building an 8x8x16 deer blind

yoderjac · Jul 3, 2022

I'm not sure where you are located. I'm down in zone 7a where heat is more of an issue than cold. I don't need traditional walls or insulation. I just use 4x4s on cement pillars for the corners. I have a jig I built for 6x6 blinds that let me put up the entire blind by myself. Here is a thread with an example and pics. https://habitat-talk.com/threads/foodplot-stand-transfered-from-the-qdma-forum.5529/

This would not do for folks up north that want insulation from the cold, but it is much less expensive and perfect for my climate.

Thanks,

Jack

Robert86 · Jul 3, 2022

Here is one I built last spring, i buried cedar logs down 5ft and put concrete in the hole. I'm in wisconsin so i want to get below frost line. I went up 8 feet and put a redneck on top the platform. Platform is 10×10. Im on top a o huge hill looking over my hardwood valley to the east and food plots to west and south. Plots but up to the swamp down below the hill. It a 100 yard shot to the bottom of the field. This guy was the first on shot out of it.

b116757 · Jul 3, 2022

ksJoe said:
I've gotten as much done as I can without help. Tomorrow I'm drafting the family to help me stand up the walls.

One wall is 16" shorter than the other to give 2:12 slope. The slope will face south, in case I decide to put solar on it later.

View attachment 44282

Nice sounds like a great family project.

ksJoe · Jul 4, 2022

@yoderjac & @Robert86 Those look nice, but I have a different intent. I'm calling it a deer blind, but I'm wanting something that is a small version of a post-frame barn for secure storage in the lower level. Eventually I'll build several of these. This is an hour from home and I currently have no secure storage there. I want to safely store equipment. Eventually, in at least one of the structures I hope to put solar power and start building out power-over-ethernet and wifi connected security cameras that I can view live on my phone.

Getting them raised was more difficult than I expected. I should have arm-twisted our son to come help. But he wanted to play with friends lighting fireworks. So me, my wife, and our daughter got it done.

The temp was around 99, but at least it was mostly shaded.

Done for the day:

It should be stable enough in the wind for now. There are 6 cross cables, and half the floor is on.
The floor is 8 foot from the bottom of the posts, around 9 foot from the ground.
You'll notice the 2x4s on the separate level have inconsistent spacing. That's because there is a
2x4 that's 39 inches from the floor, and another 24 inches above it. I've bought 5 double pane
vinyl windows 24" tall.

yoderjac · Jul 4, 2022

That makes perfect sense. A lot more structure needed for that intent. It's coming along nicely! Happy 4th!

Robert86 · Jul 4, 2022

That makes sense, im looking at building a 3 sided shed by my farm to keep my stuff in as well. I hate having my food plot equipment sit outside and my dad's shed is getting a little full.

Native Hunter · Jul 5, 2022

Looks like you are off to a good start. I have two blinds that are 12x12x16 to the top floor level. These are on two different properties that are 4 miles apart. The one below is three story with a poured concrete floor. It has a regular door at the bottom and swing out wider doors as well. You can access the levels from outside via stairs or from the inside via a permanently mounted ladder. The other one is not closed in at the bottom but has a storage building bolted to the legs on one side.

yoderjac · Jul 5, 2022

Native Hunter said:
Looks like you are off to a good start. I have two blinds that are 12x12x16 to the top floor level. These are on two different properties that are 4 miles apart. The one below is three story with a poured concrete floor. It has a regular door at the bottom and swing out wider doors as well. You can access the levels from outside via stairs or from the inside via a permanently mounted ladder. The other one is not closed in at the bottom but has a storage building bolted to the legs on one side.

That ain't no deer stand. It's a penthouse!

Troubles Trees · Jul 5, 2022

Native Hunter said:
I have two blinds that are 12x12x16 to the top floor level.

If I built that here in NY there would be homeless people living in it (if they could find it)

Native Hunter · Jul 5, 2022

yoderjac said:
That ain't no deer stand. It's a penthouse!

Yes, the deer think that too.

yoderjac · Jul 5, 2022

Native Hunter said:
Yes, the deer think that too.

Wish I had your taxidermy budget!!!

ksJoe · Jul 9, 2022

More progress.

yoderjac · Jul 10, 2022

looking good!

ksJoe · Jul 11, 2022

I took this week off work to finish it. Metal goes on the walls tomorrow.

TWIG · Jul 12, 2022

You need way more glass in that thing. I built an 8x8 years ago and it's just terrible to hunt out of. You shouldn't have to walk around inside a stand to see out the windows.

yoderjac · Jul 12, 2022

TWIG said:
You need way more glass in that thing. I built an 8x8 years ago and it's just terrible to hunt out of. You shouldn't have to walk around inside a stand to see out the windows.

I'm not in a cold climate, so I don't use glass windows at all. I just use hinged push out windows. They work well for me as they shade sun from coming inside and making movement more obvious. In my area most of the season is warm, so I don't seal my blinds. They are created for ventilation and to have an updraft. I find glass windows problematic. I don't like opening windows in the presence of deer adn if you leave them open, it sort of defeats the purpose of sealing the blind. A sealed blind would get way too hot in our archery season, but I certainly understand how guy up north want protection from wind and cold.

ksjoe,

Looks like it is coming along nicely.

Thanks,

Jack