woods, we assembled the deck out in the field. We had to cut notches in the decking to fit around the 4×4 posts- 8 notches altogether which we accomplished with a chainsaw. We also fastened the 1”x6” railing top out in the field.
The Move:
We bolted two hand truck tires to the two pier bottoms and rested the top of the stand on the ATV trailer. We were able to cart the stand out into the woods and stand it up with only 4 guys. Next time we plan to use a salvaged 17’ sailboat trailer to get stand #2 out into the woods. Getting the stand through 1.5 miles of ATV trail through the woods was very tough on our backs, the ATV, and pretty much mangled the ATV trailer.
It only took three guys two stand the deer stand up. We started at the top and just walked the structure up- just like they used to do raising barns. We added a ladder, a lawn chair, and a rope to hoist up hunting gear & rifle and the stand was complete. We plan to paint the stand with some deck stain once the pressure treated wood dries out. I was able to pick-up a can of mis-colored stain for very cheap. Oh, yeah, one final consideration- We found four pieces of flat stone in the woods and located one stone under each of the piers. The stones keep the wood raised off the ground preventing the piers from sucking moisture up out of the ground like a straw- rotting the wood.