How To Build A Deer Stand
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008I don’t have any plans on how to build a deer stand on paper, just figured out a design I like. Let me see if I can figure out the dimensions of the ones I’ve built.
How To Build A Deer Stand:
Legs: (4) 16′ 4×4′s
Leg Cross Braces: (8) 12′ 2×4′s
Floor Joists: (4) 2×6′s 45″ long, (2) 2×6′s 4′ long
Floor: (2) 1/2 sheets 3/8″ plywood (48″ square), cut 3 3/4″ square out of each corner.
Sides: (4) pieces of 3/8″ plywood 34″‘x45″, one will be cut up later to make a door
Roof Supports: (4) 2×4′s 48″ long
Roof Rafters: (3) 2×4′s 35″ long, (2) 2×4′s 48″ long
Roof: (2) pieces of 3/8″ plywood 28″x48″ (the scraps from cutting the sides out of (2) full sheets)
Ladder: (2) 12′ 2×4′s, (8) 2×4′s 16″ long (can be cut from (1) 12′ 2×4, with one piece to spare)
Build ladder with 16″ spacing to the top of each step, measuring from the bottom.
Set posts in ground 2 foot deep in concrete 45″ between outside corners.
Nail on diagonal cross braces, one set inside, one set outside, all the way around.
Nail on floor joists 10′ above the ground, use (2) 45″ and (2) 48″ to make a 48″ square.
Nail on the last (2) floor joists 16″ on center in the middle of the floor frame.
Drop in first floor piece and screw it down.
Drop in second floor piece and screw it down. This gives a 3/4″ floor without wasting half a sheet of 3/4″ plywood.
Put up both sides and the front, they should go corner to corner of the 4×4′s and set on top of the floor, leave the back open for now.
Cut off the 4×4′s even with the top of the sides.
Nail the roof supports to the insides of the 4×4′s so that the tops are 6′ above the floor.
Nail the roof rafters to the tops of the roof supports, use (2) 48″ pieces and (2) 35″ pieces to make a rectangle 48″x38″.
Nail the last 38″ roof rafter in the center of the roof frame turned flat.
Screw the (2) pieces of the roof on top of the frame with the joint on the flat 2×4 in the center.
To make the door, cut the back piece into (2) pieces, one 34″x21″, one 34″x24″ (the door), and hinge it at the cut.
You’ll need (2) more 2×4′s, one 34″ long, one 16″ long, to make the frame for the non-opening part of the back. You’ll have to angle nail these two pieces to the floor and the 4×4 in the corner. The door will close against the outside of the 4×4 in the other corner. A hasp wrapped around the corner will keep the door closed.
I hope this description makes sense.
Here’s the materials list: You won’t believe how little wasted material you have if you build a deer stand right.
(12) 12′ 2×4′s, (one for the (3) 35″ roof rafters and the 34″ piece for the back)
(4) 16′ 4×4′s
(3) 8′ 2×6′s
(3) 8′ 2×4′s
(3) 4′x8′ sheets 3/8″ plywood
(2) 80 lb bags or (4) 40 lb bags of Quikrete
Nails, Screws, Hinges, and Hasp
